Arizona Rubber Magazine - September 2018

VOLUME 14

ISSUE 1

SEPTEMBER 2018

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FROM THE EDITOR September is here, and that only means one thing – hockey season

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on’t get me wrong – I love summer.

But when the calendar moves to September, the kids start school and the rinks start to move back into full swing.

Yes, my friends, hockey season has arrived!

I always find something special in seeing hockey players of all ages taking the ice and starting their seasons. For many of these players, playing the great game of hockey is more than a game – it’s a lifestyle and a passion.

Same goes for coaches and staff in the various associations and college and pro teams here in Arizona.

And in a society where far too often we see Matt Mackinder negativity and news that can sadden some people, hockey has always been a positive way to escape all the nonsense we tend to deal with on a daily basis.

Hockey is the greatest game in the world and it’s my pleasure to bring these pages to you 10 months a year and 365 days a year on our website and social media.

So if I may hum a tune a few months ahead of time, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

With the seasons starting, several players with Arizona ties have signed with junior teams across North America.

The OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs signed defenseman and Jr. Coyotes alum D.J. King, while the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs added Arizona Bobcats alum Erik Atchison and the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles have inked Phoenix native and Jr. Coyotes grad Michael McCosh.

“We are very excited to welcome D.J. to the Bulldogs family,” said Hamilton president Steve Staios. “There is plenty of upside with this player. He brings leadership, toughness and the ability to transition the puck.”

During the 2017-18 campaign, King played for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program after being Hamilton’s second-round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.

Atchison, a Las Vegas native, was a fifth-round selection of the Chiefs in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.

“We were very impressed by Erik at our training camp,” said Chiefs GM Scott Carter. “He worked hard all year and it showed in scrimmages and our Red-White Game. He earned this opportunity and we are very happy to have him officially join our organization.”

Also, forward Gage Quinney, who skated for the Jr. Coyotes’ 16U AAA team in 2011-12, signed an NHL free-agent deal over the summer with his hometown Vegas Golden Knights.

Hockey continues to grow in Tucson, and in big ways.

The Arizona Coyotes and AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners recently unveiled a new outdoor DEK hockey rink at Doolen Middle School with the Boys & Girls Club of Tucson at a cost of $250,000.

The Coyotes, along with the NHL and the NHLPA, launched an initiative in April 2017 to build several new DEK hockey rinks around the state of Arizona.

Within the past year, the Coyotes have previously unveiled DEK hockey rinks at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale at Laguna Elementary, Luke Air Force Base in Glendale and the YMCA in El Mirage.

Might Auston Matthews be the next captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs?

The Scottsdale native was asked about the possibility of wearing the ‘C’ in a recent interview with The Athletic and admitted he’d relish the role.

“I’d tell them I’d feel ready,” Matthews said in the report. “I don’t know what they’re thinking about doing, what they want to do. Obviously, John (Tavares, who signed with Toronto on July 1) has been the captain in New York (with the Islanders) for a while, so I don’t know what they’re thinking or what their whole ideal situation is for that. But I don’t think it really changes much, whether you have a letter or not, for myself or anybody.

“I go lead by example, on the ice, off the ice, and being a good teammate is a big part of that, too.”

Contact Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com 4

Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

Arizona Rubber Magazine is published by: Mackinder Media, LLC, P.O. Box 373 Goodrich, MI 48438, 10 times a year, once monthly September through May and once in the summer.

Postmaster: send address changes to: P.O. Box 373 Goodrich, MI 48438 Ph. (248) 890-3944 Email: matt@rubberhockey.com Subscription Rates: $49.95 USD * Single Copy: $3.95 USD Mail subscriptions to: P.O. Box 373 Goodrich, MI 48438 Subscriptions are non-refundable REPORT AN ERROR IMMEDIATELY Arizona Rubber Magazine will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion Visit our Web site at: www.AZRubberHockey.com Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/arizonarubber Follow us on Twitter: @AZRubberHockey

Arizona Rubber Magazine is a production of:

Publisher/editor: Matt Mackinder senior designer: Julie Rippy

FOREVER DOAN

Back on Aug. 12, the west rink at the Ice Den Scottsdale was renamed the Shane Doan Rink in honor of the longtime Arizona Coyotes star and captain. More on this extraordinary event on Page 13.

Photo/Sandra Tenuto Photography

ON THE COVER As the Ice Den celebrates its 20-year anniversary in Scottsdale, three individuals (left to right: Scott Gruber, director youth hockey development; Mike O’Hearn, president; and Julie Patterson, vice president of skating and programming) have been part of the building’s growth and value to the community since the very start.

Photo/Sandra Tenuto Photography

Optimism booming for Coyotes on eve of ’18-19 season year, $12.75 million contract extension on April 6, the day before last season ended.

His performance justified the payout.

In March alone, Raanta went 7-1-0 and stopped 202 of 214 shots for a .944 save percentage. On two occasions last year, Raanta was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week.

Among goalies who appeared in 25 games or more,

er Andrew Barroway opened their checkbook to Ekman-Larsson, who made it clear he wanted to stay in Arhough the start was not terribly encouraging nor proizona. With one year remaining on his existing contract, ductive, the way the 2017-18 season ended for the the veteran defenseman inked an eight-year deal worth Arizona Coyotes turned inspirational. a reported $66 million on July 1 and remains a pillar of Once the calendar struck January, the Coyotes took the franchise. their fortunes from gloom and doom to optimism and enAlso locked up is center Christian Dvorak, who thusiasm. Collectively, they embraced coach Rick Toccomes off a season in which he scored 15 goals and chet’s system and began to ride the coattails of assisted on 22 others. goalkeeper Antti Raanta, who turned in a specIn August, Dvorak signed a six-year extension tacular second half of the season. worth a reported $26 million. Dvorak is expected By all accounts, the Coyotes were one of to be a top center at a position that also includes the better teams in the NHL over the final three Derek Stepan, Brad Richardson, newly-acmonths of last season, and that bodes well for quired Alex Galchenyuk and Dylan Strome. the future. After a summer of changes and incenThe acquisition of Galchenyuk gives the Coytives designed to improve play at the blue line, otes depth down the middle and he is expectthe Coyotes hit training camp this month with a ed to make a seamless transition from his time strong dose of confidence and energy. on the wing with the Montreal Canadiens. Dealt “We talked about building some positive to the Coyotes for Max Domi this past sumthings over the last three months of the season mer, Galchenyuk is coming off a season where that we can bring into the next season,” said Arhe was second in scoring for the Habs with 19 izona defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. “I goals and 51 points. think we communicated that well over the secThe biggest reason for optimism, however, ond half.” is looking at production from Clayton Keller, There is no argument with the numbers. named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. He topped The Coyotes closed last season with a 20- Arizona Coyotes netminder Antti Raanta finished the 2017-18 season on a high the Coyotes with 23 goals and tied with Stepan 14-7 record and went 17-9-3 in their final 28 note and is looking to carry that momentum into the upcoming 2018-19 campaign. with 42 assists. Keller finished second to NHL games. In the month of March, Arizona captured Photo/Norm Hall Rookie of the Year Mathew Barzal of the New 10 games and that represented only the fifth time in fran- Raanta finished second in the league in GAA (tied with York Islanders in rookie scoring. chise history, including the early years in Winnipeg, for the Vegas Golden Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury) and “I learned a great deal last season and learned from this achievement. only Carter Hutton of the St. Louis Blues (2.09) had a Stepan, who helped me stay focused,” Keller said. “Look At the center of success was Raanta, who finished lower percentage. forward to the same again this season. Our line (with the season with a winning record of 21-17-6 and a goalsRaanta was not the only player rewarded in the Richard Panik) had some chemistry together and it against average of 2.24. In his quest to strive among elite off-season. showed in the last couple weeks of the season. That’s goalies in the NHL, Raanta was rewarded with a threeCoyotes general manager John Chayka and own- something we’ll take into this season.”

By Mark Brown

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Scottsdale Success Celebrating 20 years this season, the Ice Den Scottsdale continues to be a staple in the Valley

By Matt Mackinder

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here was much uncertainty back in 1996 when the Winnipeg Jets relocated to Phoenix to become the Coyotes.

Could the NHL work in the desert? Would there be a fan base? Were there enough rinks in the area?

Fast forward to 2018 and the growth speaks for itself.

The Ice Den was built in 1998 to house the NHL Coyotes and remains the team’s official practice facility, and is home to Jr. Coyotes youth travel hockey, box lacrosse and a slew of figure skating, hockey and ice skating programs and events.

Now in its 20th anniversary season, those that have been with the Ice Den for the long haul are proud to reflect on what the building means to the hockey and skating communities.

“When the Coyotes first arrived, I was working for Ice Capades,” remembers Ice Den vice president of programming and skating Julie Patterson. “We had an airplane hangar and offices in the Scottsdale airpark. The Coyotes called to see if the players could practice on our portable ice rink. It was 100 feet by 60 feet with no boards. We used it to rehearse. It barely fit inside the hangar and planes would taxi by watching us skate. A few of the hockey operations staff came to scout the rink but unfortunately, it wouldn’t work for the team.

“Not long after, the Coyotes contacted me to see if I would provide support for the new practice facility being built and that is how I met (Ice Den and Coyotes Ice president) Mike O’Hearn, who hired me in the fall of 1997 as the director of programming and skating.”

O’Hearn, who moved to Phoenix from Winnipeg with the Jets, said the last 20 years has been “an incredible experience.”

“Working with the Burke family for over 20 years (dating to the team’s last year in Winnipeg), their trust and support has allowed our management and staff to realize its true potential,” said O’Hearn. “For me, after 20 years, the goals have changed somewhat. We have a mature, flourishing business in Scottsdale and more recently, Chandler. Our staff is the best in the business, which has afforded me the ability to concentrate on our overall vision. Now, it’s more about tweaking the business to stay relevant and ahead of the curve. We have literally updated almost every aspect of the Scottsdale location each year in one way or another.”

And as times change, so does the way the Ice Den is run. O’Hearn said it’s all been positive transitions.

“When the Burkes sold the team in 2001, they recognized what an asset the Ice Den was to the community and the growth potential ahead. For those reasons, they chose to keep the Ice Den and redevelop it. It was a way for them to support grassroots hockey growth and to give back to a community where they’d made their home. My responsibilities turned to transitioning from a single-tenant (Coyotes) use to a multitenant building with the addition of restaurants (18 Degrees) and retail/commercial (Divalicious, Mountainside Fitness, Venn Construction),” explained O’Hearn. “Over the years we’ve made significant improvements to the original facility with the addition of a third sheet of ice in 2011 which allowed for a multipurpose facility, featuring turf sports and events. Other construction projects include retooling the sand floors in the original rinks to concrete, consistently updating and improving technology in the building and back-end rink equipment, infrastructure and ice plants. We’ve added amenities like prostyle dressing rooms for our top-tier hockey and skating programs as well as an off-ice conditioning area and a high-end video room to complement on ice training.

“All of these investments have allowed us to remain the premier ice facility in the state.”

A ballet room for figure skaters was also added three years ago.

And even as name changes over the years have taken place (Cellular One Ice Den to Alltel Ice Den to Ice Den Scottsdale), consistency in operations and being a valuable 6

Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

asset to the community has never wavered.

Like the countless NHL players who have practiced at the rink, on the ice skating side, Patterson noted that a who’s who of Olympians have skated at the Ice Den through the years: Dorothy Hamill, JoJo Starbuck, Tai Babilonai and Randy Gardner, Brian Boitano, Brian Orser, Kristi Yamaguchi, Kurt Browning, Michelle Kwan, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Jeni Meno and Todd Sand, Todd Eldridge, Elena Berezhnaya, Jamie Sale, David Pelletier, Adam Rippon, Gracie Gold and Nancy Kerrigan.

Additionally, both Steven Cousins and Naomi Lang presently coach at the Ice Den. Just this past summer, one of the three ice sheets was renamed the Shane Doan Rink (see more on Page 13).

Marcy Fileccia serves as the vice president of marketing and communications and said that working in sports has always been her “dream job.”

“I grew up in Winnipeg and the Jets moved to Arizona my senior year of college at ASU,” said Fileccia. “I met the original sales team at McDuffy’s Sports Bar in Tempe during the Jets-Red Wings series where my roommates and I dominated a trivia contest. I told one of the guys that if they hired me I would return all of the swag we won. It turned into a summer internship, then a full-time job in ticketing for a season and then four more working for the Goals For Kids Foundation. I left in 2001 when the Burke’s sold the team but returned to the Ice Den in 2013 in my current role.

“Working here, no two days are the same, and to be a part of the hockey and skating community – there really is no community like it. We have incomparable leadership and a strong staff, plus a loyal community. We’re always striving to be innovative and current and we have fun.”

On that note, O’Hearn said keeping things simple has been a major component to sustainability over the past 20 years.

“We have purposely never viewed the Ice Den as solely a skating rink, which in my estimation, would have limited our opportunities,” O’Hearn said. “Seeing ourselves as an entertainment facility gave us the courage to push the envelope, be creative and challenge the expectations of our staff and our customers. I believe that mindset has kept us fresh and appealing. Of course, our programs, youth and adult hockey as well as skating, remain the backbone of our business model. We never take those programs for granted and our staff is the best in the business.

“Admittedly, I’m biased, but I believe our track record over the first 20 years supports that thinking.”

As the director of youth hockey development, Scott Gruber echoes his colleagues’ sentiments in saying that working at the Ice Den is very appealing and extraordinary. The house league program he oversees has grown each season to 32 teams this upcoming season.

“My mom heard about the rink being built during my senior year of college and when only the walls were up, I stopped by to inquire about employment opportunities,” Gruber said. “My first role was head ice technician, which meant I would be part of the team to install the first sheets of ice. I worked in facility operations for nine seasons before transitioning to youth hockey.

“I grew up playing hockey in Minnesota and Arizona and jumped at the chance to be a part of the NHL and a brand-new building. My job allows me to create a love for hockey in young hockey players by sharing my passion for the game.”

With 20 years down, what do the next 20 hold for the Ice Den Scottsdale?

“I’d like to believe that we’ll never truly be quite finished with the Ice Den Scottsdale project, and continue to strive to duplicate the success in Chandler,” said O’Hearn. “Exploring new and creative ways to improve our business makes it fun for all of us and means that every day brings something new and exciting on and off the ice.”

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ARIZONA HOCKEY UNION

AHU Bantam Black team facing early challenges head-on day, lost to the Oilers on Friday night 5-3, defeated the San Diego Jr. Gulls 6-1 Saturday afternoon and then played the Jr. Gulls again on Sunday night and took a 7-1 in the semifinals.

“I liked our players’ tenacity and work ethic,” Pinti said. “Plenty to work on but having 15 of 16 returning players from last year’s state champion Pee Wee team,

skill and size.”

And when it comes to team chemistry, Pinti said it’s or the Arizona Hockey Union’s Bantam Black team, been “solid” so far. the 2018-19 season will be one chock-full of new “Details deliver and culture wins,” said Pinti. “Our challenges. team motto is ‘Desire, Discipline, Dedication.’ We have With body contact and checking at the top of the a great group of kids who every time they step on the list, head coach Jim Pinti has been tackling those conice want to get better and learn the game to take it to cepts during practices with the first-year Bantam club. a higher level. Also, I can’t express enough what a “The process for teaching checking? Hit or get great group of families these kids come from and the hit,” Pinti said. “You either like it or you don’t. We amount of support we have from parents is just phehave battle drills, 1-on-1, 2-on-1 and 3-on-2 battle nomenal.” drills down low. Keep preaching head up and crisp Moving forward, the Bantam Black squad will have quick passing as to not get one of their teammates lit challenges, but facing them down and succeeding is up because of a soft pass.” what Pinti wants to see happen.

As to his philosophy in teaching Bantam-aged “Playing Tier II as a first-year Bantam team will players, Pinti said the expectations are simple. present its challenges but I expect this group to finish “First and foremost, the kids need to have fun and in the top four of the league,” said Pinti. “Realisticalmust want to compete,” said Pinti. “We want respectly, we’re looking to win 60 percent of regular-season ful players both on and off the ice and they must be games, score three or more goals each game and a good teammate. We need to pay attention to detail give up three or less goals every game.” and play a fast-paced style of hockey. Players know This year’s Bantam Black team is made up of they have a constructive input when it comes to team The AHU Bantam Black squad got off to a winning start to the ’18-19 forwards Matthew Benzing, Cole Brown, Camseason, capturing the Fun In The Sun tournament in San Diego over eron Cable, Jeremiah Girnt, Sean Haggard, Kai goals and objections.

“We will not be outworked and will be a well-con- Labor Day Weekend.

Hohoff, River Lewis, Beauwin Maher and Tyler ditioned team.” we are in a great position to excel as a first-year Bantam Shin; defensemen Zach Delsante, Owen Johnson, Over Labor Day Weekend to open the season, the team. We need to work on keeping heads up, speed Nathan McClure, Kyra Mittendorf, Sydney Pinti Knights traveled to San Diego and won their division through the neutral zone and positioning. and Josh Sherman; and goaltenders Rocco Ferrara in the Fun In The Sun tournament at the Iceplex and “I also like the fact that we have 10 players who have and Nathan Graybill.

San Diego Ice Arena, edging the SDIA Oilers 3-2 in the been together since Squirts. The 15 out of 16 players Joining Pinti on the bench are assistant coaches Dachampionship game. back from last year and the three solid pickups we add- vis Dryden, Brian Lewis and Dave Paliwodzinski.

AHU downed the DYHA Jr. Sun Devils 7-1 on Fri- ed this year really round out a balanced roster of speed, The team manager is Katrina Delsante. ​​

By Matt Mackinder

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ArizonaHockeyUnion.com

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

FLAGSTAFF YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY IceJacks’ D-II team hoping for fast Northstars looking forward to start, early-season momentum new ’18-19 season in Flagstaff

By Matt Mackinder

By Scott Robinson

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he new season is here for Northern Arizona University, and with that comes renewed confidence and optimism for the IceJacks’ players and coaches.

For NAU’s Division II team, coach Travis Johanson has a dozen returning forwards and a mix of new and returning defensemen, including two new blueliners moving up from the program’s Division III team in Dain Austin and Nick Pizzy.

“Our expectations are simple and realistic, I believe,” said Johanson. “We want to be back at the national tournament with another bye. Then we want to make it further in the tournament, hopefully playing in the crossover, semifinals and finals.”

“The speed and tempo at tryouts have really picked up since prospect camp,” added NAU assistant coach Kris Walsh. “The overall pace of play is increasing with the recruits. With a positive attitude and dedication to the team system, we should see some improvement in both teams from last season.”

Johanson said to get to the national tournament, the players have to buy in to the NAU process, which starts with being held accountable.

“Success for us will be in molding a new group together to be the best they can be and hoping that will reflect on the ice throughout the year and result in the expectations we have for the national tournament,” said Johanson.

The IceJacks kick off the season with a four-game road swing Sept. 28Oct. 1 in Mandan, N.D., playing the University of Mary, Williston State, University of Denver and Boise State University in consecutive days.

“We will have a tough test right off the bat,” said Johanson.

NAU hosts Grand Canyon University Oct. 5-6 at the Jay Lively Arena in Flagstaff to open the home portion of the schedule.

ll our hockey teams in Flagstaff are gearing up and ready to start the 2018-19 season with anticipation.

However, scheduling has been somewhat challenging at times sharing one sheet of ice between the Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association, the Avalanche high school teams and Northern Arizona University’s two ACHA teams.

But through it all, we have managed to juggle and accommodate all teams for practices, league games and scrimmages.

And while it would be nice to have a second sheet of ice in our small town, as of now it looks like that may not come to fruition until sometime next year with the addition of a rink at the NAU Fieldhouse.

Even then, we are not sure if youth teams will be able to utilize the facili- Flagstaff Northstars 16U AA players enjoy some ty once completed, but we are keep- pond hockey action last winter on Lake Mary in ing all lines of communication open. Flagstaff. Photo/Scott Robinson Another option for some of our players this past winter was to look for a few of our ponds that froze up solid when our temperatures got down into the single digits. Nothing like a friendly game of pond hockey!

Either way, even with just the one rink, all of our players certainly benefit from skating at the 7,000-foot elevation and we look forward to all our competition this year coming to Flagstaff.

Have a safe season and safe travels, everyone!

NAUHockey.com

FYHA.org

ARIZONA HOCKEY UNION COACH'S CORNER

Want to be a top-notch skater? Start utilizing sprints A

dvice from many sources is abundant, and often misleading.

To understand how to prioritize offseason training, I wish every youngster could see up close an NHL practice and dryland workout. World-class Goar hockey skills and athleticism are obvious in this setting, and they can be hidden by bulky equipment and game conditions when players are seen from the 30th row of an arena.

Stick skills and skating are exceptional and should never take a back seat to any other form of training.

To develop as a player, it is not possible to spend too much time in these areas. Skating experts may not like the skating style of some players, but our tests over 30 years show that superior skating speed, agility and acceleration are required to play college or professional hockey. Besides unique mental qualities, NHL stars have superior multi-tasking abilities, putting skills and athleticism together at once, while their eyes and mind

are busy making quick, creative decisions.

One of the most important athletic qualities is skating quickness. So here is an important fact — and there are not many invariant facts in exercise science: players who accelerate quickly on skates are also quick sprinters over a short distance. The shorter the sprint, the better the correlation to on-ice acceleration.

A recent published study concluded that the relationship between sprinting and skating speed was only valid at younger ages, but speeds were timed with a stopwatch. With all due respect, the authors might just as well have used a sun dial. I offer this acerbic, rather unprofessional criticism for one reason: kids would be misled if these conclusions were not challenged.

Besides mathematical probability, there is a remarkable similarity in the first few strides for both hockey players and football players. One difference of course: skaters must externally rotate their ankle and hip, but computer analysis verifies the two-dimensional similarity in biomechanics. After the first few strides, skating and sprinting become progressively different at higher speeds, and perhaps this is why coaches have failed to advise youngsters that sprinting is an important training tool.

As velocity increases, skating thrust is directed more to the side (so arm swing must also be across the body), while sprinting posture becomes more upright, and there are changes in the nature of force

production. So the biomechanical similarity holds only for the initial acceleration, which is of course, most important for hockey.

Any hockey player, at any age, who wants to be a quicker skater should do quality short sprints. Longer sprints may be helpful in developing quick feet, and certainly sprinting is a good way to prevent hip flexor injuries. Allow plenty of rest, so each sprint is as fast as possible. Example: for a 30-meter sprint, allow 30-60 seconds rest — the more quality, the less endurance.

This is not just mathematical and biomechanical inference. In testing hundreds of players before and after significant skating improvement (over various periods of time) each one who showed improvement in sprinting acceleration also improved skating acceleration.

Sprinting is vastly underrated as a training tool, perhaps because it is not so easy to collect an exorbitant fee for this advice. This is an incredible oversight, because there is absolutely no other training modality that has such compelling statistical implications.

In plain English, skating quickness, agility and speed are essential for playing at a higher level, and there is no known off-ice training regimen that is as likely to improve skating quickness as quality, short sprints.

Is it best to combine this with hockey-specific leg strength and explosive power? And should skating practice be included?

Absolutely.

Kurt Goar is the coach-in-chief for the Arizona Hockey Club.

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IN A DEVILISH MOOD Let me take a moment to reflect on our 2017-18 season A s I enter into my second year as hockey director for DYHA, I find myself reflecting on my experiences of the last year and thinking about what I learned, what I enjoyed, and what are the not-so-enjoyable aspects to the McCaughey job.

I was fortunate enough to be stepping into a program that was not in turmoil, facing bankruptcy, or just in overall disarray. The previous director, Sean Whyte, with great support from the Board of Directors, has put the DYHA program in a very good position, running smoothly and not in any need of major changes. I figured I would just come in, learn the various systems in place, keep the ship running, and add some of my own flavor.

This would be a piece of cake!

Well, a piece of cake it was not!

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that the job was too hard or over my head, but the overall amount

of work and number of tasks that need to be overseen and completed is quite large. I came on board right before tryouts last year and my goal was to keep things running smoothly and have the organization not experience any setbacks.

With advice from Sean Whyte, direction from the Board, and assistance from my right hand, Jacque Gomez, we managed to get through the season with no major hiccups. I know that some would say that DYHA had one of their best years ever! Winning all three Tier II state titles, the season was AWESOME! Well, championships are nice, but they don’t define a successful hockey program in my mind. A lot of things have to go right, and the stars need to align in order to win one championship, let alone three, and truth be told, the ingredients for those championships were in place long before I stepped into the building.

I am also not naïve enough to think, or expect that that will happen every year, because it won’t.

It is easy to sit back and say, “If I were running that organization, I would do this or do that,” but actually running an organization and just doing this or that takes a lot of cooperation, communication, and organization.

You cannot do this job alone and you have to rely a lot on some incredible people who love the organi-

zation and volunteer their time to help you get done what needs to be done. DYHA has an abundance of such people and because of that, the future continues to look bright here. The fact that it is a lot of work is a good thing in my mind. I love the game of hockey and when you love what you’re doing, it is hard to call it “work.”

As for things I enjoyed, I enjoyed coaching the kids and interacting with the parents. I enjoyed working with our coaching staff. I enjoyed trying to improve things that I thought could use improvement. Some things worked, some did not. The one thing I can say is that we are going to keep trying to get better as an organization and learn from our experiences. There are a number of good organizations in the Valley and all of our goals are the same, and that is to be the best and to provide the best.

Therefore, in my mind, status quo is not good enough.

As for what I did not enjoy, well, I enjoyed it all.

Yes, there were some unpleasant times and some tasks that are less than enjoyable, but they are part of the territory and are all treated as learning experiences.

What I learned from the less-than-enjoyable tasks? Well, that they can be delegated. After all, I am the hockey director.

Brad McCaughey is the director of hockey operations and coach-in-chief for DYHA. 10

Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

Sun Devils name Pasichnuk captain, set for ’18-19 season

By Matt Mackinder

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or Arizona State University, the new season brings renewed confidence and optimism.

The Sun Devils, now in their fourth season as an NCAA Division I program, kick off the new season Oct. 6-7 with a pair of games against the University of Alaska Fairbanks at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe. Ohio State University then visits the following weekend.

ASU’s home schedule features four 2018 NCAA Tournament teams, the 2018 national champions and spans all six Division I conferences. Six of the 10 teams visiting ASU either finished within the top 20 or were ranked within the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll at some point during the season, while an additional two received votes at some point during 2017-18.

The upcoming schedule also includes the return of the Desert Hockey Classic on Dec. 28-29 with 2018 national champion University of Minnesota Duluth, ECAC runner up Clarkson University and WCHA regular-season champion Minnesota State at Gila River Arena in Glendale.

“We’re thrilled to host more Division I home games than in any of our previous two seasons and bring elite, top-20 opponents to the Valley,” said Sun Devils head coach Greg Powers. “Our Desert Hockey Classic returns this year with a bang, featuring the defending national champions and two top-10 teams from a season ago. Hockey and sports fans alike have an opportunity to experience college hockey at the highest level in the desert this season.”

After embarking on the first road trip of the season to the University of Alabama Huntsville Oct. 19-20, ASU returns home against the University of Nebraska Omaha on Oct. 26-27.

Other home opponents include Michigan State Uni“I couldn’t be more proud to announce a new versity (Nov. 9-10), Colorado College (Dec. 14-15), era of leadership in Sun Devil hockey,” said PowBoston College (Jan. 4-5) and American International ers. “Our leaders have done a tremendous job getCollege (Feb. 15-16). ting us to where we are, but As for the home schedule, Brinson has earned this opthe Sun Devils will travel to portunity and we believe he at least one team from all six can lead us to new levels of conferences with five of the success.” nine teams finishing in the final His leadership was 2018-19 USCHO.com poll. demonstrated on and off the “Similar to our home ice in 2017-18, as Pasichschedule, we’re excited to play nuk paced the team with 26 some historic college hockey points as a defenseman – programs and many for the nearly doubling his producfirst time,” said Powers. “We tion from his freshman camwere fortunate to play in some paign in 2015-16. unbelievable barns last year, Over the last three offand this year’s road schedule seasons, Pasichnuk has attakes us to some of the most tended NHL Development renowned locations in college Camps, including the Minhockey.” nesota Wild in 2016, the ASU takes to the road to Montreal Canadiens in 2017 also play Penn State University and the Arizona Coyotes this (Nov. 2-3), Harvard University past summer.

(Nov. 16-17), Omaha (Nov. The men’s hockey pro23-24), Princeton University Brinson Pasichnuk was an alternate captain as a sopho- gram maintains the sec(Dec. 7-8), Cornell University more and will wear the ‘C’ this season for the Sun Devils. ond-best team GPA among Photo/Arizona State Athletics (Jan. 11-12), Boston Universiall men’s sports, and Pasichty (Jan. 25-26), Rochester Institute of Technology (Feb. nuk contributed with a 3.20 cumulative GPA follow1-2) and at the University of Minnesota (March 1-2). ing the spring semester with a focus in communications.

‘C’-ING IT THROUGH Pasichnuk becomes the third Sun Devil to wear Sun Devils junior defenseman Brinson Pasich- the ‘C’ during the program’s four-year tenure. nuk will serve as the team’s new captain for the Alternate captains will be decided prior to the 2018-19 season and beyond. season opener.

AZRubberHockey.com

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TAHOE PREP HOCKEY ACADEMY

Traditions taking hold at Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy

By Greg Ball

T

he new hockey season has barely begun, but it’s already obvious to everyone at Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy that things are different on the mountainside campus this year.

As Tahoe sets sail on its third year of existence, the academy is finding that traditions are taking hold, camaraderie is prevalent and the student-athletes are forming a unique brotherhood than can only be experienced in a campus setting like Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy.

“It’s already more than a team - it’s a brotherhood, and you can see the commitment that every kid has made to this program and each other,” said Chris Collins, the assistant coach of the school’s prep team. “You can see it the moment you walk into the dorm, and that extends from the prep team to the varsity team. It’s great to watch it grow so quickly.”

Tahoe is once again icing two teams this season.

The varsity squad opened the season by advancing to the championship game at the Los Angeles Jr. Kingshosted Labor Day Festival Tournament in El Segundo, and the prep team went 4-1 in the San Jose Sharks Jamboree playing against some of the top teams from Northern California. They scored 33 goals and allowed just eight in the five games.

“It took a little bit of time to find out who we were as a team, but once we found out, no team was stopping us,” Collins said. “The guys were having a great

time.”

The academy has 26 new student-athletes in its program for the 2018-19 school year and hockey season, and they have come to the campus from New York, Chicago, Colorado, New Mexico, Canada, and many other locales. Tahoe expects to have a waiting list for next year.

“This past summer, we really experienced a surge in interest,” Collins said. “We do a lot of advertising in hockey communities across the country. On almost every single recruiting trip I went on, people knew about Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy.”

Added Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy president and hockey director Leo Fenn: “We’re really excited and feel fortunate that this has caught on. It’s a tribute to what the coaches do day in and day out and the development program we have instilled. We sort of look at it as us guiding the train down the tracks, but the kids have to do the work, and a lot of credit has to go to them as well.”

Fenn said that having Collins on board from the academy’s founding has been a major factor in its success - both in recruiting and in on-ice performance.

“The blending of Chris, myself and (head prep

TahoeHockeyAcademy.com

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

coach) Mike Lewis has really taken player development to a new level,” Fenn said. “Chris is a younger guy who understands what it takes to develop young players and has been a very important part of our program. He relates to the kids, and the kids love him.

We always say that hard work isn’t hard work when it becomes fun, and Chris injects a lot of fun into our training.”

Collins said that Tahoe’s recruiting philosophy has shifted recently, and the staff isn’t necessarily looking to bring in exclusively players who are already at the top of their games.

“We re-evaluated the way we look at players in showcases,” Collins said. “With the amount of time we have with these kids on the ice compared to other programs and the development that we can offer, we can take a bit of a different ideology. Yeah, we want great players, but I’d rather have a kid who’s on the brink of playing Tier I hockey and is willing to put in the hard work to get to that level.

“A lot of kids will chase a letter, and they’ll lose out on development by trying to survive rather than going to a place that knows exactly what they need and abiding by those guidelines.”

COYOTES AMATEUR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Ice Den Scottsdale renames rink, honors Doan’s legacy

By Matt Mackinder

W

hen Shane Doan retired following the 2016-17 NHL season, it wasn’t a matter if the Arizona Coyotes would recognize his legacy in the desert, but rather when.

This past summer, not only did the Coyotes announce plans to retire his No. 19 jersey, but the Ice Den Scottsdale recently held a ceremony to officially name the arena’s west rink the Shane Doan Rink.

The jersey retirement ceremony will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24 when the Coyotes host the Winnipeg Jets (the team that drafted Doan in the first round of the 1995 NHL Draft before moving to Phoenix prior to the 1996-97 season). Doan will become the first Coyotes player to have his jersey retired at Gila River Arena.

Former Coyotes players Keith Tkachuk (7), Jeremy Roenick (97) and Teppo Numminen (27) and former Jets players Bobby Hull (9), Thomas Steen (25) and Dale Hawerchuk (10) have been inducted into the Coyotes’ Ring of Honor.

Doan played his entire 21-year career for the Coyotes franchise, skating in 1,540 games and compiling 402 goals and 972 points. He served as captain for his final 13 seasons.

As the Ice Den Scottsdale prepares for its 20th hockey season in the Valley, anniversary festivities commenced Aug. 12 with the rink dedication ceremony.

“When we first realized that the timing of our plans to reconstruct and renovate the west rink lined up with Shane’s retirement, we knew immediately that there was no better player or person to celebrate and rename the rink after,” said Coyotes Ice president Mike O’Hearn.

The west rink, first called the Moon Rink as a nod to the Coyotes original jersey shoulder

patches and more recently called the Ice Den Rink, was officially renamed the Shane Doan Rink with over 350 fans and members of the youth hockey community attending the sold-out event to celebrate the dedication.

Doan’s wife Andrea, and children Gracie, Josh, Karys and Carson joined him at center ice for the dedication ceremony, with Shane and Josh participating in the first

official faceoff on the newly-named ice sheet.

Following the ceremony, guests in attendance joined Doan on the ice for an inaugural skate and all left with a souvenir puck to commemorate the event. A portion of the proceeds from tickets sales from the event were donated to the Shane and Andrea Doan Foundation.

“You would be hard pressed to find someone who has spent more time in this building and on the ice than Shane,” said O’Hearn. “I think it would be even harder to identify a building in the state where he has spent more time than the Ice Den Scottsdale. For the past 20 years, watching Shane be the first player on and the last player off the ice during Coyotes practices was a regular occurrence. Even since his retirement, he’s in the building weekly as a member of our Jr. Coyotes coaching staff.

We are thankful that he continues to share his time, experience and passion with youth hockey players, including his son Josh, looking to follow the same path.

The community is fortunate to have such a loyal and dedicated leader like Shane, and the Ice Den is privileged to be a part of his career and legacy.”

“It’s an exciting honor to be recognized in this unique way,” added Doan. “The Ice Den has basically been my second home since it opened in 1998. It’s a true asset to the community. Over the past 20 years, my family has and continues to spend countless hours at the rink. It is inspiring to think of all the young hockey players who will develop and compete on the ice. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Photos/Sandra Tenuto Photography

CoyotesIce.com

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ARIZONA TITANS

New Titans program: ‘longshot’ to ‘dream come true’

By Matt Mackinder

T

he Arizona Titans have taken the ice.

A first-year program playing out of AZ Ice Arcadia, the Titans came together over the spring and summer months to give Valley youth hockey players another option to grow and develop, both on and off the ice.

AZ Ice Arcadia director of hockey operations Justin Rogers heads up the Titans and also coaches a pair teams this season.

“This season has been a blast to be a part of, although stressful as you can imagine,” said Rogers. “What started out as a longshot turned out to be a dream come true. The first task was to find a name – which proved to be one of the hardest parts – but I was a Titan at Arcadia High School, as was my dad (Jim). It seemed fitting to start over as the Titans, and it left the door open to build to a high school team in the future.

“Second, VOSHA needed to find a solid coaching staff as they would become the foundation of the organization and helping the vision come to life. Michael Hensdell was the first on board to help rebuild VOSHA from the ground up, and one of the Valley’s most established powerskating coaches was the perfect place to start.

From there, Mike and I worked to build the coaching staff that we have today.”

The Titans will have nine teams this season, three of which are Tier II. The coaching staff includes Jim Rogers (6U), Garrett Stephenson (8U, 10U), Justin Rogers (12U Minor, 14U Minor), Steve Majercak (12U Major), Jarred Smith (14U AA), Hensdell (16U AA), and Rob Kerns (18U AA).

“We will be striving to develop our players in all skills from skating to teamwork,” Justin Rogers said. “Simply put, our goal is to develop

better hockey, one player at a time. We want our players and teams to develop and improve over the course of the season, giving each player the best opportunity going forward. We will achieve this by running USA Hockey’s ADM (American Development Model) with station-based skill practices and off-ice workouts. We want to ensure that all players are being pushed to their full potential.

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“Success for us this season is making a name for the organization and simply being able to compete with the teams across the Valley. We want VOSHA to be an option that everyone considers come next season.”

So what will make the Titans a viable program for the 2018-19 season and moving forward?

“I believe our emphasis on skill development sets us apart from other existing hockey organizations in the state,” said Justin Rogers. “VOSHA has already proven to be sustainable, and I’d venture to say that having Jim Rogers (current VOSHA president) at the helm again has helped. He helped build the organization years ago and is determined to keep it alive. His love for the game and offering kids across the state a better and affordable chance at competitive hockey is a motivator for everyone.”

And with the season here, the Titans have hit the ground running.

“We have had our fair share of hiccups along the way, but everything from setting our practice plans and designing our gear for the season has been an absolute treat,” Justin Rogers said. “Three months ago, people were doubting we would even be able to field a team, but fast forward to now and we have at least one team in every division from 6U through 18U, and all are competitive in their respective divisions.

“VOSHA has been around 20 years, but it’s never easy to rebuild, so it was all hands on deck. Being able to see the love and support for the organization, the rink and hockey in general has made it all worthwhile.”

HOCKEYSHOT

How NHL players train & why they choose HockeyShot

By HockeyShot

N

obody knows how to keep their game sharp like an All-Star NHL hockey player.

HockeyShot has a longstanding relationship with some of the best of the best in the NHL. We’ve gathered some of our favorite NHL hockey players to give us their thoughts on the HockeyShot Product Lineup.

If you don’t know John Tavares, you may be living under a rock. After being selected first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2009 NHL Draft, Tavares went on to become captain of the Islanders and one of the top players in the NHL. He recently signed a seven-year, $77 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, his hometown team.

Here is what he had to say about HockeyShot: “I’m always looking for an edge to my game. HockeyShot products, like the Passer Pro, are great to help keep my puck handling and shooting sharp during the summer. All of their products help me to prepare better for the next season” Next up, we have Aleksander Barkov, one of the darlings of Finnish hockey. Barkov was chosen as the second overall pick in 2013 by the Florida Panthers. He is an offensive threat and an absolute inspiration for any youngsters looking to get excited about playing ice hockey.

One of the reasons Barkov plays with such high confidence is he knows the power of at-home training. HockeyShot has been right alongside Barkov, helping him develop his skills and get him ready for the NHL level.

His thoughts on HockeyShot: “I have always been a big fan of shooting pucks during the summer. HockeyShot products took it to another level. Now, I’m not only shooting pucks, I can dangle, pass, sauce and practice one-times. Allstar Tiles are

amazingly slick, and you just can’t get any closer to the real ice feeling. Overall, the products are a lot of fun and help preparing me for on-ice situations.”

Continuing the pedigree, we have Jordan Staal.

A native of Thunder Bay, Ont., Jordan grew up playing hockey with his three brothers on the outdoor rink built by

their father. All four boys later grew up to become massive ice hockey threats, with all of them making their NHL debut between 2003 and 2013.

Jordan was selected at No. 2 in the NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006 and took home the biggest prize of all in 2009 after winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins. After six years with the Penguins, Jordan signed a 10-year, $60 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2012, later being named co-captain alongside Justin Faulk.

One of the only ways you can make it as far as the Staal brothers is with the help of proper training aids.

Even if you have a backyard rink, there is no comparison to having the right gear. One of Jordan’s favorite Hockey Shot products is the Passer Pro. He said: “The HS Passer Pro is a fantastic training aid. I was impressed at the high quality and strong puck rebound, and it allows me to work on my passes and fire one-timers at home during the offseason. Their training aids are now an essential part of my off-ice training. Join the HS revolution, I did!”

It takes passion, hard work and most importantly training, to achieve your goals of playing in the NHL – the Hockey Shot Product Lineup can get you there.

For all the best hockey training products, visit www.

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INLINE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA

IHAAZ standouts Proud, Clark reflect on summer in Italy many different playing styles that I would have never seen in only the United States. And it showed me that I am caatum Proud and Izzy Clark represented IHAAZ on pable of playing with the best players in the world.”

The chance to experience life in another country was a big stage over the summer.

The two 16-year-old inline hockey stars earned a spot a highlight of the trip as well. on the Team USA junior women’s inline team that com“What I enjoyed most was spending time with my peted in Italy at the International Roller Sports Federation great friends in a whole other country,” Clark said. “Being (FIRS) inline hockey world championship tournament. able to experience different foods and see how different Proud plays for the Knightit was from here. In the games, hawks and Clark is with the my favorite moments were just Yuma Blaze. They were joined being able to play. I had a lot on the team by two others of fun playing in Italy.

“One of the coolest things from Arizona in Lauren Powwas being able to sing the ers, who is on the Arizona national anthem before each State Division III roller team, game. We would line up, put and Maci Edie, who plays ice our arms around each other hockey at Arizona State. and sing it.”

Proud and Clark loved the The team played six once-in-a-lifetime experience. games in the tournament and “I was super excited to Lauren Power, coach Greg Era, Tatum Proud, coach Lyndsey be given the opportunity to Fry, Maci Edie and Izzy Clark – left to right, all from Arizona spent a lot of time preparing represent my country while – soak in the experience at the FIRS inline hockey world cham- for the competition before growing the game of girls in- pionship tournament over the summer in Italy. Photo/Brent Proud heading overseas. Team USA line hockey,” Proud said. “I made amazing new friends, finished 2-2-2.

“We spent a lot of time practicing,” said Clark. “We hopefully teammates for years to come with four of us had around four practices a week at the Yuma rink, spendbeing from Arizona.

“Being awarded the opportunity to play hockey at the ing two hours daily during the week conditioning with highest level has given me confidence and opened my soccer. And then we traveled to Phoenix every Sunday to eyes to a totally different level of hockey. Playing against play three games at the Peoria Sportsplex. And then we teams from all over the world allowed me to go up against had Team USA practice for 1-2 hours afterwards.”

By Brian Lester

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IHAAZ.com

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Proud said the time spent in practice was well worth it considering the teams Team USA was up against in Italy.

“The competition was extremely tough,” Proud said. “I think the biggest challenge of all was adapting my goaltending to all of the different playing styles. Every country plays hockey just a little differently.”

Proud said the experience proved valuable to her and she hopes to use it as a springboard to success during the upcoming IHAAZ season.

“I believe my positive attitude and love for the game are my biggest strengths,” Proud said. “I’m hoping to get as much goalie training as possible before the IHAAZ season starts to become a better all-around goalie.”

Clark is hoping to mold her game after some of the playing styles she saw while in Italy.

“It will benefit me because I went there and I was able to experience a whole different playing style with each game,” Clark said. “Some styles went really well, which I’m hoping to include in my game during the IHAAZ season.”

Proud and Clark both have a strong passion for the game and can’t wait for the season ahead in IHAAZ. The bonds and friendships they forged while in Italy are something they won’t forget.

“The inline hockey community is extremely supportive,” Proud said. “All of the teams in IHAAZ seem to come together within the state are a tight-knit family. Before playing for Team USA, I had friends from all over Arizona because of IHAAZ. Now, I have friends from all over the world.”

MISSION ARIZONA

Mission AZ working to strengthen ties with AZ Ice Peoria

By Greg Ball

F

or 12 of its 13 years as a program, Mission AZ has made its home in the friendly confines of AZ Ice Peo-

ria.

As the 2018-19 season gets underway, the leadership at Mission is taking steps to further its already strong relationship with the rink’s operators.

Jeremy Goltz, Mission’s director of hockey operations, said he wants to continue doing the things that will support the long-term health of his program while also giving back and supporting the thriving in-house program at the rink. In many ways, those two goals go together, and he recently came to the realization that he and his staff needed to do more to foster those relationships.

“We’re trying to reinvent our relationship with the rink and the in-house program,” Goltz said. “Sometimes, when you’re in one place for a long time, things can get stagnant, and we sort of found that the chain from in-house hockey to playing travel hockey was in some ways broken.”

Goltz and his coaching staff have started a weekly clinic on Wednesdays at 5:10 p.m. to work with in-house players that will run through the entire season. It should be a win-win for both parties as the clinics will also help expose younger players to the Mission program and potentially serve as a recruiting avenue for the program.

“We’re hoping to help some of the in-house coaches

with working on specific skill sets with the kids, knowing that they have limited practice time,” Goltz said. “The players get exposure to us as well and get familiar with how we do things at Mission. I think it’s really going to help bridge the gap.”

Goltz has put on summer clinics and organized summer leagues in the past, but they always involved travel players alongside in-house kids, a n d sometimes that doesn’t make for the most effective learning environment for either group.

“This is really all about Mission directly trying to positively impact the in-house program, maximize their development and give them a little taste of what we’re all about,” Goltz said. “It can give them an opportunity to get more ice time and more coaching, and maybe take a look at how far they want to push their hockey aspirations.”

As tryouts wrapped up for the 2018-19 season, Goltz discovered that about 80 percent of the players in Mission’s Squirt team were new this year, most coming directly from the in-house league at AZ Ice Peoria.

That’s obviously a significant positive for the program, and it’s something that he wants to continue growing.

Goltz said that the rink operators have always been strong supporters of the Mission program, and that has played a big part in the program staying put in one place for so long.

“Jim Curley, the general manager, is a huge advocate for Mission,” Goltz said. “He’s always trying to figure out ways that we can bridge programs and make sure that people are educated about Mission.

Larry Gibson, the youth hockey director, is also our goalie coach, so there’s a strong tie there. He’s a great link to Mission. Crystal Roe is the adult hockey director, and she does a lot of great work for us.”

In addition to its work with the in-house program, Mission is also getting involved with the selects program, which is a bridge program between house and travel. They will have some of their younger coaches help out with tryouts and other aspects of the program.

“We’re excited about it,” Goltz said. “It’s been a shot in the arm for me to get to work with some different kids. So far, it’s been a lot of fun, and I’m enjoying it.”

MissionArizonaIce.org

WELCOME TO THE HALL! Mission AZ Class of 2018!

Jake Herzog Matthew Songstad Raeann Clancey Walker Yancy Brett Charron Demitri Thorsen

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NEW MEXICO REPORT Colorado Springs AAA the next Lobos gearing up for start to stop for Warriors standout Terrel 2018-19 college hockey campaign

By Matt Mackinder

By Matt Mackinder

T

G

he goal of the New Mexico Warriors association has always been to develop elite, competitive hockey players who can compete at the highest levels possible.

Kieran Terrel is the latest example of that as he’ll skate for the Colorado Springs Tigers’ 15U AAA National team for the 2018-19 season.

“I heard about the program from Matt Orlando and Nick Weaver who played here in New Mexico for the Warriors and played last season for the Tigers,” said Terrel. “They loved the program and recommended that I try out. I knew from the moment that I attended the ID camp that I wanted to play in Colorado Springs and was excited when they selected me for the team.”

Terrel added that being comfortable in new surroundings will be a major help.

“I really like the training facilities and the coaching staff,” Terrel said. “Everyone has been friendly and supportive and that has made the transition smooth. It will be tough to leave home because my friends, teammates, and family are all in New Mexico. The support I have received at home from coaches, parents, and the organization has been unbelievable. I am very fortunate to have played for such great people.”

The son of the Warriors goalie coach Tom Terrel, the younger Terrel also played for NMAHA growing up.

“The coaches that stand out the most have been Vladimir Hartinger and Bryan Barnes with the Warriors,” Terrel said. “They both worked with me on skills and pushed me to better myself. Because of them, I understand the game and am now able to compete at a much higher level. I also appreciate the support of my family.

My mom (Taryn) and dad sacrifice a lot so my brothers Sean and Eion and I can all play. I also appreciate my sister Daniela’s support.

“Playing for the Warriors prepared me by creating a competitive atmosphere to develop. I have played with the same group of players for many years and that taught me the importance of teamwork. That has helped me prepare for playing at the AAA level.”

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rant Harvey believes the upcoming season for the University of New Mexico is a “firecracker.”

And for obvious reasons.

“Our schedule strength is the hardest it’s ever been,” said Harvey, the Lobos’ head coach. “We are playing five of the top 10 teams in our region. I am looking forward to playing Nebraska in our first outdoor tournament, the Nuclear Shootout. Due to proximity, we don’t get to play them, but they are a perennial powerhouse and it’s good for both of our programs. We have so much history with NAU and Colorado School of Mines that I am looking forward to those dates also. The UTEP rivalry is back up and running, too.”

Player-wise, Harvey is excited at what the roster looks like.

“Mackenzie Smith decided to come back for his final year and that was big for us as I referred to him and Logan Colyer as the ‘Two Generals’ back on ‘D,’” said Harvey. “I am going to rely heavily on Nate Taglialegami to pick up his scoring along with Graeme Chiasson and the young Jarrod Ronquillo for his offensive prowl. James Bostian will be returning in net. Garret Inman is a pillar of my team has to stay injury-free and the newly-acquired Ben Hopp will be instrumental in our success.”

Hopp played the prior four years at Calvin College in Michigan.

What will make the 2018-19 season a success for the Lobos?

“Pulling out the close games is the difference between a playoff contender and a team who watches from the outside – it’s not enough to have close games,” Harvey said. “The true playoff-pedigreed teams win those close games as we did last year with three overtime wins and tying our other overtime game. Playing the two-way game is also the difference maker.

“Our goals are to play a complete game and the rest will take care of itself. I think if we get a good start in our home-heavy schedule, we can get the momentum to be the road warrior team we have a reputation of being.”

Arizonans represent U.S. with gold medal at FIRS inline worlds

By Phillip Brents

E

ight Arizonans had the opportunity to not only represent their state but their country at this summer’s 2018 International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) inline hockey world championship tournament.

Competition took place in four divisions – senior men and women and junior men and women – July 14-28 in Asiago and Roana, Italy.

The U.S. senior women and junior men’s teams each came home with gold medals while the American senior men’s team finished fifth in a field of 22 teams. The U.S. junior women’s team finished ninth in its 10-team division.

Arizonans coming home with gold medals included Youngstown’s Allison Era, Tempe’s Katherine McGovern and Chandler’s Lyndsey Fry, along with head coach Dave Marmorstein, yet another Arizonan.

Era, who was making her 11th consecutive appearance with Team USA, served as team captain.

The Americans finished 5-1 in six games in Italy, overcoming a 5-1 round-robin loss to the Czech Republic in round-robin play to defeat the Czechs 3-2 in come-from-behind fashion in the championship game.

Era, McGovern and Fry combined for eight points in the team’s six games. Each had an assist in the team’s 3-1 semifinal win over Spain.

The U.S. team captured a tense 2-1 shootout win over New Zealand in the quarterfinals.

The Americans defeated Argentina (6-2) and Italy (5-2) to face off round-robin play. Era scored the first goal in the tournament for the United States.

Former Arizona State University standout Clay Taylor was one of two goaltenders on the U.S. senior men’s team. The Americans finished 7-1 overall, with the lone loss coming 4-3 in overtime to the eventual gold medalist Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.

The USA, which opened the tournament with lopsided victories against China (30-0) and India (41-0), rebounded to shut out Colombia 8-0 in the fifth-place game.

The junior women’s team spotlighted four Arizonans: Yuma’s Isabella Clark, Scottsdale’s Lauren Power, Scottsdale’s Macy Eide and Phoenix’s Tatum Proud (goaltender). Arizonan Greg Era served as head coach.

(See more on Page 16.)

Konixx Outcasts rise to the top at national tournaments larger than average 12U player size they were able to also generate some great offense for the team.”

Arizonans were in the thick of the trophy hunt at the State Wars 14 United States Roller Hockey Championships that took place July 25-Aug. 6 in St. Peters, Mo. State Wars is an event that aligns its divisions by

and Jake Dempsey and Marana’s Nathan tePas. “Forming a team for State Wars is always a chalhen Konixx Outcasts program director Nick Bolenge for Arizona as the event’s timing is scheduled yarsky was putting together a 12U regional team around assuming most youth players start school after to compete at the NARCh East Coast Finals July 12-21 Labor Day weekend,” Boyarsky noted. “Many of our Arin Alpharetta, Ga., a pair of standout players in the Inline izona students start school the first week of August or Hockey Association of Arizona (IHAAZ) tournament earlier, making a four- to five-day long tournament a festival the past two seasons immediately came to challenge as players have to miss a decent amount mind: Tucson’s Dominik Barber and Liam Wilde. of days in their first one to two weeks of school.

“I wanted to find spots for both of them on this “This year, we were able to build a very solid and collaborative team to give them the opportunity to experienced eight-skater and a goalie team to comexperience new teams, teammates, and a chance to pete.” play at the highest levels the sport has to offer,” BoAfter finishing 2-2 in round-robin play, the team yarsky explained. found its footing in the nationwide field to defeat Barber and Wilde got to experience exactly that Team Northern California White 2-1 in the semifias Team Konixx STL, featuring a mix of players from nals and New Jersey 4-0 in the championship game. the Midwest and Arizona, captured the 12U Gold “While all nine players came from the Outcasts Division championship, the top level offered at the program, they were represented by three different event.

Outcasts teams, creating the need to really get on “Dominik proved to me last summer that he the same page as quickly as possible,” Boyarsky could be placed into a group of other talented hockelaborated. “We struggled during round-robin play ey players and adapt to their style and game play to find line combos that worked together well. The seamlessly, which not every standout player from a skill was there, but the team work and communicalocal team can do,” Boyarsky said. tion was off just a bit.

“Earlier in the season with their Outcasts 12U Team Arizona, coached by Nick Boyarsky, captured the 2001 AA Division “It was great seeing this group come together team, I started putting both Liam and Dominik into championship at the State Wars 14 United States Roller Hockey Champion- and finally click when it really mattered, our role playdefensive roles to prepare them for this Konixx team ships in Missouri to cap the summer inline hockey championship season. ers did their jobs perfectly and our impact guys like for Georgia. I knew that’s where they would be Photo/State Wars Carter Newlin (hat trick in the championship game) needed as this team was not lacking in the offensive birth year. Boyarsky coached Team Arizona to the 2001 and goaltender Nathan tePas put us over the top.” area but on the other end of the puck. Both were able to AA championship.

Newlin earned selection to Team Honor, one of two feel out the position throughout their West Coast seaThe team’s roster included Glendale’s Luc Spi- all-tournament teams named at the State Wars tournason and step into their roles with this team confidently nasanta, Cody Case and Spenser Craig, Chan- ment following round-robin play (the other being Team and effectively. dler’s Carter Newlin, Gilbert’s Carsen Welch, Cave Pride). Newlin also earned recognition as the MVP of “Although both did their job defensively, with their Creek’s Jorden Werner, Yuma’s Austin Pacewick the championship game.

By Phillip Brents

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AZRubberHockey.com

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SHOP TALK

Want new, custom skates? Head over to BTM Scottsdale S

ome exciting new technology has come to Behind The Mask Scottsdale.

Bauer and CCM have jumped into the custom 3-D fit skate business, joining True who got the early jump on them.

This allows the Exelby consumer to get the exact custom fit skate they desire.

The player can get quarter-inch sizes, and different sizes and widths for each skate if needed.

As an example, a player might need an 8 1/2 on the right foot and 9 on the left and must settle for the larger size rather than getting the perfect fit. Although the perfect fit does come at a price, both Bauer and CCM are only offering the pro model skates for custom. And custom skates come with an upcharge over retail.

The feedback we have received over the past year on the True custom skates has been phenomenal.

We have fit over 100 players, including former Coyotes great Jeremy Roenick and three of ASU’s

Division I goalies. Over 60 percent of the NHL goalies are currently in True custom goalie skates. The first thing we hear when the player puts on his custom skate is, “Wow a skate that finally fits.”

If a consumer has a regular-shaped foot, stock skates are still a great option. But for those who have irregular feet or Bauer bumps etc., custom skates are a great option.

As these custom fit centers are expensive, BTM Scottsdale is the only place to get them in Arizona. Store manager Mychal Moore and COO Steven Jovic went to Montreal for training on the Bauer scanner and our staff has been trained in-store by CCM and True. True offered a great employee program and many of our staff skate on them for ice and couple of the staff who play for ASU converted them to inline.

So these guys know how the custom fit process works and the benefits.

What can be customized – Bauer Bauer improves on their custom skates by utilizing its 3-D fit center to manufacture the skate to a 3-D printed mold of your foot, providing a more accurate fit to the Vapor, Supreme or Nexus line of high-end skates. The player has the option to

choose from a variety of liners, tongues, eyelets and steel to achieve the perfect fit. You can also add a name and number to the tongue of the skates to insure everyone knows you got that pro custom experience.

Skates take 2-4 weeks for production.

What can be customized – CCM CCM offers two custom options in the 3-D custom mold or full custom build. The 3-D custom molded skates are formed using high heat and pressure around a 3-D printed copy of your foot to ensure pure contact in the boot. Since the Jetspeed and Tacks lines are a fully wrapped one-piece boot, this gives you a pure fit. With this option you also get a custom number on the tongue of the skate. CCM’s full custom skate allows you to choose liner, tongues, boot adjustment, and fits while building the skate around a 3-D printed mold of your foot.

Production times are usually 8-10 days for 3-D molded skates and 4-6 weeks for full custom.

Stop into BTM Scottsdale and let our staff walk you through the options available with Bauer, CCM and True custom skates.

We’ll see you soon!

Randy Exelby is the owner of Behind The Mask Hockey Shops.

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

AZRubberHockey.com

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PIERRE-OLIVIER JOSEPH Position: Defenseman, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) Hometown: Chambly, Quebec, Canada NHL Draft: Selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft Age: 19

Arizona Rubber: What’s your favorite hockey memory growing up?

Pierre-Olivier Joseph: I have so many great memories. Just starting to play hockey is a big one. That was the big part of it. Also, watching my brother (Mathieu) play and competing against him during juniors was pretty much the best moment of my life, hockey wise. The first game I will remember - we were playing Saint John. In the opening faceoff, it was me and my brother on the ice together and that will always be a special moment you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

AZR: What’s your favorite memory in the game since playing junior hockey?

POJ: I play really far from home, and so I don’t really see my parents often.

Just being far away from home creates a lot of friendships. I’ve been playing with the same two guys for the last three years I was in Charlottetown (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). Those are close friendships that I will keep forever.

AZR: Who have been the biggest influences on you, on and off the ice?

POJ: Also, again, my brother. Just looking at him and he’s been through everything I’ve been through. He’s been through the NHL Draft (Tampa Bay, fourth round, 2015), the combine, the first years of rookie tournaments, and all that stuff. To watch him on and off the ice is a big part of my process.

AZR: What’s the best piece of advice you have for young hockey players?

POJ: Through all the competition and the hard work that you will do, remember that it is a sport. Enjoy every time you go on the ice and everything when you’re working out. It’s a game and you want to win, but you need to have some fun.

AZR: Other than hockey, do you have a favorite sport to play?

POJ: I played so many sports. I played golf, basketball, tennis, soccer. A favorite one? I love playing golf lately. There is a good course over here in Scottsdale I’ve played. I’ll take golf for now.

AZR: Do you have any superstitions?

POJ: None at all. There are big things people complain about sometimes, but I don’t have one.

AZR: What does your game-day routine look like?

POJ: I try and stay as calm as possible. I don’t try and put too much pressure on myself on the team we’ll play against. Just have a good morning skate and practice, and get back eating, take a nap and go back to the rink. Again, have fun and be ready to compete at the right time.

AZR: What are some essential items you take on a road trip?

POJ: A lot of food. I bring a lot of snacks that I eat in the room after practice.

Otherwise, it’s a good time to bond with your teammates and stuff like that.

Headphones, for sure. We have a lot of long road trips from Charlottetown and we can even do 22 hours at one time. Yes, headphones are key.

AZR: Did you have a favorite hockey player growing up?

POJ: I love watching P.K. Subban. His passion for the game, the way he just enjoys the game. He loves to be on the ice and the way he is always smiling is great.

Photo/Norm Hall

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

- Compiled by Mark Brown

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