In what has been an annual event, the four Jr. Coyotes teams swept the Tier I Arizona state championships earlier this year.

And while the players get the lions’ share of the credit – and deservedly so – the coaches behind the benches for each team put in hours of week behind the scenes, giving credence to the Jr. Coyotes being the preeminent youth hockey association in the Valley.

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At the Tier I level this past season, Marc Fritsche guided the 14U team, Ray Whitney and longtime Jr. Coyotes coach Mike DeAngelis coached the 15 Only team, Nick Naumenko headed up the 16U squad, and Dave Ellett led the club’s 18U team.

Whitney and Ellett are former NHL players and between the two, skated more than 2400 games in “The Show.” In 2006, Whitney was part of the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup championship team.

DeAngelis has been with the Jr. Coyotes program more than 15 years and was the hockey director for the majority of that time.

“As a coach, I think I am able to set out a blueprint path for players’ development through their teenaged years,” said DeAngelis. “When it comes to CAHA, the past decade of high-level hockey coaches coming here, where many have formerly played at the pro level, is something I find exciting.”

Fritsche said DeAngelis has “the experience in youth hockey that most can only dream of.”

“He is a leader and a person that wants to continue to develop the top kids in Arizona to go further,” Fritsche said. “Mike is the type of coach that wears his heart on his sleeve and is a true maker of men. The list of players he has helped reach the next level is incredible.”

Ellett has been coaching with CAHA the past six seasons and always wants what’s best for each player.

“I have a goal of making each player better by the end of the season, both as an individual and a teammate,” Ellett said. “I also want to expose the players to systems and team trends they will encounter at the next level.”

“At the 18U level, players can be challenging in the fact they are all at the end of their youth hockey roads and keeping them motivated can be sometimes difficult,” added Fritsche. “Dave does an incredible job of keeping players motivated and makes sure they are prepared to play junior hockey.”

Naumenko is another passionate coach that relishes working with the Jr. Coyotes players on a daily basis and has the ability to get the most out of his team.

“Nick has an incredible gift of getting his players to learn to play at a high pace,” Fritsche said. “Nick wakes up in the morning thinking about how he can make his players better. He grew up around youth hockey and with his passion for the game, his players and this program are incredibly lucky to have him.”

With CAHA since 2015, Whitney said he coaches because his son Hudson is playing “and I thought I might as well join the fun.”

“What I enjoy about the CAHA program is their commitment to growing the game and the support they show their coaches and players,” Whitney said. “If as a coach you need something, they do what they can to make it happen.”

Fritsche called Whitney “an incredible leader.”

“Players like playing for him because he shoots it straight,” said Fritsche. “What people don’t know about him is he is a true teacher of the game.”

Fritsche, also the Jr. Coyotes Elite Program director, concluded that the Jr. Coyotes “have a strong stable of coaches in our program.”

“Having guys with the experience is not only great for our players to learn from, but they are also great mentors for our younger coaches,” he said. “With a group of coaches like this, how can you not have success? I would put our coaching staff up against any staff in the country.”

— Matt Mackinder

(June 16, 2020)