What better way to celebrate a child’s introduction into the game of hockey that to do just that – celebrate?

Every year, the Arizona Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) puts on a series of Mite Jamborees across the state. The first one for the current 2015-16 season was hosted by Mission Arizona at AZ Ice Peoria on Sept. 20, with six more to follow once a month on Saturdays through the middle of March.

“All the Mite players and coaches are excited for a new Jamboree season,” said AAHA Mite Jamboree director James Goon. “The administrators are also excited to run these events and are always looking for volunteers to help make the Jamborees run as smooth as possible.”

AAHA has been sponsoring these Jamborees in support of Mite hockey in Arizona and they have definitely been an overwhelming success with the state’s younger players and members of their families. The players are generally from 8U House and Travel teams and at the Jamboree events, the teams play a minimum of three simultaneous cross-ice games to adhere to the USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM).

The Arizona Coyotes mascot, Howler, has been on hand in the past to share in the fun.

“With any sport, it’s important to grow the game at the grassroots level and that’s what we are doing here with AAHA,” added Goon. “By starting these young kids out with the ADM and getting them acclimated to small-area games while also developing their skills, this is a win-win for everyone involved. These Jamborees seem to get bigger and better each year and that’s a testament to the coaches and organization directors that step up and do what’s right and what’s best for the kids that want to play hockey.”

2015-16 AAHA MITE JAMBOREE SCHEDULE
Mission AZ, AZ Ice Peoria, Sept. 20, 2015, 8 a.m.-1:10 p.m.
DYHA, Oceanside Ice Arena, Oct. 17, 2015, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
VOSHA Bobcats, AZ Ice Arcadia, Nov. 8, 2015, 12-5:10 p.m.
Phoenix Jr. Coyotes, Ice Den Scottsdale, Dec. 5, 2015, 9:40 a.m.-1:25 p.m.
Arizona Hockey Union, AZ Ice Gilbert, Jan. 9, 2016, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Phoenix Jr. Coyotes, Ice Den Chandler, Feb. 20, 2016, 9:50 a.m.-1:35 p.m.
Flagstaff Northstars, Jay Lively Arena, March 19-20, 2016*
*End-of-year Jamboree with crowned champion, small fee per team

— Matt Mackinder