AHU introduces three top-notch coaches to Knights family
Arizona Hockey Union is very happy to announce our newest head coaches to the club!
Take a minute and get to know a little about each of them.
8U Mite White: “Billy” Mulligan
1. Where are you from? Chandler
2. How did you get into coaching youth travel hockey? My son
3. Who is your NHL team? Player? Arizona Coyotes, Oliver Ekman-Larsson
4. Do you have any hobbies besides hockey? Being with my family
5. What other sports are you into? Football
6. Have you ever had a nickname? What is it? Mully
7. What do you want from a player more than anything? Have fun and work hard
8. Best thing a player can do off the ice? Play other sports
9. Best vehicle for hockey – van or truck? Truck
10. What do you enjoy most about the game of hockey? Dislike the most? Some of my best memories are from my youth. They all involve hockey, being with my team before and after games, road trips, etc.
11. What is the most important thing you want to get out of this season? For everyone to get better
12. What is one thing you wish your players knew that would help you coach them better? That it is OK to ask questions
10U Squirt Black: Heath Tinsdale
1. Where are you from? Huntington Beach, Calif.
2. How did you get into coaching youth travel hockey? Started coaching my middle sons’ Mini Mites and continued since
3. Who is your NHL team? Player? Arizona Coyotes, Clayton Keller
4. Do you have “hype music” in the locker room? What would be your song/band? Yes. Steve Aoki. But my players pick their playlist
5. Do you have any hobbies besides hockey? Dirt bikes. Hiking. My dogs (I have five)
6. What other sports are you into? Golf and Motocross
7. If money was no object, what would you do all day? Wander around the mountains
8. What’s your favorite holiday? Christmas
9. What was your first job? Working for a horse trainer
10. What do you want from a player more than anything? Be a great teammate
11. Biggest pet peeve parents do to a coach? Car coaching.
12. Best thing a player can do off the ice? Stickhandling, shooting. Try stuff they wouldn’t in a game or practice
13. Best vehicle for hockey – van or truck? Truck. Nobody wants that stinky gear in their space.
14. What do you enjoy most about the game of hockey? Speed and pace of game. Dislike the most? Nothing
15. What is the most important thing you want to get out of this season? Players developed and improved. Hungry for the next season.
16. In what ways are you the same as your childhood self? A lot. My wife will tell you.
17. If you could see 24 hours into the future, what would you be doing? Practice plans
18. What’s something that no one would guess about you? I love cartoons
19. What is one thing you wish your players knew that would help you coach them better? That not everything has to be done at warp speed. Most importantly, do it right. Then do it fast – and right.
16U Midget AA Silver: Cody Gylling
1. Where are you from? Chandler
2. How did you get into coaching youth travel hockey? I wanted to stay around the game after I was done playing and found a passion in coaching.
3. Who is your NHL team? Player? Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby
4. Do you have “hype music” in the locker room? What would be your song/band? For sure, I’m all for music in the locker room before. Anything from Avicii.
5. Do you have any hobbies besides hockey? Spending time with friends/family
6. What other sports are you into? Golf
7. Have you ever had a nickname? What is it? Sure, nicknames are common in hockey. Gills.
8. If money was no object, what would you do all day? I’m always up to something different so I’d just stay pursuing my passions.
9. What’s your favorite holiday? Christmas
10. What was your first job? Verified payments at a debt collection agency.
11. What do you want from a player more than anything? Be coachable, work hard, be a good teammate
12. Biggest pet peeve parents do to a coach? High-maintenance parents overall.
13. Best thing a player can do off the ice? Visualize
14. Best vehicle for hockey – van or truck? Truck
15. What do you enjoy most about the game of hockey? Dislike the most? Beyond actually playing the game, the relationships built along the way. My biggest dislike is the politics behind the scenes.
16. What is the most important thing you want to get out of this season? Give my players a great experience while giving them the tools to develop.
17. In what ways are you the same as your childhood self? I wouldn’t say my personality has changed too much.
18. If you could see 24 hours into the future, what would you be doing? Not sure. My schedule varies.
19. What’s something that no one would guess about you? I don’t like anything dairy.
20. What is one thing you wish your players knew that would help you coach them better? Nothing that comes to mind, but I’d say it’s my job to teach them what I’d like them to know.
— Compiled by Sean Phillips
(Oct. 3, 2019)
