Chances are if you have been involved in hockey at any point or level over the past 25 years in Arizona, you have crossed paths with Stacy Shupe.

Now in her 11th year as club president for the Arizona Hockey Union, Shupe continues to be a strong advocate for growing the game in the state, even long after her two sons aged out of youth hockey and played college hockey while also earning their college degrees.

For Shupe, it’s simply for the love of the game.

“My oldest son Alexander started in the Polar Ice Chandler ‘Learn to Skate’ and Mini-Mite program back in 2001 and joined a Mite B travel team in 2004 called the Chandler Bears,” explained Shupe. “By 2004, I was working as a volunteer for the youth hockey director, Jeff Shevalier, to input house game scores and stats into their home system a few hours per week from home. That little Mite B team, coached by Marty Gilan and my husband John, traveled all over the state, including Flagstaff and Tucson and the in-town rinks, to play full-ice games. 

“We were hooked from then on.”

It was at that point that Shupe knew that her new passion was being at the rink. It all came so natural for her.

In 2005, Shupe took on the role of team manager for the 10U team and started volunteering for the Polar Bears tournaments and events. She remained involved as a team leader and the club registrar and in 2009, was named to the club board and accepted the role as Arizona Heat association president for the new travel program, expanding the Polar Bears parent company when Polar Ice Gilbert opened that year. 

The growth didn’t stop there as Shupe was a key component in creating what is now the Arizona Hockey Union.

“In 2010, we retired the Polar Bears and Arizona Heat logos,” Shupe said. “This was the birth of the Arizona Hockey Union.”

Shupe kept diving in deeper with the game, getting appointed as an officer of the club as the secretary and while still serving as the club registrar. In 2014, she was appointed club president when Gina Quinn retired.

“Both my boys, Alexander and Evan, were Mites to Midgets in the club and both played ACHA hockey for Northern Arizona University while getting their degrees,” said Shupe. “I always wanted to be involved in the sport that my kids loved. And now they have both come back to coach for the program. I have also come full circle and am again a team manager, starting the third season for one of the teams my son coaches for.”

Being in a position of leadership, Shupe said she is “very passionate about having things done correctly and always with the players and families in mind.”

“Since my tenure began, we have further grown the program into 11 youth teams and also a thriving tournament business that earns more than $250,000 in economic growth per year and hosts more than 300 teams at its combined events,” said Shupe. “I am proud that we promote that positive economic growth in Phoenix with all the out-of-state teams that come to the area to compete in our events with hotels, restaurants, rental car and golf revenues to name a few.”

With all her roles, Shupe is certainly busy, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

In addition to the aforementioned roles with AHU, Shupe keeps busy as tournament director the last 10 years, state disciplinary board member the last 10 years, Arizona Amateur Hockey Association voting director and club disciplinary chair.

As the years have come and gone, Shupe has remained a constant factor in Arizona youth hockey circles.

“Through the years, our entire group of friends comes from hockey families,” Shupe said. “Between my 1996 and 1999 birth year kids, all of our circle is mostly hockey families. We have celebrated life milestones, weddings, new babies, and have lost a few.”

Moving forward, Shupe’s advice for other females looking to get involved with hockey is succinct.

“In a sport that is primarily male, we need strong ladies with organizational and attention to detail skills that can really form a great partnership with the men,” she said. “Hockey really is for everyone, and with AHU, we have a great blend of officers, coaches and managers that make my job very enjoyable.”

Photos provided by Stacy Shupe

— Matt Mackinder

(October 2, 2024)