Blog
Mission Statement: What are reasonable expectations for your hockey player?
March 10th, 2017A major component of a players’ development as they get older is the ability of players to learn how to show up day in and day out and to be held accountable to a high standard. Most players have the ability to bring enthusiasm to games and tournaments, but it is the day-to-day preparation and…
AHU Coach’s Corner: We must work to ensure hockey growth, not hockey survival
March 10th, 2017Hockey survival. That is what the sport does when individual organizations only aspire to have the best and majority of the players in any given geographical area. They may have some of the most dedicated and efficient leaders in the organization, as well as some of the best coaches. Their teams are always top notch…
Shop Talk: These times they are a-changing – and for the better
March 8th, 2017After we opened our Behind the Mask Scottsdale location in 2010, due to the proximity to the PGA Superstore located in the same plaza a few doors down from us, we got a lot of new people stopping in our store. Many were from the Midwest, back East and across Canada. They saw our store…
Bobcats place significant emphasis on developing goaltenders
March 2nd, 2017As someone who has played and coached hockey at nearly every level, from Mites to the pros, Ron Filion knows just how challenging it can be to properly train goalies. The position is so different from any other on the ice, and requires not only specialized skills and training, but also a mental approach that…
Hey Coach, it’s the third period and we’re really tired!
March 1st, 2017Every hockey player knows fatigue begins to take hold in the third period. Well, hockey families across the nation are in the third period of their season as well. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE Similar to the waning minutes of any game, by now during the season, there have been ups and downs. There have been…
Tahoe Hockey Academy a well-rounded mix of school, hockey
March 1st, 2017If it’s February, that must mean that youth hockey teams across the country are chasing down playoff spots as their 2016-17 seasons begins to wind down. Similar to many of those teams, the Tahoe Hockey Academy (THA) is gearing up for its big push in the Anaheim Ducks High School Hockey League playoffs, but as…
Zurbuchen proving to be valuable presence in net for WSHL’s Knights
March 1st, 2017It’s been quite the culture shock for Phoenix Knights goaltender Tim Zurbuchen this season, but his play on the ice hardly reflects it. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE A Switzerland native, Zurbuchen has emerged as the Knights’ No. 1 netminder and “one of our best performers this season,” according to coach-GM Mike Bowman. “I have experienced…
Bonding time with father helped shape Coyotes’ Chychrun
February 28th, 2017If your dreams and aspirations are to play in the NHL, then there is no better a coach and mentor than your dad. Then again, not all aspiring players have a former NHL defenseman as their dad and coach. That’s the enviable position Arizona Coyotes’ rookie defenseman Jakob Chychrun enjoys. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE Not…
Team Arizona greasing the wheels for America’s Showcase
February 27th, 2017America’s Showcase is exactly what its name implies. The annual tournament is a showcase for junior and senior high school hockey players from across the country. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE Team Arizona, organized by the Arizona High School Hockey Association, will head to Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh for the tournament once again. The tournament…
Yuma IHAAZ festival battles elements, unveils positives
February 24th, 2017Once again, things were wet and wild in Yuma as multiple breaks had to be taken during Saturday and Sunday’s IHAAZ competition, with the rain continuing to tease spectators and competitors alike over the Feb. 11-12 weekend. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE But after enduring the delays, only the 14U division was postponed, to be rescheduled…