Blog
Flagstaff ‘excited’ to field 16U, 18U AA teams in ’16-17
June 18th, 2016Enthusiastic confidence is coming out of the Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association (FYHA) these days. This fall, the FYHA will have a Midget program with plans to add 16U and 18U Tier II teams, something new president Kevin Tye said “is exciting to finally see come to fruition.” “We’ve already had tryouts and both teams are…
Mission Statement: How divorce is impacting youth hockey players and teams
June 16th, 2016I want to talk about, to me, the biggest “epidemic” that is affecting our kids these days that somehow doesn’t get talked about enough – the divorce rate and the overall affect it has on kids, and how it relates to them as hockey players and team sports in general. Over the last 15 years,…
IHAAZ growth showing no signs of slowing down
June 15th, 2016Some leagues can start off with a great deal of promise but fail to survive for one reason or another. But the Inline Hockey Association of Arizona (IHAAZ) is different. It started small, but has grown into something remarkable. And more than a decade later, the state of the league has never been better. Corporations…
AHU Coach’s Corner: Getting rest a critical component to the offseason
June 15th, 2016Landon Donovan, one of the most recognizable faces in men’s soccer, is also an avid Pilates practitioner. What does Pilates have to do with soccer? Donovan says, “I love Pilates because we do very specific training in soccer for the same six or seven muscles, but we neglect so many other muscles. So when I…
The Whyte Stuff: Strive to be the best, but keep your goals within reason
June 10th, 2016I was recently informed of a very unusual statistic that totally caught me by surprise. It’s one that I think if more people truly knew and understood, they wouldn’t be so fanatical about their child making it to the NHL. This is not to say it can’t happen, as I was blessed to say I…
Tucson’s new AHL franchise a win-win for pro, youth hockey
June 10th, 2016Tucson youth hockey parents and players are excited about professional hockey returning to the Old Pueblo. In April, the Arizona Coyotes purchased the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Springfield (Mass.) Falcons with the intent of moving their top affiliate to Tucson. As the move cleared hurdle after hurdle, Ryan DeJoe, coaching director for the Tucson Youth…
Vukonich, Cakebread selected in annual NAHL Draft process
June 8th, 2016The North American Hockey League Draft was conducted Tuesday, June 7, and two players with Arizona ties were selected during the event. Forward Mason Vukonich, a Chandler native, was picked by the New Jersey Titans in the fourth round (88th overall). Vukonich played for the Jr. Coyotes’ 18U AAA team last season where he totaled…
Shop Talk: Let’s clarify what the term ‘pro stock’ truly means
June 8th, 2016Often in the world of hockey equipment lingo, you hear the term “pro stock.” What does this mean? Pro stock is a product made specifically for an NHL, minor league, college or junior player. What happens is a player like Arizona Coyotes forward Max Domi gets his sticks custom made for him. Custom as in…
Union coaches a consistent component to program’s vision
June 6th, 2016With the 2016-17 season coming up soon enough, the Arizona Hockey Union boasts several returning coaches who are coming back for what they see as an exciting season ahead. The continued support of these coaches has helped AHU grow, year after year. For 16U AA White head coach Jason Evahnenko, who coming back for his…
Lady Coyotes find ‘good stability’ from quality coaches
June 5th, 2016The Arizona Lady Coyotes are already prepping for the upcoming 2016-17 hockey season. With many returning coaches and some new ones, the Lady Coyotes recently announced their full coaching staff that will take the bench this fall. David Daniele, the vice president for the Lady Coyotes, is pleased to see many girls returning to the…