Blog
Team Arizona makes big-time splash at America’s Showcase
May 21st, 2016Well, maybe the fifth time is the charm for Team Arizona. Playing in the America’s Showcase in suburban Pittsburgh last month for the fifth straight year, Team Arizona, made up of some of the state’s top high school junior and senior players, won its pool and earned a berth in the quarterfinals, bowing out 3-1…
Despite down year, NAU’s Division III team able to find optimism
May 16th, 2016Northern Arizona University’s American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division III team endured a difficult year on the ice in 2015-16, but young players gained valuable experience and a pair of IceJacks were named Academic All-Americans. NAU finished the season 27th out of 35 teams in the ACHA Division III Pacific Region after some key injuries…
Taking Liberties With… Louis Domingue
May 16th, 2016LOUIS DOMINGUE Position: Goaltender, Arizona Coyotes Acquired: Coyotes’ fifth-round pick (138th overall) in 2010 NHL Entry Draft Hometown: Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec Last Amateur Team: Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) Age: 24 Arizona Rubber: What’s your favorite hockey memory growing up? Louis Domingue: That’s a good question. Growing up, that was the first game I played in goal. I…
Arizona teams make memories at NCRHA national tournament
May 16th, 2016Nine teams from the Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League (WCRHL) made the trek to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, April 6-10 to compete in the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) national championship tournament. Included in the group were two teams representing Arizona State University and a University of Arizona squad fresh off a history-making regional championship…
Jr. Sun Devils continue to provide opportunities for local youth talent
May 12th, 2016Desert Youth Hockey Association (DYHA) teams have a new name, but most things have remained the same. While the Jr. Sun Devils don’t focus on winning, they continue to triumph, just as when they were Firebirds. DYHA’s Oceanside Arena received a facelift in time for the association’s 40th anniversary, but their philosophy continues to attract…
Graduating Knights captain Ericsson reflects on ’15-16
May 12th, 2016As a 1995 birth year, Jim Ericsson knew this past season with the Western States Hockey League’s Phoenix Knights would be his last in junior hockey. And aside from not winning the Thorne Cup, he said the 2015-16 campaign was “the most fun I’ve had playing hockey in a long time.” “On a team level,…
Coaches, like players, developed in ‘15-16 with FYHA
May 11th, 2016Most times, an organization will deduce that a successful season comes with player development and how much those players developed over the course of the season. While that is definitely true with the Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association (FYHA), the program’s slate of dedicated coaches also made strides due to the Coaches Development Program, a program…
Smith to use summer to heal, prep for next year with ‘Yotes
May 7th, 2016More than most timetables, the recovery period was quite agonizing. Over the course of several weeks, this became protracted, lengthened and stretched. Certainly, this was not the schedule Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith envisioned just over a month into the recently completed NHL season. Off to a lightning start in net, Smith broke out of…
The Whyte Stuff: Remember when a simple handshake was your word?
May 6th, 2016I’ve been watching this show called “American Pickers” where two guys travel around the country and buy unique antiques and treasures from people that have collected for years. After every verbal agreement, they shake hands, and the sale is final. Growing up in rural Canada, I can recall many times when I was with my…
AHU Coach’s Corner: Always play the game with your head up, don’t duck hockey
May 6th, 2016All AHU coaches are trained to teach players to play heads-up hockey. Playing with your head up makes it easier to pass and score, and it is one of the most important factors in staying safe. Keeping your head up makes players more aware of their surroundings, and helps to be aware when an opponent…