Blog
AHU COACH’S CORNER: The key to better performance lies in constant improvement
December 29th, 2015Continuous improvement is a very important concept for any athlete’s development. The best athletes work every day to be better than they were the day before. They live by the concept that says if you aren’t getting better, you are getting worse. There is no such thing as a superstar player who doesn’t work to…
Record number of 8U teams in 2016 a major boon for IHAAZ
December 28th, 2015Matt Robinson of the Prescott Storm has witnessed firsthand the growth of the 8U programs in the Inline Hockey Association of Arizona (IHAAZ). A total of seven teams in that age group, which is a record by the way, will be competing this season in the IHAAZ festivals. In fact, the Storm will have two…
Albuquerque’s Faturos a rare New Mexico native in NCAA ranks
December 28th, 2015It’s funny to look back and think that Nick Faturos initially started playing hockey because he “thought it looked cool.” Fast forward several years and the Albuquerque native and Amherst College freshman defenseman is the lone New Mexico native in NCAA Division III men’s hockey this season and just the second overall after Santa Fe…
Mainland offers unique spring tourney experience
December 27th, 2015Every spring for the past two decades, youth hockey teams from all over British Columbia have flocked to the Vancouver area to compete in one of the region’s most beloved tournaments. The Mainland Hockey Tournament will be back for its 22nd year in 2016, and is expected to draw up to 100 teams – many…
Tucson’s ice, inline communities continue to build across all levels
December 24th, 2015As Tucson’s biggest hockey stars finish up, waiting to take their place on the ice on any given weekday afternoon – in front of the sizable Tucson Arena’s thousands of empty seats – is a substantial group of pretty enthusiastic youngsters. Without a community ice rink to call home, every Southern Arizona ice hockey participant…
DYHA reopens Mites program on highly successful note
December 23rd, 2015The Desert Youth Hockey Association (DYHA) has implemented its Jr. Sun Devils Mite team back into full effect after a number of years of dormancy. The team began the 2015-16 with a clean slate, starting with a camp over the spring season to recruit players. The two head coaches, Kayman Wong and John Curry, signed…
SHOP TALK: Consider all details before buying protective equipment
December 23rd, 2015A brand new pre-teen hockey player can enter into the sport for somewhere in the neighborhood of $275-$300 equipped head to toe at the entry-level specs, (especially if it’s with a Behind The Mask Starter Package). That same player could be outfitted with top-of-the-line products for over $1000. The middle-of-the-road equipment package would sit somewhere…
AHU’s Pee Wee Black team finds off-ice outreach rewarding
December 22nd, 2015For the Arizona Hockey Union’s Pee Wee Black team, implementing a new team building activity such as giving back to the community has been a key component to the program this season. Head coach Chris Rees and assistant Scott Wallis want the players to understand hard work goes beyond hockey and this has been evident…
MISSION STATEMENT: Adversity builds character, but having hate, does not
December 20th, 2015I am now in my 20th year of coaching hockey at either the college or youth level, and I believe one of the most important things our kids can learn is that no matter what, people are going to look at things through different lenses as it all depends on their background, how they were…
Flagstaff coaches balance different levels of hockey
December 19th, 2015Coaches at the high school and college levels spend hours upon hours dedicated to helping their team improve and come together. But what’s it like when the same coaches have to flip the switch and help a group of kids who are just learning how to skate? That’s the fun challenge that three Flagstaff-based coaches…