Blog
MISSION STATEMENT: Take crucial steps to create leaders, on and off the ice
December 1st, 2015A total of 13 former Mission Arizona players are now in leadership roles at the next levels with Manny Rowe (Syracuse Stampede/North American 3 Eastern Hockey League), Taylor Knight (Aspen Leafs/Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League), Cory Briody (Northern Arizona University ACHA D-II) and the trio of Chris Eades, Steven Taylor and Trey Gonzalez (NAU ACHA…
NAU’s Ice Jacks continue to make national noise
December 1st, 2015There are plenty across North America who are just now, at this moment, hearing the words “college hockey” and “Arizona” in the same sentence. That’s understandable, with the buildup over the past year leading up to Arizona State University’s ascent to the NCAA Division I hockey ranks this season. But as impressive as ASU’s rise…
Lady Coyotes siblings enjoy bond over hockey
November 27th, 2015Having siblings may be challenging at times, but the bond they have can be one of the best experiences in their lives. Three pairs of sisters play for the Arizona Lady Coyotes this season: Jaidann and Riley Benson, Audrey and Jocelyn Ju, and Koryn and Kirsten Kaczynski. For Shawni Benson, the mother of Jaidann, 10,…
Los Alamos product Yoshida finds rewarding life post-college
November 26th, 2015When Robin Yoshida graduated from St. Anselm College this past spring after four years on the Hawks NCAA Division III team, she already had a plan of what to do with her life after hockey. A Los Alamos native that played 34 career games with St. Anselm (a Division III school located in New Hampshire),…
THE WHYTE STUFF: Adults should be role models at, away from the rink
November 26th, 2015I recently had lunch with another hockey director from here in the Valley and had a great time talking about the philosophy of our positions. We exchanged many stories, mostly funny ones about players, but there were also some more concerning ones that pertained to the parents. Every year, we as directors, coaches and managers,…
SHOP TALK: Accept the fact that all sticks will eventually break
November 26th, 2015“When I was growing up, we used to get a bundle of (insert name of old wood stick company here) sticks for $25 dollars and they would last us the whole season. How can this stick be $269?” I never get tired of hearing that one from the father of a new hockey player or…
Jr. Wildcats on road to great success with parental support
November 23rd, 2015There are a lot of reasons a team has success and without question, the Arizona Jr. Wildcats Inline Hockey Club owes a great deal of its success to the parents who provide support in a lot of ways for the club. They have helped lay a solid foundation and Jeremy Hiltabidel, a coach with the…
Bird family finds their nest at the hockey rink
November 20th, 2015The Bird family lives 10 minutes away from AZ Ice Peoria. Perhaps no family visits the ice rink as often as Carolyn and her husband, George, parents of three hockey-playing sons – Kevin, 15, Scotty, 14, and Jersey, 11. The family spends most nights on the ice as the trio all plays for the Mission…
DYHA has busy, but successful and fun October
November 19th, 2015The DYHA had a busy month of October where, along with the successful Pucktoberfest fundraiser, its 16U AA and 16U Combo teams participated in prestigious tournaments. Prior to Pucktoberfest on Oct. 24, the 16U Combo team went to Las Vegas for a CAN/AM tournament Oct. 9-11 where the Jr. Sun Devils went 3-1 and defeated…
AHU COACH’S CORNER: The ADM approach lets youth players unlock true potential
November 17th, 2015As we move into the holidays, we want to wish everyone in our hockey family a safe and happy holiday season. It is also a time where we begin to think about 2016 and how the last few years have seen continued growth of hockey in the Valley. A cornerstone of the development of our…