Category Archives: Columns
AHU Coach’s Corner: No excuse for youth hockey players with cold, dry hands
December 15th, 2016Youth hockey. Or youth sports for that matter. What is the purpose? It’s always been to develop kids’ athletic ability, social skills, values regarding teamwork and responsibility. Right? So answer this for me. Why then are there many instances of youth hockey teams that shorten benches in too many situations? While the surface answer is…
Mission Statement: Put forth maximum effort and show the game some respect
December 15th, 2016I was a history major in school and naturally look back to events that shape current events and why things are the way they are. I have seen a shift in how parents view and look at youth hockey. They are taking on a more of a critical thinking mode, in the form of how…
Taking Liberties With… Brad Richardson
December 14th, 2016BRAD RICHARDSON Position: Forward, Arizona Coyotes Acquired: Signed with Arizona as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2015 Hometown: Belleville, Ont., Canada Age: 31 READ OUR LATEST ISSUE Arizona Rubber: What’s your favorite hockey memory growing up? Brad Richardson: I have many great memories. Growing up, and to play hockey in Canada was pretty…
Taking Liberties With… Jordan Martinook
November 16th, 2016JORDAN MARTINOOK Position: Forward, Arizona Coyotes Acquired: Coyotes’ second-round pick (58th overall) in 2012 NHL Draft Hometown: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada Age: 24 READ OUR LATEST ISSUE Arizona Rubber: What’s your favorite hockey memory growing up? Jordan Martinook: It’s when we won the Provincials when I was in Novice. I think the big thing for me…
Mission Statement: Adversity is not only a good thing, but builds character
November 11th, 2016Something that I have said for years, and many before me have stated before me, is that hockey is the ultimate teacher of life lessons. It has become very cliché and one of the core beliefs that we have built Mission Arizona on, that it indeed can offer so much more than just a game….
The Whyte Stuff: In sports and life, attitude and effort are everything
November 11th, 2016I recently had a player come to me after practice to apologize for his lack of effort this season. He is an excellent player and has great potential to not only make it far in hockey, but also succeed in life. I thanked him for his honesty and asked why he thought he was not…
Shop Talk: Taking a mobile view of the Arizona hockey landscape
November 9th, 2016Over the past month, BTM mobile has traveled to Flagstaff for the annual skate swap and to Prescott and Yuma for the start of their fall inline rec seasons. Here are some thoughts on our trip and the state of hockey statewide. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE Our Flagstaff trip coincided with the Arizona Coyotes’ Lil’…
AHU Coach’s Corner: How to keep fun, smiling faces, palpable energy in hockey
November 9th, 2016Often times, you hear the rumor mills churning amongst a team’s fans and media as their team labors through a mid-season slump. Everyone says, “This team needs to trade for some goal scorers.” However, more times than not, they already have plenty of goal scorers, even several who have scored in playoff games, just not…
Taking Liberties With… Kevin Connauton
October 19th, 2016KEVIN CONNAUTON Position: Defenseman, Arizona Coyotes Acquired: Signed with Arizona as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2016 Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Age: 26 Arizona Rubber: What’s your favorite hockey memory growing up? Kevin Connauton: Probably my first NHL game. There are lot of great memories in minor hockey. It was special to skate…
Shop Talk: Protective equipment – so what’s the right fit for me?
October 14th, 2016It’s time to talk about protective equipment – shin guards, shoulder pads, elbow pads and pants. When deciding what to purchase, once you have either outgrown one of these pieces, are looking to replace one or more items, or if you’re just starting out with your first set of gear, there are three factors to…