Category Archives: Columns
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…
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…
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…
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…
Mission Statement: Is hockey still a true team sport? I’m not so sure it is
May 6th, 2016For so many years, you would hear that hockey was the ultimate team sport. I was raised on the belief and the cliché that there is no ‘I’ in team and the name on the front is more important than the name on the back, but is it really? Is it that way any more?…
Shop Talk: What you should look for in picking the right skate
May 6th, 2016With so many options in skates these days, how do you know what the right skate is for you? Fit, performance, budget and comfort are all important aspects to consider. Fit This can get confusing, but hang in there. Bauer and CCM both have three different skate families to address the four key variances of…
Industry Profile: A.J. Boldan, PAC-8 Hockey
May 5th, 2016A.J. BOLDAN Hometown: Rochester, Minn. Resides: Salt Lake City, Utah Age: 36 Position/Organization: Executive Director, PAC-8 Hockey; President/GM/Assistant Coach, University of Utah Hockey Arizona Rubber: What’s your background in hockey, and how did you get to where you are today? A.J. Boldan: I went through the youth program in my hometown in Minnesota and graduated…
AHU Coach’s Corner: Four tips to follow for all levels of hockey tryouts
April 8th, 2016The season is barely over, and now the attention turns to spring training and tryout preparation. First and foremost, I want to personally thank all the coaches, players and families that make our organization great. We really saw the power of our hockey family in action this year, and I’m very proud to be a…
The Whyte Stuff: Tryouts – how to choose the right coach and association
April 7th, 2016We are once again in the midst of tryout season, where all players show their wares in hopes of having a coach determine they have what it takes. The season has ended and families are calculating their options for the next year of competition in youth hockey. Arizona is different to many, in that any…