Category Archives: Pro
Scottsdale native Matthews drafted first overall by Maple Leafs
June 28th, 2016As expected, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Scottsdale native Auston Matthews with the top overall pick Friday night at the NHL Draft in Buffalo. Matthews, a former Arizona Bobcats standout, was all smiles at the First Niagara Center. “Well, I know everybody (in Toronto) is extremely passionate,” Matthews said. “They obviously love the Leafs. It’s…
Matthews culminates years of hype, goes No. 1 overall in NHL Draft
June 25th, 2016The fact that eight TV cameras were in Toronto on July 4 to cover Auston Matthews should tell you something about the 18-year-old from Scottsdale. Add to the event that is was simply Toronto Maple Leafs prospects running drills (Matthews did four) and it’s clear Matthews is being groomed as a top NHL player, maybe…
Maple Leafs hold No. 1 pick – Matthews Toronto-bound?
June 20th, 2016For the past couple years, it’s pretty much been a forgone conclusion that Auston Matthews would be the top overall pick at the 2016 NHL Draft. Now that the draft is coming up this weekend in Buffalo, N.Y., all the focus has been on what team would wind up with the No. 1 pick to…
Tucson’s new AHL franchise a win-win for pro, youth hockey
June 10th, 2016Tucson youth hockey parents and players are excited about professional hockey returning to the Old Pueblo. In April, the Arizona Coyotes purchased the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Springfield (Mass.) Falcons with the intent of moving their top affiliate to Tucson. As the move cleared hurdle after hurdle, Ryan DeJoe, coaching director for the Tucson Youth…
Just 26, Coyotes’ Chayka the youngest GM in NHL history
June 2nd, 2016After the Arizona Coyotes relieved Don Maloney of his general manager duties in April, all eyes were squarely focused on who his replacement would be. The Coyotes stayed in house and on May 5, tabbed 26-year-old John Chayka to lead the rebuilding process in the desert. He turns 27 on June 9. With the hire,…
Offseason recovery the ultimate goal for Coyotes’ Stone
May 27th, 2016When Arizona Coyotes defenseman Michael Stone went into the corner with the Philadelphia Flyers’ Michael Raffl on March 26 at Gila River Arena, there was an unnerving result. Pursuing a loose puck, Stone and Raffl became entangled and collided. When Stone went down, he heard, in his words, “something pop,” and knew it was severe….
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…
Scottsdale’s Matthews named to U.S. National Team
March 24th, 2016Scottsdale native and Arizona Bobcats grad Auston Matthews, who spent the 2015-16 campaign as a member of the Zurich Lions in the National League A, Switzerland’s top professional league, has been named to the 2016 U.S. Men’s National Team that will compete at the IIHF Men’s World Championship May 6-22 in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. Matthews…
Michalek enjoying third stint in desert with Coyotes
February 19th, 2016Lights, action, glamour. This is part of the eye-opening experience felt by most professional athletes. Big contracts, big entourage, big splash in the media and a bulls-eye for national attention. From humble beginnings to the glare of notoriety, this is the kind of life-style which awaits whose who signed the attractive contracts. Not quite. Just…
Langlois seeing valuable ice in AHL, eyes focused on NHL
December 17th, 2015Jeremy Langlois said it’s always been his dream to play in the NHL ever since his youth days of yesteryear with the Phoenix Polar Bears organization. Now playing a consistent role with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) San Jose Barracuda, the top affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, the 25-year-old Tempe native is healthy and…