Category Archives: Pro
After monster WHL season, Phoenix native Kastelic selected by Ottawa in 2019 NHL Draft
August 19th, 2019Mark Kastelic was first eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft but wasn’t selected. He also wasn’t picked in the 2018 draft. All the 20-year-old Phoenix native did was pile up 47 goals and 77 points for the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Calgary Hitmen in 2018-19, all while serving as captain for the club. The Ottawa…
Coyotes legend Doan continues to leave legacy on Arizona hockey
June 28th, 2019The accolades Shane Doan received on the ice were clearly justified, but it is his legacy, the support and involvement in youth hockey, that garners equal acclaim. One of the iconic figures in Arizona sports history, the former Arizona Coyotes captain transcended play on the ice and became a teacher, an educator and mentor to…
Despite missing NHL playoffs, Coyotes find positives to ’18-19 season
May 4th, 2019By all standards, hockey teams need to fulfill three criteria for success: scoring, great goaltending and stellar defense. For the Arizona Coyotes, the franchise touched two of these critical factors, and the one outstanding (scoring) will likely be the focal point of offseason transactions. For the recently-completed season, the Coyotes scored 213 goals and averaged…
NHL stud Matthews still has huge impact on Arizona youth
April 3rd, 2019This time, the mid-February crowd outside of the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room inside Gila River Arena was electric and captivating. Sure, there was the usual gathering of friends and supporters hanging around after each Arizona Coyotes game, but this crowd was dynamic and vibrant. They came to see and be seen with Scottsdale native…
Coyotes playing with sense of urgency in home stretch
March 7th, 2019Given the timing and schedule at this point of the hockey season, there’s an acceleration by teams to rush into postseason contention. Heading down the stretch and into the final weeks of the NHL campaign, the sprint to determinate playoff teams is underway in earnest. While players and coaches eschew any dialogue about the prospect…
Coyotes looking for consistency during second-half play
January 21st, 2019Like most of us, Arizona Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet formulated his new year’s list of resolutions. Of course, all coaches want wins, success for players and joy for the fans. This is easier said than done. At this time last year, the Coyotes were in the throes of dire straits and showed only 10 wins…
Coyotes’ Tocchet adapting to new ways of coaching at NHL level
January 3rd, 2019Like players in development and transitioning through competitive levels, coaches traverse through a similar journey. From many who touch youth hockey through those who seek jobs at the highest NHL level, there remains a learning curve and an education which continues to drive instruction. Success means the ability to adapt to changes in the game,…
Coyotes taking time with prized 2018 draft pick Hayton
November 22nd, 2018There is not much of an argument that when a player develops and grows between age levels, the challenges are as formidable as success becomes rewarding. Not only do players have to navigate through phases of physical size and stages of maturity, but the cycle seems permanently punctuated with unknown obstacles. While the process of…
Coyotes embracing new NHL season, ‘want to keep it simple’
October 25th, 2018As hockey players everywhere prepare for the season ahead, there are two benchmarks applied by the Arizona Coyotes that provide a foundation for success. Coming off a season that could best be described as half-full and half-empty, the Coyotes look ahead with energy and optimism. That is generated by the finish of the 2017-18 season…
Scottsdale native Matthews named NHL’s First Star after collecting eight points in three games
October 9th, 2018Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews has been named the NHL’s First Star for the week ending Oct. 7. Matthews registered five goals and eight points in three games, leading the NHL in both goals (tied) and points to power the Maple Leafs (2-1-0, four points) to a pair of victories. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE…