Arizona Rubber

Arizona’s and New Mexico’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey

Category Archives: Youth

Bobcats overcome tight second period for 18U Tier II 2A national championship

April 10th, 2023

Those watching didn’t have to wait long for goals in the Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier II 18U National Championships 2A title game on April 3 in Maple Grove, Minn., at Kottemann Arena inside the Maple Grove Community Center. Cameron Cote of the Arizona Bobcats found the back of the net not once but twice within…

Hockey harmony: The life of a hockey mom

February 14th, 2023

I have been a hockey mom for over 10 years. The beginning is important but not as important as the story.  The story starts with learning to skate, hockey tots and house play, beginning at age five.  It quickly and accidentally turned into travel hockey, known to some as club hockey.  He was eight at…

TPH Phoenix Academy blossoming in player development, on ice and in classroom

December 27th, 2022

As Arizona youth hockey continues to grow in numbers, the opportunities for players are increasing as well. The Total Package Hockey (TPH) Academy is one such result of that growth, and one that is moving the needle for player development, both on the ice and in the classroom. Brett Blatchford, the academy’s director and head…

The Mill closes its doors after nearly three years training, developing Arizona hockey players

October 29th, 2022

The Mill Hockey Training Warehouse, which opened back in 2020 prior to the pandemic, has closed its doors, effective Oct. 19. Owners Jarred and Bailey Smith posted a statement on social media recently explaining the decision. We’re sad to share that The Mill Hockey Training Warehouse will be closing the doors. The last lessons will…

Shott to be remembered with banner in all Arizona hockey rinks

October 28th, 2022

The same phrase was consistently repeated throughout the Ice Den Chandler on Monday evening: Matt Shott is Arizona hockey. Shott, the Arizona Coyotes’ vice president of hockey development, tragically passed away in December 2021 following a courageous battle with cancer. He worked tirelessly to help grow the game of hockey in the state of Arizona,…

AHU’s Wilson looking to take program’s goaltenders to next level

August 24th, 2022

Trevor Wilson was a goaltender during his playing days and hopes to pass on his knowledge of the position to the same players at the Arizona Hockey Union. Wilson joined AHU as its first goalie director in 2021-22 and is back again for 2022-23 to take the proverbial next step. “Following junior hockey, I returned…

New video program helping make memories for young Arizona puck stars

August 21st, 2022

As the game of hockey continues to grow in Arizona, so, too, does programs and businesses that aim to help with that growth. Recently, SportsKast came on to the market, something its president and founder Pat Wilde calls “the most exciting product for athletes that has ever been offered.” “It’s the most spectacular sports product…

Mesa product, AHU, AHSHA star Craft joining Arizona teammates in ’22-23 with USPHL’s Mullets

July 24th, 2022

The USPHL’s Minnesota Mullets have announced another Arizona recruit for the 2022-23 roster in forward Oliver Craft. The Mesa native joins the Mullets alongside several other Arizona-born teammates in recruit Ben Willcoxson and veterans Austin Poole, Tyler Ortega, and Brent Scott. His Arizona roots, and more particularly Willcoxson himself, played a major factor in Craft’s…

For Scottsdale’s Kamin, special 2021-22 season yields trio of Arizona state championships

June 22nd, 2022

The term “triple crown” is well known around sports circles. In horse racing, it means one horse wins the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. In baseball, it means one player leads the league in batting average, home runs and runs batted in. In Arizona hockey it can only mean one thing – when…

Phoenix native, Bobcats national champ Willcoxson to continue career with USPHL’s Mullets

June 17th, 2022

Ben Willcoxson had the experience of a lifetime in 2021-22, winning state and national championships at the 18U level with the Arizona Bobcats. Now, the Phoenix native will get to bring that winning mentality to the USPHL after recently signing with the Minnesota Mullets. “Coach (Chris) Walby reached out to me after nationals and I…

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