Category Archives: Youth
Pair of Jr. Sun Devils squads show well at AZ Coyotes Cup
January 27th, 2017To ring in 2017, and for the 18th straight year, the AZ Coyotes Cup Holiday Hockey Festival took place New Year’s Weekend at the Gila River Arena, Ice Den Chandler and Ice Den Scottsdale. For two Desert Youth Hockey Association (DYHA) Jr. Sun Devils teams, both the Bantam 03 team and Pee Wee Combo team…
One Step Bobcats program ‘built on a wing and a prayer’
January 26th, 2017There’s something amazing happening in the Arizona hockey community, and it’s giving some athletes a chance to experience the sport for the first time. The One Step Bobcats is a first-year program for special needs kids and adults, and is the first program of its kind in the Phoenix area that allows those with intellectual…
WYHA finding its niche in Arizona youth hockey circles
January 25th, 2017While Tucson still doesn’t have a regular ice rink yet, the Wildcat Youth Hockey Association (WYHA) has seen marked growth. The addition of the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Tucson Roadrunners sped up WYHA’s growth spurt. The number of players in the WYHA had jumped from about 60 last year to 130 this year and the…
AHU, AZ Ice Gilbert Mite Jamboree set to create memories
January 24th, 2017Hockey players eight years old and under from all across the greater Phoenix area will get to enjoy one of their first tournament experiences on Jan. 29 when the Arizona Hockey Union (AHU) and the AZ Ice facility in Gilbert host their third annual Mite Jamboree. READ OUR LATEST ISSUE The all-day tournament is expected to include…
With new philosophy at Mite levels, Flagstaff raising compete level with youngsters
January 23rd, 2017The Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association’s (FYHA) objective is simple, and it is very succinct in its mission statement. Sanctioned through USA Hockey, the primary goal for the association is to provide an environment “where our youth can learn the game of hockey and excel at the recreational, regional and national level.” READ OUR LATEST ISSUE…
First-year 16U, 18U Flagstaff programs making major strides
January 4th, 2017When the Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association (FYHA) created 16U and 18U travel teams for the 2016-17 season, the organization ventured into the relative unknown as FYHA had not had these age groups in the past decade. Now with the calendar flipped to 2017, FYHA board member Bill Kuche said he’s been pleased with the inaugural run of…
Trio of Bobcats represent program in NAPHL All-Star Games
December 22nd, 2016Players wearing Arizona Bobcats sweaters compete in plenty of meaningful games throughout the season thanks to the high level of play in the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL). A trio of Bobcats skaters took that to a higher level this month when they were selected to compete in the NAPHL’s All-Star Games. READ OUR…
Jr. Coyotes’ Mite Jamborees promote small-area games, positive experience
December 21st, 2016As the mite development director for the Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) for five seasons, Tony Radke has the knowledge to grow the game from the lowest rung of the advancement ladder. Radke, who also coaches the 2008 and 2009 Jr. Coyotes Mite teams, serves as a member of the Arizona Amateur Hockey Association (AA…
Gibson, Roe add expertise to Mission AZ coaching staff
December 21st, 2016Behind every great youth hockey program is a group of standout coaches, and while the head coaches often get most of the attention, it’s often the specialists that are the keys to a program’s success. That’s certainly true with the Mission AZ program, where goaltending coach Larry Gibson and power skating coach Crystal Roe have…
Jr. Sun Devils’ 18U AA squad having fun, earning success
December 20th, 2016Jeff Shevalier played nine years of professional hockey in a career that included 32 games in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning. He then jumped into the youth coaching realm in Arizona and this season, was named head coach of the Desert Youth Hockey Association’s (DYHA) 18U AA team. If…