Category Archives: Youth
Jr. Sun Devils’ 16U group will ‘overcome, learn and grow’
September 22nd, 2016Every year, optimism is sky-high on the eve of a new hockey season. For the Desert Youth Hockey Association (DYHA), the Jr. Sun Devils are no different. Sean Whyte, who will coach the program’s 16U team this season, said he sees that team as “a tight-knit brotherhood, and they play for the logo on the…
Competitive, yet affordable, AZYHL hits on all cylinders
September 21st, 2016According to its policies and procedures, one of the Arizona Youth Hockey League’s (AZYHL) top purposes are “to operate a highly competitive hockey league in the geographic area of Arizona and to encourage a continuing drive for the highest standards of excellence and sportsmanship in hockey play among member teams.” Sanctioned by USA Hockey, the…
AHU getting set to host annual Ice Breaker Invitational
September 20th, 2016Each year at the start of the new season, one constant in the Arizona youth hockey realm in recent memory has been the annual Ice Breaker Invitational, hosted by the Arizona Hockey Union. In the past, the event has been held in mid-September, but starting with the 2016-17 season, the tournament is slated for early…
Coyotes Ice, NHL’s Coyotes form multi-year partnership
September 19th, 2016The Arizona Coyotes continue to contribute and be a major cog in the fruitful growth of hockey in Arizona and recently announced that the team has entered into a new partnership agreement with Coyotes Ice, LLC, the owner and operator of Ice Den Scottsdale and Ice Den Chandler. As part of the multi-year agreement, Ice…
Mission AZ inducts eight into program’s Hall of Fame
September 16th, 2016Each August for the past seven years, Mission Arizona has taken time to honor its past while simultaneously looking toward the future. The program opened its Mission Hall of Fame back in 2010 and in its first six years, inducted 47 male and female players and coaches. On Aug. 13, that number grew to 55,…
Outdoor youth tournament set for Bakersfield this winter
September 15th, 2016It’s no secret that outdoor hockey has taken off in popularity over the last few years. The NHL’s Winter Classic and Stadium Series have been overwhelming successes, bringing the game back to its pond hockey roots and delivering added visibility for the sport. This winter, youth hockey players from across the Western United States and…
Inaugural West Coast Elite Hockey camp turns many heads
August 8th, 2016When Brent Gough moved to the Phoenix area, he knew he was diving into an area that was ripe with interest in hockey but that still was underserved in many respects. He felt that a summer hockey camp designed to provide young players exposure to top junior and college coaches was something local kids hadn’t…
Flagstaff set to host rec, house tournaments in 2016-17
August 4th, 2016When Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association (FYHA) president Kevin Tye sat down with organization officers recently, one topic of discussion that came up was how FYHA teams routinely go to in-season tournaments in the Phoenix area. That conversation quickly morphed into, “Why can’t those teams from the Valley come to Flagstaff?” “Our kids and parents always…
CDP program a vital cog in Jr. Coyotes’ development path
August 3rd, 2016Even the best of the best have to start at the beginning. That much is true with the Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA). The Coyotes Development Program (CDP) is a house-level initiative that features multi-faceted programming including a full 44-session fall/winter season, 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 sessions in the spring and summer, and the important entry…
Staff of Jr. Sun Devils coaches ready for 2016-17 season
July 27th, 2016While the calendar shows the dog days of summer are here and will be for a while, the Desert Youth Hockey Association (DYHA) is already preparing to get back on Oceanside Ice Arena ice for the upcoming 2016-17 season. The teams have not been 100 percent finalized, but the coaching staffs are in place. DYHA…