Category Archives: Youth
AAHA continues growth with Yotes’ support, influence
February 18th, 2016Even with the success of the Arizona Coyotes for the past 20 years, Arizona State University making the move to NCAA Division I and the numerous positives with junior and youth teams, the game of hockey is still going through a huge growth spurt in the desert. Perhaps the biggest factor in hockey’s progress out…
In Memory – Micah Lieb: 2000-2016
February 15th, 2016Last month, the Arizona youth hockey community tragically lost one of its own. On Jan. 15, promising Arizona Hockey Union (AHU) goalie Micah Lieb took his own life. He was just 15. “Micah very mild mannered, very respectful of adults, coaches, other teams, just carried himself very well – quite mature for a boy of…
Mission AZ teams thriving in second year of CSDHL play
February 12th, 2016Two years into one of its most ambitious undertakings, the Mission Arizona hockey club appears to be thriving. Mission AZ is in its second season icing two teams in the elite Central States Developmental Hockey League (CSDHL), and in Year 2, the program’s Midget Major 18U and Midget Minor 16U clubs are adjusting nicely to…
Volunteers add spice to growing Flagstaff youth program
February 4th, 2016Volunteering is a thankless job most of the time. For the Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association (FYHA), Kristi Smith and Lindsay Mellen give their time for the benefit of the organization, often times helping with fundraisers, helping before and after games and really, doing anything they can to help the program. “Hockey is absolutely the most…
Arizona Hockey Club ready for 15th Annual Presidents’ Day Invitational
February 2nd, 2016As the Arizona Hockey Club (AHC) plans to host its 15th Annual Phoenix Presidents’ Day Invitational during Presidents’ Day weekend, the goals go beyond beating the competition. The AHC has partnered up with ice rinks, hotels and other local businesses for participants to utilize during the tournament weekend. With over 160 confirmed teams participating, AHC…
Scottsdale, AAHA to host inaugural age 15 Tier I Nationals in 2017
January 29th, 2016USA Hockey announced on Jan. 29 an addition to its slate of 2017 and 2018 Youth Tier I National Championship Tournaments. The new event – a single birth-year USA Hockey National Championship for 15-year-olds – was recommended by USA Hockey’s Youth Council, approved by its Board of Directors and will be conducted as a two-year…
Coyotes Cup sees DYHA quartet take home trophies, banners
January 21st, 2016The 17th Annual Coyotes Cup was deemed successful for four of the Desert Youth Hockey Association’s (DYHA) competing teams as each were crowned champions on Dec. 30. The 16U A, 16U AA, Bantam A and Pee Wee A teams all took home banners from the tournament that took place Dec. 27-30. “My philosophy was to…
Mission’s first Pee Wee team reflects on memories, being pioneers
December 31st, 2015When Mission Arizona started its hockey program 10 years ago, the jumpstart affiliate had teams that consisted of players who were mainly teenagers. But seven years ago, that all changed when Mission trotted out its first Pee Wee team. The group was a handful of 11 year olds, many of whom who had played here…
Tucson’s ice, inline communities continue to build across all levels
December 24th, 2015As Tucson’s biggest hockey stars finish up, waiting to take their place on the ice on any given weekday afternoon – in front of the sizable Tucson Arena’s thousands of empty seats – is a substantial group of pretty enthusiastic youngsters. Without a community ice rink to call home, every Southern Arizona ice hockey participant…
DYHA reopens Mites program on highly successful note
December 23rd, 2015The Desert Youth Hockey Association (DYHA) has implemented its Jr. Sun Devils Mite team back into full effect after a number of years of dormancy. The team began the 2015-16 with a clean slate, starting with a camp over the spring season to recruit players. The two head coaches, Kayman Wong and John Curry, signed…