Arizona Rubber

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Chandler native Yubeta, fresh off EHLP championship, advances to EHL’s Jr. Warriors for ’22-23 season

 

Luke Yubeta capped off his first junior hockey season winning an Eastern Hockey League Premier championship last spring with the Boston Jr. Rangers.

For the 2022-23 campaign, the Chandler native will get a shot for a title at a higher level after signing recently with the EHL’s Valley Jr. Warriors.

“After last season, I started exploring opportunities in the EHL,” Yubeta said. “I reached out to a couple teams, including Valley, and once we got to talking, I began to really like how they run their program. They asked me to come play with their team in Chowder Cup in July and offered me a spot after the tournament.”

During the 2021-22 season, Yubeta collected three goals and 14 points in 35 games, adding four assists in six playoff games.

“This past season really helped me get a better understanding for the hockey landscape past youth hockey,” said Yubeta. “I realized I still had a long way to go if I wanted to accomplish some of my long-term goals and putting that in perspective forced me to work harder. My favorite part about winning the championship was being able to do it with my teammates. We had a special bond throughout our locker room that not many teams have, and I believe that ultimately helped us get to a championship.

“Those guys will be my brothers forever.”

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Moving forward with the Jr. Warriors, a team located in Haverhill, Mass., Yubeta wants to finish his junior hockey eligibility on a high note.

“This season, I’d like to try to find that connection I had last season with my new teammates,” Yubeta said. “Coming into a new team is never easy, and I believe building that connection is a huge key to success. Personally, I’d like to try to secure an NCAA commitment this year. For me personally, I feel like it’s a goal I’ve set high for myself, but I believe I’ve put myself in a great position to achieve that goal.”

Back home, Yubeta played for the Arizona Heat, Arizona Hockey Union, Jr. Coyotes and the Basha/Perry high school program.

As a roller hockey goalie, Yubeta spent time with the Arizona Outcasts and Tour Roadrunners for NARCh events, and the Royals, Yetis, Knighthawks and the independent Dayhawks team he made with some Mission Arizona players in 2021 IHAAZ play.

Top photo/Rob Rasmussen; above photo/Mari Murby

ALSO SEE: Chandler native Yubeta spreads wings, leaves desert for junior hockey opportunity in Boston, AZRubberHockey.com, Aug. 27, 2021

— Matt Mackinder

(August 11, 2022)

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