The list of coaches that were nominated for the second annual Arizona Hockey Union Coach of the Year was impressive and made for a tough decision in the end.

Once the votes were tabulated by the AHU Board of Directors, one name stood tallest in the end – 16U White coach Mike Caravella.

Next season, Caravella will move up to coach the AHU 16U AA squad.

“It is obviously a great honor to be nominated, let alone win the coach of the year for Arizona Hockey Union,” said Caravella, who along with fellow AHU coaches Davis Dryden and Chase Gillaspie played for the Knights during their youth hockey and junior hockey days. “I am extremely grateful and while the award is great, to me it means that I was successful in my ultimate goal as a coach – developing players on and off the ice while creating a culture that players can truly enjoy. Players in today’s day and age are much different than while I was growing up which means, as a coach, you must be able and willing to adapt and try new things in order to be effective. I was fortunate to have a great group of players that were committed to working as a team towards a common goal.” 

The AHU Coach of the Year Award recognizes the dedication, passion, and positive impact that the program’s coaches have on young athletes, both on and off the ice.

“Outstanding coaching not only strengthens our teams but also shapes the character and future of our players,” said AHU president Stacy Shupe. “By honoring exceptional coaches, we hope to inspire others to strive for excellence in their own coaching journeys. The large number of nominations reflects just how much of an impact our coaches make. AHU coaches are the backbone of our club, shaping the future of hockey through their leadership, dedication, and innovation. Their commitment leaves a lasting impression on both athletes and parents, and we celebrate all of them for embodying the true spirit of the game.”

To be considered for the 2024-25 AHU Coach of the Year Award, nominees had to demonstrate excellence in the following areas:

• Commitment to developing young athletes, both in their skills on the ice and in their character off of it.
• Exceptional leadership that promotes teamwork, sportsmanship, and respect.
• Innovative coaching techniques that enhance skill development and instill a love for the game.
• A positive influence on players, parents, and the broader hockey community.

Aside from Caravella, the other coaches nominated include Chloe McClary, Chris McCabe, Courtney Caravella, Donovan Mattfeldt, Eric Rodarte, Jarod Eagles, MaryAnn Barnhart, Matt Esaena, Ryan Beckman and Ryan Vert.

“Coach Caravella has been described by players and parents alike as a mentor, a motivator, and a true role model,” Shupe said. “His ability to connect with his players, push them to reach their full potential, and create a positive, team-first culture has made an immeasurable impact. Under Coach Caravella’s leadership, the 16U White team has not only achieved remarkable success on the ice, bringing home multiple gold medals and banner finishes, but they have also grown as teammates and individuals. His deep knowledge of the game, combined with his unwavering dedication, has helped shape a group of young athletes into a cohesive, disciplined, and resilient team.”

To coach for the youth hockey program that helped shape his love for the game means the world to  Caravella.

“To be coaching for the same program that I grew up playing at is an amazing opportunity for me to continue to pass along the passion and love of the game that my youth coaches showed to me,” Caravella said. “Over the last 15 years, I have been able to see the caliber of players that come from the Chandler-Gilbert area continue to grow. Being able to coach with two guys that I grew up playing with (Dryden and Gillaspie) has been an amazing experience. We have a huge sense of pride in our organization. We are extremely passionate about building a strong organization that players can come to knowing that they will get focused development while enjoying the game of hockey.”

Players have shared how Caravella’s coaching has transformed their confidence, skills, and love for the game.

One player stated, “Coach Mike transformed my hockey game, but more importantly, my confidence.”

Another shared, “He pushed us to be better every practice and game, while also reminding us to have fun with hockey.”

“Coach Caravella’s influence extends far beyond the scoreboard,” Shupe said. “He has fostered an environment of respect, accountability, and shared purpose, building lasting relationships with both players and parents. He embodies what it means to be a leader, always encouraging his athletes to handle adversity with grace and determination.

One parent noted, “His calm demeanor creates an environment that players enjoy being a part of,” while another player summed it up perfectly, saying, “He was all in on the team and wanted us to succeed.”

Caravella explained that coaching seemed to come natural to him once he knew his playing days were nearing the end.

“I knew as my competitive hockey career began winding down that it was not something I could just walk away from,” said Caravella. “I started my coaching career as an assistant coach for the 18U AA team at AHU, before moving to 14U level, and now being at 16U for the past two seasons. As soon as I started coaching, I fell in love with the challenge of working with players to find out how to keep them engaged as individuals while working towards a common team goal. There is nothing more fulfilling as a coach than to see a player, or team, put in the hard work and effort required to achieve a goal that they set throughout the season.

“Being able to pass along lessons that can help players on the ice, as well as in their future career choices has kept me hooked in developing the next generation.”

If there are other former players out there in the Valley that want to take up coaching, Caravella has simple advice for those individuals.

“For former players that have an interest in getting into coaching, my biggest piece of advice is to keep the players’ development and passion your main focus,” he said. “Hockey is an amazing sport that can provide you with life-long friendships, teach you hard lessons, and help mold you into a young adult. I think one thing that all hockey players have in common is a true love for the game. With the high cost of ice time and equipment, it is not a sport that someone can just ‘casually’ play. At some point in every hockey player’s life, they were likely obsessed with all things hockey. One common problem that I have seen all over in youth hockey is that players lose that passion that they once had. Whether it was a bad culture experience, disagreements with a coach, or just lack of development, they have had the passion pulled away from them.

“As a coach, your top priority should be finding a way to bring that love of the game back for a player. Once you get the passion from a player, that is when you can really make an impact on their development and leave a lasting impression.”

AHU tryouts for the 2025-26 season start May 8. More information can be found at ArizonaHockeyUnion.com.

— Matt Mackinder

(April 17, 2025)