Yuma IHAAZ festival battles elements, unveils positives
Once again, things were wet and wild in Yuma as multiple breaks had to be taken during Saturday and Sunday’s IHAAZ competition, with the rain continuing to tease spectators and competitors alike over the Feb. 11-12 weekend.
But after enduring the delays, only the 14U division was postponed, to be rescheduled at a later date.
Yuma teams had their engines running as they had teams in every age division finale except for the 8U division.
Prescott ended up as the champion of the 8U division, topping the Knighthawks 7-3 for the title. Prescott scored 23 goals and gave up only six.
Jayden Perea of the Storm was named the MVP as he scored three goals and dished out three assists to help pace the Storm to the championship.
Nate Magby of the Knighthawks was tabbed as the playmaker and Brody Amon of Yuma was named the outstanding offensive player of the division. Arnon scored eight goals and dished out three assists. Magby also scored eight goals and dished out an assist.
Dylan Foster (Knighthawks), Deagan Mullis (Yuma) and Zach Turner (Storm) were all outstanding goalies. Foster finished with 30 saves. Mullis tallied 53 saves and Turner came through with 15 saves.
The Knighthawks ended up as the champions of the 10U division, beating the Blaze 5-3 for the championship. The Knighthawks finished with 24 goals as a team.
Jonathan Pool of Yuma was named the outstanding goalie, racking up 44 saves.
Matthew Boelts was the outstanding playmaker and Hunter Hinds was the outstanding offensive player of the division. Brandon Gorzynski was the MVP of the Knighthawks.
Boelts came through seven goals and dished out three assists. Gorzynski finished the weekend with 11 goals and four assists. Eli Shulman of the AZ Jr. Wildcats tallied 13 goals and three assists.
The Knighthawks earned the championship in the 12U division, allowing only three goals during their tournament run. They defeated the Blaze 3-1 in the title game and finished with 16 goals as a team.
Zach Magby of the Knighthawks was the MVP of the tourney and teammate CJ Foster was the most outstanding goalie after allowing only three goals. Magby racked up five goals and two assists for the Knighthawks.
Cole Gebhart of Yuma was named the top playmaker and Zak Proud of the Knighthawks was the most outstanding offensive player of the division. Gebhart tallied three goals and three assists Proud came through with five goals and three assists.
Dominik Barber of the AZ Jr. Wildcats led the division in goals scored with seven. He had one assist as well.
The 14U A championship game is set with Yuma set to battle Prescott, while the 14U B title game will pit the AZ Royals against the Knighthawks.
Ian Torp of the Prescott Storm is currently the scoring leader in the 14U division. He has come through with eight goals and has also dished out an assist. Matthew Gross is second in the division in goals scored, racking up six goals and two assists.
Yuma won the champion of the Midget division. The Blaze held off the AZ Royals Blue 3-2. Yuma finished with 18 goals as a team and allowed only four.
Keegan Lamb of the Prescott Storm was the MVP of the division and Garrett Ruby of the AZ Royals Blue earned outstanding goalie honors, tallying 57 saves. He allowed only four goals.
Lamb finished second in scoring over the weekend as he tallied six goals and dished out two assists for the Storm.
Dennis Norris of the Yuma Blaze was the most outstanding playmaker and Joshua Thies of the AZ Royals Blue was named the most outstanding offensive player.
Norris recorded five points over the weekend, scoring three goals and dishing out two assists. Thies scored three goals and dished out an assist.
— Brian Lester