VOLUME 15
SKILLS COACH GYLLING BRINGING KNOWLEDGE TO AHU PROGRAM
COYOTES PLAYING CONFIDENT IN PUSH FOR NHL PLAYOFF BERTH
ERICKSON FATHER-SON COACHING DUO A BOON FOR JR. SUN DEVILS
RGHSHL COMMISH ENSIGN HELPING GROW THE GAME IN NEW MEXICO
ISSUE 7
MARCH 2020
After capturing the AHSHA Division 1 state title in February, Hamilton High School is now off to compete for a national championship later this month in Texas
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FROM THE EDITOR Springtime around the rinks can be a bittersweet time for hockey
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his happens every year. The seasons start in September and the grind begins. Then, seemingly, we blink, and we are at the end of the season. Yeah, it’s a pretty bittersweet time of the year. On one hand, some wish hockey would go on forever. On the other hand, some are anxious for the offseason and time to unwind, decompress, get away from the rink. Hockey season is truly the most wonderful time of the year. No disrespect intended for Andy Williams. Whether it’s youth hockey, junior hockey, college hockey or pro hockey, the game is growing so much that there is literally something happening right here in Matt Mackinder Arizona 365/24/7. Literally. That’s awesome to see and I’m so pumped to see it continue. For those still playing games, best of luck to you! And for those whose seasons have concluded, take the time you need to recharge, and we’ll see you at the rinks soon enough!
Arizona Rubber Magazine is published by: Mackinder Media, LLC, P.O. Box 373 Goodrich, MI 48438, 10 times a year, once monthly September through May and once in the summer. Postmaster: send address changes to: P.O. Box 373 Goodrich, MI 48438 Ph. (248) 890-3944 Email: matt@rubberhockey.com Subscription Rates: $49.95 USD * Single Copy: $3.95 USD Mail subscriptions to: P.O. Box 373 Goodrich, MI 48438 Subscriptions are non-refundable REPORT AN ERROR IMMEDIATELY Arizona Rubber Magazine will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion Visit our Web site at: www.AZRubberHockey.com Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/arizonarubber Follow us on Twitter: @AZRubberHockey
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Last month, Jr. Coyotes graduate Gage Quinney made his NHL debut with his hometown Vegas Golden Knights in front of friends and family at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Quinney skated for the Jr. Coyotes’ 16U AAA team in 2011-12 and led the team with 30 goals and 15 assists for 45 points in 40 games. Congrats, Gage! Phoenix native, Jr. Coyotes grad, former NAHL MVP and Ottawa Senators prospect Todd Burgess has been named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Month for February. Netting a league-best nine goals to go along with three assists for a league-high 12 points as a senior with RPI, Burgess had the second-highest plus-minus among conference skaters at plus-10, with three power-play tallies, 28 shots and six blocks at the defensive end. His month was highlighted by a four-goal outing against Princeton on Feb. 22 – registering his first collegiate hat trick in a 7-1 win. Burgess posted a six-game point streak during February in which he scored eight goals and added three assists for 11 points. He produced three power-play tallies and one game-winning assist during the stretch, with a plus-8 rating. Wow! Way to go, Todd!
Publisher/editor: Matt Mackinder senior designer: Julie Rippy
SOPHOMORE SKILLS
A total of 49 of the top American hockey players born in 2004 have been invited to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp, which will run March 18-22 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich. The camp will help select the 2020-21 U.S. National Under-17 Team. Two Arizona natives – defenseman Jake Livanavage (Gilbert, Jr. Coyotes) and forward Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale) – will be in Plymouth later this month looking for an opportunity to wear the red, white and blue next season. The 49 players, including 27 forwards, 16 defensemen and six goaltenders, will be divided into two teams. The squads will participate in on-ice practices and off-ice training, play in five games and attend two U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Team games at USA Hockey Arena. Go get ‘em, Jake and Cutter! And how about the PWHPA (Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association) Dream Gap Tour that came to the desert March 6-8? Wow! The tour showcased some of the best women’s hockey in North America, including local hockey legends Makenna Newkirk and Katie McGovern, who captained two teams and faced off against each other at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe. The weekend wrapped with the women taking on the Arizona Coyotes Alumni. All proceeds benefit the PWHPA and the Arizona Coyotes Foundation. Yes, the game is growing everywhere you look! Out east, an Arizona product (Spencer Stenholm) and a New Mexico native (Rivers Ball) were part of the Wenatchee (Wash.) Wilderness 16U Premier Tier I team that won the East Coast Elite League championship in February and the Washington State 16U Tier I championship. Stenholm has also received an invitation to attend the USHL Combine in April.
Contact Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com 4
Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine
Arizona State sophomore blueliner Chase Steele has had a productive season on the inline court and is one of five Sun Devils players to collect 30 or more points over the course of this season.
ON THE COVER Hamilton High School celebrates on the Ice Den Scottsdale ice after defeating Chaparral High School 7-5 to win the AHSHA Division 1 state championship back on Feb. 8. The win also gives the Huskies a berth to the USA Hockey High School National Championships, set for Mansfield, Tex., from March 26-30. Photo/Kenny McGinley
Coyotes need to play desperate, confident down stretch
By Mark Brown
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onsistency. Arizona Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet continues to pound that core value into the hockey souls of each one of his players. If there are key elements of the game upon Tocchet preaches, they are reliability and regularity. When speaking about the destiny of his club, Tocchet expands on being consistency and the ability to find a steady, notable method for each game. Addressing losing streaks and slumps, Tocchet offers the criteria of three games and once the Coyotes hit that number, worry becomes apparent. For the better part of the season, the Coyotes looked down to other teams in the Pacific Division from a perch of first place. Through games of late February and into early March, the Coyotes’ longest losing streak was only three and that was on two occasions. These included games from Dec. 23-31 and Jan. 16-30. Yet, that is in the rear-view mirror and sights are now set for a dramatic finish. With numerous clubs surging around them, the Coyotes find themselves in a rather desperate situation. Here’s a club that did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in eight years and for most of the season, they danced on the post-season bubble. Now, the stretch is great. Bunched with several clubs edging toward precious few playoffs positions, the Coyotes clearly recognize the urgency of the moment. “In these late games, it’s all about responses and the ability to push back,” said Coyotes forward Derek Stepan. “We need to be desperate and we need to be confident. Each night, we need those two points. Because these are precious points, we need to stick to
our game each night.” Two forwards who may spend more time in the With Tocchet’s desire to play consistent hockey, press box during March could be Michael Grabner there was an important sequence through February that and Christian Fischer. By early March, each had not could foreshadow whether this club skates in April or reached 10 goals and rookie center Barrett Hayton calls for tee times. With February wins at home against was given more ice time. On a line with Kessel and Garquality opposition like Edmonton, Washington, the New land, Hayton returned to the lineup on Feb. 20 in St. York Islanders and Tampa Bay but losing to the Florida Louis and averaged close to 14 minutes of ice time for Panthers at Gila River Arena, games into early March. the push to play each night at Equally important is mema higher level is ever-present. ory. If the Coyotes are to make The Coyotes clearly rea push and a late season call they came very close surge, several players, notato qualifying for the playoffs bly forwards, need to put the last season and this time, the puck in the net. drive is just as fierce. A recurring issue from last “The situation is much like season’s playoff run would be we went through last year,” lack of scoring. From one of Arizona goaltender Darcy the most anemic teams last Kuemper said. “We were season to the current postfighting for the last wild card season quest, there has been spot. It’s so close right now. little change. Despite the acIt will probably come down quisition of Phil Kessel and to the last game. We have to the emergence of Conor take advantage of every situGarland, lack of scoring reation and get as many points mains the dominant issue. as we can.” By early March, only San Down the stretch, TocThrough 67 games this season, Arizona Coyotes forward Jose, Los Angeles and Dal- Phil Kessel, acquired last summer from the Pittsburgh Pen- chet identified the key varilas had scored fewer goals guins, had collected 14 goals and 36 points as the Coyotes able. than Arizona in the Western desperately pushed towards a playoff berth. Photo/Norm Hall “We have to play desperConference. By March 1, the Coyotes had only one ate very game,” Tocchet said. “It’s game by game with 20-goal scorer and that was Garland, who has led the us. Teams have capitalized on us and we do not capiclub in goals for most of the season. Keep in mind, the talize. It’s consistency and we need consistent scoring. Coyotes were the only NHL team last season without a The margin of error is so small with our team that you 20-goal scorer. have to be really diligent, especially offensively.” AZRubberHockey.com
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Parade of Champions
Four AHSHA state champions crowned in quartet of exciting games Feb. 8-9 at Ice Den Scottsdale By Matt Mackinder
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nyone in attendance at Ice Den Scottsdale over the Feb. 8-9 weekend saw four incredible high school state championship games as AHSHA wrapped up the 2019-20 season, arguably its most successful one to date. Hamilton won the Division 1 title, while Flagstaff grabbed the Division 2 crown, Notre Dame Prep the Division 3 championship, and Chaparral secured the JV title. By virtue of winning the D-1 championship, Hamilton is off to Mansfield, Tex., at the end of the month to play in the USA Hockey High School National Championships. At the Ice Den, all four final games epitomized the growth and excitement of high school hockey in Arizona. DIVISION 1 – HAMILTON 7, CHAPARRAL 5
The Huskies had knocked off defending champion Pinnacle High School 4-3 in a shootout to reach the title game, where Hamilton defeated Chaparral. Hamilton coach Peter Morris said his squad is thrilled to be called state champions. “Of course, for the Hamilton High School celebrates its AHSHA Division 1 state championship on Feb. 8, a 7-5 victory over Chaparral High school this means the opSchool at Ice Den Scottsdale. Photo/Kenny McGinley portunity to draw students from other schools that may not have a hockey program and want to play for a state championship team,” Morris said. “It also brings attention for both the school and AHSHA to the continued growth of hockey’s importance in the Arizona high school program.” Morris noted that he felt this team was “special right from the start.” “With the talent and dedication of the players that we have, we knew we had the potential to be state champions,” said Morris. “They never quit and always believed in themselves and their teammates.” Looking ahead to the national tournament March 26-30, Morris said he likes the Huskies’ chances. “It’s going to be tough, but if this team continues to play hard as a unit, there is always potential for another big win,” he said. “You never go anywhere without doubt or apprehension, but you also have to go with positive energy and a strong team. “It is our goal to make ourselves, our families, our school, and the state proud.”
was on the line each time they stepped on the ice. “We have a small hockey community that feeds our program and over the years, Flagstaff has proven to be a very talented program that should not be taken lightly.” DIVISION 3 – NOTRE DAME PREP 3, DESERT VISTA 0 In 2019, Notre Dame Prep won the Division 2 title and then followed that up with the Division 3 championship last month. “Winning another state championship means a lot,” Notre Dame Prep coach Taylor Nelson said. “It has given a lot of our guys the confidence that they can do In the AHSHA Division 3 state title game, Notre Dame Prep this. We have a lot of guys High School blanked Desert Vista High School 3-0 back on who will be moving up to the Feb. 9 at Ice Den Scottsdale. Photo/Kenny McGinley D-1 team next year and we’ll be pushing them to go all out for a D-1 championship. Some of these guys have the opportunity to win a D-3, D-2 and a D-1 championship all in three years.” A late-November road trip to a Catholic school tournament in South Bend, Ind., opened Nelson’s eyes to what the Saints were capable of the rest of the way. “We lost in the championship game,” Nelson said. “After the game in the locker room, I could see the boys were upset and hurt, but I could also see the determination in their eyes that they weren’t going to let this happen to them again when we got to the state tournament.” As the season wore on, Nelson noted that the team’s chemistry as unlike any he had ever seen before. “I know its cliché to say that we were a family, but we really were,” Nelson said. “This team battled and fought for each other all season long and I absolutely loved that.” JV – CHAPARRAL 4, BASHA/PERRY 3
DIVISION 2 – FLAGSTAFF 1, PINNACLE 0 Avalanche coach Daniel Carrick said his team is ecstatic to bring a state title to Northern Arizona. “Everyone knows how hard these boys had to work to reach this milestone,” said Carrick. “They will be recognized by the Flagstaff City Council this month and that shows you what a state After a thrilling 1-0 win over Pinnacle High School on Feb. 8 championship means to the at Ice Den Scottsdale, Flagstaff High School was crowned AH- entire city of Flagstaff. SHA Division 2 state champions. Photo/Kenny McGinley “This is not something that happens very often here in Flagstaff and these boys need to be celebrated.” Carrick admitted that seeing how far this team could go was something the Flagstaff coaches noticed before the season. “I would say after our first few games, I knew this team was very special,” Carrick said. “I have been around this sport for many years and you don’t see many teams that come together like this one did. That bond is what made them feel invincible and like they could accomplish anything. “They were brothers on and off the ice. Anybody who was around this team knew they were capable of great things.” Work ethic was the strong suit for the Avalanche. “They took training very seriously and understood the benefits of digging deep and leaving everything they had on the ice,” said Carrick. “This team fully understood what 6
Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine
Chaparral High School took home the AHSHA JV state championship with a 4-3 win over the Basha/Perry high schools combined team at Ice Den Scottsdale on Feb. 9. Photo/Kenny McGinley
Even as the school doesn’t recognize the hockey team as an official team or club of the school, the Firebirds take great pride in what the D-1 and JV teams accomplished in the 201920 season. “It brings more attention to the program, especially from the travel hockey programs,” Chaparral coach Chad Hampton said. “We have already had numerous
inquiries about playing for the program next season.” The coaching staff recognized the team had a good amount of talent during the preseason practices. “Just because you have talent on the team doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to have a good team,” Hampton said. “The players worked hard in practice and began to bond as a team during the Labor Day Showcase. We really started to see how special this team was about a third of the way through the season when the boys pulled together some gritty wins after coming off of several games where we could have won but settled for the tie. “They figured out how to get over the hump and find it within themselves to get the wins in the close games. I am most proud of how the boys came together as a team. We are a regional JV team that had players from six different schools on the team. They Arizona Coyotes and NHL legend Shane Doan drops the ceremonial first puck prior to the AHSHA played for each other, no matter what Division 1 championship game between Hamilton school they went to, and it was all High School and Chaparral High School at Ice Den Scottsdale on Feb. 8. Photo/Kenny McGinley about them as a team.”
UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE
NCDC Combines coming to Detroit, Chicago in April, May
By Joshua Boyd/USPHL.com
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he United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) and its tuition-free National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) announced in February their 2020 NCDC Combines, set to take place in Detroit, Mich. (April 10-11) and Chicago, Ill. (May 1-2). These combines will feature guaranteed scouting opportunities by coaches from the Tier II NCDC, along with additional scouting opportunities with other USPHL teams. Players born between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 31, 2004 will be eligible. Registration costs only $79 for each combine. The USPHL is dedicated to providing a great value to prospective players to show their skills in front of NCDC coaches and begin new relationships. Players will be guaranteed a minimum of three scrimmage games, and there will be goaltender-specific training sessions at each event. There will also be an informational seminar about the USPHL and its unparalleled USPHL Development Model. Players and their parents will be able to ask questions directly to NCDC coaches as well as other USPHL coaches and league representatives. The NCDC Detroit Combine will be held at Fraser Hockeyland at 34400 Utica Road, Fraser, Mich., in the northern suburbs of Detroit. It is just over a 30-minute drive from Detroit Wayne County Airport. Players can stay at the Hampton Inn Detroit/Roseville (33680 Gratiot Ave, Clinton Township, Mich.) with a spe-
cial room rate. The Hampton Inn is an eight-minute drive from Fraser Hockeyland.
Register for the 2020 NCDC Detroit Combine: https://usphlstats.sportngin.com/register/ form/827747933 The NCDC Chicago Combine will be held at the Fifth Third Arena at 1801 West Jackson Blvd., in Chicago, Ill. Fifth Third Arena is the practice facility for the Chicago Blackhawks. Located in downtown Chicago, it is just over a 30-minute drive from O’Hare International Airport and under 30 minutes from Chicago Midway International Airport. There are countless lodging options in the Chicagoland area, all within a short drive of Fifth Third Arena. Register for the 2020 NCDC Chicago Combine: https://usphlstats.sportngin.com/register/ form/784025157 Invitations to NCDC tryout camps for the 2020-21 season will be offered to select players from each combine. The NCDC Draft will be held on May 15, and NCDC teams will be scouting players for potential selections in that event to be held less than two weeks after the Chicago Combine. Combine Offerings The cost for each three-day combine is $79, with a three-game guarantee as well as off-ice activities and player evaluations. Also included: jersey, skate sharpening, laundry, ac-
credited on-ice officials, and medical staff on site. The USPHL and its tuition-free division, the NCDC, are providing an unparalleled, comprehensive on- and office recruiting opportunity for players from throughout the United States. Sign up today, as registration will be limited. About the NCDC The NCDC is the only tuition-free junior hockey league that is fully located in the Northeastern United States, limiting travel to New York, New Jersey, the Philadelphia region and the New England states. This allows players to spend more time on development, both on- and off-ice, than traveling on a bus. With the unmatched USPHL Showcase Series, NCDC players have several opportunities each season to play in front of several scouts at well-attended multi-day, multi-tiered events. There were more than 400 former players from the USPHL’s top division skating with NCAA hockey teams during the 2019-20 season. This included individual season-ending award-winners from multiple NCAA Division I conferences. More than 100 players committed to college hockey out of the 2018-19 NCDC season alone, and more than 30 of those players advanced to NCAA Division I institutions from what was then a 12-team league. USPHL alumni currently skating in the NHL include players such as Jack Eichel, Charlie Coyle, Brian Dumoulin, Jimmy Vesey and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
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ARIZONA HOCKEY UNION
Gylling bringing creativity as AHU’s new skills coach By Sean Phillips
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ody Gylling is an Arizona native that started playing hockey when he was just 5 years old. A Chandler native, he grew up playing at multiple rinks in the Valley before leaving at 17 to pursue his dream of college hockey. His playing days complete, Gylling is now giving back to the game as the new skills coach for the Arizona Hockey Union. Gylling believes in the importance of skill development at all ages, and that each skate or practice have a purpose. The 25-year-old is also very passionate about proper technique and skill development and enjoys training kids of all ages and skill levels from novice to elite. Needless to say, Gylling is excited to get to know and work with kids across the entire program. Drafted into the USHL twice and the NAHL once,
Gylling played 185 games in four years of junior hockey with the USHL’s Indiana Ice (2011-12) and the NAHL’s Johnstown Tomahawks (2012-13) and Amarillo Bulls (2013-15), scoring 61 goals and adding 74 assists for 135 points. Gylling was named Johnstown’s Offensive Player of the Year his second year of junior hockey with the Tomahawks. In juniors, he led his team twice in scoring and was selected twice to attend the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, an annual event designed to showcase the league’s top players in front of hundreds of NCAA scouts and
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every NHL team. Gylling then became the first player to be recruited to play at Arizona State University since the NCAA D-I announcement prior to the inaugural 2015-16 season. For the Sun Devils, Gylling skated 25 games in that 2015-16 campaign, tallying three goals and three assists for six points. Off the ice, Gylling ultimately graduated with honors from the ASU W.P. Carey School of Business with a BS in Management. This past year was his first year as a head c o a c h where he is proud to have won two tournaments with his AHU 16U Silver team. Gylling was also an assistant coach for Hamilton High School, helping the Huskies to the AHSHA Division 1 state championship last month at Ice Den Scottsdale.
NAU Coaches and Staff will be hosting a
SPRING PROSPECTS CAMP
CAMP COST
75
$
SKATERS $ 100 GOALIES $ 65
BEAT THE HEAT! PLAY IN THE PINES THIS SUMMER!
JULY 31-AUGUST 2, 2020
April 17-18th, 2020
Pre-registration is required
You are invited to join other prospective players for three on-ice sessions. Sessions will be an hour and a half in length and each player will receive a NAU camp jersey. OPEN TO ALL JUNIOR OR COLLEGE ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
For more information and how to register, please visit
www.nauicejacks.com
SUNDAY SKILLS COMPETITION • • • •
Fastest Skater Most Accurate Shooter Most Saves More!
10 ENTRY $
Need a hotel? Call LITTLE AMERICA @ (928) 779-7900 and mention FYHA.
• • • • • • •
Birth Years 2003 - 2013 36 Skaters & 6 Goalies Per Group Register Per Player 2 - 12 Minute Periods Per Game 5 Game Guarantee Jersey Game Days & Times TBD
Find more information on registration @ fyha.org
AHU COACH’S CORNER: GUEST COLUMN
Navigating our journey through youth hockey: a series This is Part 1 of a multipart series.
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s the youth hockey season comes to a close, I am reminded almost every day that this is the most chaotic time of year for hockey parents. It’s that crazy stretch where stress, anxiety, and Topher Scott the fear of unpredictability casts a dark shadow onto our sport at the youth levels. So I got to thinking…really… Why so much craziness? Why do people lose their minds at this time of year? Why do people get so invested into literally a youth sport? And as I thought about it and then spoke to a lot of my friends and colleagues in the industry, the answers that kept coming up were these: “Making it” and “Money.” And too often, nowadays, people believe that the two are becoming intertwined. The “making it” piece is an interesting part to this crazy youth hockey equation. First of all, “making it” can mean a whole bunch of things to different people. It could be junior hockey, college hockey, NHL…but that’s not the point. Parents are being led to believe that the process
to “making it” begins younger and younger by the year. The professionalization of our sport has trickled down to even the youngest of levels, and parents are feeling the pressure to make the right decisions for their kids (where to play, who to play for, what level to play at) at way too young of an age. And when we talk about parents and what they want for their son or daughter, wanting them to “make it” usually comes with a severely negative connotation. It’s almost like we talk about parents as being overbearing and doing whatever it takes, ethically or not, to make sure their kid gets to the next level. But while there are certainly parents like that out there, I have a different take based on a lot of the conversations I’ve had with youth hockey parents as a whole. Most just want to see their kid succeed because it’s their dream. And they will go to the ends of the earth to help their kid achieve that dream because they love them and want to see them be happy. And this, in my opinion, is where AAA hockey is failing them. Look, AAA hockey was started to give kids the opportunity to play with and against other top-level players – a notion that I don’t think anybody would deny makes kids better – but AAA hockey’s model, unfortunately, has shifted from a “developmental model” to a “business model.”
Year-round sport specialization. Insane amounts of games. The emphasis of winning over development. This is what AAA hockey has become. While playing with and against other top players will always challenge kids and help their development, the other aspects of AAA hockey are hurting it. It’s especially hurting the parents who are struggling and feel like they have to keep up. They feel the need to pay an incredible amount of money to make sure their kids aren’t getting left behind. And man, if I had a nickel for every time a parent expressed to me the fear of being “left behind,” I’d have a lot of nickels. A LOT of nickels. It’s really unfortunate that so many families feel that way. So I posed the question on social media to the parents of youth hockey players. I wanted to see how crazy the costs have actually gotten. I asked them: How much money do you spend in a typical year, ALL IN, for your kid to play AAA hockey? It was really interesting to read all of the emails as the responses came back with so many different tones. Some parents were disgusted by what they wrote. Some were surprised as they hadn’t really taken the time to think about it. And some said that they’d do it all over again, every year, because they couldn’t put a price on their kid’s experience. It was a pretty eye-opening and informative exercise, to say the least.
Topher Scott played junior hockey in the USHL, NCAA Division I hockey at Cornell and three years of pro hockey in the ECHL and CHL. He now runs www.TheHockeyThinkTank.com. AZRubberHockey.com
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DYHA JR. SUN DEVILS
Erickson father-son combo excelling behind DYHA bench By Matt Mackinder
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his season, the DYHA Jr. Sun Devils, already proponents of forging a family atmosphere within the organization, took that adage to another level with its 10U Maroon team. The father and son tandem of Chris and Tyler Erickson went behind the bench this season, something the duo had done together back in their home state of Minnesota. “My family wintered in Mesa for a number of years and I had other family living here, so we came here a lot for vacations,” said Chris Erickson. “My passions, besides being sick of winters, are golf and hockey. Being able to do both year-round made it an easy decision. Tyler and I had a training business in Minnesota that we shut down while my wife was ill. She passed away in Dec. 2018 here in Arizona. After taking a year off of coaching and training, we decided it was time to get back into it. “We met with (DYHA hockey director) Brad McCaughey to discuss Erickson Hockey (www.EricksonHockey.com) and the possibility of coaching. We have enjoyed every minute.” Tyler said it is an honor and a privilege to coach with his father. “We have lots of memories coaching together in Minnesota,” Tyler Erickson said. “We talk hockey all the time. Right from the time we pull out of the rink, we call each other and go over every play, every line and player. We have been doing that since the first day we started
coaching together so now, it’s just a habit. I know his systems and what he wants. The scary part is when we yell the same exact thing at the same time because we have been coaching together for so long. “It’s awesome to live the dream of coaching with your dad.” In Minnesota, Chris played hockey through high
Minnesota natives and father-son duo Tyler Erickson and Chris Erickson joined the DYHA stable of coaches for the 2019-20 season, guiding the Jr. Sun Devils’ 10U Maroon team.
school and has now been coaching for the past 30 years. Taking after his father, who also coached, he has helped develop several players that are now in the NHL. Tyler also played high school and junior hockey in Minnesota before getting behind the bench.
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“Coaching with Tyler is the best,” Chris said. “We finish each other’s sentences and yell the same things at the same time. While Tyler was still playing, he would run my drills during tryouts and would come to games he could make. After his playing days were over, it was a no-brainer to coach with him. He is very talented and works well with the players of all ages. His skill training is second to none.” With this season winding down, both coaches want to stay with DYHA for the 2020-21 season. “The best thing about coaching with DYHA is the freedom to coach the way we want to and bringing our Minnesota training and practices out here,” Chris said. “There is no micro-managing. It is a different animal out here, so it took a while for Tyler and I to get used to it, and I know it took a while for the players and parents to get used to it, but the season has gone well. In mid-January, the DYHA 10U team went to Bloomington, Minn., for a tournament and won the championship beating the top associations in the state. “The boys played fantastic,” said Chris. “It was a great experience for them and nice for us to go back where it all started.” Tyler agrees with his father on the positive DYHA environment. “We both didn’t know what to expect when we started, but all the coaches and Brad have made it very fun and easy to coach here,” he said. “The parents are really great, and both of us really just love coming to the rink to coach. This program is on the right path to be a top program in Arizona.”
Tahoe Titlists
TAHOE PREP ACADEMY
Using a total team effort, Tahoe Prep Academy skates way to NAPHL prep division title By Greg Ball
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hen Tahoe Prep Academy first opened its doors in the fall of 2016, winning championships was likely the farthest thing from the minds of their coaches and staff. While success on the ice would eventually become a primary goal, the academy needed to build a foundation first and focus on developing individual hockey players who would make just as much progress in the classroom as they would on the ice. Four seasons later, though, Tahoe Prep can boast of its first championship, as the school’s prep team captured the North American Prospects Hockey League’s (NAPHL) prep division title and Dixon Cup on Feb. 16 in suburban Detroit with a 2-1 shootout win over Pilot Mound Hockey Academy from Manitoba. Chris Collins, the academy’s prep head coach, said the key to Tahoe Prep’s league championship was the team’s cohesiveness throughout the season, especially when the pressure was ratcheted up in the playoffs. “Everybody played selfless hockey for five straight games,” Collins said after the championship was secured. “We had full team buy-in from every player on our roster. There was no bickering on the bench, and nobody crumbled when things got intense down the stretch.” Collins also said that the championship wasn’t just about what his players did in February, but that it went all the way back to their first practices in Sep-
tember, and even to their offseason workouts last summer. The group grew as a team throughout the months between, and the collection of individuals truly embodied the definition of a team once the season’s most important games came around. “To get up to this point, there were a lot of meetings, a lot of talking with the team, and a lot of team bonding activities,” Collins explained. “We put in the time to get to know each other, and the kids got to a place where they realized that they had to look internally when they were wrong and just own it. It wasn’t until we reached the playoffs that some of our team’s players really let go of some of the insecurities that had been holding them back.” Tahoe’s roster for its prep team this season includ-
ed forwards Ben Palmersheim, Ian Bowman, Zach Turner, Koebe Buske, Chase Sechrist, Cade Schiefelbein, Bobby Doukov, Alex Boyko, Nikko Escobar, Kelsen Evenson and Ellis O’Dowd; defensemen Jacob Nordorf, Blake Bishop, Quinn Proctor, Jonathan Gunn, Drew Mazza and Matthew Ward; and goalies Cameron Dunnigan and Gian Buerer. Tahoe Prep went 4-2-1 in NAPHL regular-season play this year, finishing tied for third out of 12 teams in the league’s prep division. The squad then went on to win four of its five playoff games and take home the title. Once in the playoffs, Tahoe really found its rhythm.
forcing overtime. Neither squad was able to score through two full overtime periods, sending the contest to a shootout. Buske registered the winning goal, sniping one high off the left post and in to set off a raucous celebration on the ice complete with helmets and gloves being thrown in the air and coming down on the dogpile like confetti. The championship game victory was even sweeter for Tahoe Prep because Pilot Mound had knocked them out of the playoffs last season and had beaten them 5-0 earlier this season. “They are a really tough program to play against,” Collins said. “All the goalies played really well. Cameron Dunnigan was solid. He stopped the penalty shot during the game and then two rounds of the shootout.” Tahoe Prep president Leo Fenn said that seeing the school’s prep team come out victorious at the end of a long season in one of the country’s most prestigious and competitive leagues for high school-age players was truly rewarding. Witnessing Tahoe’s student-athletes develop through the prism of athletic success was even more special, though. “The journey that our team has taken this year has been full of growth - not just in their hockey skills, but in their maturity,” Fenn said. “We are so proud of these boys and what they have accomplished, and we look forward to cheering them on in their next steps.” Looking back, Collins said that the
The squad opened with a win over perennial rival Fountain Valley. Proctor got Tahoe on the scoreboard first, and the team fed off the energy of that early lead. After a loss to TRC Hockey Academy in their second game, Tahoe Prep never looked back. They dominated Prairie Hockey Academy in their third game and then earned a measure of redemption by beating TRC Hockey Academy 5-1 to secure a spot in the championship game. Nordhof’s hat trick led the way for Tahoe in the semifinal victory. The title game was truly a nail-biter for supporters of Tahoe Prep. Turner scored the team’s lone goal in regulation, and the boys from Tahoe held Pilot Mound to one goal as well,
last six months has been full of milestones for Tahoe Prep. From a program that was just a concept four years ago to a hockey academy that is now producing standout hockey players and students, the tree has borne fruit perhaps even more quickly than he expected. Getting to see his players celebrate the school’s first championship was truly remarkable, especially because it seemed the odds were long. “What was so remarkable was the celebration that the kids got to enjoy as soon as the final horn sounded,” Collins said. “They were all just in tears because of how happy they were because nobody believed they could do it.” Photos/Ed Fritz
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ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION Congratulations to the AHSHA State Tournament Division MVP Award Winners!
Division 1: Carter Newlin, Hamilton
Division 2: Dylan Bonfiglio, Flagstaff
AHSHA.org Division 3: Aiden Rettke, Notre Dame Prep
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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine
JV: Garrett Eddy, Chaparral
UMMER HOCKEY CAMPS
Presented by:
June 1 - 5, 2020 in Chandler
June 22 - 26, 2020 in Chandler July 20 - 24, 2020 in Scottsdale
In addition to the Ice Den operated camps and programming, annually each year nationally recognized coaches and organizations host summer hockey camps in our buildings. From goalie exclusive camps to hockey and leadership skill development, off-ice conditioning and chalk talks, the Ice Dens combine qualified coaches with state-of-the-art facilities to ensure participants have a memorable experience.
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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine
HOCKEYSHOT
Own the Moment – On the Ice By John Haime/Hockey Mind Coach
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lay in the moment There are three potential places your mind could be when you are on the ice – the past, the present or the future. Of these three places, there is only one place where you can absolutely control performance – the present. This is exactly where noted psychology professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, in his best-selling book “Flow,” made his mark as a researcher. His research demonstrates that people are happiest and most productive when in a state of flow – when they are totally absorbed in the task at hand, and the challenge of the situation is equal to (or just above) their skill level. This is where you must strive to be when playing the game. The past and future are distractions to performance in the here and now. The past has happened, so dwelling on it is not productive. The future has not happened, so being fearful about what might happen is not productive. At every opportunity, pull yourself back into the moment you are playing in. Fall in love with the process; results will follow To help you further with “playing in the moment,”
being focused on your playing process can be a key for you. The key to every plan is not necessarily the ultimate goal or target – but the small steps needed to take you there. These small steps, often focused on a technique or strategy that you have worked on and tested in practice this year,
keep your mind on your execution on the and not on outcomes like winning – that you have no control over. In order for you to “own the moment” and stay in the moment, put all of your attention on what’s important to play your best in the moment – great positional play, an aggressive, proactive approach, your best effort on each shift or whatever “your” focuses in practice might
be. Fall in love with your process and let the outcomes fall where they may. This is my time – no one else’s It all comes down to you. You are the one who can make a difference in the game – or help teammates to make a difference. You accept feedback and instructions from coaches, but ultimately decide how you will use it. You are responsible for your own enjoyment in the game of hockey and determine who impacts that joy. Will you allow the many distractions in the game to dampen the reasons you play in the first place – because you love it. Owning the moment is about taking responsibility for your playing experience and your performances. Each moment on the ice, whether practicing or playing, is yours – no one else’s. These are three simple keys to help you own your play. Each “moment” for you on the ice is an opportunity to shine and express your potential, so embrace each opportunity and own it! Enjoy this article? Then be sure to visit HockeyShot.com for the latest tips, tricks and THE best hockey training products in the world!
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INLINE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA
IHAAZ welcoming new independent teams ‘with open arms’ By Brian Lester
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ndependent teams are establishing more of a presence in IHAAZ and this season, there are more than there have been in quite some time. The league features six independent teams this year, including five new ones. The HC Legion 12U team is coached by Casey Sherstobitoff and is made up of players from the 10U Knighthawks team from last year. Sherstobitoff said he formed a team in order to generate added interest in the sport. “Our decision was based on exposing the fun and creative sport of inline hockey to more youth in Arizona,” Sherstobitoff said. “Growing up in Edmonton, our travel ice hockey teams used to play inline hockey in the summer. I found it a great place to develop my stick handling, fluid puck control and creativity. Now, I want to share my love for the sport with youth in our Bobcats ice hockey travel program and other programs in the Valley by creating a new team.” The Outlaws have an 8U, 10U and 12U team and the majority of players are AHU Knights players from the East Valley. The Peoria Desert Scorpions are also new this season while the Northern Arizona Yeti is in its third year as a Midget team made up mostly of Prescott players as well as some from the Phoenix area. League tournament director Nick Boyarsky said the growth of independent teams has been big for IHAAZ. “Independent teams are how the series grows now,”
Boyarsky said. “It’s great when an existing program can at the 10U level, and said Boyarsky helped him find playform a new team, but sometimes the passion and de- ers from around the state, including Phoenix, Tucson and sire to form something motivates a new group to get in- Lake Havasu. volved, and that’s never a bad thing.” “I think the benefit of having an independent program Sherstobitoff said there are a lot of positives to hav- run by a player on the team was I was able to tailor the experience for the players because I had their same perspecing an independent team. “The positive has been seeing how it has increased tive,” said Griffin. “It also allowed us to accommodate the the players’ love for the game of hockey,” Sherstobi- players’ schedules from around the state and have a low, competitive cost to play.” toff said. “Travel ice programs Griffin isn’t as involved with come with a level of expectathe Yeti now as he plays at the tions and I’ve seen often that University of Arizona, but his can wear on youth’s love for hockey at times. With travel mom, along with Grady and his inline, while it’s competitive, I father Glen, have helped take over the logistics of running the really promote having fun, playprogram. ing hard and playing hard as a “I know they have big things team.” planned,” Griffin said. “I’m lookThe Yeti promote a positive ing forward to seeing them atmosphere as well. “We feel the Yeti has helped Ashton Sherstobitoff from the HC Legion 12U team bat- play this season and I hope the the sport grow, giving kids an tles for the puck in a recent game against the Prescott team’s legacy continues.” It appears based on the opportunity to build lifelong Storm Thunder. Photo/IHAAZ friendships while being competitive and having fun,” said growth of independent teams that they indeed have a Stephanie Sherwood, whose family formed the team. place in IHAAZ. And while independent teams have less “The experience has also given our boys Griffin and responsibility from a time and financial standpoint, the Grady valuable leadership and organizational opportuni- fact that they succeed is a plus for the league as a whole. ties. It’s been a learning experience for our whole family.” “If an independent team can be sustainable, and Griffin is Stephanie’s son and helped form the North- most importantly, become a positive member of the ern Arizona team during the 2017-18 season as a player. IHAAZ community, the existing group will always accept He had played for Prescott, starting out with the Storm them with open arms,” noted Boyarsky.
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TAHOE PREP ACADEMY
Tahoe Prep secures first two NCAA college commitments By Greg Ball
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he overriding and long-term goal at Tahoe Prep Academy has always been about one thing and one thing only - preparing its student athletes to take the next steps in their lives after high school. For some, that means playing junior hockey, and for others, it means continuing their hockey careers in college. Even if the academy’s student-athletes enroll in college but choose not to continue playing hockey, the coaches and administrators know they have paved the way for those that have come through their doors to become productive adults. As their motto goes, student-athletes come to Tahoe as boys and leave as men. There is a tremendous amount of pride permeating the campus this spring as Tahoe Prep has produced its first college hockey players since opening its doors in 2016. Forward Shane Gilbert has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey at SUNY-Fredonia in New York, and forward Erik Larsson has signed to play at Salem State University, a Division III school in Massachusetts. In addition, a handful of players from Tahoe Prep have been accepted to various colleges and may continue their hockey careers once they decide on a school. Matt Ward has been accepted to Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, and Alex Boyko has received an acceptance letter from Arizona State University. Quinn Proctor is choosing between Arizona State University, Chico State University and Sacramento State University, and has been accepted by
all three. director of skill development. “The best thing about Shane Many of Tahoe Prep’s top players are also in the midst is who he has become as a person.” of attending prospect camps for the various junior leagues Collins recalled a time when Gilbert reached out to a across the U.S. and Canada, as the timeline for junior com- new recruit who was unsure about coming to Tahoe to remitments generally falls a few months after college commit- assure him and welcome him to the campus, without any ments. prompting from coaches. “This is what it’s all about,” Tahoe Prep president Leo “That shows his character, at 17 years old, to go out Fenn said. “This is why they skate of his way for someone else,” Colevery day and do their strength and lins said. “Adding that to the fact that conditioning every day, to have these he’s great at hockey and is a really types of opportunities. I think it realgood leader, that just impresses you. ly inspires the current students at Shane is a great teammate.” Tahoe Prep when they see guys who Larsson was part of the first class have come through our doors finding of student-athletes at Tahoe Prep success as the next levels. when the academy opened four years “To have our first players commit ago. His time in Tahoe propelled him to play in college, we’re so excited to three seasons with the Boston Jr. and can’t wait to see them on the ice Bandits in the United States Premier playing NCAA hockey. We’re incredHockey League. “Erik’s passion for the game is ibly proud of the boys and their famphenomenal,” Fenn said. “His desire ilies and the work they have put in to to compete is off the charts. From the get to this point.” first time I saw him on the ice, I felt like Gilbert played two seasons for Former Tahoe Prep forward Erik Larsson was the Ogden Mustangs in the Western part of the first class back in 2016 and will play he was going to go somewhere and States Hockey League after passing NCAA D-III hockey in the fall at Salem State that he would have a chance to play college hockey.” through Tahoe Prep, a key step in his University. Photo/Tahoe Prep Academy Even after Larsson left Tahoe, he returned each summer development. “Shane is another guy who is just obsessed with his to train with his former coaches. “As we say, once you’ve worn the Tahoe jersey, you’re craft - everything he has become is because he has worked for it,” said Chris Collins, Tahoe’s prep head coach and part of the brotherhood for life,” Fenn said.
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NEW MEXICO REPORT
New RGHSHL commish Ensign seeing league evolve, grow Hockey Association to take the new league (RGHSHL) under their wing and this is where we are today.” Ensign has some pretty extensive hockey experience and is also a director in his profession. He played and coached high school hockey in Minnesota, played in the USHL and in college and for the past eight years, has lived in Durango and been heavily involved in the youth program as a coach, referee, USA Hockey coach-
varsity squad, which worked, but also is not our goal. We would like to have a North and South Division and limit travel while giving the league a lot of competition aving just completed his first year as commissionfrom our entire range of programs.” er of the Rio Grande High School Hockey League Ensign said he came away impressed with the tal(RGHSHL), Brian Ensign is already looking forward ent level from the New Mexico schools. to his second season in 2020-21. “I think the overall talent in the league is good and Ensign volunteered for the position after Kevin the pace, skill and discipline with the teams and proBrake stepped down and then the league coaches, grams has improved,” said Ensign. “Albuquerque which includes three from New Mexico (Albuqueris on the rise as a hotbed for hockey in the area que Bears, Los Alamos Hilltoppers, Rio Rancho due to the NAHL’s Ice Wolves team. The betCougars), one from Texas (Big Texan Bulls) and ter skilled players in some of these larger hocktwo from Colorado (Durango Demons, Telluride ey communities now have more options – high Miners), voted him in during the 2019 summer meeting. school, 16U A or 16U AA.” “Kevin had been commissioner for the preStill, Ensign sees opportunities for growth and vious three years and was looking for someone improvement in the immediate future within the RGHSHL. else to take the reins,” said Ensign. “I felt like I had “We are taking baby steps to improve the something to contribute and with the support of structure of the league, identifying travel and ex(Rio Rancho coach) Brett Lovette offering to be pense barriers, and working on getting schedules the assistant commissioner and Kevin still helping, we have had a good season.” Durango High School, led by head coach Brian Ensign (far left), captured out quicker for the next season,” Ensign said. “We The 2019-20 season wrapped up March 1 as the 2020 RGHSHL league championship March 1 with a convincing 3-0 are trying to get high school hockey on the map with each community and encouraging strong Durango won the RGHSHL championship. Ensign shutout win over Telluride High School. Photo/Craig Arnwine has coached the Demons for the past three seasons. es trainer and helping the board with coaches support. school support and pride around their individual teams. “Ideally, the commissioner would not be a current “We had a very successful RGHSHL year-end “Overall, the varsity season went very well this coach with a vested interest and knowledge into the year,” Ensign said. “For me, it has been a learning year tournament and we want to continue to grow the covleague, but we did not have any interested nominees,” and I have really depended on others with historical erage and event. We are having discussions around noted Ensign. “When I became the Durango head knowledge to guide the way. During that process, I improving the grade expectations and monitoring to coach three seasons ago, the New Mexico Interscho- have been documenting changes that we will try to in- magnify the student in the student-athlete. We are lastic Ice Hockey League was losing their host, LOEA- stitute for the 2020-21 season. also having discussions about ways to provide feedHA (Land of Enchantment Amateur Hockey Associa“We have 10 programs with JV and varsity possibil- back to refs and have a merit refereeing system for tion). Kevin saved the day by getting the Los Alamos ities and this year only six teams could field a qualified bigger games.” By Matt Mackinder
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Antelopes complete inaugural inline season on roll ry-making first win and edged UC Santa Barbara’s Division III team 6-5 on Jan. 11 to collect its second win. GCU was one of two new clubs in the WCRHL’s 2019-20 season, joining the University of Nevada-Reno, which finished 3-13 in the Division III standings. The Antelopes swept the three star selection in the win over NAU’s Division IV team as Nick Marolda collected three goals and two assists as the game’s First Star, Jeffrey Payne recorded five points (three goals and two assists) as the game’s Second Star and Drew
the Second Star award with three goals and two assists and Mark De La Fuente picked up Third Star rand Canyon University got a late start to its inhonors with two goals and one assist. augural Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League Payne was the First Star with five goals and one (WCRHL) schedule in 2019-20 but proved to be fast assist in the win over Chico State while Garcia was finishers after collecting three wins in its final regunamed Second Star with one goal and three assists. lar-season event Feb. 15-16 in Huntington Beach, Calif. “The team was able to secure our first winning Previously, the Antelopes hadn’t won more than one weekend in program history by playing smart hockey all game in any regular-season event. weekend in every zone and converting on our scoring “The team played very well in Huntington Beach chances as well as being strong in our defensive zone,” during our last weekend of regular-season Garcia said. games,” club president Jack Garcia said. Garcia said team has grown much over “We were able to secure our very first winthe course of the season. ning weekend and continue to grow as a “With the late start and being a new team, both on and off the rink.” program, the team feels we exceeded our GCU came up with three big wins to own expectations for how the year would start the Huntington Beach event by dego,” Garcia said. “Even as far back as the feating Northern Arizona University’s DiQueen Creek weekend at the beginning of vision IV team by a score of 15-2, West February, despite going 0-3, we were in Valley College (JC Division) by a score of close games against NAU (Division II) and 11-5 and Division II rival Chico State 9-8. CSU-Fullerton (Division I) that have had The Antelopes split with Chico State programs established for years. Everyone by dropping a 10-5 decision in a rematch on the team has put in their best efforts, at the tournament. GCU closed out reguboth on the rink and away from the rink as lar-season play with a 13-4 loss to Arizona well, which has helped this team grow.” State University’s Division I team. Payne led the Antelopes in team scorThe positive 3-2 showing allowed the ing with 27 goals and 39 points in just 10 fledgling Antelopes to finish their 16 regu- Grand Canyon University’s first-year inline hockey team recorded its first winning weekend games, followed by Murchison with 17 lar season games with a respectable 5-11 during the Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League’s Feb. 15-16 regular-season event in Hun- goals and 31 points in 15 games. record. The team finished in fourth place tington Beach, Calif. The team’s top defensive contributors in the Division II standings behind Cal Poly San Luis Murchison captured Third Star honors with three included Decoster with 14 goals and 29 points in 16 Obispo (13-3), Chico State (10-3-0-3) and Northern goals and one assist. games and Garcia with 10 goals and 26 points in 16 Arizona University (10-5-0-1). GCU also swept the three star awards in the win games. The Antelopes defeated the University of Arizona’s over West Valley as Payne racked up four goals and All nine players on the team scored at least one Division III squad 10-1 on Dec. 8 to pick up their histo- two assists as the First Star, Kyle Decoster earned goal.
By Phillip Brents
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Boyarsky ‘beyond impressed’ with Sun Devils inline teams By Phillip Brents
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rizona State University’s Division I and Division IV teams both concluded regular-season play with 15-1 records, topping the Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League (WCRHL) standings in both divisions. ASU program director Nick Boyarsky said after tryouts concluded to start the 2019-20 season, two things were apparent: First, the Sun Devils were going to have a young but very skilled and exciting Division I team. Second, the program was a half-dozen players short of having a bare bones Division IV development team. The latter was a bit of a hard pill to swallow from a program that at one point had three development teams playing in a season. Not wanting to lose the secondary team from the program, Boyarsky and coach Alex Dodt used their youth coaching contacts to sweep up several promising candidates to fill the void. Players also spread word around campus. Freshman Division IV candidate Anthony Paquet discovered freshman goaltender Weston Walker during a chance encounter while ASU sophomore Cole Kamin brought four others into the fold. Fast forward to the end of regular-season play and ASU had outscored its WCRHL opposition 165-39. Kamin topped the Sun Devils with 47 goals and 79 points while Paquet followed with 35 goals and 69 points. Walker posted a 15-1 record, three shutouts, to go with a 2.38 goals-against average and .854 save percentage as one of the top netminders in the country in the division. “I’m beyond impressed with how quickly this group
took to the game,” Boyarsky said. “The difference between the first weekend and the last was night and day different in terms of how their existing skills had adapted to roller hockey. I’m excited to see them play the other top teams in the country this April at the NCRHA Nationals.” Boyarsky said that senior Miguel Cazares has been
Sophomore forward Grant Ziegler is one of five Sun Devils inline players to log more than 30 points during the current 201920 season.
the unsung hero on defense. “If there was a stat kept for shot blocking, he’d be untouchable,” Boyarsky said. Catching fire With three freshmen and three sophomores making a huge impact on the scoreboard, the story of this year’s ASU Division I team is youth.
“It’s allowed the upperclassmen who had realistically been role players up until this year to continue to do their jobs without the weight of carrying a team,” Boyarsky said. The Sun Devils were scheduled to play an inter-regional event against other top Division I teams in the country in mid-January in Illinois but adverse weather conditions cancelled the trip. ASU played its 16 regular-season games against other WCRHL teams, with its lone loss coming to Cal Poly San Luis Obipso at the start of the season. Boyarsky and Dodt said the team’s proving ground will be at April’s national championship tournament in Fort Myers, Fla. “We’ve had a very even attack, which is key for Division I collegiate roller,” Boyarsky explained. “If you are trying to ride one or two players, you will get shut down by more balanced teams at nationals.” Scoring leaders included five players with 30 or more points, starting with freshman Seth Davis (34 points in 16 games), sophomore Grant Ziegler (32 points in 14 games) and freshman Logan Corrigan (31 points in just 12 games). Sophomore Chase Steele and freshman Blake Tallas both followed with 30 points in 16 games. Tallas led the team with 21 goals. “The goal for this young team is to really have a strong showing at NCRHA Nationals this April,” Boyarsky said. “I think we’re ready, we’re getting better every time we play, and our special teams are hitting their stride. “We’ll be expecting a lot from a young core and we’ll be relying on the always strong play of goalie Aaron Gittings (2.35 GAA, .876 save percentage), who can make the difference for us in some games.” AZRubberHockey.com
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SHOP TALK
Springtime means brand-new skates, goalie gear at BTM L
ook for these new products coming soon to Behind The Mask.
CCM Super Tacks AS3 Pro Skates Are you ready to take you game to the next level? The CCM Super Tacks AS3 Pro Skates arrive to Exelby BTM Scottsdale on April 24. Equipped with an optimized one-piece boot and groundbreaking XS Tongue Technology, these wheels are engineered to maximize you comfort and give you faster feet. New to CCM skates this year, the XS Tongue delivers three thicknesses of interchangeable tongues to ensure a fit that your foot will thank you for. Boasting as the most customizable skates off the wall, the Monoframe one-piece boot construction offers superior contact to the foot, ensuring the highest level of energy transfer to the ice and XS quick change steel ensures you’ll never miss a shift. CCM AXIS Goalie Pads Where most pads are an evolution of the previous generation, the new AXIS Goalie Pads are a full-on
revolution. Inspired by modern goaltending techniques, the lightweight core construction has been completely redesigned to deliver the most aggressive rebound yet. This is what lightweight power looks like. Look for the newest revolution to goaltending on April 24 only at BTM Scottsdale. Available for use at BTM Demo Day on May 8. Bauer Supreme Goalie Equipment Arriving just in time for BTM Goalie Day 2020 is the Bauer Supreme Ultra Sonic goalie pads. Bauer’s newest construction of their lightweight pads shows great promise for durability and speed in the crease. With a new Stabilislide knee cradle and asymmetrical CURV composite thigh rise, this newest model is sure to impress. The most exciting addition to the line is the Bauer GSX Goal line. This price-point entry-level line is impressive. With lightweight durable materials and easy to use strapping system, look for this new line to take the goalie world by storm. Bauer Vapor Protective Arriving late June, the 2020 Bauer Vapor Protective line of gloves, elbow pads, shin guards, shoulder pads and hockey pants arrive at all BTM locations. The newest line features upgraded materials and new designs to improve speed on the ice.
Warrior Ritual G5 Goal Pads Available April 14 are the Ritual G5 Pro leg pads featuring CoverEDGE+ technology. CoverEDGE+ applies a face-forward design that adds a new dimension to maximizing your coverage in net. Bringing the face of each piece of G5 gear forward, the angle to the puck is further cut down, allowing you to get a piece of pucks that would just miss more conventionally designed gear. The Airslide landing surface enhances pad sliding, especially on rough/ snowy ice. RVH optimized outer roll seals against goal posts in Reverse VH position without sacrificing necessary puck stopping benefits. In the new chest pad, Shockshield disperses the impact of the puck across a plastic cap and the trampoline liner to increase protection and comfort. Be sure to check out the newest goalie gear at the 2020 Behind the Mask Goalie Demo on May 8 at AZ Ice Arcadia. Meet the company goalie experts from Bauer, CCM, Warrior, True, Brian’s and Vaughn. Demo the gear on the ice for free from 6-7 p.m. Gear is limited, and the ice fills quickly, so be sure to arrive early. Please bring all your equipment to ensure you can still get on the ice when demo products become scarce.
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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine
2019-20 ARIZONA/ ARIZONA/NEW NEW MEXICO ALUMNI Email all additions, deletions and corrections to alumni@rubberhockey.com
ARIZONA PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY Austin Carroll (Scottsdale) – Kassel Huskies (Germany) Trevor Cheek – Esbjerg Energy (Denmark) * Sean Couturier (Phoenix) – Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) Richard Coyne (Cave Creek) – Rapid City Rush (ECHL) Anthony Croston (Phoenix) – Adirondack Thunder (ECHL) Brandon Fehd (Gilbert) – Rapid City Rush (ECHL) Seth Gustin (Phoenix) – Columbus River Dragons (FPHL) Nikolai Knyzhov – San Jose Sharks (NHL) - * # Brendan Lemieux (Phoenix) – New York Rangers (NHL) Broc Little (Phoenix) – Linkopings HC (Sweden) Auston Matthews (Scottsdale) – Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) Beau McCue – Fayetteville Marksmen (SPHL) * Ben Oskroba (Tempe) – Peoria Rivermen (SPHL) Gage Quinney – Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) * Ty Ronning (Scottsdale) – Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) Henrik Samuelsson (Scottsdale) – Worcester Railers (ECHL) Philip Samuelsson (Scottsdale) – Leksands IF (Sweden) Andrew Shortridge – San Jose Barracuda (AHL) * Tage Thompson (Phoenix) – Rochester Americans (AHL) Zack Ziegler (Scottsdale) – Battle Creek Rumble Bees (FPHL) COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION I – MEN Todd Burgess (Phoenix) - RPI (ECAC) Nathan Burke (Scottsdale) - Minnesota (Big Ten) Jaxon Castor (Phoenix) - St. Cloud State (NCHC) Carson Dimoff (Scottsdale) - St. Lawrence (ECAC) Jake Durflinger – Denver (NCHC) & Phil Knies (Phoenix) - Miami (NCHC) Demetrios Koumontzis (Scottsdale) – Arizona State (Independent) Erik Middendorf (Scottsdale) - Colorado College (NCHC) Ethan Roswell (Paradise Valley) - Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) Ryan Savage (Scottsdale) – Miami (NCHC) Connor Stuart (Phoenix) - Arizona State (Independent) Johnny Walker (Phoenix) - Arizona State (Independent) NCAA DIVISION I – WOMEN Kenadie Cooper (Gilbert) – St. Anselm (NEWHA) Logan Hicks (Scottsdale) - Syracuse (CHA) Kiki Roust (Queen Creek) - Merrimack (Hockey East) Carlee Turner (Scottsdale) - New Hampshire (Hockey East) NCAA DIVISION III – MEN Trey Bagwell (Phoenix) - UW-River Falls (WIAC) Blake Bjella (Mesa) - Worcester State (MASCAC)
Derek Brown (Peoria) - Oswego (SUNYAC) Andy Chugg (Scottsdale) - Trinity (NESCAC) Clay Cross (Glendale) - Marian (NCHA) Brett Dillon (Phoenix) - Bryn Athyn (Independent) Sage Englund (Cave Creek) - Salve Regina (CCC) Alex Heinritz (Fountain Hills) - Middlebury (NESCAC) Samuel Kany (Phoenix) - Trinity (NESCAC) Keaton Kaplis (Gilbert) - King’s (UCHC) Danny Kiraly (Glendale) - UW-Stevens Point (WIAC) Michael Mahan (Scottsdale) - St. John’s (MIAC) Nick Nast – St. Mary’s (MIAC) & Ethan Osburn (Dewey) - UMass Boston (NEHC) Joe Petruzzella (Scottsdale) - UMass Boston (NEHC) Forbes Ploszaj (Gilbert) - St. Scholastica (NCHA) Erik Pritchard (Cave Creek) - Worcester State (MASCAC) Keenan Spillum (Phoenix) - St. Norbert (NCHA) Alex Storjohann (Phoenix) - Cortland (SUNYAC) Carson Vance (Tempe) - Oswego (SUNYAC) Mason Vukonich (Phoenix) - UW-River Falls (WIAC) Sean Winikates (Phoenix) - Potsdam (SUNYAC) Dante Zapata - Utica (UCHC) & NCAA DIVISION III – WOMEN Jessica Carter (Scottsdale) - Buffalo State (NEWHL) Raeann Clancey (Surprise) - King’s (UCHC) Taylor Curtis (Peoria) - Hamline (MIAC) Natasha Hawkins (Scottsdale) - New England College (NEHC) Gabbie Igo (Phoenix) - Plymouth State (NEHC) Hannah Kiraly (Glendale) - Plattsburgh (NEWHL) Ky Lackey (Phoenix) - Buffalo State (NEWHL) Belle Lacombe (Surprise) - Norwich (NEHC) Alexis Ryan (Mesa) – Middlebury (NESCAC) JUNIOR HOCKEY Erik Atchison - Spokane Chiefs (WHL) & Dante Bagnasco (Mesa) - Charleston Colonials (USPHL Premier) Brian Baier (Phoenix) - Gillette Wild (NA3HL) Johnny Baird (Scottsdale) - Helena Bighorns (NA3HL) Jack Bayless (Scottsdale) - Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) Robby Beck (Cave Creek) - Northeast Generals (NA3HL) Logan Bellar (Chandler) - Texas RoadRunners (NA3HL) Guy Blessing (Chandler) - Topeka Pilots (NAHL) Ryan Bottrill (Scottsdale) - Janesville Jets (NAHL) Colby Brett (Phoenix) - Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) Adam Bricker (Scottsdale) - PAL Jr. Islanders (USPHL NCDC) Ben Brockway (Phoenix) - Cobourg Cougars (OJHL) Sean Bunting (Phoenix) - Langley Rivermen (BCHL) Cole Carpenter (Gilbert) - Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL)
Paul Cartone (Phoenix) - Fort Erie Meteors (GOJHL) Arun Cibrario (Glendale) - Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL Elite) Liam Conway (Chandler) - Danbury Colonials (NA3HL) Nic Coppola (Glendale) - Pittsburgh Vengeance (USPHL Premier) Dylan Crane (Gilbert) - Missoula Jr. Bruins (NA3HL) Evan Cronkhite (Aliso Viejo) - Boston Bandits (USPHL Premier) Logan Dahlgren (Surprise) - Boston Bandits (USPHL Elite) Henry Dennee (Chandler) - Pueblo Bulls (WSHL) Joe DiGiulio – Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL Premier) & Josh Doan (Scottsdale) - Chicago Steel (USHL) Jacob Elik (Phoenix) - Northern Colorado Eagles (WSHL) Chance Elliott (Dewey) - Long Beach Sharks (NA3HL) Gavyn Entzminger (Surprise) - Summerland Steam (KIJHL) Jake Fain (Prescott) - Willmar WarHawks (NA3HL) Dylan Florit (Orange County) - Atlanta MadHatters (USPHL Premier) Christopher Fritz (Phoenix) - Helena Bighorns (NA3HL) Jeremy Gabriele (Scottsdale) - Springfield Jr. Blues (NAHL) Matthew Garneau (Tucson) - Motor City Hockey Club (USPHL Premier) Ethan Gicewicz (Vail) - Pueblo Bulls (WSHL) Cole Golden (Phoenix) - Corpus Christi IceRays (NAHL) Mark Gordon (Chandler) - Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL) Trevor Griebel (Scottsdale) - Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) Justin Gusso (Phoenix) - Philadelphia Revolution (EHL) Tristan Hadley (Gilbert) - Seahawks Hockey Club (EHL) Hunter Hastings (Scottsdale) - Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) Stefan Hawkins (Scottsdale) - Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) Kohl Hedquist (Tempe) - Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL Premier) Hayden Hirsch (Phoenix) - Kamloops Storm (KIJHL) Zachary Hollman (Flagstaff) - Twin City Thunder (USPHL Premier) David Hymovitch (Phoenix) – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) Ryan Janowski (Scottsdale) - Nelson Leafs (KIJHL) Jake Johnson (Scottsdale) - Regina Pats (WHL) Will Josephson (Phoenix) - Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) Mark Kastelic (Phoenix) - Calgary Hitmen (WHL) Tyler Katen (Peoria) - Missoula Jr. Bruins (NA3HL) Alexander Kelsall (Gilbert) - Wausau RiverWolves (NA3HL) Stephen Kennedy (Scottsdale) - Northern Cyclones (USPHL Elite) Tyler Kiley-Ram (Scottsdale) - Soo Eagles (NOJHL) D.J. King – Saginaw Spirit (OHL) * Matthew Knies (Phoenix) - Tri-City Storm (USHL) Daylan Kuefler – Kamloops Blazers (WHL) * Nick Layman (Scottsdale) - Northern Cyclones (USPHL Elite) Rene LeBlanc (Scottsdale) - Rockets Hockey Club (USPHL Elite) Jason Lee (Thousand Oaks) - Boston Bandits (USPHL Premier) Jeremy Masella (Phoenix) - Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) Anthony Massanotti (Gilbert) - Almaguin Spartans (GMHL) Matthew McBride (Phoenix) - Texas RoadRunners (NA3HL) Michael McCosh (Glendale) - New Mexico Ice Wolves (NAHL)
Connor McMahan (Huntington Beach) - Hudson Havoc (USPHL Premier) Reid Miller (Gilbert) - Connecticut Jr. Rangers (USPHL NCDC) Rowan Miller (Scottsdale) - Powell River Kings (BCHL) Frazier Mohlar (Phoenix) - Sicamous Eagles (KIJHL) Logan Morrell (Mesa) – St. Cloud Blizzard (NAHL) Patrick Murphy - Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) * & Ty Nash (Scottsdale) - Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) John Olguin (Chandler) - Midwest Blackbirds (USPHL Premier) Kaid Oliver – Victoria Royals (WHL) & Luke Ormsby (Scottsdale) - Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) Marcus Robertson (Chandler) - Coulee Region Chill (NA3HL) Matt Ryan (Scottsdale) - Lansing Wolves (USPHL Premier) Adam Samuelsson (Scottsdale) – Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) Redmond Savage (Scottsdale) - U.S. Under-17 Team (USHL) Aaron Stone (Gilbert) - Northumberland Stars (GMHL) Joey Strada (Scottsdale) – Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) Jack Strauss (Phoenix) - Maine Nordiques (NAHL) Riley Stuart (Phoenix) - Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) Caleb Swanson (Mesa) - Yellowstone Quake (NA3HL) Timmy Treadway (Phoenix) - South Shore Kings (USPHL NCDC) Andrew Van Ooteghem (Flagstaff) - Florida Eels (USPHL Elite) Caleb Wall (Chandler) - St. Cloud Blizzard (NAHL) Chase Wilhelm (Prescott) - Missoula Jr. Bruins (NA3HL) Cody Wilson (Goodyear) - Decatur Blaze (USPHL Premier) Garrett Wright (Mesa) - Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) PREP SCHOOL Sam Deckhut – Salisbury Prep * Cade Schiefelbein (Glendale) – Tahoe Prep Academy
NEW MEXICO COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION III – MEN Cory King (Albuquerque) – Chatham (UCHC) JUNIOR HOCKEY Jai Delany (Santa Fe) - Midwest Blackbirds (USPHL Premier) Marcus Gretz (Albuquerque) - Flint Firebirds (OHL) Lachlan Henderson (Taos) - Midwest Blackbirds (USPHL Premier) Seth Payson (Albuquerque) - Texas RoadRunners (NA3HL) Nick Weaver (Rio Rancho) – Boston Jr. Rangers (EHL) Dane Whittet (La Mesa) - Pueblo Bulls (WSHL) PREP SCHOOL Liam Sutton (Santa Fe) – Tahoe Prep Academy * former Jr. Coyote & former Arizona Bobcat # former Phoenix Firebird
AZRubberHockey.com
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BARRETT HAYTON
Position: Forward, Arizona Coyotes Hometown: Peterborough, Ont., Canada NHL Draft: Selected by Coyotes in first round (fifth overall) of 2018 NHL Draft Last Amateur Team: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Age: 19 Arizona Rubber: What’s your favorite hockey memory growing up? Barrett Hayton: Watching the Vancouver Olympics (in 2010). That was definitely a great memory. Yeah, that’s probably it. AZR: What’s your favorite memory in the game since leaving junior hockey? BH: That would be my first goal (Oct. 25, 2019 vs. New Jersey Devils, scored on goalie Mackenzie Blackwood) and first NHL game (Oct. 10, 2019 vs. Vegas Golden Knights). They’re probably at the top. Wait, no. World Juniors. (Hayton was captain of the Team Canada squad that won the 2020 World Junior Championship.) That would have to the at the top of my hockey career. If that counts, I’ll definitely give that as my answer. AZR: Who have been the biggest influences on you, both on and off the ice? BH: Definitely my family and especially my dad. I really looked up to him. Yeah, he’s a big supporter. AZR: What is the best piece of advice you have for a young hockey player? BH: Always love the game. That’s really the most important part. Have fun and have it as your passion. I think that really drives you to be the best you can be. AZR: Other than hockey, do you have a favorite sport to play? BH: I played lacrosse growing up. AZR: Do you have any superstitions? BH: No, nothing crazy. I’m not really superstitious. AZR: What does your game-day routine look like? BH: Usually, we have a morning skate. Get some food and a nap. Nothing really out of the way or crazy. AZR: Do you have a favorite meal or restaurant here in the Phoenix area? BH: There are a couple of good spots. Sushi Roku in Scottsdale is really good. Yeah, probably that one. AZR: What are some of the essentials you take on a road trip? BH: Phone, headphones. Obviously, your suits and all that. That’s about it and I’ll always have water. AZR: Did you have a favorite hockey player growing up? BH: Yes, (Chicago Blackhawks captain) Jonathan Toews. Yeah, he was my favorite player and I watched him a ton. Photo/Norm Hall
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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine
- Compiled by Mark Brown
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