Arizona Rubber Magazine - May 2019

VOLUME 14

ISSUE 9

MAY 2019

DYHA JR. SUN DEVILS BRING ABOARD TALENTED NEW COACHES GOLTZ REFLECTS ON MISSION’S RUN AT NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

With another State Finals event in the books, the Inline Hockey Association of Arizona has wrapped yet another successful festival season on inline courts throughout Arizona

DOAN CONTINUING TO LEAVE LEGACY ON ARIZONA HOCKEY CHINA TRIP ON TAP AS ASU SUN DEVILS TO MAKE NCAA HISTORY

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FROM THE EDITOR Summer is just about here, so take time to live in the moment

W

ell, here we are – it’s late May. Just a handful of junior and pro teams are still on the ice playing meaningful games, while tryouts have started for some youth associations and roller hockey tournaments are in full swing.

Hockey truly is the sport that never sleeps.

And while the game can 365/24/7, let’s be sure to take time to enjoy the time away from the rink. It’s not a bad thing to get a break from the grind that runs from late August into March.

Spend time with family. Go to the beach. Take in a ballgame. Go for a bike ride. Fire up the grill and have an impromptu family gathering.

Summer is a great time of year (though that Matt Mackinder late August to March time frame isn’t too shabby!) and with hockey in somewhat of an offseason, do your best to revel in all that life has to offer away from the arenas and practice facilities. It’s so worth it. And it might make you appreciate the game even more.

Enjoy the rest of May and June, and we’ll see you in July with our summer issue!

As is the case this time every year, players have started to make their NCAA commitments.

Recently, two Arizona natives – Matthew Knies (Phoenix native, Jr. Coyotes) decided on NCAA Division I University of Minnesota for the 2021-22 season, Keaton Caplis (Gilbert, Arizona Bobcats) will play for NCAA Division III King’s College this fall, in addition to former Bobcat Dante Zapata, who is off to NCAA Division III Utica College this fall.

We expect more commitments to roll in during the late spring and early summer months.

Congrats, boys!

Arizona products were selected in this month’s Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft and two phases of the United States Hockey League (USHL) Draft, in addition to April’s North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) Draft.

In the May 2 WHL Draft, two Jr. Coyotes players from the club’s 14U AAA team – forward Oren Shtrom (Gilbert, Medicine Hat Tigers, third round, 57th overall) and forward Colton Langkow (Scottsdale, Vancouver Giants, fifth round, 99th overall) were chosen.

In Phase I of the USHL Draft on May 6, Jr. Coyotes’ 15U AAA forward and Phoenix native David Hymovitch went to the Sioux City Musketeers in the seventh round (96th overall) and the next day in Phase II, forward Joey Strada (Scottsdale, Jr. Coyotes alum, Arizona State commit) was selected by the Des Moines Buccaneers in the ninth round (131st overall), Jr. Coyotes’ 16U AAA forward and former Bobcat Matthew Gross went to the Tri-City Storm in the 13th round (199th overall) and Jr. Coyotes’ 16U AAA defenseman and ex-Bobcat Andrew Ramsey was selected by the Green Bay Gamblers in the 17th round (247th overall).

The April 18 NA3HL Draft saw Jr. Coyotes 18U forward Tyler Kiley Ram go in the third round (70th overall) to the Texas Brahmas and Mission AZ 18U forwards Nic Coppola (third round, 98th overall, North Iowa Bulls) and Jordan Werner (fourth round, 124th overall, Gillette Wild) also get drafted.

Way to go, fellas!

The American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) recently awarded two national community service awards to the University of Arizona for the 2018-19 season.

The Wildcats took home the ACHA Men’s Division I Community Service Award and the ACHA Overall Community Service award for all three ACHA men’s divisions and two women’s divisions.

Constantly visible in Tucson visiting hospitals and schools, the Wildcats raise thousands of dollars for charity projects each season. This past season, Arizona dedicated game nights to the Arizona Cancer Center, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports, Ronald McDonald House, and other charitable organizations.

“Service to our community is not just talk at Arizona hockey,” Wildcats coach Chad Berman said. “These awards mean as much to us as winning any game.”

Contact Matt Mackinder at matt@rubberhockey.com 4

Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

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.

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SHUTTING THE DOOR

Arizona State University goaltender Aaron Gittings earned a berth on the 2019 NCRHA Championships All-Tournament Team for his fine play during last month’s event in New York. More on Page 5.

Photo/NCRHA

ON THE COVER Players from the IHAAZ member organizations take time out during the recent State Finals tournament, which was held May 3-5 at the Barney Family Sports Complex in Queen Creek. Back row, from left to right: Kevin Nolan (Prescott Storm), Gunnar Kershaw (Yuma Blaze) and Loren Lieberg (Northern AZ Yeti). Middle row, from left to right: Dylan Mickelson (Renegades), Zach Koch (Knighthawks), Sam Koch (Knighthawks) and Aiden Blondel (Jr. Wildcats). Front row, from left to right: Marlee Paris (AZ Royals) and Madden Stultz (Lucky Charms). Photo/IHAAZ

ASU ends season with strong finish at inline nationals

By Phillip Brents

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rizona State University’s inline hockey team did not bring back a national championship trophy from the 2019 National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) Championships April 10-14 in Rochester, N.Y. But the Sun Devils did bring back a lot of national pride for their program after scoring a Final Four finish among Division I teams.

“Great season, boys,” ASU co-coach Nick Boyarsky succinctly summed up in a tweet to the team.

The reigning WCRHL Division I champions faced off pool play in the 58-team tournament with a 9-0 setback to defending national champion Farmingdale State, then defeated Florida Gulf Coast University 3-2 before closing out pool play with a 4-0 loss to Lindenwood University, last year’s national championship runner-up.

The Sun Devils proceeded to elevate their game in the elimination bracket.

ASU defeated Michigan State 6-2 in the quarterfinals as Aryeh Richter scored two goals and Alex MacDonald collected four points (one goal, three assists) to pace the ASU offense while goaltender Aaron Gittings posted a .926 save percentage with 25 saves on 27 shots.

The playoff win advanced the Sun Devils to a rematch against Farmingdale State in the semifinals.

The second meeting was much closer.

ASU’s season ended with a gritty 4-0 loss. The Sun Devils trailed 3-0 until Farmingdale State scored an empty-net goal late in the game. Gittings stopped 27 of 30 shots in a stellar performance as he and his teammates killed off eight consecutive minutes of

penalties at one point in the game.

Gittings termed it a “brave effort.”

Farmingdale State went on to defeat Lindenwood 7-3 to win its third consecutive national championship.

The Sun Devils proved they were not too far behind in the final national rankings.

Peoria native Chase Steele, an 18-year-old varsity newcomer, led ASU in overall scoring in 2018-

Arizona State University’s Ian Bast (left) brings the puck up court in the team’s Division I quarterfinal win over Michigan State at April’s NCRHA Championships in Rochester, N.Y. Photo/NCRHA

19 with 43 points (21 goals, 22 assists) in 27 games, followed by senior Wes Fry with 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists). Ian Bast and Alex MacDonald each recorded 25 points, followed by Trevor Weinstock with 24 points.

Fry, Gittings and MacDonald all earned honorable mention on the 2019 NCRHA Division I All-Tournament Team.

ASU’s Division IV development team also competed at the 2019 NCRHA National Championship Tournament, playing a total of five games.

The Sun Devils finished 0-3 in pool play after dropping contests against Slippery Rock (6-2), Michigan State (6-1) and Bethel University (4-1), but did log a 1-1 showing in the elimination bracket.

ASU defeated the Rochester Institute of Technology 12-0 in a first-round playoff game before ending the tournament with a 6-2 quarterfinal-round setback to Farmingdale State, last year’s national runner-up.

John Henze and Griffin Roman led the Sun Devils with four goals and one assist each in the win over RIT while teammate Clint Tapsell collected two goals and three assists. Goaltender Scott Keohane stopped all nine RIT shots he faced.

Henze and Shaun MacDonald each scored goals for ASU in the loss to Farmingdale State.

Bethel defeated Farmingdale State 4-1 to win the national championship.

The Sun Devils’ Division IV team finished 201819 with a 22-5 overall record that included a 17 game-winning streak.

Colin McHugh, an honorable mention All-Tournament Team selection, led the Sun Devils in overall scoring in 2018-19 with 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) in 25 games, followed by Henze with 68 points (44 goals, 24 assists) and MacDonald with 64 points (24 goals, 40 assists).

“The D4 boys lost half their team from the start of the year and didn’t even think they’d go to nationals,” Boyarsky noted. “They ended up with a good showing though, losing in the round of eight, including a 4-1 battle with the eventual champs Bethel. Cheers to the graduating seniors.”

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Wheels Up

IHAAZ growth continuing, looks to keep rolling along with commitment to fun, development

By Brian Lester

F

ive years ago, the Inline Hockey Association of Arizona (IHAAZ) looked much different.

Most of the players only played roller hockey. Now, more than half play ice hockey as well as roller hockey.

It’s a good thing, for sure, as league tournament director Nick Boyarsky explains.

“Roller hockey is a low-stress, low-commitment sport that ice players can do in conjunction with ice hockey,” Boyarsky said. “The sport has plenty of positive skill enforcement that translates over to ice hockey.”

But there are growing conflicts and the IHAAZ is at a crossroads as it focuses on finding the best way to work with ice hockey to give players the opportunity to play one of the sports without sacrificing opportunities to do the other as well.

Scheduling conflicts with tournaments are at the heart of the issue.

“We are finding more than ever that balancing the two is a challenge,” Boyarsky said. “In ever-demanding ice hockey seasons, it’s becoming more challenging to schedule our tournament series and State Finals around ice hockey. We want to be able to work with them so that players can participate in both sports.”

Casey Sherstobitoff coached the 10U Knighthawks this season and his son is new to roller hockey. A native of Canada, he is confident a balance can be struck that minimizes schedule conflicts between roller and ice hockey. He said awareness and communication are key.

“Economically, inline can draw more players in and help feed the passion for ice hockey in youth players, which is great to develop hockey in Arizona,” Sherstobitoff said. “As well, we need to get more communication between ice hockey clubs and IHAAZ. Right now, it’s very organic in who knows who.”

Changing the perception of roller hockey is crucial as well.

“A lot of parents that have not played the game of ice hockey or inline hockey have perceptions it alters the skills of your ice player, and that’s simply not true,” Sherstobitoff said. “A good player has the ability to take the best of both games and develop themselves to be a better player because he now is equipped with more tools to leverage in his game play.”

Cammielle Becker has long been involved in ice hockey and her son Blaise just started playing roller this season. Like Sherstobitoff, she believes both sports can work together and thrive off each other.

“As long as both sports continue to encourage kids to play, it can work – I’ve seen the benefits to my son and his friends,” Becker said.

“The more they work with different coaches on their skills, the better they will be. Ice and roller, in tandem, is an excellent way to do both.”

There have been examples of a willingness of the two hockey worlds to work together. Now it’s a matter of making it happen on a larger scale.

“With club or travel ice hockey, there is never really an off weekend,” Boyarsky said. “We’ve been lucky having many team managers’ children from ice hockey over the years playing in IHAAZ. They work with us to schedule games around the three or four IHAAZ dates that conflict with their regular season. That sort of cooperation is needed on a larger level. We need to be able to block out one or two weekends a year that the state’s associations know to leave alone so we can hold events like our State Finals without having ice hockey tryouts all of a sudden get scheduled on top of a date that’s been published since November the year before.”

That kind of cooperation is beneficial to everyone in the long run.

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

“Both games lend to each other, which has been pointed out and proven at the NCAA and professional level with the players excelling there who grew up playing roller hockey alongside ice hockey,” Boyarsky said. “I bet anybody who told (St. Louis Blues forward) Pat Maroon he’ll go nowhere in ice hockey because he grew up playing roller hockey is hiding in a deep hole right about now. Both sports will thrive when they work together better.”

Boyarsky is hopeful that with the help of the Arizona Coyotes, the bridge can be solidified between the roller and ice hockey communities. He said in getting that cooperation on a larger scale, IHAAZ would grow.

“We just came off one of the most competitive seasons in a long time and had good numbers, and we want to see those numbers continue to grow,” Boyarsky said. “To do that, we need to figure out how to balance both sports. We have a lot of interest from ice hockey players, and we need to work around scheduling better. We could add a dozen more teams if we can balance that.”

The growth of IHAAZ even more would be huge, especially with all that it provides to players who participate in it.

“I think they have done a great job at structuring the league and encouraging the players,” Becker said. “I think it is an excellent way to boost stickhandling and game play for roller and ice players. I see the teams bonded and enjoyed being around each other. I think it’s fantastic. IHAAZ handles the league play and festivals well. They are so much fun.”

Becker also likes the fact that there is less pressure on players in roller hockey.

“The competition is still heated and the drive to win is there, but somehow feels less pressured,” Becker said. “I think my son enjoyed that freedom.”

Sherstobitoff added that IHAAZ serves as an opportunity for young athletes to learn about hockey for the first time.

“IHAAZ is a great way to introduce hockey as a sport to a lot of kids,” said Sherstobitoff. “It also extends the reach of hockey across the state to areas that do not have the means to attend ice hockey or the financials to play ice hockey. Our kids on the Knighthawks love travelling to the other cities for the tournaments and really enjoy the competition, community and good sportsmanship of the league.”

He also noted that for his son, roller hockey proved to be a great way for him to develop his hockey IQ even more.

“With the game of ice changing in speed of play and puck control, I love the fluidity of inline hockey due to no offsides,” Sherstobitoff said. “You draw your opponent deep into their zone and then like soccer, bring them back into your zone then stretch-rush it up for a 2-on-1. Lastly, his passion and pure love for the game brings me back to when I was a kid playing pond hockey.”

Boyarsky said growth in the league was at its best this season, with seven teams in both the 12U and Midget divisions.

He’s hopeful growth will continue and said the 10U through 14U divisions are close to getting to a point where they can split into upper and lower divisions.

His goal for next season is to see the league avoid dealing with missing players or teams at festivals, and even the State Finals, because of conflicts with ice hockey.

“My hope going into next season is we find a better way to have a full season that can end with a true state championship where everyone can attend and their teams can play intact so all teams have a chance to grab that State Finals champion honor,” Boyarsky said. “To do that, we have to find a way to make sure the ice hockey travel programs can see their way through to allowing us one weekend to get this event completed.”

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ARIZONA HOCKEY UNION

AHU standouts enjoying activities away from the rink

By Sean Phillips

T

here is a phrase that states “the best athlete is made in the offseason.”

This probably doesn’t click for a kid. Adults know rest, relaxation and time off are important for mental and physical recovery, but most kids will only sit tight for a little while.

Also, don’t we want our kids to get better and stronger during those summer months to gain that competitive edge? Between house hockey, inline, baseball, soccer, football, figure skating, etc., then adding camps like the ever-growing Goar Camp at AZ Ice Gilbert in that mix, do players really even have an offseason?

Here’s a look at what just a few AHU Knights are doing during to keep their “on-season” level balanced. ​​

LUKE PHILLIPS: Likes to go fast! Keeps his heart and head calm, though, by volunteering.

Here he is at a “Kids Helping Kids” event for PHX Children’s Hospital.

EVAN HEDLUND: When he’s not standing tall between the pipes as a goalie, you can find him on a baseball field throwing heat.

DECLAN SANDOVAL AND SEAMUS SANDOVAL: Whether it’s on the soccer fields or on the ice, these brothers are dominating.

CALLEIGH STREIT: Not sure if she’s a figure skater that plays hockey or a hockey player that figure skates!

BRADEN WOOD: Can throw a football over a mountain. Can also backcheck with the best of them.

NOAH STANLEY: Enjoys a good old-fashioned water balloon fight but is also a force on the frozen water.

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FLAGSTAFF YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION FYHA hosting summertime 3-on-3 cross-ice hockey tourney

By Scott Robinson

T

he Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association will be hosting a 3-on-3 cross-ice hockey tournament for 8U through 16U teams July 20-21 at the Jay Lively Ice Arena in Flagstaff.

There is a five- game guarantee with each game being 24 minutes in length.

Please sign up individually through the FYHA link on www.fyha.org (to be posted in June) and all players will be drafted to teams. Cost will be $100 for skaters and $65 for goalies.

Players will keep their game jerseys, too.

The Jay Lively Ice Arena is currently being upgraded, including energy efficiency improvements for the 201920 season with completion scheduled in June. The locker rooms and roofing project has been long overdue, and these improvements will provide player comfort with new shower facilities, a water filling station in the back hallway and upgraded LED lighting in locker rooms and hallways.

The ice rink will also be closed until May 31 for annual maintenance of ice and rink board alignment.

We look forward to the new improvements to better serve all our visiting hockey teams for the 2019-20 season!

NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY IS CONVERTING THE FIELDHOUSE ON CAMPUS TO AN ICE RINK FOR THE NAU ICE JACKS With the support of NAU alumni, fans, boosters and parents, we can reach our goal to make our rink on campus a reality!

PLEASE SEND YOUR TAX-DEDUCTABLE DONATION TO THE LINK BELOW DEDICATED TO THE BUILDING FUND:

HTTPS://ALUMNI.NAU.EDU/GIVING.ASPX?FNDS=05510

FYHA.org

ARIZONA HOCKEY UNION COACH'S CORNER

No need to play with a short bench in youth hockey This is Part 2 of a two-part series.

Part 1 can be read in the March 2019 issue of Arizona Rubber Magazine.

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Goar

good youth h o c k e y coach can manage the players and not have to play with a short bench so that all of the skaters par-

ticipate in the game.

A good coach will spend extra time with the weaker players throughout the season to improve their skills. A coach who starts the season by talking about skill development, teaching, self-esteem and having fun would not break his word by shortening the bench. The short bench is the easy way out for a coach who has not prepared his team properly.

Does this mean a youth coach should run the lines 1-2-3? Well, for the most part, yes. I would suggest that a skilled coach can find a way to equal out the ice time. Will some players get more ice time than others? Yes. In fact, some players do not want to be

put into the game in pressure situations.

Are there specific reasons to reduce ice time for individual players? Yes, there are (discipline or perhaps illness) but to relegate five skaters and a goalie to the bench for extended periods of time in order to win is not a valid reason. In effect, the message to those benched players is that they are being penalized for lack of talent and they are not really part of the team.

The game is for the kids, ALL of the kids. Research nationwide tells us that players would rather play on a team that wins 50 percent of their games than sit on the bench of a championship team while receiving little or no playing time. The bottom line is that all of the kids want to play. Each year, we lose 10,000 players nationwide as they move from Pee Wees to Bantams. Many cite the reason they quit because they are not having fun.

I can personally cite numerous conversations with Pee Wee and Bantam parents over the past several years that told me that their boys had played for five or six years and they were about to quit because there is so much pressure to win and it was not fun. I receive numerous emails each year from parents up-

set that their child’s coach was routinely running a short bench. One instance was from the parents of a Squirt C team.

This is an issue that needs to be resolved at the beginning of each season. The parents and coaches need to all understand the policy. With a no shortbench policy, there are no problems. If your team is going to have a short-bench policy, perhaps it is better to not have three lines but rather roster only 14 players. That would solve the problem.

This one issue alone ruins the season for hundreds of kids and parents each year. Even in victory, it is hollow for the players who sat and watched their teammates play. I know several instances each year where the teams had a problem with the policy in mid-season and the teams fell apart for the rest of the year.

Parents of youth players should not put up with short-bench policies. You need to get a commitment from your coaches at the beginning of the year that they will not shorten the bench. Be proactive about this issue at the beginning of the season because once the train leaves the station, it is too late to get off.

Kurt Goar is the coach-in-chief for the Arizona Hockey Club.

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DYHA JR. SUN DEVILS

Jr. Sun Devils welcome new coaches for ’19-20 season

By Matt Mackinder

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s the DYHA Jr. Sun Devils gear up for the 2019-20 season, the organization has tweaked its coaching staff by adding new coaches at several levels.

Rob MacGregor (8U), Chris and Tyler Erickson (10U), Shawn McCosh (12U Maroon), Jed Bowman (12U White), John Damyanovich (14U, returns to DYHA), Brad Norton (16U ‘04) and Deron Quint (16U ‘04) all assume coaching roles for DYHA, starting next season.

All bring a unique skill set to the Jr. Sun Devils.

“What I bring to the table for DYHA is a commitment to excellence, both on and off the ice,” said MacGregor.

“The main reason for wanting to coach at DYHA is the atmosphere at the rink. We all want to win but at the end of the day, we are all a big hockey family, from our hockey director, Brad McCaughey, to our coaches, parents and the players.

“I’m looking forward to having a very good defensive team next year. We will focus on communication, passing, defensive gap control, positioning and of course, individual development. As the Mite coach, I need to make sure these kids are ready for Squirt hockey.”

The Erickson duo is father-son combo (Chris the father, Tyler the son) that brings over 40 years coaching and training between the two.

“We run skill development programs in the area, focusing on effort, skills, confidence and discipline,” said Chris Erickson. “I coached in Minnesota at all levels from

Squirts through high school for 30-some years and my son played junior hockey in Minnesota and has coached with me for eight years. This will be our first season here in Arizona and we are really looking forward to getting it going. I feel DYHA is going in the right direction. We want to be a part of it and help build and take it to the next level.

“We will have a team that works hard and will be

The father and son duo of Chris and Tyler Erickson will team up behind the bench to coach the DYHA Jr. Sun Devils’ 10U team for the upcoming 2019-20 season.

disciplined and will strive to get better each ice touch.

Our focus will be to put the players in the best position to be successful.”

McCosh, who played in the NHL with the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings, said he’ll bring an attitude of professionalism and a level of compete that “will represent the program well.”

“DYHA is a growing program with a lot of good

DYHAHockey.org

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

families and a very good hockey director who listens and supports his coaching staff,” said McCosh. “Next season, I expect to create an identity of a team that is hard to play against, pays attention to details and understands how important dressing room culture is to overall success.”

Quint saw action in 463 NHL games, playing for the then-Phoenix Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders, while Norton played 124 games in the NHL for the Kings, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings.

“I bring 22 years of professional hockey experience, both NHL and international experience,” said Quint. “I want to teach the kids how to grow both on and off the ice. I bring many different styles of play after experiences in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Russia. I am always trying to make sure the game of hockey is fun and at the same time, teaching work ethic and team success.

“DYHA is a great program and a place I feel I can grow as a coach and share my knowledge of the game of hockey. I see a program with integrity and wanting to be successful as an organization, striving to be one of the best programs in Phoenix and Arizona. The program has a lot of great coaches and kids that makes it a great environment for success.

“Of course, I want to win, but more important is the growth of my players as individuals and as a team. Team success is always more satisfying than individual success.”

TAHOE PREP HOCKEY ACADEMY

Tahoe Prep quartet reflects on superb 2018-19 campaign

By Greg Ball

S

ummer is nearly upon us, and the snowpack from Lake Tahoe’s near-record winter is slowly starting to melt.

And while that means winter is a distant memory, it doesn’t mean hockey is long forgotten.

At Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy, the sport occupies a prominent spot at the forefront of brain activity every day of the year.

With that in mind, here’s a look back at four players who made significant impacts during the 2018-19 season and are eagerly looking forward to returning to campus later this summer.

Jack Umphrey Moving from the East Coast to the Sierra Nevada nearly 3,000 miles west of his home made for a bit of culture shock for Umphrey, an 18-year old varsity defenseman from South Orange, N.J. He joined Tahoe Prep as a junior last year, leaving behind the New Jersey Devils youth program to come to the mountains and the promise of extended ice time.

In addition to playing for the varsity squad, he also got some minutes with Tahoe’s prep team.

“You can’t really beat the daily ice time you get here,” Umphrey said. “My skills have developed beyond anything I could Jack Umphrey have even perceived with my old team. In Tahoe, I have gained so much knowledge of the game.”

Umphrey said he has gone from a “pretty casual” player to a serious one under the tutelage of the Tahoe Prep coaches.

“They all know their stuff, so you can never really question what they have to say about a play, and it’s great to learn from three different perspectives,” he added.

Beyond the opportunity for extra ice time and enjoying the sport itself, Umphrey said his experience moving across the country has come with other benefits - including the travel and seeing more of the country.

“I had never been to California and never really been that far from home,” Umphrey said. “Tahoe is a special place for sure – just to get to live here is amazing. The brotherhood and the bonds you build in the program is also part of it. These are some of the best friends I’ll ever make, and I know they will be with me as we go on in life.”

Andrey Shemaykin On the far opposite side of the spectrum, Shemaykin came to Tahoe Prep Academy from … South Lake Tahoe. The 15-year-old freshman was able to stay close to home and get the best hockey and academic training. He started practicing with TPHA as an eighth grader, and thanks to a growth spurt and plenty of hard work, this year the young right-winger saw game time with the varsity team.

Shemaykin started playing hockey with the Tahoe Grizzlies as a second-year squirt and had success with his teams at the B level - winning a state championship as a first-year Bantam. Joining Tahoe Prep has given Shemaykin a chance to progress in his goal of playing higher-level hockey.

“My hockey goal is to make it to a Division I college hockey team, and to do that I know I have to improve my academics as well as my skills on the ice,” Shemaykin said. “This year my focus was on academics, and it was challenging, but I feel I’ve learned a lot, including respect for my coaches and teachers.

Andrey Shemaykin

Colton Bertagna

“My goal now is to play with the varsity team and work toward prep. To do that, I know I have to give 110 percent, be positive and have a good attitude. It’s all about the hard work you put in.”

Shemaykin said his parents are also pleased with his growth this year.

“They’re happy to see me succeed in hockey and academics,” he said.

Colton Bertagna A few hours northwest of Tahoe, the small college and farming town of Chico is where Bertagna grew up, but his route over the mountains to Lake Tahoe took him on a circuitous route through Canada. The 17-yearold junior started the 2018-19 school year at the Canadian International Hockey Academy in Rockland, Ont. He transferred to Tahoe in January.

“It just didn’t work for me because it felt like you didn’t get a life outside the academy there,” Bertagna said. “The schools and classroom were all inside the arena, plus the on-ice time was less. We had 50 min-

utes of practice four days a week in Canada.”

A former roller hockey player, Bertagna made the switch to ice in August 2018. He said he made the switch because he knew there were more professional opportunities in ice hockey.

“Ice hockey is more recognized compared to roller,” he said. “In switching over, using edges and learning the different rules like offsides were some of the biggest challenges.”

Bertagna said the Tahoe coaches’ experience converting roller hockey players to ice moved him along quickly.

“They are awesome at skill coaching, and they knew everything I needed to fix and were great at explaining it,” he said. “And they definitely care more about each individual player’s development.”

As for the move to Tahoe and the blended school schedule with South Tahoe High School, Bertagna said it is more his vibe.

“You get to go out and have a life and see people outside of the dorms,” he said. “I like the outdoors, and there are so many things to do here.”

Cameron Birchill A 19-year-old goalie originally from Portland, Ore., Birchill has also traveled a long road to find himself at Tahoe Prep.

He moved to Las Vegas during his junior year of high school to play for the Las Vegas Storm 16U AAA team. Birchill wanted to Cameron Birchill spend his senior year closer to home so he moved back to play for the Vancouver Jr. Rangers. Now as a post-graduate, he is still pursuing his hockey dream of playing juniors by playing at Tahoe Prep while taking online classes through Portland Community College.

Why did he settle on Tahoe Prep?

“It’s all hockey, all the time,” Brichill explained. “It’s a grind, but if you love it enough, it doesn’t feel like it.”

Birchill has always been a goalie from the age of 10 when he started playing hockey as a second-year Squirt because he liked the gear. While the adjustment to Tahoe from Washington was easy, being one of the older players on campus that took some adjusting.

“All along, I usually played up, so I was one of the younger players on the team,” he said. “It’s strange being the one that settles arguments now. I’ve matured so much since I came here. I’ve learned to take care of myself, do all my own things, and be more grown up about situations that I would have in the past. And when I come home, I do the dishes now. That’s kind of weird.”

Summertime camps on tap at Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy T ahoe Prep Hockey Academy will be offering its first girls’ hockey camp July 8-12, before the boys training camp July 22-27. Players can choose to spend the week living in the academy’s dorms or attend as day campers, and the weeklong camps offer three hours of ice time daily, off-ice conditioning and

training as well as fun activities in Tahoe’s outdoors.

The camps are based around the fundamentals of individual development. Each age group focuses on the intangibles associated with becoming a more confident and complete hockey player. Campers are provided with an intense, structured environment

that enables them the ability to learn the finer aspects of skating, puck handling, passing, shooting, body contact, and beyond.

Players and parents can get more information and can register at http://tahoehockeyacademy.com/ hockey-training-camps/.

TahoeHockeyAcademy.com AZRubberHockey.com

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ASU to play games in China this summer, will make NCAA history

By Matt Mackinder

A

rizona State will travel to China in July, becoming the first-ever NCAA hockey program to visit the country.

The Sun Devils will play several games, experience Chinese culture and landmarks, visit the American Embassy and ASU alumni in Beijing, and trek to Shanghai over the course of two weeks.

“Our goal as a university and as an athletic department is to be innovators on and off the field of play, and this opportunity for Sun Devil hockey to be the first NCAA hockey team to make a footprint in China fits that mantra,” said ASU vice president for university athletics Ray Anderson. “There are nearly 4,000 Chinese students currently enrolled at ASU, and we continue to expand partnerships with top Chinese universities and the Federation University Sports China, so it is evident the ASU connection with China is strong and is fitting for our hockey program to champion the sport in another non-traditional market.”

ASU will play the Kontinental Hockey League’s Kunlun Red Star on Friday, Aug. 2, followed by the Chinese National Team on Saturday, Aug. 3. The next week, the Sun Devils plan to play a third game on Friday, Aug. 9.

“Our program is very fortunate to have this opportunity to represent Arizona State University and NCAA hockey in China,” said Sun Devils coach Greg Powers.

“Our student-athletes will not only have the chance to play elite teams but will also encounter once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences, so we’re extremely excited and grateful.”

Arizona State features one of just three Chinese-born players at the NCAA Division I level in redshirt freshman forward Peter Zhong, who grew up learning the game of hockey in Beijing. He played for China in the World Junior Championships (Division 2B) in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and also for Team China at the World Championships (Division 2A) in 2017-18.

Zhong will play for the Chinese National Team on Aug. 3 against his college teammates.

The ASU coaching staff will also participate in a youth clinic during the second week, which China will dub “Chinese Hockey Education Week.”

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

UMMER HOCKEY CAMPS

June 17 - 21, 2019 in Chandler

June 24 - 28, 2019 in Chandler July 15 - 19, 2019 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.

SPACE IS LIMITED!

July 8 - 12, 2019 in Scottsdale

9375 E Bell Road Scottsdale, AZ 85260

www.icedenscottsdale.com

7225 W Harrison Street Chandler, AZ 85226

www.icedenchandler.com

Secure your spot online !

WITH TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS LOCATED INSIDE THE ICE DENS

NDS A R B P O T M O R F L E R A P P &A

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Store hours are subject to change based on the facility and ice schedules.

7225 W Harrison Street Chandler, AZ 85226

www.icedenchandler.com

9375 E Bell Road Scottsdale, AZ 85260

www.icedenscottsdale.com

        

AZRubberHockey.com

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

HOCKEYSHOT

HockeyShot Tip of the Month: Mohawk Dangles

By Coach Jeremy

I

f you really want to up the challenge in your off-ice training, use drills like Mohawk Dangles!

We worked on the footwork and technique in our last article (“The Crosby Move”), but now let’s take it up a level by adding stickhandling drills. For this drill, just like the last, you will need a pair of roller blades or practice while skating. HockeyShot has the best home-ice options on the market with their Synthetic Ice panels or their Revolution Tiles.

For the first drill, we need to practice moving in one fluent motion where your heels are together and toes pointing outward. It may feel uncomfortable, so get your footing and feel down before worrying about speed. Just keep moving in one horizontal direction while in this position and stickhandle with the puck in front of you. Then slide back the other way.

Next, you’ll shift on both sides using “The Crosby Move” while continuously stickhandling. A quick re- minder – “The Crosby Move” is when you keep your heels close together, your toes outward and your knees bent. Now instead of just moving side to side in a horizontal line, you are going to start doing figure eights while stickhandling. This will force you to think while moving and

is a great way to start practicing before using real defenders. If you really want to challenge yourself, try using one hand as if defenders are holding you up with their stick or arms. This may seem impractical but at high levels, you’re always being tied up in the corners and whether it is legal or illegal, you h a v e to keep moving!

The third drill

is another similar to the last drill but instead of making semi-circles, you are going to move in a full circle while stickhandling. If you want to work on your dangles even more, try saucing the puck over the HS Speed Deke Trainer while still maintaining puck control – it’s not easy! Jeremy recommends

doing this on both sides so you get the feel of your backhand and forehand while in motion. It also helps with mastering the toe drag.

Jeremy recommends using the HS Green Biscuit that is an ounce lighter than standard pucks. This puck is not meant for shooting but is perfect for stickhandling and passing. Coach Jeremy also uses HockeyShot’s Allstar Dryland Tiles to avoid ruining his stick and moves in a circular motion while keeping the puck on the training surface. This helps improve stickhandling while still implementing “The Crosby Move” and maintaining that leg strength you need to protect the biscuit. If you don’t have a HS Shooting Pad, the HS Green Biscuit is perfect for the pave and other non-ice surfaces.

These drills help develop your stamina while stickhandling fluently and remaining in motion at a high tempo. These are the skills you need to get the edge on your opponents!

Enjoy this article? Then be sure to visit HockeyShot.com for all your hockey tips, drills and training needs where you can find the best hockey training products on the market!

HockeyShot.com

AZRubberHockey.com

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INLINE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA

Exciting IHAAZ season concludes with State Finals

By Brian Lester

A

nother successful IHAAZ season ended earlier this month with State Finals at the Barney Family Sports Complex.

The tournament took place May 3-5 and there was plenty of excitement, both during the games and in the skills competition.

Perhaps the most closely contested division of the tournament was 14U, where it took an overtime win by the Yuma Blaze to bring home the title. Yuma battled the AZ Royals for the championship and came away with a 4-3 win, but it didn’t come easy. Yuma trailed 3-0 out of the gate but managed to force overtime on a goal by Cole Gebhart, who also scored the game-winner in OT to lift Yuma to the championship.

Brody Hernandez scored twice for the Royals.

IHAAZ tournament director Nick Boyarsky said a lot of the games in the age division could have gone either way.

The Blaze also won the 12U title, dominating the Wildcats in a 6-1 win. Gebhart once again paved the way for Yuma, punching in three goals. Brady Ishu scored the lone goal for the Wildcats.

The Blaze completed a perfect run through the tournament behind a balanced attack.

In the Midget division, the AZ Royals White team cruised to a 6-0 win over the Yuma Blaze. Skylar Sanchez led the way with a pair of goals for a team that thrived off great teamwork.

The Wildcats came home as champions in the 8U di-

vision, rolling to a 10-4 win over the Royals in one of the division’s most competitive games of the season between those two teams. Gavin Molino led the way with four goals. Kylar Tinsdale scored two goals for the Royals.

In the 10U division, the Prescott Storm notched a 9-5 victory over Knighthawks Blue, who were playing shorthanded because of ice hockey tryouts. Prescott trailed 3-0 early but came roaring back to take the title. Jayden Perea finished with four goals to pace the

The Prescott Storm 10U team celebrates a state championship after a 9-5 win over Knighthawks Blue at the IHAAZ State Finals event on May 5. Photo/IHAAZ

Storm. Cade McGrath scored twice for Knighthawks Blue. Earlier in the tournament, though, Knighthawks Blue handed Prescott its first loss of the year.

The various skills competitions also proved to be entertaining over the weekend and Boyarsky said it was one of the best he’s seen in quite some time.

“The skills competitions were some of the most

IHAAZ.com

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

competitive in years,” Boyarsky said. “The fastest skater championships (in multiple age groups) came down to video in slow motion to determine who crossed the line first. We saw some amazing moves by the skaters and spectacular saves by the goalies. It’s definitely one of the most exciting competitions we’ve had at the state finals.”

Several awards were also given out at the State Finals, including the Micah Lieb and Levi Wallace awards in each age division. The Micah Lieb Award goes to the top goalie at the State Finals and the Levi Wallace Award is given to the top scorer in each age division at the finals. Both awards are in honor of two IHAAZ players who passed away in recent years.

Micah Lieb winners were Cody Richardson (8U), Maddox Marshall (10U), Jonathan Pool (12U), Blaise Becker (14U) and Nathan tePas (Midget).

Richardson sported a 1.67 goals-against average and won three games. Marshall had a 1.71 GAA and notched six wins at state finals. Pool’s GAA was 1.20 and he came away with five wins.

Becker had a 2.16 GAA and won four games. tePas came through with a GAA under one (0.75) and won eight games.

Levi Wallace winners in each division were Gavin Molina (8U), Brayden Willis (10U), Eli Shulman (12U), Trace Day (14U) and Nic Coppola (Midget).

Molina finished with 16 points, including 12 goals, and Willis racked up 20 points, including 15 goals. Shulman came through with 21 points, with 10 goals, and Day tallied 16 points, including 12 goals. Coppola scored eight goals and finished with 14 points overall.

MISSION ARIZONA

Mission’s summer league has definite throwback feel

By Greg Ball

C

oming off a season in which its 18U AA team won a state championship and played in the title game at the USA Hockey National Championships, it would be easy for players and coaches with Mission AZ’s youth hockey program to be experiencing a little bit of burnout.

After all, tacking on a handful of extra weeks to the end of an already long regular season, and playing at high intensity game after game with so much on the line would give anybody the feeling that they need to kick back and put their feet up for a while.

But the program and director of hockey operations Jeremy Goltz have been energized by the opportunity to participate in a favorite annual tradition that gets everyone throughout the organization fired up - the Goltz Summer Hockey League.

In stark contrast to the feel of the regular season, the summer league gets players on the ice one night a week for games without coaches or pressure - the kids are encouraged to have fun and enjoy the pure

fun of playing hockey. It’s a throwback idea, but it’s one that works.

“It’s run pretty much by the players,” Goltz said.

“They have a blast with it. It’s supposed to be fun, and it is. It’s low-key, and it’s exactly what these kids need right now, in my opinion.”

While games are played at Mission’s rink in Peoria, the players come from all over the Phoenix area - not just the Mission program. The season runs from mid-April through mid-June and features games one night a week. There’s a 5-on5 division for “Big Fellas” on Monday nights that serves players Midget age and up (including some Mission alumni), and a 4-on-4 “Lil’ Guys” division on Tuesday nights that’s for Bantams and below.

Because the emphasis is on fun, the Big Fellas division holds a player draft before the season that resembles a fantasy football draft among friends, and teams in both divisions are encouraged to come up with unique nicknames.

Goltz knows that the regular season can be a grind, with practices and games taking on a serious tone as coaches and players try to maximize devel-

opment. But there’s significant value in getting away from that for a few months and simply enjoying the game for what it is - and that’s largely focused on fun.

He gets on the ice with a microphone and does pregame and in-game interviews, and video from each game is posted online with comedic commentary provided by Goltz himself.

The players eat it up, and there’s no doubt that the break from serious play and the camaraderie developed helps them as they start up the next season in late summer.

Goltz emphasized that things have changed drastically since he was a kid growing up in Chicago, where he and his buddies would walk to the closest frozen pond during the winter months and play pickup hockey. That doesn’t mean a similar atmosphere can’t be created with a little effort and creativity.

That’s exactly what the Goltz Summer Hockey League is trying to accomplish. Goltz emphasizes that the league - in its 13th season this spring and summer - is all about playing in a relaxed atmosphere, staying in shape and discovering the fun that can be had playing offseason hockey. He has said that there is nothing like it in the sport at the youth level.

“In a lot of places, things have been overdone with kids being pressured to play a sport year-round, with the feeling that they’re not going to make a team if they don’t,” Goltz said. “This is basically our version of street hockey - they get to go out there and be kids for an hour a week, and it’s an absolute blast.”

MissionArizonaIce.org

MISSION STATEMENT Talent wins games, but chemistry can take teams further I

want to talk a little about my recent experience at the USA Hockey National Championships where our 18U AA team made it to a hallowed place, the national championship game.

Goltz It is a place only three other teams have been in Arizona’s entire hockey history. The journey was very special but fueled by something that I have preached for years, and that’s team chemistry.

Our town is in the middle of tryouts right now, and I see kids moving from one jersey to another and all the experts are assessing their teams’ talent and talent pool. Parents are jockeying for position to get the AAA label.

I am on the other end of the spectrum, knowing I have 90 percent of the same players back in the Mission AZ mix and having a true understanding of where they fit as a piece to a much bigger puzzle.

Each team is built for the purpose of growth, but more importantly, the essential piece of chemistry. Talent will win you games, but chemistry takes you to a different place.

Players have to buy in to their roles and be willing to do what it takes for the player next to them.

It is truly that simple, right?

I have said for years

that with the push towards individual marketing, goals, and junior hockey pressure, teams are tougher and tougher to build these days. That is why this 18U team and all it accomplished this season was truly so special. Guys sacrificed for each other and the reward was well worth it.

Look at the NHL playoffs this year and the Car-

olina Hurricanes. Not a ton of star power but they are buying in to their coach and their coach to them. It is truly a throwback of what I still think is so special about hockey. Teams still beat individual talent and it can’t be more apparent than this example on the biggest stage.

The lesson here, folks, is that the game of hockey is the ultimate team sport. If you don’t have that special sauce or ingredient of chemistry, then don’t expect to be truly successful.

Bouncing from organization to organization, chasing A’s and looking for the greener grass has not only hindered team development, but in my opinion, the true experience of the player.

Our 18U Mission team was truly a group of young men that were willing to put aside personal agendas for a common goal. Not only was the reward a memory that they will have forever, but by doing it right, every player on that roster now has the opportunity to play college or junior hockey. Proving my last point, that if you focus on team success first, the individual rewards will come.

It was truly a fairy tale year that was built on years of loyalty, consistency and belief in each other. They stayed in one place, worked through some tough times and adversity, but ended up in a place they all could only dream about.

Jeremy Goltz is the director of hockey operations for Mission Arizona.

AZRubberHockey.com

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NEW MEXICO REPORT

Onward and upward for NAHL’s new Ice Wolves franchise firm resolve of the emerging culture and commitment of our ice hockey team. As the sport of hockey in New Mexico continues to grow at every level, we are proud to represent our incredible state with the New Mexico Ice Wolves beginning play in the NAHL this fall.”

The Ice Wolves will play out of Outpost Ice Arenas in Albuquerque, a facility that is currently undergoing

By Matt Mackinder

T

he New Mexico Ice Wolves will begin play next season in the North American Hockey League.

And the Albuquerque-based junior franchise has been active in the months leading up the 2019-20 debut.

Last month, the Ice Wolves unveiled their new logo designed to reflect the team’s home in the Land of Enchantment.

The logo incorporates several New Mexico elements, including the official state colors which are the red and yellow of Old Spain as well as the icy turquoise eyes that share the color with the state stone. The Zia symbol is quietly reflected in the eyes and highlighted along the snout. The iconic Sandia Mountains are given a nod in the transition from red to yellow across the Ice Wolf’s face as well as on the lower jaw where glistening stars and the moon show off New Mexico’s big, endless and almost always clear skies.

Finally, the nose itself pays homage to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta which in modern New Mexico has become our state’s calling card to much of the world.

“Without being literal, we wanted to create an Ice Wolf that is all our own that tells our story with the Land of Enchantment living within the team logo in a way that all of New Mexico will understand, appreciate and embrace,” said Ice Wolves owner Stan Hubbard. “The logo means to capture both the old and the new of our amazing state as it is poised with the

major renovations, including bleachers that will be upgraded to provide premium VIP stadium seating, new NHL-style plexiglass for seamless viewing, an updated restaurant and snack bar menu, party rooms that will be upgraded for fans and sponsors and a very unique set of connecting ice tunnels that allow fans to watch from the ice while also skating in the auxiliary rink.

In other Ice Wolves news, Keenan Kelly has been

named the team’s assistant general manager and associate head coach, joining head coach and GM Phil Fox on the bench next season.

“High character and accountability are what I want on my staff, and Kelly brings exactly that,” said Fox. “I saw Kelly’s keen sense for details and great rapport with players when we worked together at Northern Michigan University. His dedication and passion for hockey is exactly what we’re looking for as we continue to grow the sport of hockey in New Mexico.”

“I am extremely excited and honored to join the Ice Wolves in their inaugural season and I look forward to doing my part in building hockey in New Mexico,” added Kelly. “Being able to work with Phil Fox again was hard to pass up as we feel we can bring a strong dynamic to the locker room and we both have the experience and dedication to promoting our players to the next level. It has been a long time since I had visited Albuquerque and I’m excited to come back and make this vibrant, beautiful city my new home.”

Kelly spent the last four seasons with the NAHL’s Austin Bruins, serving as director of player personnel and as an assistant coach.

As well, the Ice Wolves signed their first players in Minnesota high school twin forwards Joe and Tom Paradise, out of Mahtomedi High School.

“Joe competes in all three zones and is always a threat to score when he has the puck on his stick,” Fox said. “Tom is always around the puck, creating chances for himself and teammates.”

SHOP TALK

New products arriving all summer at Behind The Mask L

ook for great new products to drop soon at Behind The Mask Hockey Shops.

The end of the season brings some great deals on last year’s products in our stores, often overshadowing the release of the latest and greatest new Exelby skates, sticks and protective equipment. Keep an eye out for these exciting new products coming soon to Behind The Mask.

MAY RELEASES The newest line of CCM Protective will be available this month at all BTM locations. CCM’s top-rated Super Tacks line gets revamped this year with the new Super Tacks AS1 release. The all-new Super Tacks AS1 protective line is designed to give elite players the protection, customizability and comfort they need to perform at the highest levels. The AS1 line combines JDP Technology, D3O smart material and several adjustment options to make the CCM’s most protective and customizable gear to date.

Look for these new gloves, pants, shins, elbows and shoulder pads on May 24.

JUNE RELEASES Skates, skates… and then some more protective gear.

June 28 brings the launch of the new highly anticipated Bauer Vapor 2XPro skates and the CCM Ribcore 80K featuring the new SpeedBlade XS holder. Bauer’s newest Elite Level Vapor skates boasts a new Dynaflex System to maximize key flex positions in the boot, along with a reshaped asymmetrical toe cap to remove the extra void above your toes and adding power to each stride. The CCM Ribcor line of skates gets a new look this year with the CCM Ribcor 80K skates. The skates offer upgraded FlexFrame boot technology, the new extensively tested SpeedBlade XS holder. The XS holder has Bladelock Technology that always ensures tight connection between the holder and runner while allowing quick change of the steel. Having this tight fit enhances energy transfer to the ice. Also releasing in June is the 2019 Bauer Supreme Protective line. The line adds Curv Composite protection and Poron XRD foams exclusive to Bauer.

JULY RELEASES Coming in July is the new Bauer Re-Akt 150 helmet. This helmet comes with a Free Form Adjustment system offering independent width and length adjustment on your head. With fit being the priority in protection, the Re-Akt 150 also offers VTX technology, XRD Foam and a molded multi-density liner for maximum protection. The Re-Akt 150 replaces the popular Re-Akt helmet.

Look for it in stores starting July 12.

AVAILABLE NOW Get started on your offseason training to be game-ready by the end of summer. Stop by any BTM location to turn you garage or driveway into an off-ice training facility with the CCM Snipers Edge shooting tiles. These square-foot tiles can be assembled to fit any space and offer a smooth surface ideal for stickhandling and shooting. Add s t i c k h a n - dling accessories and a Passmaster Pro to work on your passing and shooting skills without anyone else around. Don’t forget magnetic or clamp-on goal targets to sharpen your accuracy.

There’s always something new at Behind The Mask, so make sure to stop by and have a look around!

Randy Exelby is the owner of Behind The Mask Hockey Shops.

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Arizona Rubber Hockey Magazine

UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE

USPHL sees nearly 400 in-league advancements in 2018-19

By Joshua Boyd/USPHL.com

W

hen you join a United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) junior team, you are joining a community of teams that are working together for the benefit of every player that pulls on a jersey with the league crest.

The USPHL has the nation’s highest rate of vertical player movement of any U.S. junior league, with nearly 400 cases of players moving between divisions in 2018-19.

The vast majority of USPHL member organizations have multiple teams to put each player in the setting where they will best develop with ice time, on-ice skills training and an intense off-ice workout program. This also allows for unmatched promotional opportunities.

This allows USPHL players to aim for their chance to play in the very top division, the tuition-free National Collegiate Development Conference. There were nearly 130 players who got the chance to move up within the USPHL to the Tier-2 NCDC, with the vast majority coming from the USPHL Premier Division, the USPHL’s top Tier-3 Division.

Here are some other great facts to know about in-

traleague advancement to the NCDC: • NCDC teams fielded players in league games who saw action with 27 different USPHL Premier teams during the 2018-19 season.

• No less than six NCDC teams drew players from three or more different USPHL Premier players, with two NCDC teams calling players up from seven different USPHL Premier squads in-season.

• More than 35 players who played in the USPHL’s full-season or split-season (EHF Selects) Midget divisions saw time in NCDC games in 2018-19. Some of these individuals also played in the USPHL Premier during the season, as well.

• Players who saw time in the NCDC that also saw time in other USPHL divisions played in more than 1,000 NCDC games in 2018-19.

• 301 NCDC points were scored by nearly 80 players who had spent time at another USPHL level in 2018-19.

• Goalies who spent time in other USPHL divisions earned 14 NCDC wins in 2018-19.

Here are some enlightening facts about movement between the USPHL Elite and the USPHL Premier during 2018-19.

• More than 240 players who played in either the USPHL Elite or the USPHL Midget Divisions also saw time in the USPHL Premier Division during the 2018-19 season.

• The vast majority of this group of 240 players came to the USPHL Premier from the USPHL Elite, totaling higher than 180 players. Almost 90 percent of those 180 players moved from team to team within their own organization.

• The vast majority of the nearly 60 players moving up from the USPHL Midget Divisions came from the 18U Division, but there were also 11 who moved from the 16U and two jumped in from the USPHL 15U Division.

• Players who appeared in both the USPHL Premier and other USPHL Divisions (except the NCDC) skated in more than 2,700 USPHL Premier games in 2018-19.

• No less than 190 out of more than 240 players moving up to the USPHL Premier scored 640+ USPHL Premier points, as well.

• Out of more than 240 players moving up to the USPHL Premier, 28 were goalies. These goalies registered 64 USPHL Premier victories.

As you can see from these numbers, the USPHL’s multi-tiered junior structure is the best environment for a player to flourish, knowing there are so many opportunities at higher levels for the top performers.

Learn more at USPHL.com.

USPHL.com

Tahoe Prep taps Collins as head coach for ‘19-20 season

By Greg Ball

S

his long-held admiration for the new athletic director has only grown during their time together in Lake Tahoe.

“When I was growing up in Southern California. you always saw him (Lewis), and you always knew about him,” Collins said. “He was always ahead of the

ince it first opened its doors along the shores of majestic Lake Tahoe in 2016, the Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy has grown to sign its first international player and join two new leagues.

Next season the academy will again have two independent teams at the prep and varsity levels. To ensure that the academy’s growth is supported and to open doors for continued growth into the future, former prep team head coach Mike Lewis has been elevated to Tahoe Prep’s first full-time athletic director, while Chris Collins, a veteran coach who has been with Tahoe since the academy was still in the planning stages, will take over the reins as head coach of the prep team.

“This gives us the best of all worlds now, with Mike heading up the academy as athletic director and still helping Chris on the bench as an assistant coach with the prep team,” said Leo Fenn, Tahoe Prep president and varsity coach, adding that the change will also help with the addition of a women’s volleyball prep program scheduled to begin in Aug. 2020.

“Chris brings energy, passion and youth- Chris Collins brings ‘energy, passion and youthfulness’ to the Tahoe Prep fulness to the bench that is incredible. This is Academy bench, according to TPHA president Leo Fenn. the role we have groomed him for. We all complement curve in terms of coaching, which is why he has had each other with our coaching strengths.” so much success. There is a lot that he brings to the Collins joined with Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy table, and there are a lot of things that he has taught in its inaugural season back in 2016, after previously me away from the game – how to carry yourself as a coaching the Tahoe Icemen, a Junior A team in the head coach, how your demeanor matters, how not to Western States Hockey League. He came on board talk too much so when you do talk, your players listen.” with a lot of respect for Lewis and his reputation, and Along with these lessons, Collins said Lewis has

encouraged his creativity.

“What we do a really well at Tahoe is not just teach skill but teaching skill in a way so the players understand how to utilize it correctly,” Collins said. “Our emphasis is on teaching skills in the context of the game, so players will understand when a certain move will work in a game situation and when to use it.”

Collins has a deep-seated passion for hockey.

“I spend a lot of time being a student of the game, which includes a lot of late nights watching hockey - not NHL so much, but junior hockey,” Collins said, admitting he does it so much he drives his wife a little crazy. “We know our development model works. We see it in the improvement our kids achieve in as little as one season. What I love the most is how excited a player is to go home at Christmas break and skate with his old team to see how much they have improved in a short time.”

Looking forward to the 2019-20 season and his first year behind the bench in the head coach’s role, Collins said he’s especially happy about the additional exposure that Tahoe Prep’s players will get by playing Hockey in the Tier I East Coast Elite League in addition to the NAHL Prep League. Between the two leagues, the academy’s athletes will get to face top-level programs from across the country, and the added element of competition will only help them develop their skills.

Collins lives in South Lake Tahoe with his wife and two daughters, who are three years old and one month old.

AZRubberHockey.com

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2018-19 ARIZONA/NEW MEXICO ALUMNI E-mail all additions, deletions and corrections to alumni@rubberhockey.com

ARIZONA

Connor Stuart (Phoenix) – Arizona State University Johnny Walker (Phoenix) – Arizona State University

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Brendan Lemieux (Phoenix) – New York Rangers Auston Matthews (Scottsdale) – Toronto Maple Leafs AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Austin Carroll (Scottsdale) – Utah Grizzlies Richard Coyne (Cave Creek) – Rapid City Rush Andrew Shortridge - San Jose Barracuda * Joey Sides (Tucson) – Kansas City Mavericks SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Brandon Fehd (Gilbert) – Macon Mayhem Ben Oskroba (Tempe) – Peoria Rivermen Brandon Parrone (Peoria) – Peoria Rivermen FEDERAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Seth Gustin (Phoenix) – Carolina Thunderbirds OVERSEAS Broc Little (Phoenix) – Sweden Luke Moffatt (Paradise Valley) – United Kingdom NATIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE Kaliya Johnson (Chandler) – Boston Pride Katie McGovern (Scottsdale) – Minnesota Whitecaps COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION I – MEN ATLANTIC HOCKEY Ethan Roswell (Paradise Valley) – Bentley University BIG TEN Nathan Burke (Scottsdale) – University of Minnesota

NCAA DIVISION I – WOMEN

MIAC Molly Andrews (Phoenix) – St. Olaf College Taylor Curtis (Peoria) – Hamline University

CHA Logan Hicks (Scottsdale) – Syracuse University

NEHC Natasha Hawkins (Scottsdale) – New England College Belle Lacombe (Surprise) – Norwich University

ECAC HOCKEY Taylor Stadeli (Scottsdale) – Dartmouth College

NESCAC Lori Berger (Scottsdale) – Trinity College Alexis Ryan (Mesa) – Middlebury College

HOCKEY EAST Makenna Newkirk (Scottsdale) – Boston College Kiki Roust (Queen Creek) – Merrimack College Carlee Turner (Scottsdale) – University of New Hampshire NCAA DIVISION III – MEN

NEWHL Jessica Carter (Scottsdale) – Buffalo State University Hannah Kiraly (Glendale) – Plattsburgh State University Ky Lackey (Phoenix) – Buffalo State University

NORTH AMERICAN 3 HOCKEY LEAGUE Alejandro Apud (Scottsdale) – Louisiana Drillers Robby Beck (Cave Creek) – Northeast Generals Keaton Caplis (Gilbert) – Coulee Region Chill Alexander Kelsall (Gilbert) – Milwaukee Power Sebastian Llaneras (Phoenix) – Maine Wild Chase McLaughlin (Scottsdale) – Coulee Region Chill Hayden Seitz (Phoenix) – Helena Bighorns

CCC Sage Englund (Cave Creek) – Salve Regina University

UCHC Raeann Clancy (King’s College) Gabrielle Igo (Phoenix) – Utica College

MASCAC Erik Pritchard (Cave Creek) – Worcester State University James Stiles (Tucson) – Framingham State University

CANADIAN UNIVERSITY Beau McCue - University of Prince Edward Island *

MIAC Michael Mahan (Scottsdale) – St. John’s University Nick Nast – St. Mary’s University &

JUNIOR HOCKEY

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE D.J. King – Hamilton Bulldogs *

ALBERTA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Adam Bricker (Scottsdale) – Whitecourt Wolverines

ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Ethan Osburn (Prescott) – Kingston Voyageurs

BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUE Trevor Griebel (Glendale) – Wenatchee Wild Hunter Hastings (Scottsdale) – Wenatchee Wild Rowan Miller (Scottsdale) – Powell River Kings

SASKATCHEWAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Cole Golden (Phoenix) – Notre Dame Hounds Grant Ziegler (Scottsdale) – Kindersley Klippers

NCHA Clay Cross (Glendale) – Marian University Forbes Ploszaj (Gilbert) – College of St. Scholastica NESCAC Andy Chugg (Mesa) – Trinity College Alex Heinritz (Fountain Hills) – Middlebury College Samuel Kany (Phoenix) – Trinity College

CANADIAN PREMIER JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Xavier Zuba (Scottsdale) – Scarborough Wexford Raiders EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Chris Crowley (Fountain Hills) – Boston Jr. Rangers Justin Gusso (Phoenix) – Philadelphia Revolution (Premier) Carson Holliday (Gilbert) – Walpole Express (Premier) John Olguin (Chandler) – New England Wolves (Premier) Tanner Paterno (Surprise) – Connecticut RoughRiders Joe Platt (Gilbert) – Philadelphia Jr. Flyers

ECAC HOCKEY Todd Burgess (Phoenix) – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Carson Dimoff (Scottsdale) – St. Lawrence University

SUNYAC Cameron Berry (Chandler) – Oswego State University Derek Brown (Peoria) – Oswego State University Alex Storjohann (Phoenix) – Cortland State University Sean Winikates (Phoenix) – Potsdam State University

HOCKEY EAST Adam Samuelsson – Boston College *

UCHC Sean Dickson – Utica College &

NCHC Jake Durflinger – University of Denver & Phil Knies (Phoenix) – Miami University Erik Middendorf (Scottsdale) – Colorado College Keenan Spillum (Phoenix) – Colorado College Carson Vance (Tempe) – Western Michigan University

WIAC Danny Kiraly (Glendale) – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

GREATER METRO HOCKEY LEAGUE Connor Hanson (Cave Creek) – South Muskoka Shield Sam Hinnant (Cave Creek) – South Muskoka Shield Alec Miller (Peoria) – Bradford Rattlers

NCAA DIVISION III – WOMEN

KOOTENAY INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Gavyn Entzminger (Surprise) – Castlegar Rebels

COLONIAL HOCKEY MacKenzie Lyons (Scottsdale) – Nichols College Sarah McSweeney (Chandler) – Becker College

MANITOBA JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Riley Morgan (Scottsdale) – Winkler Flyers

D-I INDEPENDENT Anthony Croston (Phoenix) – Arizona State University Demetrios Koumontzis – Arizona State University *

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Trey Bagwell (Buckeye) – Amarillo Bulls Henry Dennee (Chandler) – Topeka Pilots Clayton Lackey (Scottsdale) – Lone Star Brahmas Reid Miller (Gilbert) – Odessa Jackalopes Ryan Reid (Phoenix) – Springfield Jr. Blues Joe Strada (Scottsdale) – Aberdeen Wings Mason Vukonich (Gilbert) – Corpus Christi IceRays Dante Zapata – Austin Bruins &

MARITIME HOCKEY LEAGUE Landon Quinney – Valley Wildcats &

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE Patrick Murphy (Gilbert) – Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Jack Strauss (Phoenix) – Soo Eagles

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Sean Bunting (Phoenix) – Sioux City Musketeers Ryan Savage (Scottsdale) - Muskegon Lumberjacks UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE Blake Bjella (Mesa) – Hampton Roads Whalers (Premier) Arun Cibrario (Phoenix) – Hampton Roads Whalers (Elite) Harrison Corse (Scottsdale) – Kasson Vipers (Premier) Brett Dillon (Phoenix) – New Jersey Rockets (Premier) Joe DiGiulio – Hampton Roads Whalers (Premier) & Jeremy Gabriele (Scottsdale) – Syracuse Jr. Stars (NCDC) Kohl Hedquist (Tempe) – Hampton Roads Whalers (Premier) Stephen Kennedy (Scottsdale) – Northern Cyclones (Elite) Skylar Miller (Chandler) – New Jersey Rockets (Premier) Joey Petruzzella (Phoenix) – Boston Bandits (NCDC) Hayden Ripley (Scottsdale) – Minnesota Mullets (Premier) Ian Rogers (Phoenix) – Dells Ducks (Premier) Barrett Rosser (Scottsdale) – Atlanta Jr. Kings (Elite) Jared Sanchez (Scottsdale) – Hampton Roads Whalers (Premier) Keshawn Scott (Gilbert) – Motor City Hockey Club (Premier) WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Erik Atchison – Spokane Chiefs & Mark Kastelic (Phoenix) – Calgary Hitmen Jeremy Masella (Phoenix) – Prince Albert Raiders

Kaid Oliver – Victoria Royals & Luke Ormsby – Moose Jaw Warriors * Garrett Wright (Mesa) – Regina Pats WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE Jacob Elik (Phoenix) – Northern Colorado Eagles Anthony Masanotti (Gilbert) – Utah Outliers Ryan Radke (Cave Creek) – El Paso Rhinos PREP SCHOOL Austin Chesworth (Gilbert) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy Kenadie Cooper (Gilbert) – North American Hockey Academy Kaden Krueger – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy !

Cade Schiefelbein (Phoenix) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy

NEW MEXICO PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY OVERSEES Kristen Molina (Albuquerque) – Finland COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA DIVISION I – MEN ATLANTIC HOCKEY Jackson Barliant (Santa Fe) – Sacred Heart University NCAA DIVISION III – MEN NESCAC Nicholas Faturos (Albuquerque) – Amherst College UCHC Cory King (Albuquerque) – Chatham University JUNIOR HOCKEY EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE Matt Orlando (Rio Rancho) – Boston Jr. Rangers (Premier) Nick Weaver (Rio Rancho) – Boston Jr. Rangers (Premier) ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE Marcus Gretz (Albuquerque) – Flint Firebirds UNITED STATES PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE Jason Knoll (Albuquerque) – Florida Jr. Blades (Elite) Seth Payson (Albuquerque) – New York Aviators (Elite) PREP SCHOOL Liam Sutton (Santa Fe) – Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy

* former Jr. Coyote & former Arizona Bobcat ! former DYHA Jr. Sun Devil

Coyotes legend Doan continues to leave legacy on Arizona hockey

By Mark Brown

T

he accolades Shane Doan received on the ice were clearly justified, but it is his legacy, the support and involvement in youth hockey that garners equal acclaim.

One of the iconic figures in Arizona sports history, the former Arizona Coyotes captain transcended play on the ice and became a teacher, an educator and mentor to many. Just ask Auston Matthews, the celebrated leader of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Scottsdale native, whose introduction and commitment to hockey was precipitated by Doan’s influence.

“Shane played a big role in my childhood and hockey career,” Matthews said.

“He’s a guy I looked up quite a bit.”

Simple, but direct.

That’s likely to be Doan’s legacy. Humble, unassuming, but straightforward and honest. While always cordial with the media and influential with teammates, Doan carried a fierce, competitive nature on the ice and no opposing player felt comfortable competing for a puck with him along the boards.

For his fingerprints on hockey in Arizona and weight carried within the Coyotes dressing room, Doan left an indelible mark. Just after his retirement announcement before the start of the 2017-18 season, Doan made sure the culture he established in the Coyotes dressing room was maintained. That meant designating a captain aligned with the character and disposition which Doan carried so well.

When the Coyotes named Oliver Ekman-Larsson captain, the move was made to make Doan’s importance and message seamless. To that end, Ekman-Larsson made sure he went out of his way to maintain the communication aptitudes Doan exhibited for so many years.

“Obviously, these are big shoes to fill from a guy like that,” Ekman-Larsson said. “Even if I tried to do what he did, I’d come up a little bit short. When Shane first talked to me about being captain, he said, ‘Just be yourself,’ and that helped me and why, I guess, they picked me. Be the same guy and keep doing what you do. That’s what he told me and always be yourself.”

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