Words from the publisher...

Well, hockey season is almost complete.

Youth hockey seasons ended a few months back, junior hockey seasons are a wrap as well as college hockey seasons and most of the pro leagues.

The Stanley Cup Final saw the Vegas Golden Knights win it all a few nights ago with another West Coast team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, in the Calder Cup Finals for the AHL championship.

I don’t think it’s ever until the end of a season that you get to sit back and realize how much of a grind it all was.

Even for us in the media world.

Hockey players and hockey teams are on the go pretty much from August until March. Some go longer, plus spring and summer hockey.

The media never stops. And that’s a good thing.

Since Rubber Hockey started back in 2006, it has been a great ride covering so many players and teams at all levels.

The pandemic had us hit the pause button briefly, but here we are!

The offseason gives us time to breathe and know that there aren’t so many deadlines like we have during the season.

Personally, a break does a body good. I enjoy getting out and taking care of our yard with my wife and taking a dip in the pool when the weather cooperates. And the kids, don’t get me started there. I’ve talked about ours in this space a few times, but man, why do they grow up so fast?

Just today, our middle child, who will be 16 in September and a junior in high school, started his first job at a local restaurant. He’s saving for a car. Good choice.

Our oldest graduated from high school a few weeks ago and that brought out the emotions. He’ll start college in the fall and is working a couple part-time jobs this summer to help with the college expenses.

Our daughter is going into eighth grade, her last year of middle school. Then she’s off to high school and another countdown is on.

Man, oh, man.

Time to enjoy these summer months and soak up all the family time you can. Nothing beats family. Nothing.

As always, remember to keep supporting Rubber Hockey! Contact me any time at (248) 890-3944 (call/text) and by email at matt@rubberhockey. com.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

BY MATT MACKINDER

The 2023 IHAAZ season culminated the weekends of May 6-7 and May 20-21 with the annual State Finals event.

This year’s tournament was again held at The Wheelhouse in Prescott Valley.

A total of 10 champions were crowned as the tournament proved to be a fantastic ending to an extremely competitive season.

“This past qualifier season, we put an emphasis on trying to create as much parity as possible in our divisions by splitting up age division skill levels where it made sense and the numbers allowed for it,” said IHAAZ tournament director Nick Boyarsky. “By the time State Finals came around, we had a clear picture of the upper and lower divisional play, which allowed us to create very competitive round robin divisions and matchups, as teams battled out for a state championship in their age and skill level. This all led to some truly amazing games and hard-fought championships.”

8U A

In a back-and-forth game, the TPH Knighthawks came away with a 10-9 win over the Arizona Roughriders.

Cole Maschner scored six goals in the win, while Troy Walter had a goal and an assist and London Norgaard, Jarrett Barnes, and Owen Hardison added one each.

Skai Thomas took the win in goal making eight saves.

For the Roughriders, Micah Hilton netted seven goals and Davis Bond and Sydney Sitron scored one goal apiece.

In goal, Oliver Hansen finished with 15 saves.

8U AA

Kasen Pusateri scored six goals with an assist as the Arizona Outlaws Maroon took the title with a 10-2 victory over Yuma Blaze Black.

Peyton Starrh and Kellen Pusateri each tallied two goals and an assist, and Theo Brooks turned aside seven shots in the Outlaws net.

On the Blaze side, Talon Ducharme and Maverick Wegener each scored, and Colton Murphy stopped four shots in goal.

10U A

Kerby Wofford was the overtime hero, scoring the winning goal to lead the Yuma Blaze Black team 4-3 over the Roughriders.

Jackson Kline scored three goals for the Blaze and Evelyn Stewart made 22 saves in net for the win.

Juliette Bond posted all three goals for the Roughriders, with Conner Gallegos making 24 saves between the pipes.

10U AA

Ben Van Houten went for four goals and an assist and Connor Hillegonds added three goals and four assists to lead the Jr. Wildcats to a 9-1 championship win over the Outlaws.

Mason Hillegonds chipped in a goal and two assists and Gia Alvarez also scored to back Ryland Scott’s eight saves in goal.

Kasen Pusateri scored the lone goal for the Outlaws and Brooks made 11 saves.

12U A

The Roughriders defeated the Knighthawks 3-1 as Rowan Nebeker, Ryan Hovlid, and Summer McBee all scored goals.

Mason Hilton collected 14 saves in net for the victory.

For the Knighthawks, Devin Peterson scored the only goal and Jack Bauer made 19 stops in goal.

12U AA

Van Houten registered two goals as the Jr. Wildcats Gold won the division with a 3-2 win over the Outlaws Black.

Sam McCloud scored the other goal and Keoni Weir kicked out 11 shots for the win between the pipes.

Robbie Anderson and Evan Tzeng scored for the Outlaws and Gavin Larose finished with 10 saves.

14U A

The Arizona Imperials used a three-goal, three-assist game from AJ Brandt to down the Jr. Wildcats 9-2 to claim the championship.

Dean Mindeman added two goals and three assists, Moses Brown chipped in three goals and an assist, Oliver Edelstein scored, and Trevin Vargo posted a pair of assists.

Reagan Rivera made 14 stops in goal to gain the victory.

For the Jr. Wildcats, Edward Szadkowski had a goal and an assist and Nolan Wilde also scored.

Goaltender Antonio Bras-Taylor was sharp in stopping 30 shots.

14U AA

In a close contest, the TPH Knighthawks Green brought home the championship with a 5-4 victory over Black Magic.

Joey Lepore netted a trio of goals, Brayden Willis went for two goals and an assist, and Sam Koch and Jaden Perea each tacked on two assists.

Between the pipes, Maddox Marshal finished with 25 saves.

Alex Smith recorded a goal and three assists for the Magic, while Braden Hordichuk, Dylan Mickelson, and Ashton Sherstobitoff added goals. Kelzi Olson added two assists and Dylan Hanson made 20 saves in net.

18U A

Another tight championship game saw Austin McPherson tally three goals as the Cereal Killers knocked off the Lucky Charms by a 4-3 count.

Brady Ishu added a goal and an assist and Landon Jans chipped in three helpers.

Connor Blondel made 17 saves in goal.

For the Lucky Charms, Chase Kaplan posted two goals, Justin Kaplan went for a goal and an assist, and Madden Hognauer added two assists. In goal, Tate Mickey turned aside 20 shots.

18U AA

Brandon Ott fashioned a two-goal, one-assist game as the Blaze beat the Peoria Desert Scorpions 5-1.

Austin Estes, Nicholas Lopez, and Luke Freeman also scored, and Jackson Gebhart stopped 11 shots between the pipes.

Ty Wilson scored the Scorpions’ lone goal, and Aiden Biswanger made 19 stops in net.

In addition to the games, several players took home awards as part of the Behind The Mask Skills Challenge events during both weekends of State Finals.

8U

Top Goalie: Colton Murphy, Yuma Blaze Black

Sniper: Talon Ducharme, Yuma

Blaze Black

Fastest Skater: Drake Madia, Outlaws Black

10U

Top Goalie: Ryland Scott, Jr. Wildcats

Sniper: Max Kramer, Knighthawks

Fastest Skater: Austin Smith, Knighthawks

12U

Top Goalie: Gavin Larose, Outlaws Black

Sniper: Everett Smith, Outlaws Black

Fastest Skater: Sam McCloud, Jr. Wildcats Gold

14U

Top Goalie: Antonio Bras-Taylor, Outlaws

Sniper: Robby Skelly, Jr. Wildcats

Fastest Skater: Nolan Wilde, Jr. Wildcats

18U Silver

Top Goalie: Gavin Lopo, Roughriders

Sniper: Gavin Nebeker, Roughriders

Fastest Skater: Drew Jazwin, Lucky Charms