February, 2007

www b arizonarubber b com
Women’s game in good hands with AGYHA, VOSHA
Polar Ice calling all rookie rink rats
Inline teams storm WinterNationals
High school lacrosse back in action
Glendale grows up around Jobing.com Arena
VOLUME 2
ISSUE 6
February 2007
From Kids to Coyotes, the Desert’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey
WARRIOR
PlayersCLUB
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6
10
13
15
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30
THE LINEUP:
...................Editorial
...................Cover Story
Inline Hockey....................
..............Coyotes
Sundogs........................
...............RoadRunners
College Hockey.............
...............Junior Hockey
Associations.................
...............Features
Inline Hockey...............
.............Lacrosse
5
8
12
14
16
26
34
Rubber Interview...............
Taking Liberties..........
Arizona Rubber Magazine
is a production of:
On The Cover
publisher: Brian McDonough
editor: Cameron Eickmeyer
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From left: Katie McGovern, 12, AZ Selects; Alli
Frank, 16, VOSHA Mustangs; Jen McDonald,
14, AZ Selects; Sydney Williams, 16, VOSHA
Mustangs
3
Editor’s Column:
What I learned in 13.1 miles
O
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Luck!
He had his goal a decade ago
n race day for last month’s
and started working toward it.
P.F. Chang’s Rock and Roll
There were many steps he had to
Marathon and ½ Marathon , I was
among 37,000 runners and thoutake to turn girls on to hockey, let
sands of fans and bands.
alone eventually form the Arizona
It made me feel small and some- Girls Youth Hockey Association.
what big at the same time.
Now his race is adding runners
There was the fact I was in a
with Gayle Shalloo’s Valley of the
sea of people that would essentially Sun Hockey Association squad joinbecome a roughly 10-mile snake at
ing the mix.
some point in the race. Then there
I say this is a good thing for
was the fact that no one
the girls scene. It means
else could help me finish
competition and more
that race.
options for girls in the
state.
In short, I had to take
The second link beeach step toward each
tween the ½ marathon
mile. When I crossed the
I ran and girls hockey
Mill Avenue Bridge on
the final stretch toward
in the state is that my
the finish line, I had
race still is only halfway
quite a big smile on my
to my eventual goal of
Eickmeyer
face.
finishing a marathon.
The time between the start
AGYHA and VOSHA still have
of the race in downtown Phoenix
a long, long way to go to begin
and the finish in Tempe went a lot
vying for national attention, but
quicker than you’d think. Once you
they’re on their way, and I tip my
hit a certain point, the miles just
hat to both of them for their efforts
fly by before suddenly you’re at
in building this great sport in Ariyour goal.
zona.
As I read this month’s cover story (Page 7), I realized my race was
a lot like what Rick Van Fleet has Reach Cameron Eickmeyer at
gone through with building girls
cameron@arizonarubber.com
hockey in Arizona.
b Team of the Month
I
n dramatic fashion, the Rollerplex Panthers
captured the Bantam Gold championship at
last month’s NARCh WinterNationals held at the
Arizona Sports Complex.
Two tough losses in round robin left the
Panthers with a low seed in the playoffs, but
Rollerplex bounced back, stringing together four
playoff victories on their way to the gold medal.
“It was a team effort and everyone worked so
hard,” said Long Duong, who scored the gamewinner in the final, a 3-2 win over Team Allegiance
(see more on Rollerplex’s success at WinterNationals
on Page 9).
Pictured: Back Row (left to right): Cody Clark, Patrick
Shore, Michael Tschilar, Daniel Spanudis, Niko
Kampitsis, head coach Hank Taylor; Middle Row:
Curtis Rose, Melissa Zehrbach, Brett Velez, C.J.
Hawley; Front Row: Long Duong, Alec Bejarano
4
Rollerplex Panthers Bantams
Andrew
bPhoenix’s
Hamburg,
17, was listed No.
186 among North
American skaters
by the NHL Central
Scouting Bureau on its midseason
rankings of 2007 draft-eligible
players released last month. The
Colorado College recruit is skating
for the Dallas Stars Midget AAA
team this season.
Andrew Barletta,
bGoaltender
a 15-year-old first-year Ban-
tam, played for three teams (Bantam, Midget and High School) at
NARCh WinterNationals finishing
with a 9-4-1 record, a 3.50 goalsagainst average, a gold medal, a
silver medal and two top goalie
awards.
Bessee, a forward
bBrendan
for the Peoria Polar Bears’ Mite
B team, scored 13 points in four
games to help his team to a Coyote
Cup title.
Inline sensation Long Duong
bassisted
on the champion-
ship-winning goal for the Midget
Rollerplex Panthers, scored the
championship-clinching goal for
the Bantam squad and helped the
Centennial High Coyotes to a 3-0-1
round-robin record and a silver
medal at NARCh WinterNationals.
Coyotes goaltender
bPhoenix
Curtis Joseph captured his
438th career victory on Jan. 4 to
pass Hall of Famer Jacques Plante into fifth place on the NHL’s
all-time wins list.
Thunder U-18 goaltenders
bAZ
T.J. Nathan and Sean Morn-
ingstar each went undefeated in
the Coyote Cup. Nathan had two
shutouts and Morningstar had one.
Greenspan led all U-18
bRyan
Midget A scorers with nine
points in four games to lead the
Arizona Ice Bandits in the Coyote
Cup.
Rubber Interview:
A
Dustin Payne
rizona born and bred, Dustin Payne has taken the reigns this season
as the Arizona Sting’s first-ever manager of marketing and promotions. AZR Magazine’s Brian McDonough caught up with the lax team’s
chief marketeer to learn more about the Valley’s best kept sports secret.
AZR Magazine: You started with
the Phoenix Coyotes full time in
2005 as their fan development coordinator. How did your role shift over
to the Sting?
Dustin Payne: When I was with
the Coyotes, we promoted the Sting
quite a bit at various grassroots
events, and the one thing that really
stood out was the lack of awareness
associated with the Sting. Most people I talked to were unfamiliar with
the sport of lacrosse, but they also
had no idea that an indoor lacrosse
team played in Glendale.
When the opportunity to join
the Sting came up in October as the
marketing manager, I jumped on it
because I felt I could identify areas
that needed attention that would
make an immediate impact. In the
first three years, the Sting did an
excellent job promoting the game
from a grassroots level, and now it’s
time to take the game to the masses.
Dustin Payne, Sting manager of marketing
and promotions.
AZR: Did you have much knowledge and/or interest in lacrosse prior to
joining the Sting?
DP: I’m from Arizona, so my initial knowledge of the sport was minimal,
which is common amongst the vast majority of the sports fans here in the
Phoenix area. I think that’s why I can examine and identify the needs of
the team in this market.
As I became more familiar with the sport, I turned into a fan because
of the fast pace and hard hits. To me, lacrosse is a mix of football, basketball and hockey, and as more fans experience the game, they’ll become
hooked as well, and they’ll think of the Sting not just as another entertainment option, but as a team that represents their hometown with passion, pride and a winning tradition.
AZR: What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced in terms of putting a face on the Sting?
DP: Outside of the fact that lacrosse is new to Arizona, we have an eightgame home schedule, so we need to make sure every game counts. On top
of that, we face an eight-month off-season, so we need to establish traditions and get our game to the level where it doesn’t get lost in the
shuffle.
Interview continued / Page 22
5
Lady Luck
Girls game making significant strides
By John Duncan
L
6
Photo /Providence College
ooking at the state of girls
hockey today, it’s hard to believe that not very long ago there
was no organized hockey for women
in Arizona.
About 10 years ago, girls U-19
teams began playing at the Oceanside Ice Arena and the Coliseum,
driven in large part by interest
generated by women participating
in the Winter Olympics.
These pioneer efforts, however,
were unable to weather the drop-off
in interest typical of Olympic sports
in off-years. The older players
didn’t represent a grassroots effort.
The next major advance in
organized girls hockey came when
the Alltel Ice Den opened in 1998,
and 12 of the 650 kids who showed
up to play were girls. Although
they played on boys teams, several
parents organized a girls developmental program, getting a slot at 6
a.m. one Sunday a month.
The next year, the program
grew to once a week, and a few
more girls showed up. By 2003, interest had grown to the point where
the Arizona Girls Youth Hockey
Association was formed.
According to Rick Van Fleet,
the AGYHA’s executive director,
director of hockey and head coach
of the program’s U-14 AAA team,
the philosophy at that time, as it
remains today, was to grow the
program from the bottom, working
towards filling older teams with
players who have gained experience
and skills at the lower levels.
Also, the AGYHA emphasizes
team building. Probably the best
example of this is the annual
training camp in Flagstaff, where,
in addition to the training, each
younger player is paired with an
older member of the association.
Fast forward
to 2007. Now,
more than 100
girls play ice
hockey in Arizona
with 70 playing
for the AGYHA.
One sign that
the girls game
is gaining momentum is the
addition of other
programs.
This year,
Gayle Shalloo, a
former player at
Providence College, formed a
U-16 team
through the Valley of the Sun
Hockey Association. It’s a step
she’s been hoping Gayle Shalloo, who grew up in Arizona, played her college
to make for some hockey at Providence.
“Competition is great. If there
time.
wasn’t competition, there wouldn’t
Along with her assistant Jen
be hockey. I think in the end it will
Lipman, who was headed to Diviall benefit hockey,” she said.
sion I hockey at the University of
One major component the
Minnesota-Duluth before NCAA
AGYHA and VOSHA programs
red tape got in the way, Shalloo
have in common is Van Fleet’s
takes her experience from college
brainchild, the Western Girls Elite
competition and shows the girls
Hockey Association.
what it takes to reach that level.
Shalloo knows the process well; she Van Fleet’s AGYHA and associations in San Jose, Anaheim and
was the first girl from Arizona to
Colorado recognized that cooperaadvance to a college squad.
tion was necessary for their girls
“Jen and I accomplished what
to regularly play other competitive
a lot of these girls want to accomteams while at the same time keepplish,” Shalloo said. “Going to a national camp, playing in high school, ing travel costs in check.
They began competition this
prep school - these are things the
season and it’s been an instant sucgirls aspire to do some day. It’s
cess, to say the least.
easier for them to relate to us as
From Feb. 16-19, the AGHYA
people and as coaches.”
sponsors its annual tournament
Shalloo recognizes that her pro
and is expecting 28 teams to pargram competes with AGYHA for
ticipate this year, including teams
talented players, but believes that
from Chicago, Alaska and Southern
competition will help the state’s
Ontario. Ladies continued / Page 18
game in general.
ARCADIA SUMMER HOCKEY
SUMMER HOUSE LEAGUE
GIRLS ELITE Training Camp
4 x 4 format
USA Hockey Certified Referee
USA Hockey Certified Coaches
Penalty Shots in place of Penalties
3-15 Minute Run Periods
3 Age Groups offered: U6, U10, & U16
Start Date: April, 2007
USA Hockey Registration Required
June 11th-15th
On Ice and Off Ice instruction
Lunch provided
Open to all ages
Coached by former Division I Players
TAKE YOUR HOCKEY TO NEXT LEVEL!
STAMPEDE GIRLS Summer Program
ELITE Training Camp
July 23rd-27th
U10 and U16 camps available
Lunch provided
On Ice and Off Ice instructed
Geared for ELITE Athletes (Boys and Girls)
Hockey Day Camps
Open to all ages and abilities
Camp 1: June 18th-22nd
Camp 2: July 9th-July 13th
Before care and after care available
Lunch provided
Space is limited
COME OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN!
Arcadia is dedicated to taking hockey players to
the next level. Whether you are new to the game
or a AAA player, we have a program that is just
right for you. Take advantage of our off ice and on
ice instruction to prepare you for next season. Set
your goals and we will make them happen!
For detailed information please contact the Arcadia Ice Hockey Director at 602-957-9966 or
gayle@arcadiaice.com.
Discounts are offered for early payment, payment
in full, and VOSHA members***
10 On Ice and 10 Off Ice sessions included
2 Sessions available:
Starts: May 9th & June 27th
Wednesdays @ 5:35pm
Saturdays @ 4:45pm
Each session will offer unique training components
so plan on attending both
COME JOIN THE STAMPEDE!
OFF ICE Training
Arcadia will be offering Off Ice Training open to figure
skaters and hockey players around the Valley.
This strength and conditioning program will help
develop your abilities off of the ice to help you on the
ice. Call now for dates and times that will continue
through the summer.
GIRLS TRAVEL TRYOUT
July 13th @ 5:35pm (All Ages)
July 14th @ 2:10pm & 3:30pm & 4:50pm & 6:10pm
July 15th @ 12pm & 1:20pm & 2:40pm & 4:00pm
All ages will be at 5:35pm on the 13th. Girls will
then be assigned to a group for the 14th and 15th.
***May not pertain to all programs
7
Inline Hockey - WinterNationals Recap
Three Excalibur teams good as gold
By Alex Dodt
T
eam Excalibur entered NARCh
WinterNationals with high expectations and, after five days of competition, left with their heads held high.
Excalibur entered six teams in
the tournament and captured three
national
championships. One of the top teams
was the Excalibur 94’s in the Squirt
Gold division.
“The 94’s were expected to do
very well,” said Dave Marmorstein,
Excalibur’s program director, “but I
was surprised how dominant they were
throughout the tournament.”
The Squirt team showed just how
good they could be by opening the tournament with a 9-1 victory over AKS
Mission 94, a game in which seven different Excalibur players scored. In that
game and all through
the tournament, Chris
Gallo keyed Excalibur’s
attack.
“Chris played offense,
defense, penalty kill,
power play, anything
he was asked to play,”
said Marmorstein.
Two more Excalibur
teams, in the PeeWee
Silver and Women’s divisions, were also good
as gold.
The Excalibur 92’s
faced a tough draw in
round robin, resulting
in them being seeded
down into the lower Silver division.
“The 92’s really stepped it up in the
playoffs,” said Marmorstein. “They had
something to prove.”
Excalibur did just that, knocking
off AKS Mission 93 in the semifinal to
set up an all-Arizona final against the
Rollerplex Panthers. Trevor Needle
scored early and goaltender Rianon
O’Reilly was perfect in net as Excalibur
rolled to a 2-0 win and the gold medal.
Not to be outdone, Team Excalibur
Black dominated the women’s division
for the program’s third championship of
the weekend.
The gold medal game was a
rematch of last year’s WinterNationals between Excalibur and the Tour
Jaguars. But this year, it wouldn’t
take overtime to decide the champion
as Excalibur made short work of the
Jaguars, 4-0.
With that championship game
shutout, Excalibur finished the tournament without allowing a single goal.
“That’s unheard of,” said coach
Jamie Marmorstein. “It’s quite a nod to
the defense and the goalie.” b
GET INLINE:
Arizona a fine host for WinterNationals
T
he 2007 NARCh WinterNationals at the
Arizona Sports Complex
(ASC) was an incredible
success, not only for the
sport, but also for the state
of Arizona , which brought
home a huge chunk of the
championship cups.
In all, eight Arizona
teams came home with
gold medals with a total of
17 teams making championship game appearances.
“It was great to see so
many Arizona teams do
well,” said Nick Boyarsky
of the Rollerplex Panthers
and Tour Outcasts. “Everyone represented the state
well.”
Arizona teams captured championships in
all youth age divisions,
from Mite on up to Midget,
8
until they
as well as multiple adult diviclosed.
sion titles, from
“The
Women’s and
atmosphere
Men’s Gold to 35was just crazy,”
and-over.
said ASC’s Dan
It was certainMaxwell. “All
ly a weekend to
five days, there
take pride in your
was always a
state.
lot of exciteDodt
“Local teams
ment in the
had an impressive tourbuilding.”
nament this year,” said
ASC was a great host
NARCh president Daryn
for the event and there
Goodwin.
was a great turnout from
But WinterNationals
the parents, who helped
was a success for Arizona
run booths and clean up
not simply because of gold
throughout the weekend.
medals won. The five-day
The support of the volunevent attracted a lot of
teers can’t be understated,
attention to Arizona and
and a big thanks goes out
to ASC. Throughout the
to all of them.
weekend, there was an
“The parents were
electric atmosphere from
unbelievable with helping
the time the doors opened
out,” said Maxwell. “There
was a great sense of pride. Scott Coughlin was the
MVP for everything he
did.”
In Arizona , we should
feel privileged that NARCh
brings such an exciting
event to our hometown
each year and that we have
a facility like ASC to host a
tournament of this magnitude.
For five days, we get to
be the center of the roller
hockey universe, with all
the excitement and competition just a short drive up
the highway for most of us.
Let’s hope we get to do it
all again next year. b
Reach Alex Dodt at
alex@arizonarubber.com
Inline Hockey - WinterNationals Recap
Rollerplex nets plenty of hardware
By Alex Dodt
N
ine Rollerplex Panthers teams participated in last
month’s NARCh WinterNationals and five of them
headed back to Peoria with a medal.
Of the three WinterNationals championships the
Panthers won last month, none of them stood out quite
like the Bantam Gold title.
Coach Hank Taylor and his Bantam team struggled in round robin, going 0-2 with losses to Team Allegiance and Mission Face Off.
But the Panthers came ready to win in the playoffs.
Niko Kampitsis’ game-winning goal in the quarterfinals helped
lift Rollerplex’s Bantam team to an eventual gold medal at WinterNationals.
“We knew we needed to step it up if we were going to compete in the playoffs,” said goaltender Brett
Velez.
And step up they did. Of 13 teams in the Bantam
Gold division, the Panthers took the 10th seed into the
playoffs. In the first round, they gained momentum
by knocking off their seventh-seeded crosstown rivals,
Team Excalibur.
But it was their next game in the quarterfinal
round that won’t soon be forgotten.
The quarterfinals had Rollerplex matched up
against the undefeated top seed from Southern California, AKS Mission ‘90. AKS had a 2-0 record up to
that point, having outscored its opponents 12-3 in
round robin. After falling behind 3-0, Rollerplex slowly
started to get back into the game. Eventually, Patrick
Shore tied it up with 40 seconds left.
“We just chipped away at their lead and stayed in
the game,” said Taylor. “We gave ourselves a chance to
win it and did just that.”
A stunned AKS team tried to regain the lead
in the final seconds, but one bad bounce and Niko
Kampitsis went on a rush the other way. From the
right boards, Kampitsis fired a slap shot top shelf and,
although the goalie made the initial save, the puck
rolled in over his shoulder sending the crowd into a
frenzy.
Ten seconds later, the biggest upset of the tournament was official and Rollerplex was on its way to a
gold medal.
“Once we beat AKS, I knew that we had the momentum to go all the way,” said Taylor. “Like they say,
anything can happen in the playoffs.”
The Panthers finished their playoff run with two
more incredible victories, a 5-3 rematch win over Team
Allegiance and a 3-2 edge-of-the-seat thriller in the
gold medal game over the West Coast Warriors. Long
Duong tallied the game-winner in the final.
The Panthers’ Midget team left their own mark on
WinterNationals. Led by the phenomenal goaltending
of 15-year-old Andrew Barletta, the Panthers won
two close playoff games to earn a birth in the finals
against the Mission Arizona Stars.
“It was awesome to see two Arizona teams in
the championship game,” said Panthers coach Nick
Boyarsky. “Both teams wanted that last game badly.”
As expected, the game was full of energy with
many friends and common opponents pitted against
each other. No team ever held more than a one-goal
lead in the championship contest.
In the final minutes, the Panthers got the last word
on a power-play goal by Nick Robone that clinched a
second NARCh Cup for Rollerplex.
The Panthers’ Mites brought home the third and
final championship banner by winning the silver division in convincing fashion. The Mites were led by
goal-scoring machine Robbie Goldsmith and a strong
overall team effort.
“Every single player on our Mite team stepped up
to help win the cup,” said Rollerplex owner Karen
Fullmer. “It was very exciting to witness.” b
9
Curt Keilback, left, with Darren
Pang, has been with the Coyotes
since the team relocated from
Winnipeg in 1996.
Photo / Norm Hall
Keilback a constant in Coyotes Country
By Russell Brooks
Keilback also called his 2,000th game - all with the Coyotes/Jets franchise - while he was with Simmer during the 2002ver the years, many players and coaches have come and
03 season. He achieved that milestone on Nov. 22, 2002.
gone through the Phoenix Coyotes organization, but one
When the Coyotes returned from the lockout to start the
man has been there to witness everything.
2005-06 season, the organization went exclusively with a televi Originally starting with the Winnipeg Jets franchise in 1979 sion-radio duo to satisfy its fans. During that transition, the
when the team made the transition to the NHL from the World
Coyotes hired Darren Pang as Keilback’s new partner.
Hockey Association, there isn’t much play-by-play commenta- When the Coyotes moved into Jobing.com Arena during the
tor Curt Keilback has missed in his 27 years as a television
2003-04 season, Keilback was honored again when the franand radio personality.
chise announced that the press box was going to be named after
“I’ve just about seen it all while I’ve been here,” he said.
him and his father.
The Yorkton, Saskatchewan, native got his start while his
“It was flattering to say the least to have the
father, Jim, broadcasted games back in Canada.
press box named after my dad and me,” said
“I would come to watch the games while my dad was
Keilback. “It’s almost embarrassing and seems
broadcasting and would do a period here and there,”
very weird to see the sign up. When I get off
said Keilback. “It was a fascination for me.”
the elevator at the press box level, I try not to
While he was working junior games, Keileven look at it, usually.”
back finally got his out-of-the-blue break
Over the years, Keilback has had the
just before the Jets joined the NHL in 1979.
advantage of doing both radio and television
“I got a call from a stranger asking if
with the Coyotes organization, two completely
I was interested in the job,” he said. “I sent
different mediums, according to Keilback.
them a tape and they hired me to be a part of a
“When you do television work, it’s more about profiltwo-man team.”
ing individuals and sticking to a script,” he said. “When
When the Jets moved to the Valley of the Sun after
you’re on the radio, you can use more creativity in how
the 1995-96 season, Keilback accompanied the relocation
you go about the game because you have nothing hindering
and seized his position as the “Voice of the Phoenix Coyotes.”
you. It’s individualistic.”
“It was interesting to see the franchise born in Phoenix,”
Keilback, who makes his off-season home in Saskatchewan,
said Keilback. “There are times when I wish there was more
loves spending time at his cottage with his wife and two sons.
coverage of the hockey team in the media.”
“I love playing golf during the summer months,” said Keil Originally starting as the play-by-play man when the team
back. “It’s nice to avoid the Arizona heat and spend time on the
relocated to Phoenix, Keilback made the transition from radio
beaches.”
to television and welcomed a new partner in Charlie Simmer. While his voice is notorious for generating excitement
“He was very laid back during the games and enjoyable to
through the radio waves or on television, one thing is for cerwork with,” said Keilback of Simmer.
tain: Keilback is here to stay. b
O
10
Lounge, Lexus Club hotspots for fans
By Jeff Hoodzow
I
Photo / Diana Connor
t’s not hard to
watch a hockey
game from the
cheap seats. It’s
just a lot more fun
to watch from the prime seats.
Despite all the perfect sightlines
and modern design of Jobing.com
Arena, every fan would rather take
that ideal seat on the glass rather
than climbing to the top of section
221, asking an usher for directions
while trying not to spill their popcorn.
The Phoenix Coyotes have two
options for particular fans that are
anything but - the Rinkside Lounge
and Lexus Club.
The Rinkside Lounge, one of
the most exclusive ticket clubs in
the NHL, is only accessible to 375
select members seated in the first
two rows and loge level. It might be
hard to get one of the golden tickets, but once you get past the velvet
rope you can truly appreciate what
you have.
“It really caters to a one-stopshopping kind of approach to fans
that are looking for exclusiveness,”
said Jim Van Stone, Coyotes
senior vice president of ticket sales
and service.
With flat screen televisions on
the walls and a gourmet buffet at
patrons’ disposal, the Lounge has
everything for the diehard fans
with some disposable income.
Kara and Dale Imbriani of
Goodyear love the exclusivity of the
Lounge and the camaraderie they
share with fellow season-ticket
holders.
“We’ve made some many friends
down here,” Kara Imbriani said,
who added that her family and a
few friends from the Lounge were
Bartenders prepare to serve season-ticket holders in the exclusive Rinkside Lounge at
Jobing.com Arena.
contemplating a Coyotes road trip
later in the year.
Carol Haviland and David
Bailey, who bartend in the Lounge,
said they wouldn’t trade their spot
for any place else in the building
and both agree it’s the clientele
that makes work fun.
“It’s more like hanging out,”
Bailey said. “We joke around with a
lot of regulars and tease them and
it goes back and forth. That’s why I
like the job.”
The perks of the Lounge and
holding season tickets on the glass
extend far past the three-pepper
prime rib and friendly bartenders
mixing up the perfect martini.
Fans also receive VIP parking
and exclusive access, as well as
personalized name plates on their
seats and a personalized jersey.
Lounge members also received a
framed Wayne Gretzky autographed photo as a Christmas present from the team.
Then there’s the proximity to
the players going on and off the ice
between periods.
While the Lexus Club doesn’t
have the distinctiveness of the
Rinkside Lounge, it might be the
best place in the entire building to
watch a game.
Situated between Gates 1 and
7 on the visitor’s side of the ice, the
Lexus Club gives fans most of the
amenities of the Rinkside Lounge
- just more of it.
“The Lexus Club is geared
toward that business-to-business
environment,” Van Stone said. “We
really bring businesses on the local
level together.”
Van Stone estimates that
between 600-800 people enjoy the
service of the club on any given
night, which includes fans seated
in the section and patrons in the
center ice area that have access to
the club. b
COYOTES IN FEBRUARY
Feb. 1 vs. Nashville, 7 p.m. b Feb. 3 vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m. b Feb. 6 @ Columbus, 5 p.m. b Feb. 7 @ Detroit, 5:30 p.m. b
Feb. 10 @ Florida, 5:30 p.m. b Feb. 13 @ Tampa Bay, 5:30 p.m. b Feb. 15 vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m. b Feb. 17 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m. b
Feb. 19 @ Nashville, 4 p.m. b Feb. 22 vs. Calgary, 7 p.m. b Feb. 26 @ Calgary, 7 p.m. b Feb. 27 @ Edmonton, 7 p.m. b
11
Kelly has Sundogs in playoff hunt
By Jeff Hoodzow
W
Brent Kelly’s scoring exploits led to his CHL
All-Star Game selection.
“The fans were pretty into hockey, but our fans would top them off
everyday,” Kelly said. “A lot of
people don’t know about hockey,
but it’s truly a phenomenal small
community (in Northern Arizona)
and everyone knows who we are.”
This year’s success is a dramatic
improvement for Kelly. Last season
with the AHL’s Philadelphia Phan-
SUNDOGS IN FEBRUARY
Feb. 2 vs. Laredo, 7 p.m. b Feb. 3 @ Amarillo, 6 p.m. b Feb. 9 @ Laredo, 6:30 p.m. b Feb. 10 @ Austin, 6:30 p.m. b Feb. 11 @
Lubbock, 4:05 p.m. b Feb. 14 vs. Amarillo, 7 p.m. b Feb. 16 vs. Odessa, 7 p.m. b Feb. 17 vs. Odessa, 7 p.m. b Feb. 20 vs. Rio
Grande, 7 p.m. b Feb. 23 vs. Colorado, 7 p.m. b Feb. 24 vs. Colorado, 7 p.m. b Feb. 28 @ New Mexico, 7:35 p.m. b
12
Photo / Wendy Eagan
ith varied amounts of success
in the stacked Southwestern
Division, the Arizona Sundogs will
probably be in a battle to the end
for a playoff berth in their inaugural season.
But one thing is for certain: The
Sundogs have found a star to hang
their hat on in right wing Brent
Kelly, who just might be peaking
at the right time.
The 25-year-old led all Southern Conference players in the CHL
All-Star Game vote-getting, claiming stake to 25 of 27 ballots as
determined by coaches and media
members. As of the midseason
break, Kelly was third in the league
in scoring (51 points in 30 games)
and tied for second in the league
with five game-winning goals.
“I had a blast,” Kelly said of his
all-star experience. “It’s obviously
an honor to be selected and to be a
starter. I was pretty pumped about
that.
“It was cool to meet all the
different players,” Kelly added. “I
didn’t really know anyone.”
Despite being on the short end
of a 9-6 score to the Northern
Conference, Kelly, who was named
a Southern Conference alternate
captain, helped fill the stat sheet,
pocketing two assists in the losing
effort.
Kelly was impressed with two
other things on the trip to BossierShreveport, La.: the fans and the
handful of casinos he saw on the
way there. While he came out
ahead on the gaming tables, Kelly
would definitely take his hometown
fans any day of the week.
toms, Kelly netted just 39 points in
74 games. Kelly equaled that point
outpoint in his 23rd game this year.
Sundogs coach Marco Pietroniro said that this season is
Kelly’s chance to get back to the
AHL, and hopefully beyond.
“Brent came to this club to
prove to the organization that
he can play and he deserves another shot in the America Hockey
League,” Pietroniro said. “He’s been
a big asset for the team. He’s a very
good skill player and has tremendous touch around the net.”
Kelly attributes his success
partly to moving down a level to the
CHL, but mainly to all the scoring
opportunities his teammates have
given him throughout the year.
“The last bunch of years, I’ve
been playing at a higher level,”
Kelly said. “I knew coming down I
should do very well, but maybe not
this well.”
The all-star bid isn’t the only
award to come Kelly’s way this season. Twice this year, he has been
named the Oakley CHL Player of
the Week.
In Week 2, Kelly scored twice in
a 3-1 win at New Mexico and two
nights later scored four points and
added a goal in a shootout to beat
Amarillo on the road.
In December, Kelly again
scored six points through a two-day
stretch, including four points in a
6-5 loss to New Mexico.
For the Sundogs to be successful
the rest of the way, Kelly needs to
keep putting up weeks like those.
“I just need to keep scoring,”
Kelly said. “I get more than enough
opportunities on the ice and they’ve
been going in for me.” b
All-star pick a thrill for Pszenyczny
By Paolo Cruz
I
Photo / Sandey Tenuto
t didn’t take long for Dave Pszenyczny to leave his mark on the
ECHL, becoming the first Phoenix
RoadRunner to participate in an
ECHL All-Star Game.
Being named to the National
Conference’s roster took the defenseman by surprise.
“Before practice one day (RoadRunners head) Coach (Ron) Filion and (assistant) Coach (Brad)
Church came up to me and said,
‘Congratulations, you’re in the AllStar Game.’ I thought they were
joking,” said Pszenyczny.
Center Scott May was also
slated to participate in the game,
held last month in Boise, Idaho, but
couldn’t participate (he was loaned
to the Iowa Stars of the American
Hockey League).
Pszenyczny’s skills were a hot
commodity early in the season. He
started the year on loan with the
Toronto Marlies of the American
Hockey League, but, after a brief
stint in Canada, returned to Phoenix. He has been dependable at
both ends of the ice ever since.
“Dave brings a lot to the table
offensively for our club,” said
Filion. “He has great speed, great
vision and good instincts.”
Despite not having the prototypical size of a defenseman - Pszenyczny stands only 6 feet tall and
checks in at 200 pounds - he doesn’t
hesitate to get physical when the
job calls for it.
“I’ve always been taught that
fighting was a part of the game,
and if you can drop the gloves
from time to time to get a spark or
protect your teammates,
then that’s great,” he
said. “Like if someone
is out there hitting our
goaltenders, obviously
I’m not going to let them
take liberties.”
A defenseman all his
life, scouts have always
labeled Pszenyczny as
too small to make it
at the highest level of
hockey. Needless to say,
that critique motivates
the now all-star.
“I was always told
that I had the offensive
skills, but I wasn’t 6-3 or
6-4. Teams would draft
bigger guys and rely on
developing them,” he
said.
The new standard of
play that limits clutching
and grabbing and
emphasizes skating and
positional play helps
players like Pszenyczny, a Sterling Hieghts,
Mich., native, to use their Dave Pszenyczny, seen here in a jersey honoring the
Phoenix Suns, was selected to the ECHL All-Star Game in
skills more effectively.
his first pro season.
“I wish they had
implemented the new
earned a callup to the AHL, where
rules during my draft year,” said
he remained as of mid-January.
Pszenyczny, who totaled three
“It was a tremendous honor to
goals for 16 points after 34 games
be voted in as starter,” said May,
this season, his first as a pro after
from White Rock, British Columbia.
playing juniors last year in the On“Obviously, things were going well
tario Hockey League. “A lot of those during the first part of the season.
big guys are getting phased out.”
A lot of credit should also go to the
Pszenyczny didn’t ring up any
guys that were around me and the
points at the all-star game, but
coaches. It’s just unfortunate that
did find the net twice in the skills
I couldn’t play in the first all-star
competition during the Rapid Fire
game I’ve ever been selected to.”
segment. He was also a shooter in
As Pszenyczny continues his
the Breakaway portion.
professional career, he surely hopes
There was no surprise May was
his sophomore campaign and benamed to the team as a starter,
yond share the same plotline as his
collecting 13 goals for 31 points in
rookie year. b
just 23 games. May’s strong played
ROADRUNNERS IN FEBRUARY
Feb. 2 @ Utah, 7:05 p.m. b Feb. 3 @ Utah, 7:05 p.m. b Feb. 6 vs. Stockton, 7:11 p.m. b Feb. 9 @ Anchorage, 9:15 p.m. b Feb. 10 @
Anchorage, 9:15 p.m. b Feb. 11 @ Anchorage, 7:05 p.m. b Feb. 16 vs. Anchorage, 7:11 p.m. b Feb. 17 vs. Anchorage, 7:11 p.m. b Feb. 17 vs.
Long Beach, 5 p.m. b Feb. 20 vs. Anchorage, 7:11 p.m. b Feb. 23 vs. B’field, 7:11 p.m. b Feb. 24 @ B’field, 8 p.m. b Feb. 27 @ B’field, 8 p.m.
13
College Hockey
ASU
UA
By Andrew Nordmeier
Gallant standing
tall in net
A
rizona State University goaltender Tyler Gallant is living
up to his last name this season,
leading the Ice Devils’ charge towards a national tournament bid.
“Tyler has played pretty well for
us,” Ice Devils coach Mike DeAngelis said. “He’s a hard-worker,
fundamentally sound and he
doesn’t give up many rebounds.”
Gallant, a sophomore from Boston, took the starting netminding
role away from Kyle Bronstein at
the holiday break and doesn’t plan
on giving it back anytime soon.
Gallant started all three games
at last month’s Desert Classic
for Arizona State and proved his
mettle when he battled Oklahoma
in his second and third starts. He
kept the Ice Devils within striking range against the Sooners, the
No. 3 team in the country, but took
losses in both contests.
He did, however, pick up the
win in the first game of the Classic,
turning aside 19 shots in ASU’s 7-2
win over DePaul University. Tony
Biffignani rang up two goals in that
contest, while Emerick Patterson
added a goal and two assists.
As a result of Gallant’s valiant
performances over the last month,
Bronstein and third-string goaltender Paul Balducci have seen their
playing time diminish. Each keeper
made just one start on the team’s
recent East Coast swing through
Towson (both picked up wins).
Gallant’s efforts aside, DeAngelis knows the rest of his team is
going to need to put forth a heroic
effort to complete the final push for
a national tournament appearance.
b
NAU
By Andrew Nordmeier
Nationals bid no
lock for Cats
T
he University of Arizona is
teetering on the brink of missing the national tournament for the
third time in the last four years unless they can move up the rankings.
The Ice Cats sat outside the
tournament field at the 18th spot in
the rankings as of mid-January and
could potentially have their season
end early if they don’t get back into
the top 16.
Until recently, the Ice Cats had
a run of 21 straight seasons in the
national tournament.
“It’s been a decent year,” Arizona coach Leo Golembiewski said.
“Maybe a little better goaltending
and a little better offense and we
don’t have to worry about being one
of the top 16 going to nationals.”
Their fate may come down to
four critical road games - two at
Arizona State and a pair at Oklahoma - before the final rankings come
out on Feb. 16.
The Ice Cats have been competitive with Oklahoma , dropping a
pair of one-goal games to the Sooners, and Oklahoma has shown some
chinks in its armor.
Arizona is also suffering
through offensive slumps from
Craig Irwin and Matt Conover
and injuries on the blue line have
also taken their toll.
In addition, the Ice Cats need
to solidify their goaltending, as the
duo of Luke Edwall and Nick
Boddy have struggled of late.
“Goaltending has been interesting,” Golembiewski said. “It’s been
mediocre lately, to be honest.”
Arizona posted just four wins in
10 games following a 7-1-1 start. b
By Andrew Nordmeier
NAU to host PCHA
tourney
T
he Northern Arizona University
Ice Jacks will play host to this
year’s Pacific Coast Hockey Association tournament.
The event will be played from
Feb. 16-18 at the Jay Lively Events
Center in Flagstaff and feature the
top six teams in the league.
Teams are jockeying for positions in the tournament, but the
seeds they want are the first or second spot as they come with opening-round byes.
“When you’re playing two
games in a day, maybe on seven
hours rest, it will be tough,” Northern Arizona coach Todd Schall
said. “It’s way too much hockey at
this level.”
The fourth seed takes on the
fifth seed and the third seed battles
the sixth on Friday morning and
afternoon. The winners advance
to take on the top two seeds later
that night. The losers of the early
games meet Saturday morning in
the fifth-place game, while Friday
night’s losers duke it out for third
Saturday afternoon.
The final round is a best-ofthree series and all three games,
if needed, could be played in less
than 24 hours. Add that to the preliminary games and a lower-seeded
team could play up to five games in
three days.
Schall believes the Ice Jacks
have two advantages by hosting
the tournament: the crowd and the
altitude - all 7,000 feet of it - in
Flagstaff.
“If it comes down to playing two
games in one day against a team
that’s already played, that’s to our
advantage,” Schall said. b
The Ice Devils, Ice Cats & Ice Jacks are members of the
14
Junior Hockey
Peoria
Phoenix
By Matt Mackinder
By Matt Mackinder
Outlook optimistic despite record
Goalie Riccio an emerging force
ven though the Peoria Coyotes are no longer cellar-dwellers in the Western States Hockey League,
they are far from championship contenders.
With a 5-28-0 record through mid-January, Peoria
isn’t calling this a lost season. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
“It’s definitely tough to stay focused as the season
rolls on,” said Peoria GM-assistant coach Trevor
Waagner. “Last year, we were able to use the rationale that it was our first season in the league. This
year, practices are getting a lot better and the boys are
really starting to click.
“While the win-loss column may not represent how
much better we’ve gotten this season, we’ve done a
heck of a job teaching these boys how to compete with
teams full of men.”
No single player on the Coyotes has a point-pergame average, but with the influx of youth turning to
veteran status next year, Waagner is optimistic.
“If we get most of these ’89 (-borns) back for another season, we could do some great things,” Waagner
said. “The atmosphere in the locker room is still positive.” b
rew Riccio came across the country to star between the pipes for the Phoenix Polar Bears.
And in doing so, the native of Winchester, Mass.,
has not only has become a top goalie for the Polar
Bears, but Riccio has emerged as one of the Western
States Hockey League’s best when it comes to stopping
the puck.
“Drew has come in and we’ve put a lot of responsibility on his shoulders,” Phoenix coach-GM Harry
Mahood. “He thrives on pressure and has exceeded
our expectations by continuously being there to answer
the bell. He plays monster minutes for us.”
Riccio, who turns 20 on March 5, has posted three
shutouts through the middle of January and is the
clear-cut No. 1 netminder for Phoenix with a 19-2-0
record.
He went to camp last fall with the NAHL’s North
Iowa Outlaws, but thankfully found his way to the
desert.
“He’s a competitor,” added Mahood. “He shows up
with an attitude and has a tremendous work ethic. Because of those two things, Drew fits in extremely well
with our team.” b
E
D
The Coyotes and Polar Bears are members of the
Polar Bears stun Sooners at Desert Classic
By Andrew Nordmeier
Photo / Diana Connor
L
ASU’s Tony Biffignani pursues the puck during last month’s Desert
Classic at the Alltel Ice Den.
Read more of this story at www.arizonarubber.com
ast month’s ASU
Desert Classic was a
four-team college hockey
tournament that will be
remembered best for the
play of the team not from
an ACHA school.
The tournament
was supposed to feature
Arizona State, Oklahoma,
DePaul and Minot State,
but Minot State pulled
out before the tournament
started. The Phoenix
Polar Bears got the call to
fill the slot.
The Polar Bears, a perennial national power in
the Junior B ranks, made
their presence known in
their first game of the
tournament, a David-versus-Goliath battle against
Oklahoma, the thirdranked team in the
country at 21-1. The 9-2
final wasn’t much of a
shock, but the fact that
the Polar Bears won was.
Alex Cantor led
the Polar Bears with
two goals, one shorthanded and one on the
power play, as well as
two assists. Jamie Davis
bagged a hat trick for the
winners as part of his
four-point afternoon in
pulling the upset.
Chris Walker and
Jordon Orosco posted
three-point efforts. Four
other Polars notched two
points each. b
15
P.F. Chang’s Tier 1 Hockey Program
U-16 squad reaches major milestone
By Cameron Eickmeyer
T
he first month of 2007
was especially kind
to the PF Chang’s Midget
U-16 AAA team.
The team reached
the finals in the NTDP
Victory Honda Tournament held Jan. 11-15 in
Ann Arbor, Mich. The
tournament featured the
elite AAA teams in the
country and was the first
appearance at such a
high national stage for PF
Chang’s.
“The boys proved beyond a shadow of a doubt
that they can compete
with the best teams in the
nation,” said coach Jim
Johnson.
USA Hockey’s National Team Development
Program hosted the tournament, which brought
together 12 of the nation’s A number of P.F.
top AAA teams at the UChang’s players tasted in16 and U-18 levels.
dividual success in Michi To reach the finals,
gan, with Paradise Valley
Chang’s defeated the Col’s Mike Bosco recording
orado Thunfour goals an
derbirds, 6-1,
assist. Tyler
in the semiMarek, from
finals. Their
Phoenix, also
incredible run
struck for four
ended in the
goals, while
championship
Avondal’s
game, where
Kyle Beattie notched
the team was
two goals and
defeated by
three assists.
the nation’s
Jay Roth,
No. 1-ranked
Tyler Marek
from ScottsDetroit Honeybaked, 4-1.
dale, added three assists.
Along the way, the
The tournament was
team defeated Dallas Alan eye-opener for opposliance, 3-0, the Pittsburgh ing teams and Johnson
Hornets, 4-3, and Victory
said his players are startHonda, 2-1, with its only
ing to garner national
early-round loss to last
attention.
year’s national champion- “I have been contacted
ship team, the LA Selects. by many coaches and
scouts, both in the USHL
and Major Junior, along
with Division I colleges,”
he said. “Obviously, the
word is spreading quickly
due to the performance of
the players on the ice.”
Off the ice, both
teams recently presented
PF Chang’s CEO Rick
Federico with a special
signed inaugural commemorative jersey in
recognition of the contributions Federico and PF
Chang’s restaurants have
made in the establishment of the PF Chang’s
hockey organization.
The jersey was signed
by all 42 members and
coaches of the two Tier
1 PF Chang’s teams and
was presented to Federico
by Johnson and team
manager Steve Ferber.b
OFFICIAL BUSINESS:
Let’s not forget the new standard
I
t’s almost playoff time
and the new standard
of play instituted by USA
Hockey is still here.
Many didn’t think the
new standard the NHL
adapted last season would
work at the minor-pro, college and amateur levels.
At first, there was a lot
of confusion as to what the
new standard meant. We
were seeing games with up
to 30-40 penalties a game.
Now, penalties are down
and games are getting better all the time.
One problem we’re seeing is that some players are
still trying to get away with
the stickwork and interference, and some referees are
not assessing penalties for
16
these actions
with players,
under the new
coaches and your
standard.
partners on the
We need to
ice.
continue to work
Coaches:
together to make
Continue to teach
sure this great
your players the
game continues to
way the game
get better by makneeds to be
ing sure everyone
played, specifiKornowski
is on board with
cally what will be
this mandated process.
tolerated and what put
The new standard is
them in the penalty box.
working, but here are a
Players: Continue to
few reminders to help the
go out there and have fun.
standard take a permanent
Follow the rules and allow
hold during the upcoming
the game to open up to your
playoffs in your respective
skills - the new standard is
leagues:
there for you.
Referees: Don’t let up
Parents and Fans: Conand start ignoring the lazy
tinue to support the playpenalties and remember to
ers, coaches and even the
continue to communicate
referees.
The playoffs are coming. Every referee, player,
coach and parent should go
back to USA Hockey’s Web
site and watch the rules
video again if they need a
refresher. In addition, ask
questions if you’re still not
well-versed on the new standard.
The referees that will be
selected for the state playdowns, district tournaments
and national championships
will be expected to continue
enforcing the new standard
all the way through the
finals. b
David Kornowski is the ACHA
Supervisor of Officials. He can
be reached at whatsthecallref@
aol.com.
Coyotes Amateur Hockey Assocation
Squirts continue to improve
By Paulo Cruz
T
he Coyotes Youth Hockey Association’s
Squirt team continues to improve under coach Pat Mahan’s watchful eyes.
The club is one of the youngest in the Valley, with
most of the team comprised of 1997-borns with a few
‘98s mixed in.
“Most of the teams we play against are predominantly older and they’ve been playing together during
the past year,” said Mahan. “This is the first season
our team has played together.”
Despite their youth and inexperience, the Squirts
have been improving since Game 1.
“We spend a lot of time in practice working on positioning,” said Mahan.
Developing individual skills, as well as life skills, is
at the forefront of Mahan’s mind. A good work ethic is
the theme Mahan emphasizes most.
“Other coaches and other parents have told us that
our kids are overachievers in that they work very hard
and they’ve improved a ton,” said Mahan. “That’s one
thing I’m proud of and something our kids should be
proud of.” b
Desert Youth Hockey Assocation
Peewee A squad hitting stride
Ozzie Ice
Peewees taste success in San Diego
By Bob Strong
By Paolo Cruz
ith a roster filled with players from
all over the Valley, as well as one
from Prescott Valley and two who recently
relocated from Canada, Phoenix Firebirds Peewee AA
team coach Kurt Goar wasn’t sure what to expect this
season.
“In some ways, we feel like our season is just beginning,” said Goar. “Only a handful of these kids have
ever played together on the same team, so we’ve spent
the first few months trying to figure out exactly how
we fit in with each other.”
The Firebirds, who were 18-5-1 against other Peewee AA teams as of mid-January, are looking forward
to competing in the Quebec International Peewee
Hockey Tournament in early February.
The Firebirds are only the second team from Arizona ever to play in the tournament, and they will
compete against teams representing over 16 countries
in what is known as the “World Championship of Peewee Hockey.”
Afterwards, they are back home for the state championships.
“We expect strong competition from the Chandler
Polar Bears,” said Goar. b
ver the Martin Luther King holiday,
Ozzie Ice’s Peewee team participated
in a tournament in San Diego, where they
finished with a respectable 3-1 record.
The Ozzie Ice squad had a trio of players turn in
great performances. Two centers, Zach Soucie and
Wyatt Woldrop, joined Jacob Buchert, a defenseman, with solid play throughout the tournament.
“Overall, the whole team played well,” said coach
Sean Whyte, noting the strong level of competition at
the event. “I’ve definitely seen improvement from our
first tournament to now.”
Whyte was particularly pleased with how each of
his players progressed.
“Every one of my kids picked their games up, even
more so than I expected.”
To gauge a tournament’s success, Whyte doesn’t
put much stock in wins and losses. He does, however,
put a lot of emphasis on effort and how each player
uses their head when they’re out on the ice.
“Work hard and smart is what I emphasize,” said
the coach. “We don’t have a win-at-all-costs mentality;
it’s all about developing and learning.” b
W
O
17
Ladies from page 6
The AGYHA has also sent teams
to British Columbia and Minnesota,
with an entourage of 125 people making those trips.
All of this has allowed the
AGYHA to raise its level of play and
increase exposure for girls hockey in
Arizona.
In addition, the AGYHA has
brought renowned figures in women’s
hockey, such as Laura Halldorson,
head coach at the University of Minnesota, a perennial Division I power,
to its camps to gain more exposure for
Arizona hockey.
Adding women role models is
important, Shalloo agreed, because
while playing with the boys can be
challenging, it isn’t always the best
place for girls to develop their game.
“Boys were not nice to me,” she
said of her youth days. “They beat me
up physically and emotionally each
practice.”
Shalloo did overcome the abuse
though, advancing to Providence and
even taking a shot at the U.S. Olympic team. Despite her success, she
knows developing girls-only programs
is important for Arizona hockey.
“I grew up here. I think there
should be more opportunities for
girls,” she said. “Girls hockey is not
that strong on this side of the country.
“I’m an Arizona girl, and I had to
go to boarding school when I was 14
years old because there were no opportunities here like there are now,”
she added.
The AGYHA is continuing to
grow, VOSHA is branching out and
the WGEHA is turning heads, but
Van Fleet isn’t finished there.
But he is realistic. He knows that
Arizona could never grow to 125 girls
high school teams as in Minnesota.
He does look at surrounding states,
however, and believes that Arizona
can play catch up.
Van Fleet also realizes that only
about 30 Division I schools offer
scholarships, although there are opportunities to play in other divisions
as well. He hopes the AGYHA can
be a platform for those girls who are
truly motivated while, at the same
time, provide an opportunity for
others to develop their game to their
highest potential.
He especially wants to see girls in
Both VOSHA and the AGYHA are committed to keeping the state’s top girls on
Arizona ice.
Arizona not have to choose between
hockey and Arizona.
“As a parent, I would not want to
send my (high school) freshman
daughter out of state,” he said.
Shalloo agrees wholeheartedly
with Van Fleet.
We don’t want Arizona girls to
have to live outside Arizona, move to
Connecticut or New York,” she said.
“We want girls to be able to develop
here rather than move 2,000 miles
away.”
And Van Fleet’s ultimate dream?
“To open up a girls hockey academy here [in Arizona].” b
Transplants find hockey homes in AZ
By John Duncan
O
ne way to measure the
state of girls hockey in
Arizona is to talk with
girls who have moved to
Arizona.
Samantha Reno
played hockey in Michigan for eight years before
moving to Chandler last
summer. She was prepared
to play for a boys team if
necessary, but was pleased
when she found out about
the Arizona Selects.
Reno knows what good
hockey looks like; she
played in the national
tournament two years ago.
Surprisingly, one of the
things this right wing
likes best about playing in
Arizona is the increased
amount of travel.
18
“There are a lot of girls
she kept playing the same
teams in Michigan, and we
teams over and over again.
didn’t get to travel
When she
as much as I do
found out she
now,” she said.
was moving to
Although the
Arizona, she was
skeptical about
number of players in Michigan is
her chances to get
any ice time.
much greater than
“I thought
in Arizona, Reno
they wouldn’t
believes that the
have any hockey
talent is just as
good, and that the
teams in the desSamantha Reno
level of play is just
ert,” she said.
as competitive.
Her mom
Mikhayla
discovered the
Waugaman
AZ Selects on the
recently arrived
Internet, a popular
in Tucson from
way for potential
players to find
Alaska, where she
had played for
the association,
seven years. Alaska
according to Rick
doesn’t have many
Van Fleet, the
AGYHA’s exgirls teams, and
Waugaman felt like Mikhayla Waugaman ecutive director,
director of hockey and head
coach of the program’s U-14
AAA team.
Waugaman asserts that
the level of competition in
Arizona is much
higher than that in Alaska.
She enjoys playing for Van
Fleet, and says that
the U-14s is the best team
she’s played for.
Waugaman also enjoys
the traveling, because it
lets her see parts of the
country she’s never been to
before. She’s also enjoying
much more success than
she ever had in Alaska.
Her goal at the start of
the season was to win four
games, which her team
has already done. Her new
goal?
“To make it to nationals,” she said. b
19
AWAY FROM THE RUBBER:
Get a step ahead with leg training
S
trong, explosive legs
are an absolute essential component of a
successful hockey player.
Any quality off-ice
training program for a
hockey player should be
centered around developing movements utilizing
the hips and legs.
I’ve seen countless
exercise programs for
hockey players that are
weighted toward leg
development, and most
of them recognize the importance of legs and their
contribution to whole body
movements.
What separates the
great programs from the
average programs is the
proper selection of different leg exercises that will
result in successful trans-
fer of a good
with your feet
off-ice training
not on the
program to onground, such as
ice ability.
leg extension or
A common
leg curl maphrase in my
chines, isolate
field is “train
muscles in ways
function, not
they are never
muscles,” meanused. They
ing you want to
may develop
Bahn
train your body in
strength, but
practical, functional ways. you will be developing it
Any exercise for the lower
in a way that will not help
body should require you
your game.
to have your feet pushing
The only time you will
against the ground.
ever see one of our players
These types of moveperforming those exerments not only develop
cises is if a serious injury
strength or power in
prevents them from doing
specific muscles, but you
any functional exercises.
develop the coordination
Eventually during the
and balance needed for
rehabilitation process,
they will have to perform
those muscles to perform
properly.
standing exercises such
Exercises performed
as squats or lunges, which
are movements they will
have to perform during a
game.
There are countless
exercises to choose from
that have a great crossover to skills on the ice.
Squat motions, lunge variations, step-ups, single leg
squats, when performed
and progressed properly,
develop the legs, hips and
torso and you will notice
an improvement in your
physical abilities rapidly.
As with any exercise
movement, technique is
absolutely essential; you
should never sacrifice
proper form for more
weight, volume or speed.
Control the movement,
don’t let it control you! b
Mike Bahn is the Coyotes’ strength
and conditioning coordinator.
Phoenix Polar Bears Hockey Association
Mite A’s dominate at Texas tourney
Peoria Roadrunners Hockey Association
Lone Star State kind to Mite A’s
By Steve Elliott
By Steve Elliott
F
T
our games, 31 goals, four wins.
Those are the numbers from the Phoenix Polar Bears’ Mite A team’s excursion
into Dallas for last month’s Texas Star Tournament.
The Polar Bears won their division behind the
strong play of Connor Holloway, Parker Villareal
and Tristan Vanderbur. The Bears bested the Frisco
Tornado, 6-2, in the championship game.
Holloway scored nine goals in all, while Villareal
notched eight. Vanderbur starred in net, as the Bears
allowed only six goals total.
Parker Arendts and Garrett Chavez contributed eight and six points, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Polar Bears’ Peewee B team traveled to Littleton, Colo., for the Slap Shot Tournament
last month.
The Peewees scored 45 goals in the first five games
and allowed only four as they stormed to the championship game. The Bears beat Glennwood Springs, 2-0,
to secure the title.
In addition, the Squirt AA’s swept the Valencia Ice
Station Holiday Express Tournament in California. b
20
he Peoria Roadrunners’ Mite A team
was one of several clubs from Arizona
to win championships at the last month’s
Texas Star Tournament.
Captain Brian Hawkinson notched hat tricks in
the opening two games, a 4-4 tie with Houston Aeros
and a 7-0 shutout against Duncanville Cyclones.
Bryan McIntosh collected six points in those two
games, and goalies Alex Hukow and Jake McFarland combined in the second game to give the Roadrunners their first shutout in two seasons.
The Alliance Bulldogs beat the Roadrunners, 4-3,
in the third game, but the ‘Runners got another shot at
them in the championship game.
Defensemen McIntosh, Chase Cruz, Chase Holdman, Luke Dicksion and Hunter Cook stymied the
Bulldogs to 11 shots in the championship as Peoria
skated away with a 3-1 win.
The Bantam AA squad traveled to Port Huron,
Mich., to compete in the Silver Stick Finals. The team
won its first game, but lost its last two, including a
defeat to eventual champion Mississauga (Ontario). b
Arizona Girls Youth Hockey Association
U-10 Selects win San Jose tourney
By John Duncan
T
he AZ Selects’ U-10 squad won its
division at the fourth annual San
Jose Jr. Sharks Tournament over Martin
Luther King weekend.
In addition to being a Western Girls Elite Hockey
League event, the tournament drew a total of 47 teams
from all over North America .
The U-10 team had to overcome several cases of flu,
as well as facing a California Selects team in the finals
that had already beaten the AZ Selects, 4-2, in the
preliminary round.
The Arizona girls won the gold medal game, 2-1,
marking the second WGEHL tournament championship for the U-10s this season.
The U-12 Red team was also extremely competitive, but was eliminated in the semifinals by the Lady
Ducks of Anaheim , last year’s national tournament
bronze medal winners.
By all accounts, the U-14 division was the most
challenging with 12 teams competing. The Selects
made it through the preliminary round with the third
seed in their division, but fell short in their next two
games against teams from British Columbia. b
Stephen Daniel Demchik Memorial
Scholarship established
T
he Arizona High School Hockey Association,
through the support of Behind the Mask, has created a $500 academic scholarship award in memory of
Stephen Daniel Demchik, a player in the Thunderbird High School hockey program who died in a hiking
accident in August.
Players who are current high school seniors
are eligible to apply for
this award. AHSHA’s
nominating committee
will determine the recipient based on documentation of the applicant’s
qualities of academic
success, civic character,
leadership and fair play.
Visit www.thunderonice.com to complete
the scholarship application. The deadline for
nominations is (postmarked) February 15.
More on Demchik at:
Stephen Daniel Demchik
www.stephen-demchik.
September 25, 1988 - August 3, 2006
com. b
Do You Need Your Hockey Equipment Repaired?
Re-palm:
Hockey Gloves: $50 (per pair)
Goalie Blocker: $40
Zipper Replacement
Equipment Bag
Hockey Pants
Velcro/Elastic (per inch)
$ .80/$ .75
ble!
e Availa
ry Servic
e
Embroid
Goalie Pads:
Leather Straps: $7.50 per strap 1-4)
$6.50 per strap (over-5)
Repairs: $8-up
Call Sheila @ 602-299-0140
E-mail: centre_iceaz@hotmail.com
(Quotes upon request for other sports equipment)
Arizona High School Hockey Association
North Canyon rolling in Varsity C
By Russell Brooks
N
orth Canyon High School, led by head
coach Rick Hering, was undefeated
in the Varsity C division as of mid-January with a record of 16-0-1.
Concurrently, the team was on a hot streak to be
among the leaders in the Varsity C standings in the
Arizona High School Hockey Association.
North Canyon is led by forward Andrew Huffman, who recorded two hat tricks and two playmakers this season while leading the Tigers in goals
and points. His 22 goals and 15 assists for 37 points
through 17 games were good for fourth in scoring
amongst the Varsity C league.
Cody Clark has also contributed on the offensive
end, chipping in 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points
in 16 games this season.
North Canyon is led by the goaltending duo of Josef Crenshaw and Bleu Corley, who have provided
the team with solid netminding since the start of the
campaign.
Crenshaw led all Varsity C keepers in goalsagainst average and save percentage. b
21
Sonoran Youth Hockey Association
Coyote Cup another success
By Steve Elliott
A
nother successful Coyote Cup tournament is in the books, and planning for
next year’s version is already underway.
The 2006 Coyote Cup crowned 10 champions in five
age brackets. Arizona was well represented with five
championship banners, while the other five were won
by out of state teams. The Peewee B and Bantam A
divisions were won by clubs from Canada.
“Each year we try to get a little better at what we
do,” said Sonoran Youth Hockey League commissioner
Bob Strong. “We try hard to make the event an enjoyable and memorable experience, even for those teams
who may not get a lot of wins under their belt.”
Next year’s Coyote Cup is already looking bigger
and better than this year’s.
“Our plan is to expand the event into Tier levels
and possibly girls divisions,” said Strong. “In addition,
we’re looking at adding a day to the event so we can
include semifinal rounds in each division.”
Teams wishing to get information on next year’s
event should check the Coyote Cup Web site,
www.coyotecup.com, for updates. b
Interview from Page 5
AZR: How important is it for you to
grow youth lacrosse in the Valley,
and what kinds of things are you
doing to connect with the kids?
DP: I think that youth lacrosse is a
big key to the success of the sport.
In Denver, Colorado youth lacrosse
is thriving and the impact is reflected in the (NLL’s) Mammoth’s
remarkable attendance figures. To
help the youth participation grow
in Phoenix, we help promote the
leagues by offering promotional
opportunities at Sting events,
through our Web site and at games,
and also by being supportive and
accessible.
Our players are extremely
generous with their time, and their
interaction with youth players has
a dramatic impact on the youth
lacrosse experience. For example,
(the Sting’s) Dan Dawson recently
paid a visit to the Glendale Lacrosse League. Being able to meet a
22
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   
   

     
    
   
    
   
      
     
star player like Dawson motivates
kids to try harder to elevate their
game, and it shows the parents
that the Sting does care about the
growth of the sport. Our guys are
not only accessible, but they’re
excited about meeting fans and getting the word out about the sport.
AZR: Have you set any specific
goals this season, as far sponsorships and attendance?
DP: I want to see an increase in
attendance. We tried to create a
buzz going into the first game (a
10-6 loss to Colorado on Jan. 5) and
we think we succeeded. We had a
17 percent increase from Opening
Night in 2006 (7,179 attendance)
and I think that the “Guaranteed
Win Night Sandstorm” and “Opening Night Tailgate Party,” as well
as a terrific job from our sales
staff, had a lot to do with the
increase. Our ultimate goal is for a
packed house, and we have a lot of
work to do to accomplish that goal.
AZR: How important is increased
media coverage as far as getting
your message out?
DP: (Sting advertising manager)
Ted Santiago has lined up an
unbelievable package of print and
radio advertising for our team this
year, and Rick Bowness Jr., our
manager of PR/travel, continues
to do a great job lining up appearances with local media.
AZR: When it comes right down to
it, why should someone take in a
Sting game?
DP: It’s an exciting, affordable, professional lacrosse team that takes
pride in representing the state of
Arizona. We pride ourselves on providing fans a unique sports product
that’s second to none, and we stress
the importance of the relationship
with our fans. We believe we have a
great product, and seeing is believing. b
Read more of this interview at
www.arizonarubber.com
Fans spill into Westgate City Center
Photo / Sandey Tenuto Photography
The City Center was made to accomodate the massive crowds that hockey, football and
other big events bring to Glendale.
By Jeff Hoodzow
I
Photo / Jex Noble Photography
t’s nearly 90 minutes before the
Coyotes’ Jan. 13 meeting with
the San Jose Sharks and the line
outside of the popular Yard House
bar is out the door and would
stretch from blue line to blue line if
it was inside the adjacent Jobing.
com Arena.
Inside, the drinks are flowing
and a jam-packed crowd is enjoying
the adult libations and the playoff
football on the plasma televisions.
Despite a lackluster crowd
inside the Coyotes’ state-of-the-art
home, the fan base outside is energetic and the bars and restaurants
of the growing Westgate City Center are alive, making the evolving
complex one of the hottest spots in
the Valley.
And Coyotes fans are one of the
key contributors to this booming
area.
James Balma, the general
manager of the Yard House, said
that his restaurant sees a 20-30
percent jump in sales on Coyote
game days.
“Before and after, we are
definitely getting some spillover,”
Balma said. “I like to think our
success is not because we are one
of the few restaurants, but because
of superior products and superior
service.”
The shortage of bars Balma
speaks of will soon end as more
and more areas of Westgate slowly
open, giving fans not only drinking
spots, but hotels, shops and condominiums.
Balma added the recent college football national championship game featuring Ohio State
and Florida was the busiest day he
has seen in his four years with the
company.
But events like this only happen once every four years, and
Balma is counting on strong Coyote
crowds to help keep his establishment one of the happening places
in the West Valley.
Coyotes fans agree the Westgate City Center is the place to go,
before and after games.
Pegi Tapaninen, a native
of Finland, said that in his home
country, there is nothing like Westgate around their hockey arenas
and the area gives him something
to do before games.
“It’s so huge,” Tapaninen said.
“It’s such a change from back in
Finland.”
However, for Westgate to succeed, the area will need to generate
interest on its own, not just when
the Red Wings or Justin Timberlake is in town.
One of those in that group is Elmer Garcia. A Chandler resident
and Coyotes season-ticket owner,
Garcia and his family make the
hour-long drive for games, and said
he is more than likely to come out
to the area on non-game
nights as well to see friends.
“It’s a pretty cool place,” Garcia
said. “It’s going to be interesting
to see what it looks like when everything gets done.” b
BCS football fans swarm the newly-opened Westgate City Center prior to the big game at
University of Phoenix Stadium. The band Trapt performs for the crowd.
23
Mission Arizona
Midgets show steel in Pittsburgh
By Steve Elliott
T
he Mission Midgets spent January
sweeping the Steel City.
The Midget AA’s and the Midget A’s
placed first and second, respectively, in the Steel City
Midwinter Classic held in Pittsburgh last month.
The Midget AA’s won their semifinal playoff game,
4-1, against the Pennsylvania Predators. The winners finished and rushed to the other rink, where the
Midget A’s were playing the top-seeded Pittsburgh
Predators.
The A’s had a 3-1 lead on the Predators, and, with
the AA’s in attendance, the A’s notched a late goal and
secured the 4-1 win. The Midget AA’s beat the A’s in
the finals, 1-0.
After Steel City, the Midget A’s traveled to Ontario
to play in the Silver Stick Midget finals.
The A’s lost all three of their preliminary games,
and faced the local Newmarket, Ontario, team in the
quarterfinals. Mission held close, but lost, 0-3, to the
eventual tournament champions.
The Bantam A’s also played in the Steel City Midwinter Classic, going 1-1-1 before losing to the Woodbridge Wolfpack, 2-5, in the semifinals. b
CHALK TALK:
Give parent-coaches deserved credit
T
ime and time again,
we’ve heard arguments in lobby rinks and
parking lots over parents
coaching. Most involve
non-parental vs. parental
coaching at the travel
level.
The reality is that
the issue has been going
on in hockey for decades.
Most seem to agree that
having a non-parent as a
coach is one of the most
important elements to a
team’s success.
With a neutral coach,
some believe you’ll never
have to worry about a
particular player getting
more ice time or attention. Everyone assumes
the no-parent coach will
always have an unbiased
view of the squad.
24
This isn’t
I can imagine
always true.
myself cringing
whenever I put
Most coaches
have their own
my own son out
idea who they
on the power
feel are the top
play and not
players and are
my neighbor’s
playing better
boy.
in games and
Maybe it
De Angelis
practice.
will be better to
But what if
cut back his ice
the parent-coach is the
time to avoid any accusabest qualified person or
tions of favoritism? What
most the most experiif he’s the top scorer?
enced to lead the team?
What if he’s the least
We would love to have
skilled player, what will I
him coach our budding
do then? Let’s just bench
stars, but what if he has
him completely!
a boy or girl on the team? These coaches are
Let’s give these guys
definitely in a no-win
some credit.
situation when it comes
Even though I’m not
to ice allotment and deciyet coaching my own son, sion-making.
I know this will be a diffi- There’s a reason cercult task for me someday. tain dads make superior
coaches. Many have tremendous backgrounds in
hockey and their children
may have the same goals
and drive as their parents.
I’ve met numerous
ex-pro players who swore
off getting involved in
coaching. A lot of times
that lasted until they
watched from the lobby
for a month or so.
Whatever the situation, we understand the
parent-coach dilemma. b
Mike De Angelis is
CAHA’s director of youth
hockey and the head
coach at Arizona State
University
Polar Ice giving adult rookies a start
By Cameron Eickmeyer
Photo /Diana Connor
E
veryone involved
in Arizona hockey
knows the sport is witnessing exploding growth
among the younger age
brackets, but few realize
the growing popularity
it’s attracting from the
older crowd as well.
Much of that expansion is due to the efforts
of the Polar Ice rinks in
Chandler and Peoria.
Sarah Bowman, who
heads up the Chandler
facility as adult hockey
director, has helped grow
the program by focusing
on all skill levels.
Polar features leagues
in three groups (A, B and
C) for women, recreational, intermediate and
for players aged 35 and
older. The program is
attractive to all players because it’s possible
to advance to “higher”
leagues.
Bowman said players
can move their way from
the recreational league
up to an intermediate
C team and view it as
a “call up” to a higher
league.
What makes Polar
stand out among its other
adult hockey competitors
is a relatively new Adult
101 program for the
greenest of adult rookies.
“With a lot of parents,
their kids get into hockey
and, if they grew up
here, [the parents] will
be sitting there watching
and thinking, ‘I want to
Polar Ice offers many options for adult hockey players, including a
free Adult 101 program for rookies. Here, players compete in
men’s league action.
try this, this looks fun,’”
Bowman said.
The program is free
and includes equipment
rented out for the threeweek session. The players are introduced to the
rules, techniques and
terminology that they
don’t usually learn watching their kids play.
“We’re trying
to supply them
with the basics,”
Bowman said.
The no-pressure atmosphere
is a hit with
adults who find it tough
to take the ice with seasoned veteran Peewee or
Bantam players.
After the Adult 101
session is over, Bowman
said the players filter
into a 3-on-3 rookie
league that plays its
games on a half-sheet
of ice. The “semesters”
include practices with an
instructor.
Only when players
are ready for action do
the Polar instructors add
games and eventually
clear the rookie rink rats
for the recreational
leagues.
Bowman said the
response to the program
has been incredible. She
said recreational “C”
teams are beginning to
form out of the
rookie 3-on-3
leagues.
“That’s one of
my goals: to give
the adults who
haven’t been playing
hockey all their lives a
place they can come,” she
said.
Bowman’s efforts have
proven a great asset to
the Polar programs. The
adult hockey system
boasts 707 registrants
and 52 teams. This is
the first year the summer and winter programs
went above the 700-registrant mark.
“Obviously, having
the two sheets of ice
certainly helps,” Bowman
said. “That’s one advantage, but I think quite
frankly our location [also
helps]. We’re in a growing
area.”
The Southeast Valley
is one of the hottest areas
for growth in an already
booming population. With
Polar Ice planning to
open a facility in Gilbert,
the company’s venture
into adult hockey should
grow even more.
“That was a good strategic placement on Polar
Ice’s part,” Bowman said.
Another advantage to
location and having two
sheets is that the program can keep its start
times relatively early
in the night. That helps
serve adults with busy
schedules or early day
jobs.
“We can manage to
have big leagues and still
have our latest start time
be at 10:50 p.m.,” she
added.
As Polar Ice does its
best to serve hockey players of all ages and
skill levels, it can rely on
Bowman to do the job.
She feels she’s in the
right place and in the
right frame of mind to
help adults learn the
game.
“Hockey is so addictive, it’s such a bizarre
sport in that way,” said
the 26-year-old who has
only been playing for four
years. b
Advertise in Arizona Rubber Magazine
Call (612) 929-2171 or e-mail brian@goodsportmedia.com for details.
25
Inline Hockey
Inline’s elite take center stage
By Alex Dodt
A
rizona has some impressive inline talent to show off this year.
Here’s a look at a few players who
are sure to turn some heads.
12-and-under
I
n 2006, Zach Zehrbach narrowly missed making Tour Outcasts
Peewee AAA team as a first-year
player. He went on to be a leading
scorer for the Rollerplex Panthers
AA team in NARCh and Pacific
Cup.
Zehrbach is predominantly an
offensive player, with a consistent
ability to beat defensemen and
goalies 1-on-1. This year, he has
started off quickly, winning high
scorer awards at the Turkey Shootout in November and at a Pacific
Cup tournament in California in
December.
16-and-under
C
hris Gallo is one of the premier young talents to come out
of Prescott of late and 2007 will be
his second season playing for the
talented Team Excalibur 94. Gallo
and Excalibur 94 took second place
at the AAU Jr.
Olympic Games in 2006 in the
12-and-Under A division and are
prepared to go much further this
season as second-year Squirts.
Gallo has already helped Excalibur kick off 2007 on a high note,
leading his team to the Squirt Gold
title at NARCh WinterNationals.
14-and-under
26
I
n 2006, Daniel Amimoto started the year off strong, putting on
a clinic in Bantam Gold at NARCh
WinterNationals, dominating the
division as a first-year Bantam. He
led the Mission Arizona Stars to
the division title, playing the entire
championship game, a 3-2 win over
AKS Mission ‘90.
Amimoto’s stamina was put
to the test at this year’s NARCh
WinterNationals, where he played
in four different divisions. He led
the Centennial Coyotes to a silver
medal in the high school division
and won two more silver medals
in the Midget Gold and Junior Gold
divisions with the Mission Arizona
Stars.
18-and-under
A
s a second-year Bantam last
season, Nick Miller greatly
improved in his first year of AAA
hockey with the Tour Outcasts 16and-under team.
This year, as a first-year Midget, Miller helped the Rollerplex
Panthers to the WinterNationals
Midget Gold championship with a
victory over rivals Mission Arizona.
The same championship-winning
group will be in Florida this summer in pursuit of a NARCh Finals
championship.
And don’t forget
here are many other top rollers
who deserve mention: Camden
Taylor of Tucson and Benjamin
Jackson of Yuma will be difference-makers in the 10-and-under
division.
Bobby Krafve and Stetson
Dircks are premier players in 12and-under.
Tour Outcasts’ Andrew Barletta and Kevin Morgan and Mission Arizona Stars’ Casey Milton
and Cameron Caruso are all
standouts in some of the older age
groups.
And the adults deserve some
recognition, too: Kelsie O’Conner
of Excalibur and Brian Canada
of Mission Arizona are stars of the
women’s and men’s divisions. b
T
Inline Hockey - WinterNationals Recap
Arizona’s Official Interscholastic Inline Hockey Association
Arizona Interscholastic Inline Hockey Association
In conjunction with Grand Canyon State Games
For more information visit, www.aziiha.org
AZ Fury, Heartbreakers do state proud
By Alex Dodt
W
hile Phoenix area teams won
six NARCh championships at
WinterNationals, two other entries
from Arizona, AZ Fury and the Arizona Heartbreakers, gained some
deserved attention of their own.
Based out of Lake Havasu, the
Fury earned bragging rights in the
35-and-over division, beating out
two other Arizona teams and a club
from Japan to win the gold.
Fury’s championship came just
months after winning the 40-andover title at the USA Inline Cup
tournament in Las Vegas.
The Fury started WinterNationals
with two convincing victories over
LBYD and Mission Arizona. In its
final round-robin game, it stumbled
against the Rollerplex Panthers,
losing a close one, 3-2.
But Fury’s record was good
enough to earn it a spot in the
championship game and a shot at
redemption in a rematch with Rollerplex. This time around, Fury won
the championship cup in a tightlycontested 2-1 affair.
The Arizona Heartbreakers
were one of very few teams representing Tucson at WinterNationals
and did so very well, winning one
of the most competitive divisions at
NARCh, Men’s Gold.
The Heartbreakers went undefeated in round robin and never
stumbled in the playoffs, knocking off the four-seeded Law and
Disorder and, in the semifinal, the
top-seeded Madhatters of Texas,
thanks to the scoring exploits of
Duane Jones.
The championship game
against the ISCA Grizzlies of New
Jersey proved more difficult than
the Heartbreakers’ other playoff
games. After gaining an early lead,
the Heartbreakers stumbled and
ISCA got back in the game, taking
a late lead.
But, when it looked like it was
all over, Mike Thiefault scored his
hat trick goal to force overtime.
Five minutes into the extra
period, Thiefault struck again,
ripping a slap shot just under the
crossbar to seal the deal.
With the win, the Heartbreakers brought home an eighth championship for Arizona at WinterNationals and the first for Tucson. b
Arizona Fury
27
THE HOCKEY MOM:
Go ahead Freud... Analyze this!
A
re you one of those
people who have
those high-anxiety
dreams? You know, the
ones when you can’t
remember your locker
combination or forgot to
study for the test.
I, too, have those
dreams of apprehension,
but for some bizarre
reason, they often revolve around kids, sharp
blades and a sheet of
ice. A common scenario
is that of being late for
the big game or leaving
equipment behind.
Call me a Hockey
Mom head case, but I
dare say I’m not alone.
We, as moms, worry
about our children. This
concern often manifests
itself in our dreams.
From their acafor us moms
demic, to social,
to protect our
to athletic lives,
young, but as
it’s our job to take
our kids age,
on all of their
we have to
daily tribulations,
come to terms
however minor
with letting go
they may be.
and allowing
And because
them to fight
Wilson
we spend so much
their own
time at or on our way to
battles.
and from a rink, it only
Guess what moms:
make sense that we sort
Through hockey, our kids
through all these materare doing a great job of
personifying teamwork,
nal issues in a nocturcommitment and pernal hockey sort of way.
Hence, the high-anxiety
severance - all without
hockey dream.
us holding their hands.
While dads may care
Could we be worrying too
about player performance much about these fine
on any given game day,
young athletes? Maybe
us moms may be more
we need to let ourselves
concerned with, “Well,
off the hockey-anxiety
how did that make you
hook.
feel?” It is instinctual
So tonight, let’s be
pro-active. While drifting
off, remember to focus:
tropical islands, cold
beverage consumption
and Matthew McConaughey. Maybe it will
work, or maybe that
serene beach will just
freeze over into another
chilly slab of ice.
But maybe the best
of both worlds: Matthew
suited up waiting for us
by the boards with a cold
margarita! b
Julie Wilson is a local
freelance graphic designer and copywriter.
Her 10-year-old son,
Jackson, plays hockey
for the DYHA Squirt A
Firebirds. She can be
contacted at Jjcjwilson@
aol.com.
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From Kids To Coyotes, The Desert’s Authoritative Voice Of Ice And Inline Hockey
28
Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association
Kings of the Mountain crowned
BAYER ESSENTIALS TRAINING
• Personal Training
• Off-Ice Conditioning
• CPR/First Aid
By Camie McCracken
T
he Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association
and the Flagstaff Northstars
hosted their annual King of the Mountain
Tournament over the Martin Luther King weekend
with great success.
Squirt B and Bantam B teams from Phoenix, Utah
and Las Vegas climbed the 7,000 feet to Flagstaff to
compete with local teams in round-robin competition.
It was a big weekend for Flagstaff ’s Squirts, as
they celebrated a much-deserved championship.
In addition to the games, players also competed in
stick-handling and skating skills competitions, and
Flag was well represented in the winner’s circle.
Kincade Pavich came out on top to win the shootout skills competition, while Michael Isbell won the
Bantam shootout.
In the Fastest Skater competition, Daniel Pavich
blew away his competitors, winning by more than four
seconds to take top honors.
In what has become an entertaining weekend for
players and parents alike in the northern part of the
state, the tournament’s signature awards were MVP
pucks handed out after each game to top players on
each team. b
15610 N. 35th Ave. Ste. #6
Glendale
For more information or to make an appointment,
contact Kathy Bayer at (623) 217-3872
or e-mail kathy@bayeressentialstraining.com
www.bayeressentialstraining.com
Pass the Puck
Practice drills for your Team!
• Pocket Drills Book
• 25-Week Coaching Planner
• Liquid Hockey Tape
• Coaching Boards
• And...more!
www.passthepuck.net
Tucson Youth Hockey Association
Peewees dominate own tourney
Valley of the Sun Hockey Association
Girls taste elite East Coast action
T
C
By Steve Elliott
he Tucson Youth Hockey Association’s
Peewees attempted to host a tournament over Martin Luther King weekend,
but two teams backed out, leaving only
Tucson and El Paso to play four games.
The way Tucson competed over that weekend, you
couldn’t blame the other two teams.
The Stampede’s Peewee B squad trampled the El
Paso Rhinos in four straight games, winning 7-1, 5-0,
8-5 and 7-0.
Coach John Forney said the team played its first
complete games of the season against the Rhinos.
He couldn’t complain about the 27-6 goal differential
either.
“I think this is a turning point for our players,”
Forney said. “They’re starting to work well together
and are playing more of a team-concept game.”
Forney said his players had struggled to net goals
before the games against El Paso. He said all of his
players played equally well on offense, defense, and in
net.
The Peewees travel on President’s Day weekend
to the California State Games, where they will look to
continue their team-first play. b
By Steve Elliott
onnecticut hosted a tournament for elite
East Coast teams, and Arizona crashed
the party.
The U-16 AAA Mustangs stormed
the post-Christmas tournament, competing with
some of the best girls squads in the nation.
The U-16s opened the competition with a 1-3 loss
to the Ohio Phantoms. Mustang’s goalie Allie Frank
allowed three goals in the first period. Only three more
pucks eluded her for the rest of the meet.
The Mustangs lost 0-1 to the hometown Connecticut Polar Bears, tied the Texas Blaze, 1-1, and
lost their playoff game to New York ‘s Brewster Lady
Bulldogs, 0-1.
Mustangs coach Gayle Shalloo said the tournament exposed her team to the best competition in the
country.
“It opened all of their eyes and gave them something to work for in the coming years,” Shalloo said.
Frank starred for the team, posting an exceptional.940 save percentage.
The Mustangs’ strong play in Connecticut has the
team gearing toward the national stage. The U-16s
decided to play the in their district tournament, held
in Texas at the start of March. b
29
Lacrosse
AYLL breaks ground in West Valley
UPS during
my freshman
year, but I
injured my
back prior to
my sophomore
football season.”
That is
when Coach
Alexander was
born.
“During my
sophomore
The Estrella Wolves debuted as the first West Valley team in the
Arizona Youth Lacrosse League in January.
year, I began
coaching football
By Bill Casey
at UPS, which I continued doing for
another seven years,” he recalled.
eptember 27, 2006 is a date
“During my senior year, a number
Shawn Alexander will reof the lacrosse players approached
member for a long time. That’s
me about coaching the lacrosse
when his son Zach’s suggestion
team, and I accepted the position
went from concept to reality.
and ended up coaching the team for
In its 10th year of operation, the two years.”
Southwest Region of US Lacrosse,
A number of moves around the
named Arizona Youth Lacrosse
country caused Alexander to put
League (AYLL), finally sanctioned
down the stick for a few years until
a team west of Central Avenue, the another fateful holiday season surdividing line between the East and
faced.
West Valleys of Phoenix.
“My son got a lacrosse stick for
That team is the Estrella
Christmas three years ago, and I
Wolves (www.estrellalax.com),
picked one back up again to teach
located in Goodyear and organized
him how to play,” Alexander said.
and coached by Shawn Alexander.
“He began playing in the East Val “I began playing in ninth grade
ley and I began coaching again.”
after four of my friends and I got
However, the 40-mile trek for
lacrosse sticks for Christmas,” said
practices and games spurred Zach’s
Alexander, who grew up in Colorasuggestion to start something on
do and witnessed the beginning of
their own.
lacrosse burgeoning out West. “We
For the past two
didn’t have a clue what we were
years, what began
doing, so we made up the rules on a with three kids from
snowy field over Christmas vacathe cul-de-sac,
tion.”
grew to eight, then re He and his friends went on
cently to a full junior
to play lacrosse in high school,
high school team of 26
with Alexander continuing to play
players.
football and lacrosse in college at
“This has really
the University of Puget Sound in
just grown through
Washington.
word of mouth at
“Part of the reason I selected
school from my son
Puget Sound was because they
and the other original
had a club lacrosse team,” said
players,” Alexander
Alexander. “I played both sports at
said.
S
30
Actually, finding players was
the smallest hurdle, according to
Alexander.
“The biggest challenges to growing the sport is field space, coaches
and referees,” he said. “Practice
and game fields with lights are at a
premium in Goodyear, and many of
the fields are already spoken for by
soccer in the spring.”
Financing a startup program is
another serious consideration.
“Because parents are required
to purchase $200-300 in equipment
for their kids to play, I’ve tried to
keep the registration fee reasonable.”
Alexander estimates the cost
to run the team this year will be
around $8,000 covering uniforms,
league and referee fees, practice
and game facility rentals, goals and
nets, balls and other equipment.
“We’re still looking for sponsors
to help with the startup costs,” he
said.
On Jan. 13, the Estrella Lacrosse Club played its first game
against the first of many established club teams within the AYLL.
The squad faces a season of learning in a very competitive environment.
“My goals this season are to
build a tradition, to play hard and
never quit, and to see that the kids
have a great experience and learn
to love the game,” Alexander said.
b
Lacrosse
‘A-Train’ Secore on the right track
By Rick Bowness Jr.
A
Photo / Norm Hall
fter a modest rookie campaign
with the Arizona Sting last
year in which he averaged a point
per game (three) in a limited role,
Andy Secore exploded in the summer of 2006, tallying 31 goals for
65 points to finish fifth in the
Western Lacrosse Association’s scoring race as a
member of the Coquitlame Adanacs.
The man known
as the “A-Train”
went on to lead
his team in playoff scoring, registering 13 goals
and 26 points
in seven games
as the Adanacs
took the defending Mann Cup
champion Victoria
Shamrocks the
distance in their
opening-round
series, losing
in doubleovertime
in the
deciding
game,
3-2.
The
success
he accrued
during his
summer in the
WLA has clear- Andy Secore has
already eclipsed his
ly carried over
scoring totals from all
into his play with of last season.
the Sting this
season, as Secore, 22, has already
eclipsed his 2006 National Lacrosse
League points total having registered four points on two goals in his
first two games of 2007.
A big part of his successful
summer - and now winter - has
undoubtedly been his newfound
commitment to
fitness, as
he took
the lead
from his
roommate and
teammate
Dan
Dawson
last
year
and
became a
regular
gym
rat,
dropping
30 pounds
and vastly
improving his
overall conditioning.
“Improving my fitness has
definitely been a big
part of my improvement
on the floor,” Secore said.
“I’m a little quicker and
a little stronger out there for
sure this season.”
Secore was a lacrosse phenom
at the junior level in Ontario, dazzling scouts with his majestic stickhandling ability and spirited tenacity. Unfortunately, a knee injury
temporarily sidelined the Ontario
Junior Lacrosse Association’s 2003
MVP, as he was forced to undergo
surgery prior to the 2005 OJLA
season.
In a limited role with the Six
Nations Arrows Express that year,
Secore registered 11 points in four
regular-season games prior to
participating in the 2005 Minto
Cup championships in Edmonton.
At the tournament, the top
junior lacrosse event in Canada,
Secore registered three goals and
15 points as his team came up just
short of capturing its first national
title in 13 years, falling to the
Burnaby Lakers 2 games to 1 in the
best-of-three final.
“There were a lot of people
counting on us to win and we didn’t
pull it off. It was disappointing at
the time, but I really learned a lot
from that tournament,” Secore said.
In addition to getting the
chance to participate in a Minto
Cup final, playing with Six Nations
also afforded Secore the opportunity to play alongside his good
friend and lacrosse icon Dayne
Boatswain, arguably the greatest
club footed box lacrosse player of all
time.
“Boatswain is a legend, plain
and simple,” said Secore. “I really
learned a lot from him and he’s
a big reason why I’m in the NLL
right now.”
After being selected by the
Calgary Roughnecks in the second
round of the 2005 NLL Entry Draft,
Secore was traded to the Sting
in October of 2005, along with a
first-round draft pick in 2006, in
exchange for defenseman Rob
Kirkby.
“I was really happy when Arizona traded for me,” said Secore. “I
knew they had a young and exciting team that it would be fun to be
a part of.” b
STING IN FEBRUARY
Feb. 2 vs. New York, 7:30 p.m. b Feb. 10 @ Edmonton, 7 p.m. b Feb. 18 vs. Edmonton, 1 p.m. b Feb. 24 @ Rochester, 6:05 p.m. b
31
Lacrosse
Sting’s tailgate party a hit with fans
By Rick Bowness Jr.
P
COACHES CORNER:
Cradling tips for all skill levels
T
he method a lacrosse
player uses to keep
the ball in the stick while
running or against defenders is called cradling.
It is simply rotating the
stick with centrifugal
force making the ball
push against the mesh
and therefore remain in
the stick.
To perform a twohanded cradle, you first
need to have your stick in
the correct cradling position.
The top hand grabs
the stick with the palm
facing up. The other
hand (bottom hand) holds
the end of the stick with
the palm facing
curling instead
down. Cradling
of your entire
is the back-andarm.
forth motion
There are
of bringing the
three main
stick from your
types of
waist up to your
cradles:
head and back
Two Handed
down, or bringHorizontal
Casey
ing the stick
Cradle: Stick
from your right
near your
side across your body to
hip and parallel to the
your left and back again.
ground. This cradle is
At first, exaggerate
when you’re open in the
the motions. After some
field, no defense near.
time, you want to reduce
Two Handed Vertical
the movement to a miniCradle: Stick near your
mum to protect the stick
head. This cradle is most
from defenders. Ideally,
often used before a pass,
your motion will only
shot, dodge or in defenconsist of your fingers
sive traffic.
One Handed Cradle:
Using only your top
hand, keep the stick
perpendicular and close
to your body. Your other
had can be used to block
the defense, but remember: no warding or pushing off. The off hand must
remain stationary.
Use these tips to master cradling. It will help
you protect the ball, get
open for shots and move
into better positions to
find open teammates. b
Reach Bill Casey at bcasey@
glendalelacrosseleague.com
Get Lacrosse Pointers Every Month From Sting Forward Matt Brown at www.arizonarubber.com
32
Photo / Norm Hall
rior to the Arizona Sting’s
home-opener on Jan. 5, fans
were given the opportunity to take
part in the inaugural Opening
Night Sting Tailgate Party outside
of Jobing.com Arena.
The Johnsonville Big Taste
Grill was on hand to distribute
complimentary bratwursts to all in
attendance, and Charlie Franks,
a.k.a. Arizona Elvis, treated the
Valley’s lacrosse fans to a spectacular rock-and-roll show.
The Opening Night Tailgate
Party was the brainchild of Dustin
Payne, the Sting’s manager of
marketing and promotions.
“The purpose of this event was
to establish a tradition that Sting
fans can look forward to every
season,” said Payne. “I think we
succeeded in our goal.”
Joe Cahn, the commissioner
of tailgating,
was on hand to
partake in the
festivities.
“This was
a truly impressive event,” said
Cahn, a veteran
of hundreds of
tailgate parties.
Peter Wilson, 31, of Glendale, was also
impressed with
the festive
atmosphere
“Arizona Elvis,” a.k.a. Charlie Franks, entertains fans at the Opening
that preceded
Night Sting Tailgate Party outside of Jobing.com Arena last month.
the Sting’s homeopener.
dance of 7,179 marked an increase
“I felt like I was going to the
of 17 percent over last season’s avSuper Bowl or something,” said
erage, a clear sign that the innovaWilson. “They’ve got a big show
tive marketing strategy developed
going on, free food, the whole nine
by Payne is on the right track. b
yards.”
The Sting’s opening night atten-
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Busy Brown launches Pirana Lacrosse
By Bill Casey
S
ince graduating from the
University of Denver in 2005,
Matt Brown hasn’t put down the
lacrosse stick.
After a successful rookie year
in 2006 with the Arizona Sting, he
tore up the Major Lacrosse League
with the Denver Outlaws, registering a league-leading 38 goals.
Rumors are that Brown is also
looking to secure a Mann Cup, the
senior division championship and
dream of every Canadian lacrosse
player, to his list of accomplishments that already include three
Minto Cups (junior division championship), by re-joining the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) this
winter on top of his NLL and MLL
affiliations.
Brown is also an assistant
coach with his alma mater, and he
recently launched Pirana Lacrosse,
a program developed to teach youth
players his “new-age” style of lacrosse.
“The most successful players
in the world today are those that
make lacrosse their own by inventing new moves, developing skills
and plays,” said Brown. “The game
of lacrosse has changed quite a bit
over the past 10 years and skill levels have risen significantly, therefore young players not only need
to know the basics, but need to
learn how to be creative when playing.”
Pirana Lacrosse kicked off its
first ever event in Arizona on Jan.
6, hosting over 50 players from
the Glendale Lacrosse League and
other clubs around the West Valley.
The clinic focused on passing,
shooting and stick tricks.
“Both my boys (Ian and Nathan Gustafson) really enjoyed
it,” said Chris Gustafson, the
acting division chief of the Glendale
Fire Department. “We went out to
the park and practiced the next day
with some of the new techniques
they learned.”
Brown will be joined by Dan
Dawson and Craig Conn of the
Arizona Sting to offer a series of
clinics and a full four-day camp
this season. All clinics will focus on
different elements of the game such
as stick protection, position play,
overall stick skills, dodging and
many others. b
For more information, visit
www.piranalacrosse.com.
Matt Brown gives a demonstration during
the first-ever Arizona Pirana Lacrosse clinic.
33
Taking Liberties
with John King
A
Montreal native who played over 400 games in the
NHL, Eric Lacroix has delved into ownership as
one of two principle proprietors of the Central Hockey
League’s expansion Arizona Sundogs. Taking Liberties chats with Lacroix about making pro puck work in
Northern Arizona.
Taking Liberties: As a Montreal native and former
pro yourself, what’s it like owning a hockey team in
the desert?
Eric Lacroix: Obviously, when you think Arizona,
you don’t think of a traditional hockey market, but, if
you look closer, you’ll see the Coyotes and Roadrunners have been
here for years and the game has
grown tremendously. With growth
of the game at the youth levels,
you’re starting to see kids from
California, Arizona and Colorado
get drafted into the NHL.
TL: What’s the environment like
at a Sundogs game?
EL: We have a beautiful events
center (Tim’s Toyota Center ), and
we fill it with a lot of first-time
hockey fans. Hockey is a different
game when you see it live. Unlike
football, which I like better on TV,
you need to be in the stadium to
get the full experience of hockey.
TL: It must be great when you fill
a building with first-timers.
EL: The energy is unreal. I was at the CHL All-Star
Game recently (in Louisiana ), and the Board of Governors came up to me and said, ‘Your building is so
loud!’ The people [in the stands] are always excited.
Sometimes they’re not so sure what they’re watching,
but they’re excited.
TL: What do you like about this level of hockey - minor
pro?
EL: The CHL guys are more visible, and to an extent
more involved personally in the community (than the
NHL). It might be something going on at a hospital or
a school, or an autograph session on the concourse or a
skating party after practice. We may not have something going on every night, but we want the people in
this area to truly think of the Arizona Sundogs as their
team.
34
b
TL: As someone who has reached the highest level in
the NHL, what hockey advice would you give a youngster today?
EL: I’ve always said the same thing, whether I was doing a speaking engagement or just talking with people.
It’s very simple, and a bit cliché: I tell people to get
back to basics and have fun. I remember when I ended
my career in 2001. I could have gone on. My wife asked
me if I was still having fun, and I wasn’t - I wasn’t
having fun anymore for different reasons. That’s when
you know it’s time to do something different or play
a different sport. Hockey should be fun. It’s called a
game for a reason.
TL: What do you think of the new
NHL?
EL: Obviously, the young crop of
talent is outstanding. But, being from Montreal, I’m a bit of an
old-school purist. I was a little bit
disappointed to see changes like
the red line going away. I think
it changes the record book a little
bit. But I guess everything has
to change. When I grew up, they
didn’t have computers and now
they have computers in kindergarten.
TL: Do you still follow the Colorado Avalance - having played for
them and with your dad (Pierre
Lacroix) still involved as team
president?
EL: Obviously, I’m a bit biased. The Avalanche is my
family. I’ll always have a soft spot for them. I still
check the scores to see how Joe Sakic and the rest of
them are doing.
TL: Any amusing stories involving your new fans?
EL: Our “Super Fan” mascot, Cameron Hughes,
loves to tell the story of a horrible night in our building. We were losing 6-0, but the funny thing is the
building was still electric.
With about five minutes left, our goalie starts
banging his stick on the ice to let his teammates know
a penalty is about to end - a signal that’s common
practice in hockey - but the people in our building
didn’t know that. So one fan stands up and yells, ‘Hey,
the goalie isn’t quitting! We shouldn’t quit either! Let’s
Go Sundogs! Let’s Go Sundogs!’ b
b