December 2008 - Rubber Magazine

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4 December 2008 From Kids to Coyotes, the Desert’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey

ArizonaRubber.com 3

4
Inside Arizona
Mary Schlatter, front, Lottie Uphold and Katie
Goreham of the Phoenix Scorpions get ready to
take the ice at Jobing.com Arena at last month’s
NHL Experience tournament (see story on Page 20).
Photo / Samantha Hjelle/Kinetic
Design and Photography
Mission AZ Ice players, from left,
Jake Rovie, Cliff Forrest, Cameron
Morgan, Michael Weinberger,
Chris Eades. Pictured in back,
coach Jeremy Goltz.
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4 December 2008 From Kids to Coyotes, the Desert’s Authoritative Voice of Ice and Inline Hockey
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Arizona Rubber Magazine is a production of:
publisher: Brian McDonough
editor: Brett Fera
director of new media: Ryan Casey
designer: Julie Wilson

Editor’s Column:
Celebrating our own celebrity fans
SportsCenter aired an interesting feature a few
weeks back that hit close to home.
The piece centered on the football program at
Oaks Christian High School, located in suburban Los
Angeles, yet the focus wasn’t on the teens between
the lines. It was about the parents - in this case a
group of celebrity fathers that included former NFL
champ Joe Montana and box offi ce and music star
Will Smith.
There were no luxury suites here. Both
presumably paid their $5 admission, bought
a lukewarm hot dog, and sat on the uncomfortable
metal bleachers, just like everyone
else.
Wayne Gretzky, who spends much of
the year in Phoenix due to his “day job” as
the Coyotes’ managing partner and head
coach, was also part of the story. He makes
it back to Southern California from time to
time to see his son, Trevor, play football.
Montana said high school coaches don’t often let
parents on the sidelines during games, but an exception
was made to accommodate a three-time Super
Bowl MVP trying to help his kid. Gretzky candidly
added that fans almost never recognize him when he
attends games.
ESPN made a big deal out of the fact that football
games at Oaks Christian aren’t all that different from
the red-carpet arrival scene at a Hollywood awards
show or a movie premiere.
But the coolest part of this story, relative to those
of us in the Southwest: That’s what it’s like just about
every night here in Arizona.
From former NHL all-star Ulf Samuelsson (father
of Philip, Henrik, Victoria and Adam) to former
Coyotes coach Bobby Francis (father of
Ryan), to 14-year pros Derek King and
Jim Johnson (Johnson now runs the P.F.
Chang’s Tier I program), big-time faces are
commonplace at Phoenix-area rinks.
The best part of the Arizona angle of this
story is not simply the fact that we get to
rub elbows with celebrities in the stands.
It’s that each and every one is helping grow
interest in hockey in Arizona through their
interest.
Some serve as volunteer coaches or managers, others
mentor on the side at home and in the end, when
you get down to it, they’re all just fans of the game
- and their kids. ❂
Fera
Reach Brett Fera at brett@arizonarubber.com
❂ArizonaRubber.com
5
Advertise in Arizona
Rubber Magazine
Call 612-929-2171 or email
brian@goodsportmedia.com
for details.
From Kids to Coyotes,
The Desert’s Authoritative
Voice of Ice and
Inline Hockey

Scottsdale’s Erin
❂ Wente, a member
of the Brophy College
Prep boys varsity team,
has committed to the
University of Vermont (Hockey
East) for next season (see more on
Wente on Page 13).
❂Phoenix Coyotes forward
Shane Doan scored a goal
in his 900th NHL regular-season
game on Nov. 18 against the
Chicago Blackhawks at Jobing.com
Arena.
Goaltender Matt Grogan,
❂ from Gilbert, picked up
his fi rst win of the season for
the NAHL’s Bismarck Bobcats,
turning aside 21 shots in a 2-1
victory over Albert Lea (Minn.) on
Nov. 8.
Phoenix’s Andrew Hamburg,
❂ a Colorado College recruit,
was named the NAHL South
Division Player of the Week for the
week ending Nov. 9 after collecting
a goal and four assists in two
games for the St. Louis Bandits.
Freshman Long Duong led
❂ the Arizona State University
inline team in scoring with nine
points in four games at its seasonopening
tournament at Rollerplex
last month (see more on ASU on
Page 26).
❂Phoenix Coyotes Charities
granted over $300,000 to
Valley non-profi t organizations
through the team’s 2008 grant
application process.
❂Ozzie Ice’s Tom Helton
has accepted a coaching
position with the Delisle Chiefs
junior hockey team in Delisle,
Saskatchewan.
6
A Cup of Holiday Cheer
Coyotes Cup celebrates 10th anniversary this month
By Joshua Boyd
Come All Ye Hockey Faithful.
O Alaska, California, Canada,
and, of course, Arizona - all those
areas are welcome to send their best
travel hockey teams to Phoenix every
late December for the Coyotes Cup
tournament.
Some of these teams escape cold
weather and enjoy a few days of golf,
desert drives and general fun in the
sun during the run of the tournament.
The tournament takes place in the
various rinks in and around Phoenix
from Dec. 27 through Dec.
31.
“We’ll get right about
100 total teams. With
each team having 15
to 17 players, that’s
1,600 players coming
in,” said tournament
director Bob
Strong.
“The
dates
work out
really well.
[The week’s
vacation time] gives them
a little extra time, as it’s not a
three-day holiday.”
That’s really Strong’s intention
- come to Arizona for a week, play
some good hockey, but also get some
sun.
“People will stay six or seven
days. The hockey is the main part,
but we have other opportunities like
a golf tournament (on Dec. 29), and
we have a group night at a Phoenix
Coyotes game on Dec. 27 against the
L.A. Kings,” Strong added. “It’s not
so much a get-exposure-for-the-kids
tournament.”
Indeed, because of the holidays,
Strong said that scouts don’t typically
attend the tournament. That
could come as a surprise, considering
the various age groups that could
be viewed in action over the course
of fi ve days: Mite A, Mite B, Squirt
A, Squirt B, Peewee B, Peewee A,
Peewee AA, Bantam AA, Bantam
A, Bantam B, Midget 16A, Midget
16AA, Midget 18A and Midget 18AA.
The Coyotes Cup is celebrating
its 10th anniversary this year. In the
beginning, the Alltel Ice Den was
the only host of the tournament, and
the Cup got only three
out-of-state teams
originally.
Fast
forward
10 years
and there
are 40 outof-state
teams and
you can’t go from
Polar Ice Chandler to the new
rink in Gilbert to Jobing.com Arena
without running across Coyotes Cup
games while it’s going on. Six rinks
in the metropolitan Phoenix area will
play host to Coyotes Cup games.
So, how did the tournament grow?
Five years ago, the Sonoran League
took over the tournament from the
Ice Den.
“It was strictly B teams, so it was
pretty small,” Strong said. “We
Coyotes Cup Continued / Page 24

Development clinics return to Jobing.com Arena
The Phoenix Coyotes have
teamed up with fl exxCOACH
for the third consecutive season to
present a series of youth and adult
hockey development clinics to be
held at Jobing.com Arena.
Over the past two seasons, the
Coyotes Hockey Development Program
and fl exxCOACH have given
hundreds of hockey players of all
ages the chance to get a behind
the scenes look at Coyotes hockey.
Each clinic features a tour
of the Coyotes locker room, an
off-ice workout with the Coyotes
strength and conditioning coach
Mike Bahn and a 90-minute
on-ice session led by former NHL
players.
Past instructors have included
Darren Pang (former NHL goaltender
and current Coyotes TV
analyst), Jim Johnson (13-year
NHL veteran, including two with
the Coyotes), Brian Savage (12year
NHL veteran, including three
with the Coyotes), Louie DeBrusk
(11-year NHL veteran, including
three with the Coyotes), Tim Watters
(14-year NHL veteran), Dar-
The Coyotes’ youth and adult hockey development
clinics offer instruction from a number of
former NHL players.
ren Veitch (10-year NHL veteran)
and many others.
“The experience the players receive
at our clinics is unmatched in
the NHL,” said Scott Storkan, the
Coyotes’ manager of hockey development.
“The opportunity to tour
our state-of-the-art facilities and
play where the pros play is something
they won’t soon forget.”
On-ice instruction includes powerskating,
passing, shooting, team
drills, small games and in-depth
goaltending instruction.
Registration is limited to the
fi rst 34 registrants (30 skaters
and 4 goalies). Each clinic costs
$50 and includes a lower-level
ticket to an upcoming Coyotes
game ($60 value), a Coyotes
Hockey Development Program
practice jersey and other miscellaneous
Coyotes giveaways.
This year’s schedule of clinics
is as follows: December 3 (Adults);
January 26 (Mites); February 11
(Squirts); March 20 (Adults); April
6 (Peewees).
For more information and to
register, visit phoenixcoyotes.com/
hockeydevelopment. Questions
can be directed to the Coyotes
Hockey Development Program at
(623) 772-3464. ❂
ArizonaRubber.com 7
Photo/Norm Hall/Phoenix Coyotes

Mission: Possible
Tight-knit Midget, Bantam program blossoms in short time
8
By Brett Fera
So really, what is in a name?
For Jeremy Goltz, head
coach and mastermind behind Arizona’s
newest Midget Tier I hockey
program,
just about
everything.
“There’s
no better
name,”
Goltz said.
“It says
who we and
what we’re
trying to do
better than
anything
else.”
So then,
who exactly
are they?
16 Red
It says
“Mission” across their chests
– thanks to early sponsorship
from Mission Hockey gear
– and they offi cially go by
Mission AZ Ice, to be sure.
And if Goltz succeeds at
his mission – pun intended
– “they” will also be the next
big thing in competitive youth
hockey in Arizona.
But with nearly 100 players
spanning ages 14 to 18,
fi ve teams, from a Bantam
introductory program all the
way through a newly christened
Tier I Midget U18 squad,
maybe, just maybe, Goltz’s brainchild
already is that next big thing.
16 White
The Founding Philosophy
A former standout for the University
of Arizona club program
before joining the professional
inline ranks through Roller Hockey
International, Goltz can be charged
as one of those responsible for both
the Mission Arizona inline and ice
brands.
“This is our third year (of ice),”
Goltz said, “and it feels like 10.”
While he’s distanced himself of
late from the inline sector, which
had seen interest center recently
on young, introductory levels of
hockey, Goltz’s involvement in the
development of Mission AZ Ice is at
full bore.
So much so, that he’s the head
coach of four Mission AZ teams. On
top of serving as a Bantam assistant
coach, Goltz heads two Midget
U16 teams and a pair of Midget
U18 teams - including Arizona’s
newest Tier I program.
“We’ve established ourselves
as a specialty group at the Midget
level,” Goltz said of the Mission
program, which is based out of Polar
Ice Peoria, but pulls kids from
as far across the Valley as Gilbert.
“The Bantam team is kind of our
entry program. We run it the same
way, but I call it the ‘101’
program, so it feeds into the
Midget teams.”
The philosophy is simple,
Goltz adds.
“The biggest thing we’ve
really pushed with this organization
is that everything
is uniform,” he said. “You
really get that with one head
coach.”
It’s a brotherhood of sorts;
one that’s also visible when
teams practice together,
travel on
road trips
together.
“Basically
it’s
just the
sense of
family and
unity,” said
Michael
Weinberger
of
Scottsdale,
captain of
Mission’s
U16 “Red”
team. “I’d
die for these guys out here, and I’m
sure they’d do the same. It’s such a
close organization.”
Phoenix’s Jake Rovie, captain
of the Bantam U14 team, echoed
Weinberger’s sentiment.
“We’re like the little brothers
of the family, so we get beat up,”
he said. “But we kind of look up to
these guys. We want to do what
they do.
“We want to be like them one day.”
If Goltz had his way, Mission
would be able to draw talent in

at age 14 and keep those athletes
playing under the same system as
long as possible.
Now that Goltz is also serving
as head coach of the Arizona State
University men’s program, it’s not
impossible for a local 14-year-old
to play under the same coaching
system for as many as nine years.
“Who knows,” he said. “It could
happen. That would be incredible.”
Tier of Joy
When a fi ve-year plan
comes to fruition in just
three, that’s when you know
things are going well.
“My initial goal, very honestly,
was to get guys in the
pipeline in Bantams and get
them fi ve years of constancy.
And by the fi fth year, my goal
would be to have those guys
playing Tier I,” Goltz said.
“Well, three years in, we’ve
reached that. So we’re ahead
of schedule.”
Going
Tier I, Goltz
explained,
meant that his
players would
not only see
the absolute
highest level
of competition
their age
bracket allows,
but that the
group is actually
ready to
compete as
well. That’s
part of why,
18 White
for now, a Midget
U18 team will be the only Mission
squad to attempt the
Tier I transition.
“We tested the waters. The big
moment for us was when we went
to Chicago this summer and played
the defending national champions,
Team Illinois,” Goltz said. “Over
the summer our guys went out
there and they kind of clicked, it
was like “OK, we’re ready,” Goltz
said.
Diamonds in the Rough
“When we started out, a lot of
these guys, to be honest, were cuts
from other places. I said to them,
‘Hey, trust me, lets take an opportunity,’”
Goltz said. “And the last
three years, and the last year in
particular, out of the fi ve teams,
we’ve had 93 percent of the guys
coming back. Once they’re into the
pipeline, they love it.”
Goltz said it’s a very simple deal
the Mission coaching staff makes
with potential players: “If you’re a
team-fi rst guy, you’re going to have
a job here.”
This year, Goltz said Mission
has seen an infl ux of players at
all ages, but specifi cally the U16
level. That translates into a positive
mindset for the future, he said,
adding that if the program’s ability
to be competitive stays hot, keeping
Mission’s top Midget team at
the Tier I level would be a likely
possibility.
“At this point, P.F. Chang’s is
at the top of the pinnacle, and we
are the viable No. 2 option at this
level.”
The More the Merrier
It would be easy to see Mission
AZ Ice – at least the U18 Tier I
group – as the most natural, not to
mention fi rst, in-state rival for the
P.F. Chang’s program.
But that’s just one way to look
at it, Goltz admits.
Based
out of the
Alltel Ice
Den in
Scottsdale,
P.F.
Chang’s
has established
itself
as a relative
power
amongst
AAA Tier
I teams in
the west-
18 Red
ern United
States. And
Chang’s, like Mis-
sion, is offi cially just three
years old.
Goltz said that while
he hopes Mission grows a
reputation like that of it’s
North Scottsdale counterparts,
giving opportunities
to more kids and helping
grow the sport in Arizona
as a whole is just as – if not
more – important.
“If we’re seeing growth,
and [P.F. Chang’s is] seeing
growth, that’s what matters,” he said.
And how about when the teams
fi nally take the ice against one another
in February, during Arizona’s
state playdowns?
“I have tremendous respect for
their program,” Goltz explains. “Put
it this way: We’ve really got to win
two games this season, in February.
That’s when we play Chang’s.
That’s our goal.”
Mission continued / Page 11
ArizonaRubber.com 9

Photo / Norm Hall/Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
Program honors youth players, coaches
10
By Ryan Casey
Soon, youth hockey players and coaches
from all around the state will get
their chance to shine at Jobing.com Arena
in Glendale.
Though it’s something they have already
unoffi cially been taking part in, the Phoenix Coyotes
recently started the Phoenix Coyotes Youth Hockey
Player and Coach of the Month program.
“The main reason we’re doing is it is to kind of give
back,” said Scott Storkan, the Coyotes’ manager of
hockey development. “I feel that we’re out a lot in the
community as it is, but this is another way for us to get
in touch with fans and youth hockey players, because
obviously youth hockey players and adult hockey players
and pretty much anyone that plays hockey is our
built-in fan base.”
The old process was
to assign each association
or rink a month
during the season and
allow them to select a
player to recognize.
“They could recognize
pretty much
anyone in any division,
either a player of the
month or their hardest-working
player,”
Storkan said.
The change,
though, comes in that
it will be the Coyotes
organization doing the
selecting each month.
Nominations will be accepted on their Web site, at
http://coyotes.nhl.com/fanzone/youthhockeyawards.htm.
“What we would do is get a player from each age division,
like Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, and then we would
also get a coach as well,” Storkan said. “We’d recognize
them on the bench during the intermission of a Coyotes
game and then we’d also do a little bit of a feature on
them on the Web site.
“This is more offi cial,” Storkan added. “We’re kind of
taking it out of the hands of the rinks and the associations
and we’re just kind of leaving it up to fans and
parents and coaches. If they want to nominate their kid,
they can. It’s a little bit more formal than what we’ve
done in the past.”
On the nominations page, users are asked for their
name, the nominee’s name, and most importantly, the
reason why they should be selected. The nomination
process is not limited on on-ice actions, Storkan said.
“We’re not only looking for stars on the ice, but we’re
looking to honor those athletes that also shine in the
classroom as well as in the community,” he said.
Nominations are already being accepted – despite
the fact that the program offi cially launched in mid-November
- “We have quite a few we’ve already received,”
Storkan said – and the fi rst awards were handed out at
a Coyotes game in early December.
The recipients will be honored during the game, and
also featured on the team’s Web site, phoenixcoyotes.
com.
And the state’s youth administrators are appreciative
of the Coyotes for implementing yet another program
aimed at reaching
out to the local
hockey community.
“These things
are important, both
for the Coyotes and
for raising hockey’s
awareness around the
state,” said Arizona
Amateur Hockey Association
president
Jon Brooks. “The
more recognition we
can bring the players
and the coaches, the
Coyotes assistant general manager Brad Treliving, left, helped recognize the better.”
AGYHA before a game last season at Jobing.com Arena.
Selections will be
done during a meeting
within the Coyotes’ community relations department at
the end of each month, with Storkan having the fi nal
say.
“We’re going to go through some of the submissions
and we’re just going to pick whichever one is the best
one,” he said.
Whether the nominees come from the Desert Youth
Hockey Association, the Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association,
the Valley of the Sun Hockey Association or the
Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association, it doesn’t matter.
The awards are open to any association in Arizona.
“We haven’t done anything formal like this before,”
Storkan said. ❂

By Shane Dale
Arizona Sundogs
Laperriere’s number heads to rafters
It was a special moment for Dan Laperriere
when his No. 6 was retired by
the Arizona Sundogs last month prior to
a game against the Rapid City Rush - the fi rst such
honor given by the organization.
“It’s pretty special, for sure,” said Laperriere,
who played his fi nal two seasons as a Sundog before
retiring and becoming an assistant coach with
the team. “When I came in here, all I wanted to do
was my part. I had a role and I was a piece of the
puzzle.”
Laperriere was an integral piece of Arizona’s
CHL championship puzzle last season, scoring 21
goals and 48 assists, including three goals and 15
assists in the playoffs.
“I guess the fact that we won the championship
made my decision easier,” he said.
As a coach, Laperriere’s focus is now set on improving
a Sundogs team that has struggled early in
the season.
“We have a young group, but we have pieces of
the puzzle to challenge again for the championship,
and that’s our goal,” he said. ❂
Mission Continued from Page 9
That goal, however, likely has as
much to do with the fact that winning
the state playdowns allows
Mission’s season to keep going, on a
national stage.
“We’re here to stay.
It’s going to be fun,”
added Phoenixnative
Cameron
Morgan, captain
of Missions’ Tier
I U18 AAA team. “We’re ready to
go, and we’ll be ready in February.”
So Crazy, It Just Might
Work
“The funny thing is I don’t really
sell them at all,” Goltz said of
convincing kids to come play for
Mission. “I know it was a startup
process for a while, but I’d like to
think now it sells itself.”
If there was one selling point,
he adds once again, it’s that
consistency of having the same
coaching philosophy throughout
all levels.
With
that
said, Goltz admits
that coach- ing as many
as six teams at the same time,
between Mission and ASU, makes
him sound, well, insane.
But, he added, Mission’s success
would be impossible without
the work of assistant coaches
Phoenix RoadRunners
Keeper Kowalski up for starting role
By Shane Dale
The superb goaltending duo of Gerald
Coleman and Craig Kowalski
got the Phoenix Roadrunners’ season off on
the right foot. Whether they can sustain it, however,
will largely rest on the shoulders of one-half of that
duo.
After accruing a 1.48 goals-against average in fi ve
games with the Roadrunners, Coleman was traded to
the Trenton Titans last month, leaving Kowalski as
the starter.
Kowalski, a former ECHL all-star who was acquired
by Phoenix in an offseason trade, says he’s up
to the challenge.
“If anything, it’s almost better,” he said. “You get to
play more and you know basically every night that you
get to play. It’s nice to get the night off every once in
awhile, but you get in a groove.”
Kowalski understands the team’s frustration over
narrowly missing the playoffs last season, and says
he’s here to get the Roadrunners over that hurdle.
“I’m not getting rich in this league, so I’m playing to
win every night, and hopefully every one of my teammates
is thinking the same,” he said. ❂
Hank Taylor and Glenn Karlson,
who help with all fi ve teams, and
Mike Sarter, head coach of the
Bantam squad.
Goltz said the operation of the
program isn’t much unlike any
other youth association, complete
with a board of directors, team
managers and volunteers
to help keep logistics under
control.
And despite not having
a rink of its own,
Goltz added that Peoria Polar Ice
has welcomed Mission with open
arms, and that the team’s relationship
with the facility and the
host association, the Peoria Roadrunners,
couldn’t be much better.
“People outside the organization
ask, ‘How do you do it?’” he
said with a laugh. “I just say, ‘You
do it… and if you’re in it, it makes
sense.’” ❂
GO ONLINE! Watch video of the Mission AZ Ice program at ArizonaRubber.com!
ArizonaRubber.com 11

12
College Hockey
College Hockey
Locals important to ASU’s growth
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For your team or
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CHALK TALK:
The House leagues
have always been a
big part of the hockey
scene up here at the Ice
Den. It’s the chance to
get recreational players
out on the ice to play and
practice once a week and
have a great time in the
process.
Every September, we
begin by registering and
evaluating hundreds of
young, hungry players.
As a program, we’re out
to draft as many House
teams available and put
together a challenging
league with as much parity
as we can.
We’ve always drafted
the players to
the best of our
abilities, but
navigating our
way through
the obstacles,
such a carpool
requests, is diffi
cult. A lot of
families want
their children
placed on the same team
as their friends, but it’s
our job to fi nd out who
these kids are and weed
them out.
The next step is to
rate a player’s abilities
on the ice. We always
seem to forget the most
important player to build
By Brian McDonough
Bet the House on putting fun fi rst
De Angelis
Division I player with the University of Connecticut
A last year, Jared Costello returned home this season
to skate for Arizona State University.
A curious move to some, but for Jeremy Goltz, the
Ice Devils’ head coach and a former player and coach at
the University of Arizona, it was for all the right reasons.
“I’ve seen it and I’ve lived it: At the end of the day,
guys want to play in front of family,” said Goltz.
Costello is one of 11 Arizona-bred players gracing the
Ice Devils’ roster this season, many of whom have come
out of DYHA.
Goltz, who also heads up the Mission Arizona program,
has strong ties with the local hockey community
and wants nothing more than to see Arizona player succeed.
“But the competition is tough,” he said. “ASU is a
nationally-recognized university and our roster features
guys from all over North America.”
With that said, Goltz is exploring the possibility of
expanding the ASU program with a JV team.
“Representing and playing for a major university was
the best time of my career and it’s my job to give these
guys a great experience, too,” he said. ❂
a team around:
the goalie - the
player who can
make or break
a year. The
thing is, we
have a hard
time evaluating
their
talents over a
short period of
time, but we do our best.
Come game time,
there have unfortunately
been many days when
I’ve walked around the
corner of the lobby to
see a nightmare at the
far scoreboard: a team
already up 6-0 in the
middle of the second
period.
Obviously not a good
thing for kids out to have
fun, it’s our job to design
ways to balance these
teams to fi nd the optimum
competitiveness
level and, ultimately, the
enjoyment for everyone
involved.
In House, life is good
when a game ends 6-5.
We’re assured that plenty
of folks got to see their
child score a goal and,
most likely, both teams
had a great time.. ❂
Mike De Angelis is
CAHA’s director of youth
hockey.

League Of Her Own
Scottsdale’s Wente earns D-I ticket to Vermont
By Shane Dale
Erin Wente’s ability to play with the boys has
earned her a chance to play with some of the best
girls in the country.
Wente, a member of the Colorado Selects’ U19 AAA
girls club and a standout on Phoenix’s Brophy College
Prep boys varsity team, signed a letter of intent last
month to play hockey for the University of Vermont of
the Division I Hockey East conference.
After living in Arizona for all
but two years of her life, Wente is
just like any other high school kid
preparing to move across the country
for college: nervous and excited.
“It’s defi nitely very different
than where I’m at now, but I’m
excited,” she said. “I thought it was
a good school for me. I didn’t want
a big-city school or a real rural
school.
“When I met with the coaches,
I loved all of them, the girls were
great, and all the things that were
important to me were there.”
Wente, the only girl on the
Brophy’s varsity or junior varsity
squad, is splitting her time this
season between the Broncos and
her Denver-based Selects team.
Brophy coach Aaron Jackson
says Wente prefers to let her actions
speak louder than her words,
which typically are few.
“It comes down to work ethic,” he said. “She works
hard whether it’s in practice or on the ice. She leads by
example. She’s not terribly vocal.”
Colorado Selects coach Marnie Hill says Wente’s
leadership qualities are evident in that her teammates
voted her assistant captain of a squad with which she
doesn’t even get to play full-time.
“That’s an unusual honor for someone in that position,”
Hill said. “She doesn’t get to practice everyday
and they see her twice a month. It’s quite an honor
and it speaks volumes in itself.”
Hill was heavily involved in Wente’s recruiting
process and praised the coaching staff assembled in
Vermont, noting that head coach Tim Bothwell was
A standout on Brophy’s boys varsity team, UVMbound
Erin Wente also plays for the Colorado
Selects.
the assistant coach of Canada’s gold medal-winning
women’s Olympic team in 2006, and assistant coach
Mike Gilligan coached a successful Vermont men’s
program for 19 seasons.
“She couldn’t have surrounded herself with a better
staff and a better team,” Hill said.
Wente began playing hockey when she was just 7
years old. She wanted to emulate her Michigan-born
dad, an assistant on the Brophy staff, and her older
brother, who also played hockey for the Broncos.
Wente played with the Arizona
Selects as a kid.
July 1 was the fi rst day in which
college coaches were allowed to
contact potential recruits. Wente
received a call from Bothwell that
day.
“I’d just been at national camp,
so he was telling me that he really
liked what he saw and wanted to
know what I was thinking,” Wente
recalled. “They fl ew me out to Vermont
in September for an offi cial
visit.”
It didn’t take long for Bothwell
and the rest of the Catamounts
staff to make their interest in
Wente offi cial.
“They said, ‘We really want
you here,’” Wente said. “They said
they were willing to give me a full
scholarship.”
The decision for Wente came
down to Vermont and Yale, which also recruited her.
She chose Vermont in part because Yale was unable to
pay for her education.
“Ivy League (schools) can’t give athletic scholarships,
so fi nancially it’d be diffi cult,” she said.
Hill says Wente made the right choice.
“It’s important to know that Erin passed up on
other types of education,” she said. “Ultimately, she
went to visit both of those places and felt comfortable
with Vermont.”
And Jackson couldn’t be happier for the lone girl on
his team.
“Brophy is proud of her,” he said. “It’s great for the
program. It’s great for her. I think she’s going to be fun
to watch the next four years.” ❂
NORTH AMERICAN HOLIDAY HOCKEY ADULT & YOUTH TOURNAMENTS
2009 SCHEDULE: ATLANTIC CITY – CHICAGO - FORT LAUDERDALE – HARTFORD - MONTREAL – ORLANDO - SAN DIEGO – VANCOUVER
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ArizonaRubber.com 13
Photo/Darla Fribbs/Digital Photo

Quinn named president
of AHU Advisory Board
The Arizona Hockey Union announced
recently the appointment
of Gina Quinn as president
of the Arizona Hockey Union
Advisory Board.
“We’re very fortunate to have
such a highly skilled and dynamic
person lead our AHU Advisory
Board,” said Harry Mahood, the
AHU’s director of hockey operations.
“Gina and her husband,
John, have been actively involved
in Polar Ice programs and events
for well over seven years and much
of the esteemed image and success
you see both on and off the ice
within the Arizona Hockey Union,
the Polar Bears and Polar Ice is
highly attributed to her high-spirited
work ethic and care for all kids
and families within our programs.”
Quinn is an Ahwatukee resident
and Hockey Mom to Colin Quinn,
12, who plays on the Union’s U12
14
P.F. Chang’s Tier 1 Hockey Program
Adamowicz right at home in Arizona
By Brett Fera
Who ever
said you
can’t go home
again, anyways?
After years of
playing hockey in
Arizona, including
three under current
P.F. Chang’s director and co-head
coach Jim Johnson, forward Mike
Adamowicz left the Valley two
years ago to pursue an opportunity
to play Midget hockey in Ohio with
the Cleveland Barons, where he
spent half of a season before returning
to his Arizona roots.
“We didn’t know how elite
[Chang’s] would be,” Adamowicz,
born just outside of Cleveland, said
of trying his hand with the Barons
instead of the then-fl edgling P.F.
Chang’s program. “And after being in
Cleveland and seeing the way other
coaches develop and prepare their
players, I thought about how Jim is
such a good coach and how he moves
so many players on to the next level.”
An 18-year-old senior at Basha
High School in Chandler, Adamowicz
is currently serving as the program’s
Midget U18
captain in this
its fi rst season
of competition in
the Midwest Elite
League.
“This is my
last Midget year
and I think they
just decided that
Mike Adamowicz
I had good leadership qualities,” said
Adamowicz, who ranked second in
goals (eight), and fourth in points
(12) for the U18 team as of mid-November
despite missing the season’s
fi rst four games.
“Mike is a true leader with his
pride and work ethic on and off the
team. She has previously served
as vice president and president
of the Phoenix Polar Bears Youth
Association.
GO ONLINE!
Watch video of the Polar Ice
Thanksgiving Shootout at
ArizonaRubber.com!
Bantam B’s pick up
Heat’s fi rst win
Under the leadership of head
coach Justin Graff, the Arizona
Heat’s Bantam B team recorded the
association’s fi rst ever victory in
October.
“Justin and his staff are concentrating
on the basics and feel that
by season’s end the team will be
very competitive,” said Jim Beyer
of the Heat association.
The Bantams are also giving
back to the programs at Polar Ice
Chandler, with the players and
ice,” said Mike DeAngelis, Adamowicz’s
coach with P.F. Chang’s.
Out for nearly a month at the
onset of the season with a torn
quadricep, Adamowicz, a member of
VOSHA’s 2005 Bantam Tier II national
championship team, couldn’t
dress for P.F. Chang’s’ season-opening
showcase tournament in Dallas.
Chang’s went just 1-3 to kick off
the season that weekend. It was two
weeks later when Adamowicz fi nally
made his debut, helping his team to
a 3-0-1 mark in its fi rst home tournament
of the year against the same
competition.
With plenty of talent and the
right attitude to match, DeAngelis
is confi dent Adamowicz will have
plenty of options come next season.
“He’s mature young man who
should make the progression to the
next level of hockey in 2009,” said
the coach. “He has a bright future
wherever he decides to play.” ❂
staff assisting with the 90-plus
youngsters who are participating in
Coyotes/Polar Ice-sponsored Kids
First Program.
“Polar Ice Gilbert and the Arizona
Heat have the same goal: to
develop the players we have and
attract new players into the game,”
said Beyer. “The enthusiasm in
Gilbert for the programs and the
rink has been very positive.”
Masten takes VP role
with RoadRunners
David Masten was recently
named vice president of the Peoria
Roadrunners organization.
With over four years of coaching
experience, Masten is serving this
season as the fi rst assistant coach
of the Roadrunners’ Mite A travel
team.
Masten’s son has been playing
hockey for four years, currently
with the Mite A’s. His daughter is a
fi gure skater. ❂

By Matt Mackinder
Junior Hockey
Young Masanotti developing quickly
Corey Masanotti is just 15, but
already drawing rave reviews for
his play with the Phoenix Polar Bears this
season.
“When he fi rst came on the team, there was a lot of
talk comparing Corey to one of the Polar Bear greats -
Max Mobley,” said Phoenix director of player personnel
Jimmy Livanavage. “He’s a high-energy player
that brings 100 percent every time he’s on the ice.”
Masanotti played for DYHA prior to making the
jump to Junior A and has a perfect mentor in Polar
Bears head coach Harry Mahood, who also played
Junior A as a 15-year-old.
“Corey made the decision that he really wanted to
go as far as he could with the game, and with that it
only makes sense for him to play at the highest level
he can,” Livanavage said.
Sidelined with a broken collarbone, Masanotti
should be back in the lineup come January.
“We all feel that as long as he can stay healthy and
continues to work hard, he’ll be a USHL candidate,”
Livanavage added. ❂
Mane of the Month
Gilbert’s
Noah
Duke
of the
Phoenix Polar
Bears’ Squirt B
Team
Noah wins a FREE composite
stick, compliments of Warrior
Hockey!
To enter, send a photo of your hockey hair
to maneofthegame@arizonarubber.com
ArizonaRubber.com
15

Rubber launches scholarship fund
Good Sport Media, Inc., publishers
of Arizona Rubber
Magazine, announced recently the
launch of the Arizona Rubber Scholarship Fund, which is
designed to assist select ice and inline high school seniors
fi nance their post-high school educations.
To support the fund, Arizona Rubber Magazine is selling
two tickets to each remaining Phoenix Coyotes regular-season
home game for the 2008-09 season through
StubHub! More information on each game’s tickets can
be found at ArizonaRubber.com.
At the end of the season, all proceeds from the auction
will be divided and awarded to four recipients: a male
and female high school senior from each the Arizona
Amateur Hockey Association and the Arizona Inline
Hockey Association.
Candidates are to graduate from high school in the
spring of 2009 and exemplify good sportsmanship and
leadership on and off the ice, as well as demonstrate a
strong commitment to education and community involvement.
Applications for eligible candidates can be found at
ArizonaRubber.com and are due by April 1, 2009.
Winners of the scholarship award will be announced
in the May issue of Arizona Rubber Magazine and on
ArizonaRubber.com. ❂
16

AWAY FROM THE RUBBER:
‘Load the Legs’ to generate power
Any athlete hl I’ve ’ worked k d
Awith, A especially in
hockey, has heard the
phrase “Load the Legs”
from me countless times.
It doesn’t matter if the
training emphasis that
day is on agility, strength
or power development,
it applies from warm-up
throughout the workout.
“Load the Legs” refers
to using the legs during
any movement. A good
bend in the knees with
your butt down and your
head and chest up puts
you in the optimal position
to produce power
- and therefore movement
- in any direction.
The legs are loaded,
much like a spring that
has been compressed,
Team Arizona
and are ready
to develop force
against the
ground or ice to
move the body.
It’s a fundamental
position in
nearly any athletic
endeavor.
When you
jump as high as you can,
you start the motion by
dropping down into a
squat position then exploding
straight up. The
legs are capable of producing
massive amounts
of force, but they must be
placed in a loaded position
to do so.
When skating, a player
is constantly loading the
legs to prepare the stride
leg for explosive exten-
Nike Bauer event a learning experience
By Brian McDonough
It was off to Chicago last month for Team
Arizona, where the Bantams competed
in the Nike Bauer Invite tournament and
fi nished with a 1-2-1 record.
A Tier II team playing in a Tier I showcase, the
Arizonans, after opening the event with a tie followed
by a pair of losses, did fi nish on a high note, besting
the Atlanta Fire 95’s, 7-3, with netminder Matt Bauer
picking up the win in goal.
“At this part of the season, there are always positives
and negatives,” head coach Brad Bayer said
of his squad. “The positives are that we can compete
with these upper-echelon teams. The negatives are
that we’re not getting everybody contributing all the
time.”
Stetson Dircks led all Team Arizona scorers with
fi ve points, with goaltender Alan Turcott also delivering
strong performances between the pipes.
“We need everybody contributing to have success,
and when you’re not having equal balance, it’s tough,”
said Bayer. “That said, overall it was a terrifi c experience
and we’re looking forward to going back next
year.” ❂
Bahn
sion. i The h stance
leg remains in
deep fl exion
at the hip and
knee, supporting
the body
weight, before it
will become the
stride leg and
the opposite leg
becomes the stance leg.
When players are
unable to load the legs repeatedly
during a shift or
over the course of a game,
they start standing more
upright on the ice. From
this position, they cannot
effectively use the legs to
produce explosive strides.
In addition, their center
of gravity is higher and
they’re less balanced.
Throughout our off-ice
VOSHA Lady Coyotes
training i i programs, from f
weighted medicine ball
work to weight training to
cardiovascular conditioning,
I have components
that require the athletes
to have their feet on the
ground and their legs
loaded.
In fact, “Load the
Legs” is a common verbal
cue also used by our power
skating coach, Mark
Ciaccio. By emphasizing
the need for players to
develop strong, explosive
legs, they can rapidly
produce explosive skating
strides throughout a
shift. ❂
Mike Bahn is the Coyotes’
strength and conditioning
coordinator.
Connecticut tourney brings exposure
By Brian McDonough
With the holidays right around the
corner, the VOSHA Lady Coyotes are
preparing for one of the season’s most important
trips – a highly-scouted Christmastime
prep and college showcase in Connecticut.
“It’s of the biggest tournaments in the country,” said
head coach Gayle Shalloo. “We see our best competition
on the East Coast.”
And more importantly, a number of colleges will see
the Lady Coyotes. Shalloo, a former player at Providence
College, still holds strong ties to the eastern
coaching circles and is doing her best to promote her
players.
“All of our high school-aged kids have written letters
to the schools they’re looking at,” she said. “Most of the
kids in the program really have high hopes of playing in
college and it starts with preparation on the ice.”
College interest aside, the Lady Coyotes will never
lose sight of their focus on skill development in a competitive
atmosphere.
“Not every player wants to play in college, but the
program prides itself in developing players to play at
the highest level they want,” said Shalloo. ❂
ArizonaRubber.com 17

By Matt
Mackinder
The numbers
may
not show it,
but the Mission
Arizona
18 Tier and 16
Tier programs are
fi nding positives as their respective
seasons enter the midway point.
Last month, the 18 Tier team visited
the Chicago Fury and, though it
went just 1-2-1, head coach Jeremy
Goltz saw lots to appreciate.
“Patrick Moodie had a very
productive weekend with points in
three of the four games,” said Goltz.
“He’s a big, physical player who
plays emotionally on the edge all the
time.”
Defenseman Mike Destfi no has
also developed into a solid, skilled
Mission Arizona
Development continues as playdowns near
player, according to Goltz, and Clayton
Dickson was recently promoted
from Tier II to Tier I, adding another
skilled player to the arsenal.
Captain Cliff Forrest has led
the 18 White team along with AJ
Diaz, both of whom “really set a
great tone in practice,” according
to Goltz, who also noted the importance
of 18 White squad goaltender
Sean Tracey.
“The 18 Tier schedule was designed
to really challenge upfront
and now we’re in a bit of a lull where
we’re at home getting some good
practice in,” noted Goltz.
Without the services of Brian
MacAuliffe and Brandon Parrone
- two of its more experienced
players - the 16 Tier team came
back from the Nike Bauer Invite
in Chicago last month with a 1-2-1
record.
“Some guys really stepped
up,” Goltz said. “Sean Konchan
has been a huge addition to our
program. I love his attitude and
demeanor; this kid is really a big,
strong force.
“I’ve also been impressed with the
growth of Alex Stewart, who just
fl at-out loves to play day in and out.”
Playdowns are just around the
corner and Goltz sees that as a time
to evaluate how far the 16 Tier team
has come.
“The guys are really starting to
grow,” Goltz said. “They’re entering
playdowns as a Tier II program and
should be ready to go.”
The 16 White team was also in
action last month, going 3-0-1 at the
Polar Classic in Gilbert.
“As a team, the guys get better
everyday,” said Goltz. “I’m impressed
with the maturity of Chris
Eades, our captain; he’s really doing
some good things out there.” ❂
ArizonaRubber.com

Photo/Samantha Hjelle/Kinetic Design and Photography
20
Women’s NHL Experience draws rave reviews
By Shane Dale
The Women’s Hockey Organization
of Arizona (WHOA) wanted
to make sure that women hockey
players around the country had a
chance to play in the same exciting
venue as the men.
That led to the fi rst-ever NHL
Experience Tournament, a cooperative
event held last month between
the WHOA and the Phoenix Coyotes,
and, by all accounts, the showcase
was a resounding success.
“The purpose was to have good,
competitive hockey
and play other
high-caliber teams,”
said WHOA director
Kristin Heffern. “It
was a good, competitive
tournament to
give women the
opportunity to come
from all over and
play in Phoenix.”
In fact, so many
teams wanted to be
a part of the NHL
Experience that half
of them had to be
turned away.
“WHOA sent
out invitations to
women’s hockey
teams in the southwest
and beyond,”
Heffern said. “We
had to turn away six teams. It was a
tough time in Arizona because it was
Veteran’s Day Weekend and there
were a bunch of other youth tournaments
all competing for the same
sheets of ice.”
The tournament included the fi rst
six teams that applied on a fi rstcome,
fi rst-served basis. Those clubs
came to the Valley from all around
America to compete in a round-robin
format with a championship game at
the end.
“Part of NHL Experience is that
each team was going to get an opportunity
to skate in an NHL venue for
90 minutes, either before or after the
Coyotes game,” Heffern said.
Most of the games were played
at Arcadia Ice in Phoenix, and each
participating team was guaranteed
to play a game at Jobing.com Arena
in Glendale, home of the Coyotes.
At the conclusion of the tournament,
each team was part of a “group
night” in which players received
tickets to the Coyotes’ Nov. 8 game
against the Florida Panthers. Participants
were also invited to a pregame
tailgate and barbeque. Raffl e
prizes, including a photo-op and
autograph opportunity with Coyotes
With help from the Coyotes, women’s teams from around the country were able to take
the ice at Jobing.com Arena last month.
players, were also included in the
program.
Heffern says the WHOA is simply
taking advantage of hockey’s increasing
popularity among women.
“I think there’s been a lot more
exposure on the national level, and
I think that more younger women
are starting to see that,” she said. “I
think the collegiate women have gotten
a lot more exposure.
“Plus, in Arizona it’s great exercise,
and there’s a pretty good
foundation (for hockey). USA Hockey
has done a great job bringing women
into the fold.”
The WHOA had held similar
hockey tournaments in the past, but
this was the fi rst time that it was
done in a “full-up NHL venue with
multiple teams,” Heffern said.
“Basically, it was a great tournament
weekend, a lot of excitement.
For a lot of these women, where
do they get to skate in a venue like
that? It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,”
she said.
And the WHOA couldn’t have
done it without the Coyotes’ backing.
“They’ve been fantastic,” said
Heffern. “It’s fortunate that we have
such a great, supportive NHL team
in Arizona. Some didn’t have such an
experience (with
other NHL teams).
They’re a great
club to partner
with.”
And the Coyotes
helped the WHOA
make it up to those
teams that had to
be turned away
from the original
NHL Experience.
The Coyotes-
WHOA tandem put
together an NHL
pickup game for
women at Jobing.
com Arena the day
after Thanksgiving
following an
afternoon game between
the Coyotes
and Colorado Avalanche.
But it wasn’t a typical pickup
game, as the event featured referees
and scorekeepers. Participants also
received tickets to the Coyotes-Avs
game, an invitation to the pickup
game and a post-game barbeque and
tailgating social.
And Heffern is confi dent that
there will be another NHL Experience
Tournament next season that
will be even bigger and better than
this year’s successful run.
“I’ve sat down with my contacts
with the Coyotes, and it looks like in
2009, it’ll be same place, same time,
more teams, and defi nitely more fun
– if that’s even possible,” she said. ❂

Arizona Hockey Union
U16 93’s put to the test nationally
By Brian McDonough
With a development plan that includes
a schedule built around a combination
of Tier II and Tier I competition, the Arizona
Hockey Union’s U16 93 team has been put to the test
in the early goings.
“This team has a great deal of potential and will
only benefi t from the tough games it’s playing now,”
said Nick Karastamatis, who coaches the team along
with Donnie Rae.
The AHU U16 93’s have already participated in
a few high-profi le events, including the Jr. Bruins
Shootout in Boston and last month’s Nike Bauer Invite
in Chicago.
“Competing in tournaments like these will help the
fi rst-year Midgets mature quickly and prepare them
for bigger things in the future,” said Karastamatis.
Along the way, the Union has the opportunity to
play top teams from Maine, Massachusetts, Washington
State, Colorado and Ontario, which has only aided
the team’s progression.
“This is a great year of learning and growth for our
team, and you can see the players maturing and improving
every time they play,” said Karastamatis. ❂
Phoenix Polar Bears
Peewee 97’s walk for good cause
By Brian McDonough
The Phoenix Polar Bears’ Peewee 97
team got behind a worth cause last
month, participating in the Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer 5K walk.
“It’s very important to get these kids out in the
community so they understand the importance of giving
back,” said head coach Mindy French. “Being a
Phoenix Polar Bear is more than about being a hockey
player; it’s about teaching a sense of community involvement
and pride.”
And the players walked with a purpose, as two of
the boys recently lost a teacher to cancer.
“Almost all of us have lost a loved one to cancer,
and the boys saw each other walking in memory or
honor of someone that has positively infl uenced their
lives,” said French.
But the charitable involvement doesn’t end there.
This holiday season, the Peewees are going to hold a
food drive and hand out the food at a local food bank.
“We hope by involving the kids in these type of activities,
they’ll continue to be involved as they become
adults,” said French. ❂
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Jobing.com Arena
9400 W Maryland Ave
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Oceanside Ice Arena
1520 N. McClintock Drive
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ArizonaRubber.com 21

22
By Brian McDonough
The Desert Youth Hockey Association’s
Squirt Major team went
a perfect 4-0 to win the AA division
of the Kansas City Stars’ AA Fall
Breakout Tournament in late October,
culminating in a 6-3 triumph
over the Kansas City Fighting
Saints in the championship game.
“Everything seemed to come
together over the weekend,” said
coach Joe Petruzzella. “It took all
17 of the boys going at 110 percent
for us to be successful.”
Led by Jack Sampson’s strong
goaltending and solid defensive
play from Jono Taylor, Conner
Holloway and Tyler Svendson,
the Firebirds opened the tournament
with a 5-1 win over Russell Stover.
In the next game, netminder
Tristan Vanderbur pitched a 3-0
shutout over the St. Louis Rockets to
give DYHA a bye through the quar-
Women’s Hockey Organization of Arizona
November’s festivities a success
By Brian McDonough
terfi nals straight to the semis.
There, the Firebirds disposed of
the Affton (Missouri) Americans by a
7-4 count. Joey Petruzzella led the
way with two goals and three assists,
with Tyler Anderson and Parker
Villareal adding three points each.
Sampson again stood tall between
the pipes.
In the championship game,
Leighton Fisk and Quaid Mc-
The Women’s Hockey Organization of
Arizona (WHOA) closed out one of its
busiest months of the season in November,
which began with the NHL Experience tournament
at Jobing.com Arena.
In the event’s fi nale, the San Diego Heartbreakers
doubled up the hometown Phoenix Scorpions,
4-2, thanks to an empty-net goal.
Next up was the Phoenix Coyotes-Dallas Stars
game on Nov. 15, where the WHOA partnered with
Phoenix Coyotes Charities to hold a 50/50 raffl e.
The WHOA took to the ice at Jobing.com again
on Nov. 28 for a game of pickup hockey. The event
included a ticket to the Coyotes-Colorado Avalanche
game that day and 90 minutes of pickup which culminated
in post-game refreshments in the parking
lot.
And the WHOA isn’t slowing down to catch its
breath. Every Sunday at Arcadia Ice at 1:20 p.m.,
it’s hosting a women’s pickup game.
To get out on the ice, call the WHOA at (480) 829-
9060 or e-mail whoahockey@cox.net. ❂
Desert Youth Hockey Association
Squirts win tournament in Kansas City
The Firebirds’ Squirt Major team went undefeated
at October’s Fall Breakout Tournament in Kansas
City.
Bean rang up two goals
apiece and Tanner
Snyder and Parker
Arents each added a
goal as the Firebirds
skated to the title. Vanderbur
shut the door at the other end,
picking up his second win of the
tourney.
The line of Petruzzella (three
goals, eight assists), Anderson
(three goals, six assists) and
Villareal (four goals, fi ve assists)
led the way offensively for the
Firebirds throughout the tourna-
ment, with defensemen Carson
Kosobud and Colton Kramer
delivering solid performances
from the blue line.
“We still have three more AA
tournaments (in Las Vegas, Colorado
and North Dakota) that we’ll travel
to in the upcoming months, so hopefully
this will give us the confi dence
we need,” said Petruzzella. ❂

Arizona Girls Youth Hockey Association
U12 team shows well in Ontario
By Brian McDonough
The AZ Selects’ U12 AAA team headed
north of the border over Halloween weekend
where it participated in the Hocktoberfest tournament
against teams from the U.S. and Canada.
With only nine skaters, the Selects advanced to
championship game of the Ontario event before falling
to Niagara Falls, 3-0.
“With a short bench, we discussed the need to maintain
a total team effort and that they did,” said head
coach Dave Lyons.
The Selects sported a balanced scoring attack,
with Victoria Samuelsson, Lori Berger, Jenna
Miller, Abbi Fitzekam, Jessica Cartwright and
Jessie Carter all ringing up goals.
Mackenzie Lyons and Jessica Conlon were
strong on the defensive side of the puck, and goaltender
Kelsey Atkinson again stood tall between the
pipes, notching her second tournament shutout of the
year.
Lyons was also impressed with fi rst-year Select
Hanna Jorlamon.
“She continues to improve and gain confi dence,” said
the coach. “She constantly made the right play.” ❂
THE HOCKEY MOM:
No-fail gift ideas for your special Hockey Mom
It’s that time of year
where us females have
the twisted pleasure of
observing males wandering
aimlessly in our
territory - the mall - while
participating in our sport
- shopping.
If they’re feeling really
adventurous, Dad will
have the kids in tow. Us
moms may experience another
subtle snicker when
we spot the bewildered
pair or pack, only because
we can empathize.
So players, Dads, I
want to throw you a bone
here and possibly make
this experience a little
less stressful.
Some of these ideas
are no-brainers to us females,
but you boys often
remind us that you can’t
read minds, so
here you are.
1. A little
pampering goes
a long ways.
Grab a gift certifi
cate to your
Mom’s favorite
nail place or
spa. Moms love
the opportunity
to steal a few minutes for
themselves.
2. Cute outerwear
will keep us warm while
looking fashionable at the
rink. I know shopping for
clothes is a very intimidating
process. Maybe do
a little research and fi nd
out where your Mom likes
to shop then seek out a
helpful sales person.
3. Team paraphernalia
is always fun. From
Wilson
Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association
Mite Phantoms enjoying ice time
By Brian McDonough
If their fi rst game of the season is any
indication of things to come, then the
Jr. Coyotes’ Mite House Phantoms have a lot to look
forward to.
Down 3-0 after the fi rst period, the team rallied to
force a 6-6 tie.
“It was the fi rst real-game experience any of them
ever had,” said head coach John Winchell.
With a roster full of promising players, Aidan Carney,
Patrick Casey, Carson Cooper, Josh Doan
and Cabot Fowler have been the team’s top pointgetters
early on, with goaltender Clayton Osmussen
fi nding a home between the pipes.
“All of the boys really enjoy being on the ice,” said
Winchell. “They have fun competing with each other
during practice drills, and they all pay close attention
to what’s going on in the games.”
For Winchell, his goals are simple: for the players
to improve their skills, have a great time and learn to
love the game.
“These kids get exactly two hours of ice each
week, and we all make the most of every minute
we’re out there,” said the coach. ❂
an association
Hockey Mom Tshirt
to hats for
those ponytail
mornings to
apparel with
team colors,
Moms like to
show their team
spirit.
4. Boots!
Since we live in a climate
that only allows us to
wear boots a very short
period of the year, we
want to take full advantage
of the temps in the
rink. OK. A little recon
may be necessary for this
one - like shoe-size verifi
cation. Again, ask for
a sales rep’s help on this
one OR a gift card will
work to give your Mom
the opportunity to fi nd
her perfect pair.
5. Material items
can be fun and show the
thoughtfulness that went
into choosing the gift, but
there is one thing that a
Hockey Mom would love
to have which is free. It’s
called the gift of SLEEP.
Maybe take early-morning
rink duty for a month
or take the entire family
to the rink with you while
leaving Mom behind for
some peace and quiet in
the house. Just a little
time to ourselves goes a
long ways in rejuvenating
us Moms.
Happy shopping! ❂
Julie Wilson is a local
freelance designer and
writer. She can be contacted
at julie@arizonarubber.com.
ArizonaRubber.com 23

24
Where Are They Now?
A list of homegrown Arizona hockey players
Professional
AHL
Dave Spina (Mesa) - San Antonio Rampage
CHL
Taylor Hustead (Scottsdale) - Mississippi River Kings
ECHL
Dusty Collins (Gilbert) - Ontario Reign
Brian Esner (Paradise Valley) - Gwinnett Gladiators
Mike Nesdill (Phoenix) - Mississippi Sea Wolves
College
Division I - Men
ECAC
Max Mobley (Glendale) - St. Lawrence University
Hockey East
Dave Strathman (Tempe) - Northeastern University
Division III - Men
NCHA
Sam Eccles (Mesa) - St. Norbert College
Division III – Women
ECAC West
Sydney Williams (Phoenix) - Chatham University
Junior
BCHL
Joey Holka (Phoenix) - Penticton Vees
Chris Walker (Phoenix) - Powell River Kings
EJHL
Kyle Beattie (Avondale) - New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs
Alex Cantor (Phoenix) - New Jersey Hitmen
Preston Decker (Phoenix) - Green Mountain Glades
Steven Edgeworth (Phoenix) - New Jersey Hitmen
Eric Ferber (Scottsdale) - Bay State Breakers
Jeremy Langlois (Tempe) - New Jersey Hitmen
Dylan Plimmer (Chandler) - South Shore Kings
MJHL
Taylor Dornbier (Chandler) - Twin Cities Northern Lights
NAHL
Jon Bobb (Chandler) - Springfi eld Jr. Blues
Matt Grogan (Gilbert) - Bismarck Bobcats
Andrew Hamburg (Phoenix) - St. Louis Bandits
Duncan McKellar (Phoenix) - Wenatchee Wild
Luke Moffatt (Paradise Valley) - U.S. Under-17 Team
Billy Mulligan (Chandler) - Topeka RoadRunners
Brian Parson (Phoenix) - Fairbanks Ice Dogs
USHL
Danny Heath (Glendale) - Tri-City Storm
Derik Johnson (Scottsdale) - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Phillip Samuelsson (Scottsdale) - Chicago Steel
Colton St. Clair (Gilbert) - Fargo Force
WHL
Cody Castro (Peoria) - Lethbridge Hurricanes
Kyle Verdino (Phoenix) - Kelowna Rockets
Kevin Woodyatt (Scottsdale) - Red Deer Rebels
Send additions/deletions/corrections to info@arizonarubber.com
Coyote Cup Continued from Page 6
started to expand it when we took it
over.”
Obviously, you can’t get the word
out without a little aggressive marketing.
“We have always done, and we
still do, a lot of advertising,” said
Strong. “There are a number of Web
sites that allow you to post your tournament
information, and we’ve taken
advantage of all of those. We’ve also
advertised in California Rubber and
Arizona Rubber and we have a number
of distribution lists.
“Since the dates have been consistent,
a lot of folks know it’s going to
be there,” Strong added.
Regardless, there have been
different teams almost every year.
While most of the in-state organiza-
tions remain the same from year to
year, the only out-of-state organizations
that Strong can think of that
have been at the tournament
all 10 years
include the L.A. Jr.
Kings and the San
Diego Ice Arena
Oilers.
The Coyotes
Cup organizers, led
by Strong, generally
shoot for eight teams
in each of the 15 different
divisions (listed above).
“Some divisions we get to eight
immediately, whereas with other divisions,
we struggle to get up to four,”
said Strong. “Last year, we ended up
taking the Bantam A division and
split it into two separate divisions,
and this year we’re in that situation
with the Peewee A division. We try to
accommodate everyone and try not to
shut anyone out.”
With so much going on, Strong
has Cup offi cials at each of the
rinks for every game, taking
care of any situations that
may arise, as well as keeping
the standings for the
various divisions updated
on dry-erase boards at each
rink.
Additionally, he praises his
wife Joanna Strong for her behind-the-scenes
work.
“She coordinates all the travel,
works with the hotels and blocks off
rooms,” Bob said. “She’s also helps
teams with fl ights, and what’s available.”
It’s a lot of work, but a labor of love
in an even busier time of year. ❂

Path to Promise
College hopeful Beattie shining in New Hampshire
By Matt Mackinder
Kyle Beattie knew one day he’d
have to move away from his
comfortable Arizona home to realize
a lifelong dream.
This season, the 17-year-old
Avondale native ventured to the
Northeast to play for the New
Hampshire Jr. Monarchs of the
Eastern Junior Hockey League.
“My mom didn’t want me to go
at fi rst,” said Beattie. “I think it
was tough for both of my parents,
but I think they saw this was the
best for me and I know that’s what
they’ve always wanted.”
How Beattie, who led New
Hampshire in scoring heading into
Thanksgiving weekend, got the
chance to play for the Monarchs is
nothing short of a whirlwind.
The Wichita Falls Wildcats of
the North American League drafted
the 6-foot, 170-pound Beattie
last May and he was also picked by
the United States League’s Omaha
Lancers fi fth overall in the 2007
USHL Futures Draft. Once he was
cut from Omaha’s camp, he got a
call from Jr. Monarchs head coach
Sean Tremblay inviting Beattie
to see what New Hampshire could
offer.
“I wasn’t sure where I was going
to play after last season ended,”
Beattie said. “Coming out here to
the EJ turned out to be the best
option. The Monarchs organization
has a good reputation for putting
kids into Division I college programs
and when I came out here,
I really got to like the coaches as
well.”
With moving to a new state also
came the adventure of learning a
new school system and a slew of
new people his age.
“The school thing was a big adjustment
at fi rst because my school
back home has like 2,000 kids and
the one I go to here has maybe
500,” said Beattie. “It’s a totally
different world, but I’ve only been
here three months or so and I think
I already know pretty much everyone.
I feel like I’ve been
here forever.”
And for
Beattie, there
are plenty
of familiar
faces around
the league as
no less than
seven Arizona
natives dot
the rosters
of EJHL
teams this
season.
“There’s
lot of guys
from back
home in the
EJ and even
some guys
on my team
from out of
town that are
in the same
situation as
me,” Beattie
said. “It’s fun
to play against
the kids from
Arizona and to be
with the guys on
my team who know
this is what you have
to go through to play
junior hockey.”
On the college
front, Beattie has
started going on
offi cial visits to
Division I schools,
but hasn’t made a decision
just yet.
“I’m not in any rush,”
said the DYHA and P.F.
Chang’s alum. “There’s no
timetable and I’m not going to commit
just to commit. I’m slowly narrowing
my search to a few schools
I could see myself attending and
playing hockey for. I probably won’t
go anywhere until 2010 anyway, so
like I said, there really is no rush.”
As if Division I college potential
wasn’t enough, Beattie and former
P.F. Chang’s teammate
Philip Samuelsson,
who plays for
the USHL’s
Chicago
Steel,
were
also
recognized
on
the NHL
Central
Scouting
Bureau’s
“Players
To Watch”
list for next
summer’s
draft in Montreal.
“It’s pretty cool
to see your name on
a list like that, but
I just want to stay
focused on playing for
the Monarchs,” Beattie
said. “Growing up,
there were a lot of us
the past fi ve or
six years that
knew we were
good and knew
that if we kept
working that we
could compete
anywhere. Now
to know that
we’re being looked at by
colleges and even the
NHL, it’s really exciting.” ❂
ArizonaRubber.com 25
Photo/Ray Labbe

Photo/Karen Fuller
26
BTM/Arizona
Rubber Test
Team Mission
of the Month
Test Team Member:
Tommy Tuohy
Teams:
Teams: AZ Hockey Union
16U 92’s, Brophy Varsity A, A,
Tour Outcasts 92’s
Product: Warrior’s
“Hitman” Pants
College roller hockey comes to ASU
By Alex Dodt
College roller hockey made its
debut in Arizona last month
when the Western Collegiate Roller
Hockey League (WCRHL) held a
Division I tournament at
Rollerplex in Peoria.
The event was hosted by Arizona
State University’s roller hockey program,
which was playing in its fi rst
offi cial tournament as a team.
“Bringing the college game to
Arizona is important for the future
of the sport,” said Sun Devils coach
Nick Boyarsky. “There’s already
a buzz among high school players
about being involved in years to
come.”
Seven other Division I programs
from Colorado, Nevada and California
came to the event, including
western powerhouses UC Irvine,
UNLV and Long Beach State. Each
team played four games of their
OVERVIEW: Talk about style;
Louie Vuitton would be proud.
These pants are primarily black,
with gold accents running down
the sides. The design on the inside
of the pant matches the design on
the outside. In terms of weight,
these pants were neither too heavy
nor too light.
COMFORT: The pants are well
cushioned and fi t well to the body.
They also have Warrior’s “V-Tek
Moisture Management Liner”
which probably helps keep the
pants light, even at the end of a
game or practice.
FIT: The Hitman pant has what
I’d describe as a loose fi t, which
I prefer. The waistband strap is
adjustable enough so that no matter
what kind of tightness I want,
I have. For a pant as beefy as this
one, I was surprised by how easy
they move.
Inline Hockey
regular-season schedule.
“We started off strong with a win
and a tie,” said Boyarsky of the club’s
Freshman Long Duong led ASU in scoring
at its fi rst tournament last month.
3-3 deadlock with Long Beach State
and 8-1 triumph over Cal State
Northridge. “But our last two games
were not easy and we didn’t have any
gas left to fi nish strong.”
PROTECTION: The pants
protect well on hits along the
boards; it seems as if the padding
is always where it needs to be. In
addition to the standard range of
protection that you’d fi nd in an
average hockey pant, the Hitman
also sports the “SixPack Belly
Protector” and Warrior’s exclusive
“SpineTek” to cover your lower
back.
WEAR: I’m on the ice several
times a week and can honestly
say these pants held up beyond all
expectations. If you were to look at
them now, you’d think they were
brand-new pants.
SUMMARY: I’d recommend the Hitman
to players who are seeking a
top-level pant for high-level hockey.
Any player that deals with contact
in hockey knows that it’s important
to have the right protection, and
Hitman answers the call. ❂
In the third game, ASU fell to
UNLV, a team that made the Sweet
16 at nationals last season. In the
Sun Devils’ fi nal game against UC
Santa Barbara, a power-play goal
with 36 seconds left clinched a 5-4
win for the Californians.
Arizona State will play 16
more regular-season games in the
WCRHL, which is a one of seven
regions in the National Collegiate
Roller Hockey Association
(NCRHA).
If the Sun Devils receive one of 24
national bids at the end of the season,
they will travel to Feasterville,
Pa., in April for the college national
championship tournament.
“With the second-semester transfers
we have coming in, I see this
team fi nishing very well at the end of
the year,” said Boyarsky. ❂
Get more inline coverage at
ArizonaRubber.com!

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ArizonaRubber.com 25