Oceanside Adult Hockey League getting set for Summer 2009 season

The Summer 2009 season for the Oceanside Adult Hockey League is almost here. The league will begin on March 25, 2009.

But, if you’re new to the league, new player evaluations are scheduled for Wednesday, March 11th at Oceanside Ice Arena.

There are teams in A, B, C, and Over-35 Divisions. Each season is comprised of a 20-game schedule plus the playoffs, which all teams make.

For more information on how to get involved in the Summer 2009 season of the Oceanside Adult Hockey League, click here.

HOCKEY WEEKEND ACROSS AMERICA highlights a busy weekend of hockey in the Valley from February 13-15

from Phoenix Coyotes Media Relations

GLENDALE, ARIZONA — The Phoenix Coyotes, in association with USA Hockey, are encouraging Arizona residents to participate in Hockey Weekend Across America, from Friday, Feb. 13 to Sunday, Feb. 15.

While USA Hockey is leading the Hockey Weekend Across America (HWAA) initiative, the Coyotes will put a local spin on each of the weekend’s events.

The event kicks off on Friday, Feb. 13 with “Wear Your Favorite Jersey to School Day.” Students of all ages across Arizona are encouraged to wear their favorite hockey jersey to school. Schools can submit group photos to hockeyweekendacrossamerica@phoenixcoyotes.com and the five schools with the most students wearing hockey jerseys will each receive an allotment of street hockey equipment courtesy of the NHL and Franklin Sports, as well as a day of street hockey instruction from the Coyotes Hockey Development Team.

Saturday, Feb. 14 has been designated by USA Hockey as “Bring a Friend to the Rink Day.” The Coyotes will be offering ticket specials to all Arizona hockey players for their 8 p.m. game versus the Calgary Flames at Jobing.com Arena that night. For information on tickets, players can contact Scott Schiff, Coyotes director of group sales, at 623-772-3461. Prior to the game, a local youth hockey player will drop the ceremonial first puck using a special HWAA puck provided by USA Hockey.

Saturday will be a big day for hockey throughout the Valley. In addition to the Coyotes-Flames game at Jobing.com Arena, there will be free introductory hockey clinics put on by Kids First at Arcadia Ice Arena and Polar Ice Chandler. The Phoenix Polar Bears will also be hosting their President’s Day Tournament featuring 99 teams in 14 divisions from cities throughout the United States and Canada. The tournament will be held at the three local Polar Ice facilities in Chandler, Gilbert and Peoria. Polar Ice Chandler will also be the site of the Phoenix Polar Bears Junior A team’s weekend series against their rivals from San Diego.

In conjunction with USA Hockey’s “Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day” on Sunday, Feb. 15, the Coyotes will honor a group of hockey heroes from around the state of Arizona during an intermission of the Coyotes game against the Flames on Saturday.

For more information, visit www.PhoenixCoyotes.com or www.hockeyweekendacrossamerica.com.

Hacker Hockey Club News

There are some GOALIE openings coming up next week too if you are looking to play. And please be careful about signing up next Sun Feb 1st. Your cancellation makes a lot of extra work and will end up costing you.

• If you want to play in the President Cup Feb 13-15 at the Ice Den then sign up for either the line 1 or line 2 team ASAP. The details were in yesterday’s email.

• Tues Jan 27 is our monthly NWTS Biz Card Swap at the Keg restaurant in Tempe Market Place (McClintock and the 202) There will be a buffet of appetizers for the suggested cost of $5. This will be a great venue for future meetings too we hope. 5 PM. Please be present to kickoff the new ‘09 season!
See you on the ice

–Frank Wright

Who says the Valley isn’t a hockey town?

When people think of great hockey towns in America, Minneapolis and Boston would come to mind immediately. Where would Phoenix fall on that list?

Since the Coyotes moved here from Winnipeg in 1996, the growth of ice hockey in the Valley of the Sun has been astronomical. Thousands have picked up the sport as fans and more children in the Valley are playing than ever before. There’s even numerous outlets for adults who want to start playing the sport, or continue on the i in an effort to stay in shape. One of the most popular leagues in town is the Coyotes Adult Hockey League.

Housed in the Alltel Ice Den in North Scottsdale, the Coyotes Adult Hockey League, which offers year-round play is in the midst of its tenth year in the Valley. More than 600 players participate on 38 teams in 5 different divisions based on skill level. The Coyotes Division is the top division in the league, and is designed for players who have previously played a high level of competitive hockey. In fact, there’s former NHL players who appear on rosters in the Coyotes Division. Former New York Islander forward Derek King , who scored 261 goals in his 13-year career actually plays goalie for a Coyotes Division team called the Flyers. Rob Cowie, who played for the Los Angeles Kings for a couple of seasons in the 90s, is currently the second leading scorer in the Coyotes Division.

But CAHL Director Todd Bisson says there’s a division for everybody, regardless of skill level. There are two intermediate levels, the Kachina Division and the Crescent Moon Division. The Icebreaker Division is geared toward novice entry level players, and the Greyhawk Division is designed for players 30 years or older. The oldest player in the division is 69 years of age, while te average player is in his mid-30’s.

Bisson points out that the league as a whole is very competitive, especially the Greyhawk Division. Seven out of the last 8 winners of the over-30 tournament that have gone to Nationals have come out of our buildings, Bisson said.

Bisson, himself is a hockey nut. Hailing originally from Canada, he played junior, collegiate and minor league hockey, and in addition to running the CAHL, he laces up his skates in the Coyotes Division. He says overall, Phoenix is a good hockey town and thrives from the fact that a lot of former hockey players who grew up playing the sport in Canada retire in the Phoenix area. “Our hockey is very competitive here compared to other Sun Belt areas” Bisson said.

If you’re a novice, and you don’t feel you’re up to speed to join a team yet, the CAHL and the Alltel Ice Den offer skill development classes to get you more comfortable before actually joining the league.

Bisson sums up the CAHL by saying, “most of all, guys come here to play and have fun. It’s for them to get in shape, or stay in shape, and keep playing the game they love.”

For more information, or to register online, visit the CAHL Official Website.