Inline Hockey Association of Arizona
Changes greet High School division for the better T
By Alex Dodt
he Inline Hockey Associa- tion of Arizona (IHAAZ)
has reorganized its High School division for the up- coming campaign, and by all accounts the changes will
make the circuit more competitive,
cost-effective and entertaining for the participating student-athletes. Highlighting the adjustments is the division’s
newly-adopted regular-season format, which marks a change from years past in which all teams played a standard five-tournament weekend season leading up to State Finals. “We see this new format as a big steppingstone
towards building the scholastic part of the sport,” said IHAAZ president Jim Curley. “Teams will like the new changes with the chance to play more games with more frequency.” The league will also be split into two regions:
Metro, encompassing all Phoenix- and Prescott-area teams, and South, which will be comprised of all Yuma and Lake Havasu clubs. All teams will play a 30-game regular-season
schedule. The monthly IHAAZ tournaments will now feature high school “festivals” in which all teams will play opponents from the other region. Squads will play their own in-region games locally throughout the season. Instead of crowing winners at each tournament,
all teams will be seeded heading into State Finals based on their performance during the regular season. At the May showcase, teams will be split into skill-level divisions, including 5A, 4A and, if there are enough teams, 3A. The new format also translates into a new cost
structure, which translates into more games for less money than years past. Each team’s total league fee will be $2,500, with a $900 deposit due at registra-
kids involved. Alex MacDonald, of Phoenix, is a freshman at
Horizon High and one player who will benefit from the new scheduling procedure. Like many other kids, MacDonald is balancing travel ice hockey with a desire to play more inline. “I like the new format because it gives me a chance
to participate in high school roller more often,” said MacDonald. “It’s an amazing opportunity for kids like me to keep playing roller during the ice season.” The High School division will also see a few new
teams join the IHAAZ. Pinnacle and Boulder Creek will have teams for the first time and Centennial, a former state and national champion, will return to the league as well. “Kids are starting to see that this is a legitimate
place for them to play,” said Curley. “These new teams are a direct result of seeing their friends hav- ing the opportunity to play.” The IHAAZ will continue its State Finals festivi-
Brophy, the defending IHAAZ Division I High School champi- ons, will try to repeat last year’s performance under a new scheduling format this season.
tion, and ensure a 30-game regular season plus State Finals. “Teams will get more for their money this year,”
said Curley. “We were happy to keep the cost about the same while increasing the number of games.” Another benefit of the new regular-season format
is that the entire game schedule will be finalized before the first puck drops, helping teams avoid conflicts with other sports and activities and get more
IHAAZ.org
ties with the inclusion of a skills competition and all-star game for the High School division. Individual awards will also be handed out for High Scorer, Top Goaltender and Most Valuable Player. “We think it’s important to have things like the
skills competition and all-star games for the kids,” said Curley. “It really adds to the atmosphere of the events.” The registration deadline for high school teams is
Oct. 31. All teams must have at least six players and a goaltender on their roster. The regular season will begin in December.
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