Arizona Hockey Union


Jackson, Levos leading Knights’ Junior A charge A


By Shane Dale


s part of the Arizona Hockey Clubs, the Phoenix Knights Junior A team has made the organization proud of its accomplishments and contributions to the club and community in its inaugural season. Working through an unusual amount of adversity with a great deal of injuries and illnesses, the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) team has played through every game, series and tournament with a ton of heart and hockey soul, says Arizona Hockey Union board member Rich Caruso.


“On a number of occasions, with only 12-13 players on the bench, the team has played some great, tenacious hockey before physical exhaustion, holding teams to within one goal or even leading before the third period of the game,” he said.


“During the first 25-30 games, win or lose, the score was within 1-2 goals at the end of the contest. All Junior A teams work through a variety of situations over the course of a season, and we’ve had to persevere.”


Caruso and company credits two local-born players who have led the Knights’ charge through the midpoint of the 2011-12 season: forwards Jar- rod Levos and Chace Jackson.


Levos, a 1992 birth year from Chandler, led the team with 33 points (17 goals, 16 assists) heading into the New Year.


Jarrod Levos Chace Jackson


Caruso. He had 30 points (20 goals, 10 assists) heading into January.


“Chace continues to make a positive impact on the team,” said Caruso, noting that Jackson, like Levos, was also approached by many scouts at the Shootout in Las Vegas.


Caruso said Levos’ and Jackson’s teammates have shown “great spirit and desire” to do well as a first-year Junior A squad and, with plenty of


Midget for a Day event a success By Shane Dale


T


he Arizona Hockey Clubs’ youngest members got to buddy up with some of its older players at the organization’s Midget for a Day event in early Decem- ber.


“It started out as a small fundraiser for the Midget AAA team, where any younger player


paid a $20 practice fee and got to participate in dryland and a full- ice practice, then have a pizza


dinner with the Midget AAA play- ers,” said Arizona Hockey


players and got to scrimmage - and even play some 4-on-4 hockey - alongside their mentors.


Melissa Yubeta said her son, Luke, a Squirt B player, had a blast. “He said his buddy (Midget player) was great,” she said. “The Midgets know how to pass, obviously, and how to connect the play, where the Squirts and Mites don’t so much, and so that part of it I think he enjoyed the most. They got to take


Young Arizona Hockey Union players were able to connect with mem- bers of the program’s Midget AAA team at last month’s Midget for a Day fundraiser.


Union president Gina Quinn. “It was a great opportunity for the little guys to be mentored by the older players.” About 15 kids from the Arizona Hockey Union’s Pee Wee, Squirt and Mite squads were paired with Midget


8 magazine


passes and high-five with these big kids.” Yubeta


said Luke would


jump at the chance to participate in a Midget for a Day fundraiser next season, or even sooner.


“He really enjoyed it,” she said. “I think given the opportunity to do it again this season, he’d do it.”


“He has excellent hands and tenacity on the ice,” Caruso said.


At last month’s WSHL Showcase Shootout tournament in Las Vegas, Levos was approached by a number of scouts from NCAA Division III schools and other colleges in the eastern part of the United States, according to Caruso. Jackson, another 92-born, hails from Peo- ria and has great speed and focus, according to


hockey left to play, the club hopes to make a run at securing a playoff spot and finishing strong. “Junior A hockey is a great thing for the sport here in Arizona,” Caruso said. “It offers a chance for players 16-20 years old to develop their skills and potentially move on to higher levels of hockey, learn new life skills and, ultimately, participate in an overall experience that only a few achieve.”


The Knights have three big tests in front of them to open 2012. First, they’ll travel to Wyoming for a Jan. 13-15 series against the Cheyenne Stampede, which sat in third place in the WSHL’s Mountain Conference after the holiday break.


“The Stampede is also looking to maintain its spot in the league standings, so it should be a great matchup for us,” Caruso said. From Feb. 3-5, the Knights will play their final home series against the El Paso (Tex.) Rhinos.


“We’re looking to build up the roster over the next couple of weeks, and hope to give the Rhinos some great competition and close in on the final weeks of the season with our heads held high,” Caruso said.


Following that series, the Knights will take on the crosstown rival Arizona Redhawks, who are also having a great season and, like Phoenix, gar- nered plenty of college attention at the Showcase in Las Vegas.


For a complete end-of-season schedule, visit the Phoenix Knights Junior A Web page tab at ArizonaHockeyUnion.com.


Presidents’ Day tourney to reach record numbers


By Shane Dale A


record 133 teams, including 36 from Canada, will compete in the upcom-


ing Phoenix Presidents’ Day Invitational tournament, hosted by the Arizona Hockey Clubs, from Feb. 17-20 thanks to a brand-new sheet of ice. “This year, we secured the new south


sheet at the Ice Den (in Scottsdale), which has allowed us to grow the tournament from 120 teams,” said Arizona Hockey Union presidentGina Quinn. “We’ve sold out (the tournament) by November the past couple of


years and have had to turn away 15-20 teams, which we hate to do. The extra ice has cut our waitlist down now to under 10 teams.” Tournament directorChuck Allen pointed out that the economic


impact of this year’s tournament will also reach new levels. Counting airfare, hotel revenue, rental cars, restaurant visits, rink operators, referees and scorekeepers, he estimates a total of $3-$3.5 million will be spent by tourney participants. Attendees will also be able to watch their coaches match up against


NHL alumni in a special event game on Friday, Feb. 17, or purchase discounted tickets to the Phoenix Coyotes game against Dallas Stars at Jobing.com Arena on Saturday, Feb. 18. Allen said the attraction for the teams that travel from Canada


and the northern U.S. is the warm weather and a reputation of great competition. “It’s almost a vacation destination for them while they get to play


some good hockey,” he said. “It seems we get greater and greater interest out of Canada every year, that’s for sure.”


ArizonaHockeyUnion.com


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