- Oct 26, 2006
- 18,598
- 11,553
News Article: NY Times: Arizona Warms Up to Hockey
- Thread starter The Feckless Puck
- Start date
In b4 conspiracy theories of Auston Matthews being kidnapped from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and brainwashed to be an Arizonian.
letowskie
Registered User
The prospect of having McEichel + Domi + Matthews as our future F core, really makes another tank next season hyper-appealling.
ck26
Alcoholab User
Can we start selling 2016-2017 season tickets yet? I've seen significantly more advertising / branding around the building this season and I only like the idea of tanking for Matthews if LeBlanc and Barroway are getting all the bills paid.
letowskie
Registered User
I think getting a kid like Matthews with connections would go a long way to further the reach of NHL in the desert, even more so than McEichel. It's just a fairytale story, if you think about it; I'm sure even casual fans would see it as a great draw.
TheLegend
Megathread Gadfly
It was.... posted it in BoH a couple weeks ago. You should drop in more often.
It always gets me how little some people understand about the growth of youth hockey in Arizona.
- Oct 26, 2006
- 18,598
- 11,553
It was.... posted it in BoH a couple weeks ago. You should drop in more often.
I already ragequit the McDavid thread there. It's hard to maintain a sensible dialogue with the Legions of the Miserable there.
The only thing that kinda bothers me is that I think the 'house league' numbers are still down. In the early 2000s I scorekept for youth games at Polar Ice Chandler, and there were always 6,8,10 teams in each level of the house youth leagues. The last time I looked, maybe a year ago, before all the changing of hands started, the Chandler and Gilbert rinks had a combined league that had maybe 4 or 6 each... a small sample size, I know.
I think at the high end (travel teams), we have plenty of quality coaches, players, and what-not, but I wonder about the lower levels sometimes.
TheLegend
Megathread Gadfly
Well it is a relatively expensive sport to get involved with when you compare it to the other youth programs out there. Plus the recession hit Arizona the hardest and that might be a factor in the numbers.
But when you look at the quality of the coaching available, with many former NHLers living here, it says something.
TheLegend
Megathread Gadfly
I already ragequit the McDavid thread there. It's hard to maintain a sensible dialogue with the Legions of the Miserable there.
That's why you never go in there without downing a couple of Pan-Galactic Gargleblasters beforehand and don't forget to take your towel.
My daughter plays house and right now they have 4 full teams and 6 goalies. Parents have started asking if we can make that 6 smaller teams instead, since kids are getting less ice time.
The problem -,as it almost always is - comes down to open ice slots. Some rinks probably have open slots, but others are pretty much packed to the gills with youth and adult and travel leagues.
The problem -,as it almost always is - comes down to open ice slots. Some rinks probably have open slots, but others are pretty much packed to the gills with youth and adult and travel leagues.
It's too bad no one ever bought Ozzie Ice and got it up and running again. My understanding is it was kind of small but if they could renovate it I think it's in a great location (just south of Shea on 32nd st). As it stands now those in North Phoenix don't have any rinks close by, they have to choose either Peoria Polar Ice or Ice Den.
Wasn't always the best neighborhood. Used to practice there when I played in HS. Employee got murdered by another employee there as well. The fake ice wasn't all that bad, but they had a real rink that was half size. Great for cheap practice.
I'd like to see someone invest in more facilities like that. There has to be some untapped demand out there.
letowskie
Registered User
They would probably prefer a package of established players (e.g. Boedker + Yandle + 1st) rather than swapping for another largely equivalent talent.
Yeah, I knew the victim's girlfriend through a mutual friend, sad story - we all used to go play 3-on-3 coed pickup games on Friday nights at Ozzie...talk about a workout.
They eventually converted the fake ice half to real ice; when I worked near MetroCenter I could go over there, plunk down $10 and have one whole side to myself for stick time at like 10pm.
TheLegend
Megathread Gadfly
Can't find anything on the original cost but it took $5 million to add the third sheet.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2011/06/09/20110609scottsdale-ice-den-adding-3rd-rink-5-million.html
It'd be nice if the Coyotes and ASU could team up to build a dedicated hockey practice/training facility.
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