Mark Ciaccio

I am a BIG fan of Hockey! I am a Phoenix Coyotes FAN!

May 29, 2009 By murphhockey 3 Comments

My name is Patrick Murphy, my hockey friends call me Murph. I am a Phoenix Coyotes FAN! I am a BIG fan of hockey! I have been playing hockey in Arizona since I was three years old. I started in the Kids First Hockey Program sponsored by the Phoenix Coyotes.

I have big dreams just like the Coyotes players did, when they were young. My goal is to play in the NHL for the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, AZ, when I get older.

Who ever said there is no hockey in the desert, is mistaking! I am entering my 4th season of travel hockey, and Arizona’s youth hockey program is thriving in the desert. Last season, I played on the Jr. Coyotes Travel hockey team. I have skated at rinks in Scottsdale, Flagstaff, Tempe, Phoenix, Tucson, Chandler, Gilbert and in Glendale during intermission at the Phoenix Coyotes game at Jobing.com Arena. The Phoenix Coyotes players are an inspiration to youth hockey players, we need them to remain here and continue to support the youth hockey programs. Some of the NHL players themselves have kids playing hockey here.

The local rinks are full of ex-NHL players lending their talents as Coaches. Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe has the likes of Mark Ciaccio (Coyotes Power Skating Coach), Wayne McBean (NY Islanders), Sean Whyte (LA Kings), Alex Hicks (Florida Panthers), Derek King (St. Louis Blues) John Kosabud (ECHL). Gilbert, Arizona’s own Dusty Collins (AHL) who is currently playing in the Calder Cup Finals with the Manitoba Moose. Collins runs the Collins Hockey Camp at Oceanside in the summer. My current Coach, Ed Kastelic played for the Washington Capitals and Hartford Whalers.

I was 4 when my parents took me to my first Coyotes game. Jobing.com Arena is the most awesome place to watch a hockey game! My family was a few rows off the ice and I knew that this was where I wanted to be, in an ice rink and playing for the NHL. Since then, I continue to catch home games as my travel schedule allows. I even took the day off from school to come out and support the Phoenix Coyotes Rookies as they took on the LA Kings Rookies. What great talent our Phoenix Coyotes Organization has!

The Phoenix Coyotes have always been very good to their fans and I will continue to support them here in the desert! I believe Howler will continue to HOWL in the desert for all to hear! I have had the most incredible experiences playing hockey and it all started with the Phoenix Coyotes! www.murphhockey.com

Filed Under: NHL Tagged With: Alex Hicks, Caldor Cup, Derek King, Dusty Collins, Hartford Whalers, John Kosabud, Jr Coyotes, Kids First Hockey, Manitoba Moose, Mark Ciaccio, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, PHoenix Coyotes Rookies, save the coyotes.com, Sean Whyte, Washington Capitals, Wayne McBean, Youth Hockey

Summer Hockey Camps/Clinics

May 21, 2009 By murphhockey Leave a Comment

There is so much to do this summer, especially if you want to play hockey. I will be attending the Collins Hockey Camp in July at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe. Oceanside has some great things going on this summer, Mark Ciaccio Power Skating Skill Development Camp is June 1-5th and Brock Ballard’s Evolution of Hockey Day Camp. Mark Ciaccio will also be at the Alltel Ice Den in Scottsdale, June 8-12th

I also recommend, Kurt Goar’s Big City Summer Hockey Camp at Polar Ice Gilbert, I have attend Big City and Kurt is a awesome Coach.

Filed Under: Training Tagged With: Alltel Ice den, Big CIty Boys Summer Hockey, Brock Ballard, Collins Hockey Camp, Dusty Collins, Kurt Goar, Mark Ciaccio, murphhockey, NHL, Oceanside Ice Arena, patrick murphy, Polar Ice Gilbert, power skating, Scottsdale, Youth Hockey

NHL Coyotes Power Skating Coach Mark Ciaccio

September 20, 2008 By murphhockey Leave a Comment

Coyotes Mark Ciaccio

The Jr. Coyotes were fortunate to have the Phoenix Coyotes Power Skating Coach attend their practice on Thursday night. Coach Mark Ciaccio ran the same drills with us that he has the NHL players do.

Coach Ciaccio spent an hour teaching us about staying low to the ice and having our skates come back to the V position. We worked on crossovers and then without sticks, we put our arms out like jet airplanes and ran two at a time doing crossovers around the circles. We had incredible speed! It is my favorite drill.

During my fall break from school, I look forward to attending his Hockey Skills Clinic on October 9 & 10 at the Alltel Ice Den in Scottsdale.

Here is a video of the first time Coach Ciacco attended our preseason practice in June 2008: Video

From USA Today: In an effort to tone up certain parts of his game, C Olli Jokinen has been working with Coyotes power skating coach Mark Ciaccio.

Another great article about the NHL Phoenix Coyotes players whose game has improved with the help of Mark Ciaccio: Article

Filed Under: NHL, Training Tagged With: hockey skills, Mark Ciaccio, murphhockey, NHL, Patrick Murphy HOckey Blog, Phoenix Coyotes, power skating skill, Youth Hockey

Power Skating with NHL Coyotes Coach Mark Ciaccio

June 6, 2008 By murphyhockey 1 Comment

My Jr. Coyotes team got a chance to have power skating session with the Phoenix Coyotes Power Skating Coach Mark Ciaccio last week. My Mom took some footage so I could share it here. I am the player in the red jersey. At the end of class, my coach let us scrimmage against each other. We still look a little shaky, but we just formed our new team last month. We have a long season ahead of us. Regular practice starts in August.