Phoenix Coyotes

NHL Coyotes Power Skating Coach Mark Ciaccio

September 20, 2008 By murphhockey Leave a Comment

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

Watching the Phoenix Coyotes Rookie Game

September 17, 2008 By murphhockey Leave a Comment

Watching the Rookies play

I was able to attend the Phoenix Coyotes Rookie Tournament game this afternoon at Jobing.com Arena. I met two of my hockey friends there. We didn’t need tickets, because it was free to the public. So, we picked seats next to the Phoenix Coyotes Penalty Box and it was awesome. We got to see so many players in the penalty box!

The Rookies skated so hard and there was so much checking into the boards in front of us. I had my ice cream sitting on the edge of the glass and it almost went flying. It was fun to watch intense hockey up close, we were really in the action.

I saw Kyle Turris, Kevin Porter and Jared Staal! Turris is a leader on the ice, he is a great Center. The Goalie #31 Joel Gistedt was awesome, he had 32 great saves and ended the game with a shutout. Wayne Gretzky and Ulf Samuelsson were coaching on the bench. I saw Derek Morris and Darren Pang watching the game in the stands.

A free hockey game is the best way to spend the afternoon!

Filed Under: NHL Tagged With: Darren Pang, Derek Morris, Jared Staal, Kevin Porter, Kyle Turris, LA Kings, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, PHoenix Coyotes Rookies, Ulf Samuelsson, Wayne Gretzky

Dusty Collins and Jr. Coyotes

September 12, 2008 By murphhockey Leave a Comment

Dusty Collins and Jr. Coyotes

The Jr. Coyotes blue line and one of our defense players attended a private hockey lesson earlier today with Dusty Collins at Oceanside Ice Arena. Dusty is the only native-Arizonan to be drafted into the National Hockey League. Dusty played for the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) AA affiliate, The Arizona Sun Dogs in the Central Hockey League.

It was a great practice and he is so nice. He gave us a really good work out, and had great drills. We will be working with Dusty once a week until the end of September when he leaves for the San Antonio Rampage. Good Luck Dusty!!

Filed Under: Jr Panthers, NHL, Training, Travel Tagged With: Arizona youth hockey, Dusty Collins, Mite A Jr Coyotes, murph, murphhockey, NHL, Oceanside Ice Arena, patrick muphy, Phoenix Coyotes, San Antonio Rampage, sonoran youth hockey

Coyotes Pre Season Game

September 9, 2008 By murphhockey Leave a Comment

Looking forward to the start of the Coyotes Season!

MySpace Countdowns

Filed Under: NHL Tagged With: NHL, Phoenix Coyotes

Another Big Moment for Murph

August 9, 2008 By murphyhockey Leave a Comment

I had a Great Day today!

Since the Florida Panthers practice at the same rink as my former Jr. Panthers team, I use to see Olli Jokinen a lot last year. Olli is definitely one of my favorite players.

Today my Mom and I got to welcome Olli to Phoenix! I got to see Olli as a Phoenix COYOTE! It was such a great moment. He is so awesome!!

I waited in line for 3 hours at Jobing.com Arena, during a “Fans Open House”. I was one of 2,513 fans waiting to see Peter Mueller, Shane Doan and Olli Jokinen. I got their autographs and had my picture taken with them. I had Olli sign a puck that he gave me during a Panther practice at Incredible Ice last year.

I also got to meet Darren Pang, he is part of the Coyotes broadcasting staff and former NHL player (Chicago Blackhawks) while I was standing in line. He interviewed my mom and I … it was so cool having the BIG camera on us!

I can’t wait for the puck to drop and see Olli hit the ice!

Filed Under: NHL Tagged With: Darren Pang, Florida Panthers, Gilbert Ice Rink, hockey, murphhockey, NHL, Olli Jokinen, Patrick Murphy Blog, Patrick Murphy HOckey Blog, Peter Mueller, Phoenix Coyotes, Polar Ice Gilbert Chandler, Shane Doan, Youth Hockey

Thank You Muze Clothing!

July 21, 2008 By murphyhockey Leave a Comment

Thank You Muze Clothing!

My team the Mite A Jr. Coyotes is looking for sponsors for the 2008-09 hockey season. I emailed a few local companies in Scottsdale, AZ. One of the companies was Muze Clothing; take a look at their website … www.muzeclothing.com. Many celebs wear their brand name, including my HERO Jeremy Roenick.

The founder of Muze, Bill Deacon Jr. wanted to contribute, so he sent us a case of Phoenix Coyotes Decade in the Desert hockey pucks that JR had given to him. My Coach will be thankful when I show up with these in August!!

A BIG thank you to Muze Clothing for supporting the Mite A Jr. Coyotes! Wear Muze!! Go Jr. Coyotes!! Murph will be wearing #27!!

We are still looking for sponsors, please email me if you are able to help and I will forward you the forms or view attached pdf: pastedgraphic-1 pastedgraphic