Summer Hockey Camps/Clinics

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.

Murph hits the Ice at Polar Ice in Gilbert

Tonight, some of my hockey friends and I were the first to hit the ice at the opening of Polar Ice in Gilbert.  It was so awesome, this rink is so big and NEW and no puck marks on the glass.

The General Manager was so nice at the Gilbert Rink.  He said it was OK for us to use the other sheet of ice because the ice skaters were still performing. We were so excited, we jumped the boards and started skating.  This rink is so close to my house, I can do some free skate and power skating here.

Gilbert Polar Ice Opening this weekend!

I have Jr. Coyotes practice really early on Saturday morning (YAWN).  But when I finish, I am heading to Gilbert to check out the newest ice rink in the valley … Gilbert Polar Ice.  They will be laying the ice this Thursday … how cool is that!  The rink is on track to open with a party on September 13th.  They will have some players from the Phoenix Coyotes there to celebrate the opening.  I hope to see you there.

AZ Republic article:  Gilbert Ice Skating Rink to open

Polar Ice Gilbert Location Opening Soon

I was very excited to hear the news that the Polar Ice – Gilbert Rink will be opening August 29, 2008.  I will be there when the doors open!  It will be great to have a rink so close to where I live.  I hope that this location will also have power skating and hockey camps, it would be nice not to have to travel far for additional instruction.  The Gilbert Rink is currently in the process of fielding Travel B Teams for the Arizona Heat, click the link for details:  http://www.azheathockey.com/.

People are shocked when I tell them I am from Arizona and play ice hockey.  With the many rinks we have in the state … hockey in the desert should not be kept a secret!

Arizona Republic Article:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/2008/07/19/20080719gr-icerink0719.html

Power Skating with Holly Harrington

I am back skating at Polar Ice on Tuesday nights.  I started Power Skating weekly at the Polar Ice rink in Chandler when I was four.  I went almost every week for three years (I went to Florida for a year).  Holly Harrington is now the Power Skating Instructor.  She is tough but she is one on the best in the Valley.  My first Travel Hockey Coach from the Polar Bears, Tim Hedquist told me when I first started playing hockey that if I wanted to be a great hockey player, I needed to be a great skater first.

I tell new players that are just starting out and want to play travel, they really need to work on skating in addition to regular practice.  The best place to become a better skater is at a weekly power skating class.

Here is some video from Holly’s Power Skating Class last night