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›Download Q1 desk sheets‹
Team and player
Q1 Champions
10u Casey’s Crushers
MVP – Ryan Poteet
Top Offense – Carson Dimoff
Top Defense – Chase Holdman
Top Goalie – Wyatt Entzminger
12A Rollerplex Panthers
MVP – Brianna Carroll
Top Offense – Jack Allen
Top Defense – Ryan Briody
Top Goalie – Wyatt Dennis
12B Prescott Storm
MVP – John Gallo
Top Offense – Trevor Johnston
Top Defense – Sean May
Top Goalie – Will Twait
14A – AZ Alliance
MVP – Stetson Dircks
Top Offense – Jordan Foret
Top Defense – Tim Harlin
Top Goalie – Brendan Van Iten
14B – Team Excalibur
MVP – Jacob Hernandez
Top Offense – Brian Center
Top Defense – Jon Bragdon
Top Goalie – Brett Bushnell
16u – Rollerplex Panthers
MVP – Kevin Smith
Top Offense – Nick Leahy
Top Defense – Cameron Caruso
Top Goalie – Austin Scott
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It was a forgone conclusion that the number of teams attending the first AIHA qualifier would not be what they were last season. However, the fun, excitement and competitiveness of the teams gave the parents, fans and spectators a feel of the electricity that inline hockey created about 10 years ago when the AIHA conducted its first season.
10u Division
And so it began with the 10u division that Casey’s Crushers undoubtedly walked through the competition. The undefeated 8u team that the Crushers have showcased for the last 2 state championships is aging up. Led by Joey Strada’s 4 goals and an incredible 9 assists, the little playmaker was relentless while leading his team to a gold medal. DJ King, filling in for Casey””s regular goalie, Shaun MacDonald, did a great job between the pipes.
12u Division
The 12u division had the unpleaseant task of having to play out of a 7 team grouping. When the dust cleared both 12A and 12B championship games featured some outstanding, dramatic finishes. The Sharp Shooters, regrouping after playing last season with the Mission AZ Stars program, looked sharp in their exciting and stunning new jerseys. In the 12A division, teams playing out their round robin session consisted of #1 seed Yuma Blaze Black, #2 Casey’s Crushers Blue and #3 seed Rollerplex Panthers. But it was the #3 seed Panthers team that played incredibly inspired hockey. After a tough 3-6 loss to the Casey’s Crushers Blue during round robin play, the Panthers had to come from behind in both the semi-final, defeating the Crushers 8-5, and then in the final, beating Yuma Blaze Black 4-3 on Nick Portick’s goal and Nate Haveman””s assist. MVP goalie Brianna Carroll was absolutely vital in shutting down scoring opportunities from teams throughout the playoffs. In the 12B division, the Prescott Storm, with a roster consisting of some of their ’07 state championship team, weathered the early round robin mismatches. they had the confidence and resilience to go undefeated for their final 2 games as they defeated Casey’s Crushers Red 7-5 in the Championship game. Will Twait, winner of the Outstanding goalie award, played his first tournament as a goalie for the Casey’s Crushers Red team.
14u Division
In the 14u division, it was more of the same as 7 teams had to battle their way out of the pack. Newcomer AZ Alliance, had little trouble in the early rounds and found themselves getting a bye to the 14A championship game. The Alliance’s Stetson Dircks, an undeniably talented forward for many seasons, continued his scoring dominance in leading all scorers in the 14u division with 6 goals and 2 assists. AZ Alliance defeated the Rollerplex Panthers in the 14A final 3-1.
In the 14B division Team Excalibur, after winning their round robin games by the slimmest of margins, breezed into the final game and out of it just as easy, defeating the Prescott Storm 8-0. Jacob Hernandez, 2nd leading scoring in the 14u division (6 goals, 1 assist), and goalie Brett Bushnell, with one of the highest save averages in tournament at 88%, both paced Team Excalibur to an exceptional victory at Bladeworld.
16u Division
For 3 seasons, 16u Team Excalibur has not lost a championship game in any AIHA qualifier that they have played in…that was until the Rollerplex Panthers took them on in the 16u championship game. It was Tournament MVP Kevin Smith for the Panthers who put in the empty netter goal while practically standing on his head that sealed the win. Actually it was a complete team effort as the Rollerplex Panthers had 4 out of the top 5 scorers in the division as they defeated Team Excalibur 4-3 along with some very steady goaltending from Jeff Portik and Greg Barnett.
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