Bears take deep breath before first puck drops

Time off is what Harry Mahood and his staff needed after the Phoenix Polar Bears made another run to the national tournament this past season.

The grind of a hockey season wears on everyone from the coaches to the players, especially when a team is in contention for a Western States Hockey League championship, and after the journey had come to a close, the off-season was a welcome sight.

“It was nice to take a few weeks off and charge the organizational batteries,” said Mahood, the veteran head coach of Phoenix. “We had a chance to take a break and now we are ready to get back to work.”


The Polar Bears finished third in the Western Division this past season, but a furious run through the playoffs catapulted them to a Thorne Cup title and a berth in the national tourney.

Phoenix knocked off the Boulder Bison two games to one in the championship series.

The success and tradition of the Phoenix organization is something that serves as a key recruiting tool each time the Polar Bears take aim at reloading talent.

“I would honestly say it is an important testament to our program. It demonstrates the commitment we have to player development and on-ice success,” Mahood said. “In this regard, we certainly use [our success] as a point of discussion for incoming recruits.”

Developing those recruits and improving the strength of the players already on the team is linked to a unique but successful workout program. The focus of the program is to help players skate closer toward their goal of playing college hockey.

“We have a strong tradition of working with players who are committed to their development and pursuing NCAA hockey,” Mahood said. “Our players are provided with an off-ice fitness program and we have four one-week series of training in the areas of martial arts, cycling and strength development.”

El Paso Rhinos bulk up at new Training Center

By Brian Lester

El Paso is coming off a season in which it won the Mid-West Division, but the Rhinos are taking no satisfaction in their success.

Instead, they are determined to build on it, and one way they have gone about it is to make improvements in the off-season.

Perhaps the most notable step the Rhinos have taken, since their latest season in the Western States Hockey League came to a close, is in regards to conditioning. The opening of the El Paso Rhinos Training Center will help their cause.

“It is a state-of-the-art training facility equipped with an endless ice treadmill,” said El Paso head coach Cory Herman.

“The treadmill has a video stride analysis so players get direct video feedback on their stride and form,” Herman said. “Along with the treadmill, we have a hockey-specific gym that focuses on core strength, overspeed training, explosive power and plyometrics.”

Herman could talk all day about the impact the new gym will have on the team, Yet he’d rather let the results do the talking for him.

El Paso’s all-time leading scorer, Austin Balko, is headed to St. Mary’s (of Minnesota) this fall and has put the new facility to good use as he prepares for the next step in his career. Balko scored 30 goals and dished out 43 assists last season.

“He has been in there since it opened and the improvement it has made in his skating and stride is unbelievable,” Herman said.

Balko is one of four players from the Rhinos headed to St. Mary’s this coming season. Andrew Ketterer, Nic Gualano and Trevor Erickson will join Balko at the same school.

Andrew Duff is headed to Umass-Boston and Mike Bottcher is aiming to play hockey at St. Joseph’s.

“I’m proud of what those guys accomplished here and it’s great they have an opportunity to play at the next level,” Herman said. “With the new training facility, we will be able to move even more players up.”