Kachinas Continue Championship Season

Next stop, Nationals.
The Arizona Kachinas 14U AA team won the Rocky Mountain District championship Sunday afternoon at Ice Den Chandler, securing a spot in the national tournament, April 28 - May 2 in Denver.

The Rocky Mountain District comprises teams from Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
The Kachinas posted a perfect 3-0 record during the weekend tournament, clinching the regional championship with a 3-1 win over Colorado's Krivo School of Hockey. It is the fifth championship banner this season for the association.
Matt Shott, Vice President and Hockey Director of the Kachinas girls' hockey association, and head coach of the 14U AA team, said a Rocky Mountain District championship was part of the association's "three-year plan."
"We're a young program," Shott said. "To be able to get this sort of victory this early in our establishment is big. We set goals - three, five, 10-year goals. Making it to nationals was (also) a three-year goal of ours. So, to be able to do that in our second year is a big win for the association."

The Kachinas received scoring from Bailey Cote, Keeley Callander and Kelly Jasper in the championship game. Erin Judge earned the win in goal.
The 14U AA team outscored its opponents 18-2.
That dominance has not been exclusive to this past weekend for the 14U AA Kachinas, who have a remarkable 25-0-1 record in Tier II play this season with a plus-102 goal differential, outscoring teams 119-17.
"It's a huge statement to not only have won, but to win in the fashion that we did," Shott said. "It was a statement to show that we are here, and we are going to be a great program moving forward. I mean this is our youngest group, the group that's going to be with us for five more years."
Shott hopes the association can field a Tier 1, Triple-A team next year. They already have enjoyed success in Tier II, Double-A.
With the national tournament still six weeks away, the team will continue its non-tourney schedule. In two weeks, they will play the San Jose Jr. Sharks' 14U AAA girls' team. The team plans to schedule a few scrimmages in April, including a possible weekend trip to Flagstaff to prepare for Denver's thin air.

Lead Photo Credit: Shane Bailey // Footer Photo Credit: Shane Bailey