Coaching Arizona Ice Hockey and Inline Hockey

Coach Greg is the Head Staff Coach of the Team Excalibur Ice and Inline hockey programs for the Castle Sports Club in Phoenix, AZ.

What hockey means to me (HKYTCHR)

Growing up in southern California I was exposed to skateboards, bmx, and the Pacific ocean. I did not get involved in hockey until my early 30's but when I did it took over my life. Hockey is such a fast transitioning game requiring high indidvidual and team skill. You can't close your eyes for a second.

I've spent the last decade learning how to teach the skill sets and strategies required to play ice hockey and inline/roller hockey at the national level. I've watched the NHL, NCAA, Juniors, and travel through cubs and I have found keys to the game that are apparent at all levels. I developed my 'Philosopy of 3' to keep the game looking simple while being able to quickly make complicated adjustments. I'm always on the lookout for a smart player that loves to play the game.

You don't have to be the best team to win but you do have to know and execute the right strategies against teams the are more skilled than you to beat them.

My Hockey Associations

Coach Greg has served as an AAU Team USA hockey coach for the Soutwest region. He also served as the Southwest Region Coach-in-Chief for USA Hockey Inline from 2003 - 2007 (merged into the Rocky Mountain District in 2008). Coach Greg's daughter, Allison Era, plays for Team USA Women's World Inline Hockey for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 years. She scored both USA goals in the Bronze Medal game vs. France at the 2008 World Championships. In July of 2009, Varese Italy, Team USA earned the Gold Medal defeating the defending Womens World Champion Czech's 3-1. In 2010 the World Inline Hockey Championships will be played in the Czech Republic.

Team Excalibur Inline Hockey

Coach Greg has been a staff head coach for Team Excalibur since 2000. He started coaching in the 8u/6u inline hockey leagues at the Castle Sports Club in Phoenix, AZ in 1999. His first travel team head coaching position for inline hockey was for the 2001 8U Team Excalibur Atoms (a bronze medalist at the NARCH finals in MN). The 91, 92, 93, 94 birth years are his primary age group of hockey training.

Phoenix Dragons Elite and Minor Inline Hockey

Coach Greg is the Staff Coach for the AIHL Phoenix Dragons Professional and Minor Inline Hockey teams operating out of the Castle Sports Club. He is also the inline hockey head coach for the 16u/14u Elite Jr. Dragons and trainer to all of the Team Excalibur hockey teams. Greg also coaches the Team Excalibur Women's Inline Hockey and 18U Girls Inline Hockey national teams.

Club Ice Hockey

Coach Greg Era is a certified USA Ice Hockey CEP Level 4 Advanced coach. In 2006 with the Team Excalibur Hockey program he created and established the first hockey club in Arizona to compete in both sports of ice hockey and inline hockey as a club. The teams competed in the Sonoran Youth Hockey League (SYHL) by combining inline age groups to compete as one hockey team. For several Excalibur players it was their first experience playing ice hockey and only a few players had any competitive ice hockey experience. Several players continue to play ice hockey with either their high school or on other high level travel hockey teams. For 2009-2010 Coach Greg joined the hockey staff of Brophy College Prepatory High School Broncos Ice Hockey Club ice hockey program.

Girl's Ice Hockey

He served as a Staff Coach for the Arizona Selects Girls 14U AAA AGYHA ice hockey team from 2005-2007. For 2007-2008, Allison Era moved from playing with the Arizona girl's ice hockey program to the LA Selects girl's ice hockey program to begin the opportunity to compete nationally under coach Jeff Turcotte. The 3 years that Allie Era played for the LA Selects girl's ice hockey program they were ranked 6th in the nation for the 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010 seasons and have made it to the quarter finals each year at USA Hockey Youth Nationals. For the 2009-2010 season, Coach Greg was added on the roster as an assistant coach to the LA Selects 19U Girls ice hockey team.

Email coach with any
comments or compliments that would improve this site or the sport of hockey.
coach_greg@az-hockey.com