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Regular Season 2020-2021
2020-2021 x Regular Season

10U AAA

Recent 10U AAA News

Alex Welling named 2024-2025 Coach of the Year

By IYHA 04/22/2025, 8:30am EDT

8U Coach Alex Welling is Coach of the Year

The IYHA staff is thrilled to announce that the 2024-2025 Coach of the Year is Alex Welling of the 8U 317 Hockey League.

 

Coach Alex was instrumental in ensuring the development of each of his players but went above and beyond when a player on his team was dealt life’s hardest hand. His leadership was key to ensuring the team gave William their full love and support.

 

Alex has loved the game since he was a kid, but started playing as an adult thanks to the encouragement from his wife, Lindsey. Together they have two kids, Haper and Levi.

Coach Alex works as a leader in the control room at MISO Energy between trips to the rink but says his favorite part about coaching is watching the kids develop and grow their confidence. Alex said this about his experience with coaching, “with the 8U division it’s fun to watch how much they can absorb in such a short time. It’s a real honor being able to teach this generation about hard work and being a good teammate.”

 

A lot of great things can be said about Coach Alex, but the following from his nomination form is all anyone would need to know.

“Coach Alex has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to the team. Their priority has always been ensuring the game remains fun, emphasizing teamwork over personal victories. They treat each player as an individual, encouraging personal growth and helping each athlete reach their full potential. Additionally, Coach Alex consistently seeks opportunities to improve their own coaching skills, striving to become a better mentor and leader. They lead by example, displaying sportsmanship and integrity, setting a standard for their players to follow. Notably, Coach Alex went above and beyond in supporting an ill teammate, fostering a sense of unity and care within the team. Their energy, passion, and ability to engage players made the experience not just about competition, but about enjoyment and development. Their positive impact on the team is both invaluable and deeply appreciated.”

 

Congratulations, Coach Alex, on your well-deserved award!

IYHA is always looking for more volunteer coaches who want to give back to the game and the kids the way Coach Alex has. If you are interested in coaching in the 317 Hockey League, please reach out to JJ at jj@iyha.com for more information.

16U Gold just one goal away from a National Championship

IYHA Jr Fuel 16 & Under Team Finish Second at National Championship Tournament

By IYHA 04/07/2025, 1:15pm EDT

16U Gold finish the year just one goal away from a National Championship

Indy Jr Fuel 16 & Under has officially concluded the 2024-2025 season, accomplishing something truly remarkable as they finished second in the USA Hockey 16 & Under Tier II National Championship tournament in Wayne, New Jersey, on Sunday, April 6th, 2025. 

Although the week started with a disappointing loss to the Alaska Wolves, Coach Oliver Wenck’s group quickly rebounded with wins over Team Wyoming and a thriller against the Carolina Rage (SC). Max Pelton had an incredible performance in net, with a tournament leading save percentage of 96%. While Ethan Lehtinen collected the shootout winner against the Rage to give his team the second-seed in their pool during round-robin play and advance to elimination rounds. 

The Jr Fuel faced Team South Dakota in the semi-final, during which Ryan Mattio carried the team offensively with two goals of his own and an assist on a Michael Downey tap in. Max Pelton continued his impressive run of play with help from experienced defensemen in Charlie Holdridge and Ben Gettum, warding off eight South Dakota power-plays on their way to the Championship game. 

They ultimately came up just one goal short in the championship game against the Portland Jr. Winterhawks (OR). A slow first period had the Jr Fuel down 3-0 when team captain Thomas Dugan took charge with the first Jr Fuel goal. Ethan Lehtinen would bury another marker for the Jr Fuel on a 5-on-3 powerplay. With the Jr Fuel goalie pulled for an extra skater, Brady Lemieux netted one more with two minutes left in the game. The Jr Fuel offense could produce no more, and finished second in the tournament with a final score of 4-3. 

“These young men worked extremely hard all season, they did everything we asked and went above and beyond in one of the most important moments of their athletic careers,” said 16U Gold Head Coach Oliver Wenck. “This group has so much to be proud of, and all of them have so much to look forward to on and off the ice. I’m honored to have worked with each and every one of them.”

Between games of their own, members of the Jr Fuel 16 & Under team were able to attend a New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden and explore New York City. Team building events like this were part and parcel to their overall success. This group started the season with a kayaking tour of Lake Erie, explored Niagara Falls during a tournament in Buffalo, and hiked in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains while in Colorado for league games. 

The Indy Jr Fuel 16 & Under team was made up of players from across central Indiana, Kentucky, even a player from New Jersey. Selected in May of 2024, the team trained together all summer and formally began their season in late August. Finishing with a record of 33-23-1, they are the first IYHA team since 2011 to reach the final game of the USA Hockey National Championship tournament. 

Congratulations to the Indy Jr Fuel 16U Gold team for an incredible run on youth hockey’s biggest stage.

IYHA Jr Fuel ‘Red’ Teams Win BTHL Playoffs

By IYHA 03/03/2025, 12:00pm EST

12U Red & 10U Red (2015) crowned BTHL Champs

Indy Jr Fuel 12U Red and 10U Red (2015) concluded the Buckeye Travel Hockey League’s end of season playoff tournament atop their respective divisions. 12U Red won the 12U A Gold division playoffs in Cincinnati, while 10U Red (2015) were crowned champs of the 10U A Bronze division in Louisville.

 

The Indy Jr Fuel 12U Red team’s playoff win comes on the heels of a very impressive regular season in BTHL play. They skated to an outstanding record of 14-1-1, leading their division in goal differential with a margin of +45. Coming in as the 1st seed, they were a perfect 4-0 through the tournament, winning the championship game 7-2 over the SISU Thunderbirds. Congratulations to Coach Pavel and the 12U Red team on a great season filled with many victories and great experiences for the players!

 

10U Red (Coach Dickmeyer) secured another championship banner for the IYHA Jr Fuel in the 10U A Bronze division of the BTHL end of season tournament in Louisville. An up and down regular season gave the 10U Red the experience they needed for a playoff push. Coach Dickmeyer had his players prepared for some tough tests, where their high-flying offense helped them advance to the finals. Their tough defense proved enough to best the Athens Bobcats by a score 3-2 in the championship game.

 

Other finalists from the IYHA Jr Fuel include 10U Red (Coach Bryan) who lost to Indian Hill 3-2 in the 10U A Gold division, 12U White lost in a heartbreaker of a game in a shootout to the Athens Bobcats for the 12U A Bronze division championship.

 

It was a great season for all nine IYHA Jr Fuel teams who participated in Buckeye Travel Hockey League play. Two tournament champions, two finalists, and three regular season winners mark the end of another successful season for the good guys from Indy in the BTHL.

 

A special thank you is owed to all of our BTHL players, parents, families, and coaches for making this season another great one!

 

As we prepare for tryouts the weekend of May 16th-18th, players can take advantage of Spring Programming to sharpen their skills, improve their conditioning, prepare for checking, or all the above. Visit www.iyha.com/spring for the comprehensive list of programs offered.

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