Yuma Youth Hockey League hosts IHAAZ tournament and enshrines inaugural Hall of Fame class

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma Youth Hockey League is celebrating its past and present this weekend with a multi-day event that highlights the growth of hockey in the region and the community that has sustained it across generations. The celebration includes a youth tournament for the Inline Hockey Association of Arizona, an alumni game, and the league’s inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The tournament features teams from across the state, as well as travelers from the greater San Diego area. For young athletes, the tournament provides an opportunity to compete at a high level and showcase their skills against unfamiliar opponents. Beyond the competition, it also offers a chance to form new connections.

While hockey is known for its intensity, YYHL Vice President Travis Krizay emphasized the mutual respect that exists among players despite the physical nature of the sport.

“Friendly is not a word that’s commonly used in hockey,” Krizay said. “There’s a respect, but it’s high competition.”

In addition to the youth tournament, former players returned to the rink for an alumni game, giving longtime members of the program a chance to reunite and relive earlier days of Yuma hockey.

“It’s really cool to get the guys together,” Krizay said. “One of my old teammates hasn’t put on skates since 2004 and he’s out here playing, so it’s nice to get the boys back together and celebrate this big achievement.”

That achievement includes the enshrinement of the Yuma Youth Hockey League’s first-ever Hall of Fame class, the Class of 2026, marking a milestone for the organization.

“It was beautiful,” Krizay said. “It’s our first ever one, and it was really cool because now we’re at our first where it’s generational.”

Among the inductees is Jeff Johnson, who played a significant role in building and sustaining the program in its early years.

“It was a lot of fun,” Johnson said. “I appreciate them thinking about it. I obviously spent a lot of years working with the program, getting it established, and myself and Bob Letendre were probably two of the originals that stuck around a long time. I was honored to be inducted with him.”

While the youth tournament awards points toward the IHAAZ state title, many participants say the most meaningful moments of the weekend happen away from the scoreboard.

“Honestly, it’s always the people,” Johnson said. “If you didn’t have good people to work with, it wouldn’t have lasted very long. It was a good group of people. We liked working with each other and enjoyed each other’s company away from the rink as well as at the rink.”