April is here, and that means two things: playoff hockey and the realization that we probably shouldn’t have packed away our winter jackets just yet. While the NHL prepares for its postseason battles, we at the Adult Hockey Association would like to extend our congratulations to all the teams that have battled hard and secured their spots in the AHA Playoffs! With several teams on almost every tier battling to the last game to clinch a spot, it shows how close the parity and competition was this season. Good luck to all teams as you chase that championship glory!
AHA Player Spotlight
Name: Eduardo Mardones
Hometown: Chile
# / Position: #68
Team / Tier: Ice Weasels (D2)
I grew up in Chile playing soccer on neighborhood streets and muddy fields. I’d never even heard about hockey until I moved to Minnesota and my son started participating in the “Little Wild Hockey” program, which incentivizes families with young kids to try hockey for free. Now, the rest is history.
I’ve watched my son from the bleachers at every practice and game since the Mite level to Bantam this year. After watching a few practices and games, I immediately fell in love with the game.
Taking on the challenge, I set out to teach myself how to skate, only to quickly realize it was much harder than it looked. After countless falls, I decided it was time to invest in some padding and my first helmet. I returned to the bustling store and picked up whatever I could find—worn-out, stinky gear and a heavy wooden stick. From that moment, my love for the game only grew. I skated anywhere and everywhere—lakes, ponds, outdoor rinks, open skating sessions—you name it. Without any actual knowledge of what I was doing, I even built a few rinks myself, including one at Forest Lake every winter and a couple more in my backyard.
After I thought I was a “decent skater,” I searched for adult hockey lessons, as I realized that this is a challenging sport to master, and seeing my son on the ice four to five times a week… I finally found AHA in 2019 when I joined the summer beginner school at Breck! AHA beginner school was exactly what I was looking for—professional hockey instructors with a game plan for each practice and game. And where my first official team was born: the Puck Bandits. I am deeply grateful for the support and guidance I received from the previous Beginner School Head Coach, Dan Herrick.
What started as simply watching my son skate quickly turned into a full-blown hockey adventure. I went from cheering on the sidelines to playing for the Ice Weasels and checking off one hockey bucket list item after another. I’ve skated pond hockey on Christmas, hit the ice at Landmark Center and TRIA Rink, and even suited up as the Grinch for a holiday skate. I spent two seasons as my son’s assistant coach, watched him skate at the MN Wild arena, and toured the Wild’s facility at Xcel Energy Center. I became a USA Hockey official, refereed games at a pond hockey tournament on Lake Nokomis, and met hockey legends like the Hanson Brothers, Bill Guerin, and Wes McCauley. I’ve even taken hockey on the road, bringing sticks and pucks to practice in Arizona, Costa Rica, and Chile. And this is just the beginning.
The most outstanding aspects of this game for me are the people you meet, the camaraderie, and all the funny stories shared in the locker room and parking lots…
Stay in the Game – Summer League Registration is Open!
The end of playoffs doesn’t mean the end of hockey! Our AHA Summer League is the perfect way to keep your skills sharp, stay on the ice, and—let’s be honest—burn off those post-game beer calories. Whether you’re looking to improve your game, keep the camaraderie going, or just avoid mowing the lawn, we’ve got a spot for you. Sign up today and keep the good times rolling all summer long!
