About The Founder - Harry 'Hoody' Mahood

Harry was born in the northern mining town of Thompson, Manitoba and moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba when he was 8 years old. Harry played competitive level AAA hockey from age 8-14. At age 15 Harry left home to play junior hockey for the Revelstoke Bruins Junior A of the B.C.H.L to pursue his dream of playing in the NHL. Harry played 4 successful seasons of Major Junior Hockey in the Western Hockey League where he recorded back to back to 103 & 110 point seasons. Harry was signed as a free agent by the Calgary Flames NHL in 1982.

In 1983 Harry was recruited to play CIAU Division 1 college hockey for the University of Manitoba Bison. Harry won 2 college championships, served as a team captain and is the all time leading scorer (4 years/215 points/147 games) in the history of the University of Manitoba and Canadian College hockey. Harry graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1987 with Bachelor of Recreation & Sport Management. Upon graduation from college Harry played professional Division 1 hockey in Germany.

In 1987 Harry co founded Northwestern Hockey Sports Camp with his long time friend and college team mate Larry Bumstead. Northwestern Hockey Sports Camp celebrated it’s 20th anniversary in 2007.

In 1995-98 Harry signed to coach professional hockey in Division 1 Germany. In 1998 Harry signed with Phoenix Coyotes NHL as the Director of Amateur Hockey.

In 1999 Harry founded the Phoenix Polar Bears Tier 2 Junior team with the goal of creating an opportunity for Arizona players aged 15-20 an opportunity to play in a home base college prep program. Since the inception of the Polar Bears Harry has served as the GM & Head Coach. In the last 6 seasons the Polar Bears have achieved an incredible record of 249 Wins – 3 Ties – 7 Losses, have won 5 league championships and have made 6 straight trips to the National Tournament (2002-2003-2004-2005-2006-2007), won the National Championship in 2003, a National Silver Medal in 2002 and the National Fair Play Award in 2004. The Polar Bears have a 15 Wins – 3 Ties – 5 Losses record in 23 games at the National Tournament. The Polar Bear have also graduate over 140 players to all levels of Junior A, Major Junior, ACHA, NCAA and Professional hockey over the since 1999.

Harry is an active member of USA Hockey having been a coach at the Rocky Mountain District Camp for 10 straight years, attended the Select 15 – 16 -17 National Player Development Festivals from 2001-2003. Harry is an Advanced Course Conductor for USA Hockey and Hockey Canada and currently co chairs the Arizona Amateur Player Development committee. Harry is also the Director of Player and Coach Development for the Phoenix Polar Bears Youth Hockey Travel Program that the Junior Team sponsors.

Harry is married to his wife Sarah and together they have 5 children (4 hockey playing) and resides in Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ.