PHOENIX — Despite uncertainty between the city of Glendale and the Arizona Coyotes, a local amateur hockey leader said the sport was as healthy as it ever has been.

“Amateur hockey has never been stronger than it is in Arizona,” Brendan Shaw, state president of the Arizona Amateur Hockey Association, said.

“(The Coyotes relocating) is not going to make or break hockey in Arizona any more, it’s not like we’re a fledgling state.”

Across the state, Shaw said there were more than 8,000 registered members of USA Hockey, the organization that oversees amateur hockey.

There are Arizona players at every level of competitive hockey and Arizona State University’s men’s hockey team was set to join the NCAA Division I this year.

“Our numbers are higher than they’ve ever been, our elite players is never higher than they’ve ever been, (and) our players playing college is higher than it’s ever been.”

Shaw said having the Coyotes in Arizona has played a large role in growing the sport, and regardless if the team can work out a permanent solution to stay in Glendale or relocate, hockey will continue to thrive.