Sunlake High School junior William "AJ" Harris plays hockey for another school because his own doesn't have a team.

Harris, a defenseman who has played the sport for seven years, suits up for Cypress Creek High School in Wesley Chapel. Sunlake has never fielded a hockey team in its nearly 20 years, according to The Perch, the school's student newspaper, which first reported Harris' story Sept. 22. That absence sends Harris across Pasco County to skate with the Coyotes.

"I make sure that my work gets finished before I do anything with hockey," Harris told The Perch, describing how he balances schoolwork with practices and games.

A young program in an unsanctioned sport

Cypress Creek's program debuted in 2023 and draws players from Sunlake, Pasco and Zephyrhills high schools, according to a 2025 SI.com report. The Coyotes compete in the Lightning High School Hockey League, an independent league operated by the Tampa Bay Lightning's community and hockey development program. The Florida High School Athletic Association does not sanction ice hockey, so the league fills that void across the Tampa Bay area.

The league divides its teams into Eastern and Western conferences, each split into geographic divisions. Its lineup changed this offseason after the league's board unanimously voted to dissolve Tampa United, a combined team of students from Tampa Catholic, Tampa Prep and Berkeley Prep that had played since 2023, Fox 13 reported in June. All 41 Tampa United players are being reassigned to teams based on their home addresses.

A rough start to the 2026-27 season

Two seasons ago, the Coyotes went 20-9 at the varsity level and won the league's Lightning Cup. This season has been rougher. Cypress Creek was 1-3-0 as of Sept. 22, according to Elite Prospects.

Lessons from a loss to Steinbrenner

One of those losses came Sept. 11 against Steinbrenner High School in Lutz. Harris told The Perch the Coyotes left too many defensive gaps, giving Steinbrenner repeated chances to get shots into their zone. He said he felt solid individually but needed more support from his forwards in the corners and in front of the net. A final score was not available.

Harris said the pressure of hockey has trained him to think and make quicker decisions on the ice. It's an instinct he started building well before Cypress Creek's program existed.