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posted 06/10/2009 We are pleased to announce the 2009-2010 NYHA CBHL coaching appointments!! This year we are fortunate to have identified a truly impressive roster of talented parent and non-parent coaches willing and able to serve our players and their families.
Please give all of the coaches your full support during tryouts and player selections. Note also that we have identified assistant coach designees for some teams. As with all of our teams, those selections are dependent upon the tryout placement of the children of the parent coaches. As a result, parent assistant coach selections are subject-to-change.
Also included are potential CBHL placement designations for each team. At this time we can only speculate as to those designations. While past performance and expected returning players provide a good foundation for our proposals, we cannot guarantee those designations will remain throughout the independent CBHL evaluation process. Recall, final designation of any CBHL team is dependent on the outcome of the CBHL jamboree evaluations (held in early Sept). Ultimately, the CBHL evaluators and CBHL Competition Committee will be the final arbiters of the CBHL team-placement decision.
Midget U16 Gold (CBHL AA) – Patrick McNeally
Patrick McNeally has been involved in the sport of hockey, both as a player and coach, for nearly 35 years. He played on various Select teams growing up followed by an excellent Junior and collegiate hockey career. His move to coaching began more than a decade ago and lead to his appointment as a head coach with the Washington Little Capitals organization for several years before returning to NYH. One of his goals upon returning to NYH was creation of a local opportunity for kids to play high-quality competitive hockey without having to travel past several rinks before they called one home.
In the past two seasons, he has coached NYH’s U16 AA squad (CBHL semi-finalist) and our CBHL Bantam AA (CBHL finalist). He has also assisted on the PW A and Squirt A (CBHL champions) squads. He is also currently the Head Coach for Archbishop Spalding’s JV Ice Hockey Team.
Patrick’s philosophy: provide a fun hockey environment for players while teaching them the values of teamwork, competition, and achievement; and creating an atmosphere that continues to foster the desire of young hockey players to take part in a sport that has treated me so well for 30+ years.
Joining Patrick for a second year in a row at NYH is Mr. Peter McArdle. Peter is one of the top coaches in the region, retaining a long history of local and regional recognition for his contributions to the CBHL, local clubs and individual players. He was born and raised in WashingtonDC where he started playing hockey as a squirt at the Washington Coliseum and Chevy Chase Club skating rinks. His coaching career commenced immediately after college graduation and followed him across the country to California, Florida and Texas. In each of those locations he was selected to coach at the highest levels in the local organizations.
Over the past decade, Coach McArdle was selected to coach the local Tier I AAA clubs at the Washington Little Capitals and Team Maryland before joining with Coach McNeally to jump-start one of the best coaching duos in the region. He has coached at all levels from Mites to Juniors and his philosophy is summed up in one of his favorite quotes: "Discipline is our unquenchable fire by which our God Given talent becomes ability."
Midget U16 Blue (CBHL A) – Kevin Rooney
Kevin Rooney will share coaching duties with his long-term bench partner Brian Sheehy. Brian will assist this season in order to better leverage the schedules of both coaches while still retaining the value added by both men. This coaching duo received some of the highest marks in our coach evaluations last season and we are fortunate to have them return together for another season.
Coach Rooney has been playing hockey for over 40 years at all levels of competitiveness. His coaching experience spans 15 years; including 10 years at NYH from Squirts to Midgets with several tournament championship, Division Championship and Division Finalist banners to his credit. He is also currently coaching for BroadneckHigh School and prior to his arrival in Maryland, held bench duties for the La SalleAcademy in Massachusetts.
As a current Board member, Kevin brings a total volunteer commitment to NYH and marries that commitment to his philosophy of: Creating a positive, fun and growing leadership experience thru the sport of hockey and reminding players that Team, Preparation, Finesse and Attitude are everything and should be coupled with Respect for Team, Respect for Self and Respect for Navy Hockey.
Assistant coach designee Brian Sheehy has played the game of hockey for 43 years. His High School team won the PA State championships in 1977. He lettered all four years in the ECAC College Division II West Region. His coaching career spans nearly 20 years, including youth teams in PA, Ohio, Wisconsin, MA and Maryland. He has three high school championships as a head coach and one semi-final win.
Brian was head coach of this squad last season and, with Kevin, lead them to a 2nd place divisional finish and the CBHL championship game. He was also an assistant during the 07-08 Bantam AA run to the CBHL semifinals and has been volunteering as a coach at NYHA for the past six years. Brian’s philosophy: "Work hard, play against better competition, improve your skills, we will have fun!"
Midget U16 (CBHL B) - Pending
It is possible that we will have the capacity to support a third Midget travel team. In the event that we elect to roster a third squad a third Midget travel head coach will be announced shortly thereafter.
Bantam Gold (CBHL A or Upper A) – Mike Shramek
Good news awaits our Bantam Travel players. First, we are very fortunate that Mike Shramek, founder and President of Tomorrow’s Ice and our newest addition to the NYH skills team, has also agreed to take on head coach duties for the Bantam Gold squad. Mike combines a dynamic blend of love for the sport of hockey and a genuine heart for kids.
A native of Newburgh, NY, he attended and played for Broome CC Junior College in NY where he was honored by selection to the All NJCAA Team and the Dean Higgenbottom Award as a Defenseman. After transferring to TowsonUniversity, he completed his college hockey career as a member of the ACHA Div. 1, nationally ranked Tigers.
Mike has been coaching at CalvertHallCollegeHigh School for eleven seasons; including the past eight as the Varsity Head Coach. During his tenure, Calvert Hall has won 2 MIAA Championships as well as the 2008-2009 MD State Championship. He was also honored as the MAPHL Coach of the Year this season. He is a Level IV Certified coach.
Coach Shramek’s philosophy: hockey instruction and teaching is most effective when the main focus is the experience. Keeping a player-centered environment and creating an atmosphere that fosters development and positive self-worth is the foundation of that experience.
Bantam Blue (CBHL Lower A or B) – Adam Cohen
Rounding out our non-parent head coach lineup at the Bantam level this year, we are truly excited that Adam Cohen has accepted an appointment to lead the Bantam Blue squad. Adam spent his entire youth hockey career with the former Chesapeake Chiefs before advancing to the University of Maryland squad then adult hockey in Michigan.
In the 2008-2009 season, Adam rallied a group of U18 Midgets from the eastern and western shores to join forces and create the Chesapeake Chiefs/Easton squad. Overcoming the complexities of managing a merged team in two locations on opposite sides of the Bay, Adam lead his U18 Bayhawks to a second place divisional finish and a semi-final run in the CBHL playoffs last season. By all accounts he deserves high marks for embracing the difficulties of the merger and providing an opportunity for a group of young men who might otherwise have missed the chance to spend this past season on the ice.
Adam is a SHOA certified official and recently achieved MAC College Hockey official status. He is a Level III CEP coach and continues to play the game himself in several adult leagues across the region. Adam and his bride Sarah live in Annapolis where Adam spends his time off the ice as a trial attorney.
PW Gold (CBHL A or AA) – Forest Huffner
Forest Huffner has been playing and coaching ice hockey for nearly 20 years. He began coaching when his love of the sport was passed on to his boys, Jacob and Andrew. He is a USA Hockey Level 4 Coach. Forest has coached at all levels, starting with Atoms up to Midgets. Most recently he was head coach of the Navy U16 Gold Travel Team during the 2007-2008 seasons.
Coach Huffner stresses skill-development in each player with emphasis on high-tempo skating skills. He also believes that the game is the best teacher and therefore relies heavily on “small area games” to teach players the concepts and principles of offense and defense.
He stresses the value of teamwork and the importance of camaraderie as a means to build confidence in each member of the squad. One of the most important goals for Forest is that his kids have fun and feel good about themselves and their team throughout the season.
PW Blue (CBHL Lower A or B) – Bill Jenkins
Bill grew up playing youth hockey in Darien, CT at the Mid Fairfield Youth Hockey club as a travel starter at each age group. Shortly thereafter he joined the Fairfield Prep High School squad where was a 4-year varsity letter winner and served as Assistant Captain for the ’77 state championship team and Captain of the ’78 championship squad. He played Division II hockey at MerrimackCollege and continued his trek to Maryland where he has a regular stint on the ice for advanced adult league play at Navy and Piney Orchard.
Entering his fifth season as a coach for NYH, Bill has supported both travel and rec squads to Championship and Final round play in the former-CARL and CBHL leagues. He has become a recognized figure on and off the ice at NYH and remains one of the great volunteers in our club.
His coaching philosophy: keep the kids wanting to come to the rink at any time of the day, to have fun, work hard, keep learning the game, respect their coaches, teammates and their opponents and . . . once more, HAVE FUN and WORK HARD! This is a great sport, one that can be played all their lives. See you at try outs!
Squirt Gold (CBHL A or AA) – Sylvain Cote
Sylvain returns for a second season with NYH. He brings nearly two decades of NHL playing experience to our program --- most of his time spent with our own Washington Capitals. In his inaugural season at NYH, the Mite A squad surprised many people by making a trip to the CBHL playoffs. Sylvain is hopeful that a second season will further the skill development of his young charges and even greater opportunity for success.
After a long and very successful professional career in the NHL, Sylvain is fond of offering how he can look back and see the direct impact his coaches had on him even at a very young age. His system of teaching fundamentals and skills through repetition is a key factor in his on-ice training success. He is committed to giving back to this great game of hockey and teaching the kids to enjoy the same fun he personally had playing this game at every level of his career.
Sylvain’s philosophy: hockey is fun --- from the early wake-up calls to every drill, technical practice, conditioning and off-ice training, it’s all fun. Intensity – Passion – Hard Work = HOCKEY. Hope to see you at the Squirt tryout!
Squirt Blue (CBHL Lower A or B) – Bob Mori
Bob Mori has been involved in coaching for 16 years and possesses a tremendous passion for teaching youngsters the values of integrity, sportsmanship and hard work. He has been involved with coaching and playing hockey for the last decade and been involved with the NYH for the last four years.
Bob was head coach during last season’s Squirt Blue CCHL championship success and remains committed to continuing his excellent communication and teaching system for his newest group of young hockey warriors.
Bob describes four simple but important elements in his philosophy: Love the game.
Respect each other.
Learn to bring each player’s talents everyday.
Foster an environment for growth without fear of failure
Mite Travel (CBHL) – Pat Murray
We are pleased to announce selection of Pat Murray as Head Coach for the Mite Travel squad. Coach Murray has been involved in coaching youth sports for the past 6 years and has had a lifelong passion for hockey as both a player and a coach. With the entry of his two boys into hockey last year, he had the opportunity to coach youth hockey for the first time and was an assistant for the CCHL Squirt Blue champions. He takes no greater joy than teaching young players develop both on and off the ice.
Pat grew up playing youth and high school hockey in Hingham, MA. He then attended the NavalAcademy and was a 4-year letter winner on the Navy Hockey squad. During his career as a naval officer, he has been privileged to work at the NavalAcademy on two separate occasions and has remained actively involved in the USNA Hockey program for over 20 years. In the early 90s he volunteered as the team’s assistant coach, and currently, he serves as the team’s officer representative and as one of the team’s assistants.
Coach Murray loves the game of hockey…and his approach is to keep it just that…a game. He believes we win the game when we have fun, respect every member of the squad, look forward to putting on the pads this year and next, improve our basic skating and hockey skills everyday, make lasting friendships and learn the importance of working hard as a team in everything we do.
Girls U14 (CBHL) – Molly Garrett
Molly Garrett’s recent decision to commit to NYH is some of the best news we have to deliver this Spring. Not long ago, Molly was a starter at the University of Connecticut. From day one she was a contributor --- including being recognized as one of only two freshmen to start in all 34 games her first year. Before advancing to the UConn ranks, Molly graduated from Pomfret School in Connecticut where she was nominated for the All-New England team her senior year and earned an invitation to the USA Hockey Select Festival in Lake Placid from 1999-2003.
A graduate of nearby Queen Anne’s county High School, she was named Academic All-Star three years as she excelled academically and lettered in boys ice hockey, field hockey and softball. Molly is a CEP Certified coach and has spent the past several years coaching travel teams in the Baltimore-area and is assisting this Spring with several tournament squads – from PW to Midget AA. Sharing duties with Molly will be our all-star duo from the 08-09 U19 Girls, Tina Earley and Max Herrett. We were fortunate to have Tina and Max commit to helping out the U19’s last season and are blessed to have them agree to return and provide support for our newest addition to the NYH girls hockey line-up.
Tina was a recent four-year college All-Star on the University of Maryland ladies hockey squad. While lettering and earning All-Star status each year, Tina also earned a degree in Kinesiology. She is currently Level III CEP certified. Max played his early youth hockey for the Chesapeake Chiefs before advancing to play for the Little Caps. Shortly thereafter he played at the AvonPrep school in Connecticut before returning to Maryland for a successful career of collegiate hockey at SalisburyUniversity.
Girls U19 (CBHL) – Bridget Rice
Bridget returns for her second season at NYH. Last year, Bridget, Tina Earley and the rest of the awesome non-parent U19 coaching staff lead the U19 Girls to the CBHL playoffs and a top-rated coaching evaluation from players and parents . . . they're expecting even greater success this season.
Prior to starting her college career Bridget was a starter and top student at the National Sports Academy Prep School in Lake Placid, NY. After graduating from RPI, she was asked to return to NSA and take over coaching duties for two years at the renowned NSA ice hockey program before returning to Maryland to accept a teaching and field hockey coach position at ElizabethSetonSchool. She is also USAH Level III certified and anticipates obtaining her Level IV shortly.Also returning for a second year with the U19’s is Greg Snyder. Another member of our great non-parent coaching corps, Greg began his ice hockey career at the Chiefs then spent summers in high school as an instructor for ProStart Hockey before moving on to collegiate hockey at Towson University.
We hope you agree that this roster of coaches is one of the most impressive to-date at NYH. We also hope you will give them your full support throughout next season. Finally, please note that shortly after tryouts we will finalize travel Assistant Coaches and Rec/CCHL coaches. Thank you as always for your continued support and Go Navy!
