by
posted 06/12/2008
As promised, registration for returning NYH families was held open through today. Effective immediately, anyone may register for the remaining slots on each Rec team.
Registration will close when the teams reach their maximum roster capacity (12 for Mite Rec squads, 17 for all others). Registration is online at www.navyyouthhockey.org click on “Register Online” button.
Any NYH family who has already registered and submitted their $500 deposit is guaranteed a roster spot. Any registration not accompanied by the required deposit is incomplete until the deposit is received. Accordingly, deposits will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Mailed deposits will be sorted according to post-dating on the mailing.
Navy Youth Hockey considers our Rec program on equal footing with the travel squads. As a result, all Rec teams will receive two night per week practice sessions; once-per-month (minimum) skills clinic; twice-per-month goaltender clinics and regular feedback from our paid hockey development coordinators – the same benefits afforded travel teams. Also, alll practices, clinics and home games will be at the new Navy rink in Annapolis.
We will have one team at each age bracket this year -- except Mite Rec (see details below). All Rec teams, except Mite Rec, will play a minimum of 20 games and will participate in either the CARL or a CARL-equivalent league in the region. We are currently involved in ongoing discussions with local programs to develop the most appropriate and competitive option for our Rec squads. In the end, the teams will be ensured an opportunity to participate in a nearby league with playoffs and a championship tournament.
For new or inexperienced skaters considering playing in PW, Bantam or Midget programs, please contact us before registering. .
Our Rec line-up for this season is as follows, note we are always looking for willing volunteers to serve as Managers and Assistant Coaches. If you are interested please reply to this email with your interest and qualifications.
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Mite Rec - we will roster 2 teams of no-more-than 12 skaters. They will skate twice per week and will participate in several cross-ice jamboree tournament/games.
Head Coach: Cheryl Dahut (Assistant Coaches to be announced later this summer.)
Cheryl is entering her second season as the coach of the Mite Rec cross ice team. In working with the youngest players in the program, her goal is to continue to foster their love of the game and desire to play while helping them learn skills necessary to build a good foundation going forward.
She played youth hockey at Wells Ice Rink; then picked the game back up three years ago, playing in the Women’s League out of the Gardens Ice House and this past winter with the newly formed Women’s League at Navy. Cheryl currently holds a USA Hockey Level II coaching certification and expects to obtain the Level III before year’s end. Cheryl resides in Arnold with her husband Larry and their two hockey-loving children, 10 year old Robbie (PW Travel) and 5 year old Caitlyn (Mite Rec).
Squirt Rec –
Head Coach: Joe Boucher (Assistant Coaches to be announced later this summer.)
Joe began his hockey career as a small kid on the ponds of Massachusetts, and, as a big kid, is still playing. He began his coaching career, not in hockey but in baseball, in 2002, when he began learning the arts of teaching, motivating, and keeping games fun.
His coaching philosophy is simple- teach the kids the skills they need to enjoy the game, while remembering that it's still a game, and make them want to come back year after year. His most recent position in NYHA is as head coach of the 2007-08 Peewee Blue Rec team.
PW Rec –
Head Coach: Brian Harrington (Asst. Coaches to be announced later this summer.)
Brian brings 35 years of hockey experience to Navy Youth Hockey. A native from Buffalo, New York he has played hockey since age five and continues to share his passion for the game today through coaching, playing, and hosting youth hockey tournaments. Brian played for various AAA hockey teams in the Western New York area including the Amherst Knights where he had the fortune of sharing two USA Hockey Junior National Championship titles with his teammates. Brian played Division III hockey for Canisius College in Buffalo, NY and Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA which are now both Division I schools.
Since college, Brian has coached numerous boys and girls youth hockey teams and has directed and hosted 38 youth hockey tournaments including the Country & Western Showdown, Crabtown Showdown, Shootout Classic, and Winter Ice Experience.
Brian has been a head coach for the Navy Youth hockey program for the past four seasons at the recreational level. He is certified as a Level III Coach and LevelII Referee.
He resides in Annapolis, Maryland with wife Whitney and his two children, Dylan and Kaylyn.
Bantam Rec –
Head Coach: Dan Petenbrink
Dan and his family have been involved with Navy Youth Hockey for many years. Dan has served as an Assistant Coach for several years at the Squirt and Peewee levels and has also served as a Coach in the Broadneck Middle School Ice Hockey Program.
Dan has his Level IV certification from USA Hockey and is a current member of the NYHA Board of Directors. He has also assisted with Dave Perry's Power Skating program, a program familiar to many families who participate in youth hockey in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Dan’s focus as a coach is to ensure that players have fun, improve hockey skills, and understand the importance of teamwork and communication, while simultaneously demonstrating respect for all other players, coaches and officials.
When he and his wife Beth, NYHA’s scheduler, are not giving of their time to NYHA, they own and operate a masonry company and a small farm in Harwood, MD.
Assistant Coaches:
Keith Manning
Pat Weadon
Brian Smack
Keith and Pat should all be familiar names for NYH players and families. These gentlemen have achieved Level IV USA Hockey Coaching Certification --- the highest level for our program. They have both successfully served as coaches in the NYH program and local scholastic hockey programs for several years and collectively represent several decades of hockey training and experience.
Both gentlemen were Board members and key players in the development of the former Benfield youth hockey program. Keith remains a Board member at NYH and serves in the critical officer role as Treasurer.
Recognizing the need to include additional skills instruction for this group, the Coaching Committee reached out to several individuals who came recommended to us. Fortunately, young Mr. Brian Smack agreed to join us this season. Brian does not have a youngster in the program but has nonetheless agreed to take on duties as an Asst. Coach and skills instructor.
Brian played college hockey in Glenn Falls and acquired several years experience as a coach during his time in upstate New York. He assisted former NHL star Kevin Dineen at their annual Adirondack Hockey School; was a power-skating instructor and played adult A hockey throughout the region until moving to Maryland to become a professional golf instructor.
Brian currently serves as a Golf Pro in the region and has taught a number of youngsters that challenging game (including several NYH families who highly recommend him). We are excited to have him join us this season and are confident that Brian will be an excellent addition to the NYH family.
Midget Rec –
Head Coach: Greg Smith (Asst. Coaches to be announced later this summer).
Greg has been coaching since 1997, when his oldest son started playing hockey, after racing motocross for 5 years. He was an assistant with his pee-wee team at Piney Orchard; then moved to Benfield Pines to coach and play on the adult league. He acquired his USAH Level IV certification while coaching both sons and helping grow the former Benfield youth hockey program.
Greg attributes the rest of his experience as follows: “I’ve been gifted by having some of the best co-coaches around, learning from them and even learning from my own players and teammates. I hope to always be a student of the game, and love this sport as long as I can.”
