Navy Youth Hockey is pleased to announce Coach Paul Fritz has confirmed his commitment as club Hockey Director beginning April 15, 2019. Fritz will replace Joe Vonakis who is stepping down from NYH to work with the NHL stats team and a local rink management group.  The NYH Board and entire community send their best wishes and sincere thanks to Coach Joe for his many years of support and dedication to the club, players and families. 

NYH is truly excited to secure this commitment from Coach Fritz as he brings a lifetime of hockey coaching and athlete development to our growing club. Most recently, Fritz was Hockey Director for the Chevy Chase Club in Chevy Chase, MD. At CCC. he led the development of on and off-ice training programs for players and coaches while refining the club’s focus on long-term support for every player at every skill level. 

Prior to joining CCC, Fritz was a coach and head of Strength and Conditioning at Team Maryland and Montgomery Youth Hockey.  At the Tier I level, Fritz lead several teams to first place finishes in the AAA AYHL and USA Hockey Southeast District Championships. 

Paul has been working with youth athletes (ages 8-18) for the past 10 years and has helped many amateur athletes transform into elite professionals, with several trainees who advanced to play college hockey and lacrosse – including players at the NCAA Division I and NHL level. 

Coach Fritz played his youth hockey for the Tier I AAA Washington Little Caps, before moving onto play prep hockey at the famed Canterbury School in New England. He moved into junior hockey and professional inline hockey before suffering a career-ending back injury. 

Paul’s injury was the catalyst to developing his personal and professional focus on coaching. It also stimulated his belief in helping athletes understand the importance of proper conditioning, strength training and injury prevention as part of the whole athlete development process. 

Coach Fritz holds the following certifications: CSAC, ISSA-SN, FMS Level 1 and is a USA Hockey Level 4 Coach. He has also worked extensively with Dr. Jonas Rudzki of Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. 

Paul and his wife Shaunie live in Annapolis with their one-year old son George. They are just a few minutes from the McMullen rink so please welcome them to the NYH family when you see them!!