HoCoHuskies
Huskies Squirt Blue getting fired up with the pre-game Coach chat. https://t.co/mwml4p2FGS
FREE FAMILY SKATE - NEW YEARS DAY
There is a FREE FAMILY SKATE for our Howard Huskies club members at the Gardens Ice House on New Years Day. The first 50 people to sign up at the link below are in ! Skating only, and no hockey. Masks must be worn and all safety protocols followed.
https://thegardensicehouse.maxgalaxy.net/Registration.aspx?ActivityID=2157
Mandatory COVID Protocols per PVAHA
Date: Friday, November 13, 2020 To: Affiliate Member Associations Since early April, the Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (PVAHA) has worked diligently with local governments within our Affiliate to allow rinks to open and hockey to be played. While some rinks have mandates that are not ideal for playing games instituted by their respective local governments, it is the world we currently live in, and as such, we must strive to stay in compliance. In September, PVAHA issued “Return to Play Guidelines” to all participating member associations. In concert with this letter, the PVAHA COVID-19 Playbook will be posted at PVAHA.org. These protocols are MANDATORY. We need to maintain a record of all possible COVID-19 exposures. Since we started keeping track on October 2, 2020, we have documented over 60 cases. However, most of these reports had to be chased down by the Affiliate and the CBHL as reports of positive cases from parents and third-parties began to surface. Member association officers and staff did not report each case — this is not acceptable. We are not getting information in a timely manner and, in some cases, we are not getting reports at all.
When there is a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 from a player/parent/sibling/coach in your association, it could potentially affect the other teams you have been in contact with. This includes opponents, high school teams, skills clinics, officials, and rink staff. This does not affect just one person, it spreads. The spread may continue to someone’s home where a high-risk person may become infected. We need to stop the spread as soon as possible to keep people healthy. This is the only way to keep hockey being played in our Affiliate. We have traced many of the positive cases to our PVAHA teams attending tournaments/showcases outside of the Affiliate (states other than Maryland, D.C., and Virginia). As of this writing, all of New England (Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey) has closed down hockey for teams outside their respective states. All of these states are closed due to COVID-19 issues in their states and they do not want COVID-19 brought into their states from outside sources. Most of these teams are the teams your associations are playing in tournaments outside of the Affiliate. The State of Maryland announced it strongly recommends that any non-essential travel outside of the State of Maryland to places with high COVID-19 positivity or case rates be cancelled. Contact tracing data by the state suggests out-of-state travel is to blame for a substantial increase is positive cases. If you decide to travel out of state, it is imperative you follow your state’s return-tostate guidelines. The Affiliate strongly recommends the following: • There should be no use of locker rooms in rinks, even if permitted by the rink. • Please limit the number of parents allowed in a building to one per family and no siblings. • Continue to wear face masks and wash your hands. • Do not gather in large groups, either in the lobby or outside in the parking lot. • Stop huddles for goal celebrations • Stay physically distanced on benches. • Do not… …gather for chalk talks or time-out talks. …share equipment, i.e., bring your own personally marked water bottles. …use the penalty boxes. …congregate in hotel rooms, host team dinners, allow players to linger in training rooms, warm up in close proximity, play hall hockey. …allow tailgating or gatherings of parents/siblings in parking lots. Yes, it’s not the same and it is not going to be for this season. In short, if we want our rinks to stay open into next season, we all need to cooperate. Hockey is in a very precarious situation; we are just one thin sheet of ice away from being shut down. We cannot stress enough how we are all in this together and we must work as a team to keep hockey open in PVAHA. Willful failure to follow the affiliate and COVID-19 mandatory guidelines and immediately notify the Affiliate of an exposure may be construed as conduct unsuitable for the sport of ice hockey and will result in sanctioning for the participant, team, association and/or facility. For more info and available resources please refer to the Affiliate web page: https://www.pvaha.org/page/show/5968456-pvaha-covid-19-information
Gardens Ice House COVID 19 Waiver and Safety Protocol and Procedures Document
All Coaches, Players and Managers must complete this waiver in order to participate in any activities @ TGIH.
Additionally, please read the Safety, Protocol and Procedures Document as well to make sure everyone is complying with the guidelines and rules to keep everyone safe
HUSKIES FAQ COVID-19
All club members are invited to familiarize themselves with the Huskies FAQ COVID-19 document Currently being updated to reflect latest CDC and PVAHA guidelines
PVAHA 2020-21 Tier 2 Tryout Statement
The PVAHA has published guidelines for the 2020-21 Season's Tryouts and Team Selection Process. All Tier II Youth 10U–18U/Tier II Girls’ 10U–19U Beginning on Monday, July 13, 2020, all member associations which are planning to skate Youth 10U–18U teams and Girls’ 10U–19U teams rostered as Tier II (USA Hockey 1T Roster) for the 2020–2021 season, may start to offer player agreements/contracts without on-ice evaluations/ tryouts to only those players who were rostered within their respective organization last season (2019–2020). Member associations may also at this time conduct on-ice evaluations/ tryouts in lieu of, or in addition to, “contracts without tryouts” if that is their preference for only those players who were rostered within their respective organization last season (2019– 2020). Any on-ice evaluation or tryout must follow State Guidelines, and local Health Department guidelines and restrictions that apply to indoor recreational sports activities including social distancing, facemasks and limitations on the number of people within the facility. On Monday, July 20, 2020, all member associations which are planning to skate Youth 10U–18U teams and Girls’ 10U–19U teams rostered as Tier II (USA Hockey 1T Roster) for the 2020–2021 season, may start to offer player agreements/contracts to all players, irrespective of where they were rostered last season (2019–2020). Member associations may also at this time conduct on-ice evaluations/tryouts in lieu of, or in addition to, “contracts without tryouts” if that is their preference. Any on-ice evaluation or tryout must follow State Guidelines, and local Health Department guidelines and restrictions that apply to indoor recreational sports activities including social distancing, facemasks and limitations on the number of people within the facility. The Huskies will announce our club specific plans with respect to the selections of teams for the 20-21 Season. We intend to field AA teams at all levels 10U through 18U as well as UA, LA and B teams as well. We also intend to fiel 8U Rec and Travel teams as well as 10U through 18U Rec teams. Please check back for details. Here is a link to PVAHA's full statement on tryouts for the 20-21 Season
Bud Buonato
President -Howard Huskies
HUSKIES SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure you follow the Huskies on the social media accounts below for all of the club updates !
Facebook - Howard Huskies
Twitter - @hocohuskies
Instagram - hocohuskies
HUSKIES ANNOUNCE MIDGET DEVELOPMENT MODEL
The Howard Huskies today announced the finalization of their new MIDGET DEVELOPMENT MODEL which will start up this coming season.
The program will encompass all teams at the Midget level, which this year is likely to include two U18AA teams, two U16AA teams, and 1 U16 A team.
"We have been in discussion for the last six months about structuring a program to develop our midget age kids as best as possible. We wanted to figure out how we could best transition the kids in our club from bantam into U16, and then into U18 and then even beyond that whether they would want to play junior hockey, ACHA club hockey, or NCAA hockey in college", added Bud Buonato who is the Head Coach of the Midget Development Model program. "We will have roughly 100 kids going through the program this year, and all will receive the same coaching from the same core group of experienced coaches".
The midget age kids will also be the beneficiaries of quality on and off ice tutelage from the club's new triumvirate of skills coaches. Shaun Grant has assumed the role of hockey director for the club, and Mike Donnellan and Brad Powell have taken on the roles as skill development coordinators. "We are so excited to have Shaun, Mike and Brad on board", said coaching director Bob Tibbs. "They all bring an excellent coaching and skill development background to the club. Shaun will be the overall director and will himself oversee all of the goalie instruction of all of our goalies in the club. Mike will coach our top peewee team and provide skill and video analysis for our players, and Brad will implement and operate many of our skill sessions for our players", said Tibbs.
All three have NCAA playing experience, youth coaching experience and will bring their unique talents to the club membership.
"We will have more information on our MDM in the near future", added Buonato. "We are just unbelievably excited at the talent level that we have at U16 and U18, and we all want to make all of the kids the best they can be".
Howard Huskies
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Silver Stick schedule has been revised and the updated version is now posted on our club website https://t.co/P71yP4m2Zs
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Huskies U10 B with their first CBHL win today. Nice job ! https://t.co/zHbobRtmg7
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16U Americans with a huge win over Philly Blazers at the EJEPL showcase https://t.co/Dj1Qu5n31C
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Tate Gross with the shutout in the second game today as Bantam Blue swept the Mid State Mustangs in the two game se… https://t.co/Mdwi2r8Eiv
Howard Huskies - Travel Positions 16AA American Skater needed
Our 16AA American Team is in need of an additional skater. If you are interested in playing on our 16AA American team please contact Coach Bud Buonato @ budczar@aol.com
COACHES & TRYOUT COORDINATORS ANNOUNCED
The Howard Huskies today announced the age level tryout coordinators and also the AA level head coaches for the upcoming season. If you are looking for a supplemental tryout, please contact the tryout coordinator at your age group:
TRYOUT COORDINATORS:
Lady Huskies - Keith Ramsay - karamsay@gmail.com
U10 - Mike Hendrix - hendrix1122@hotmail.com
U12 - Rob Finks - robfinks@aol.com
U14 - Mike Donnelly - tapgrill@aol.com
U16 - Bob Tibbs - bobtibbs@comcast.net
U18 - Bud Buonato - budczar@aol.com
AA Head Coaches:
U10 - Brad Powell
U12 - Mike Donnellan
U14 - Eric Lustig
U16 & U18 - Midget age level coaching group led by Bud Buonato, and to include Rob Finks, Brandon Potter, Matt Powers, John Buba, Jeff Haskell, Bill Paliscak, Bob Tibbs and Mike Donnelly.
HUSKIES REGISTRATION FOR REC, CROSS ICE & TRAVEL NOW OPEN !
WELCOME TO REGISTRATION FOR THE HOWARD HUSKIES 2020 – 21 SEASON
As we prepare for the coming season, we realize that predicting the landscape for this fall and winters hockey season is difficult. The season could play out with limited changes, or we may be asked to navigate a variety of challenges.
We are announcing that we are officially opening up registration for the 2020 – 21 season for our REC, CROSS ICE and our TRAVEL programs. There is still time to register for the Travel Program tryouts. For the travel program, we will follow the guidelines for travel tryouts, evaluations, team selections, etc. as set forth by USA Hockey and the Potomac Valley District due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, as soon as they are released to us. Those will be announced immediately after we receive further direction.
For the REC program, if you register and pay the $75 fee you are guaranteed a spot on one of our REC teams.
Depending on the direction announced moving forward by USA Hockey and the Potomac Valley Hockey Association, the Huskies will also be announcing our season fee structure. We are currently looking at ways to potentially reduce costs to our club members this year.
Use the links below to register for either the Travel program tryouts, or for placement in our Rec program (which includes Cross Ice ). You may only register for one of those.
There is a $75 registration fee for either the travel tryouts or the Rec program. While we all hope for a full return to hockey, if USA Hockey and the Potomac Valley District decide we cannot play the 2020 – 21 season, then all fees paid will be returned in full.
Team Maryland EHL Junior Hockey Billet Families Needed
REC & CROSS ICE PROGRAM REGISTRATION FOR 2020 - 2021 SEASON
Cross Ice registration is now CLOSED
Use this link to register to play in our Rec program only for the 2020 - 2021 season:
https://howardhuskies.sportngin.com/register/form/344108247
2020 - 2021 Registration Link - Travel Tryouts Only
Use this link to register for tryouts for our travel hockey program only:
https://howardhuskies.sportngin.com/register/form/953288943
HUSKIES COACHES REGISTRATION FOR 2020-2021 SEASON
All Huskies coaches need to register for the Huskies program at the link below:
HUSKIES DELIVER AGAIN TO LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS TO SAY THANK YOU !
The Howard Huskies continued their deliveries to local first responders today with a complimentary dropoff to Howard County Fire & Rescue Station # 10 at Rivers Park. This is part of the Huskies partnership effort with Ledo Pizza in Clarksville. Thanks for all you do !
HUSKIES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS
Showing their continuing support for our local first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Howard Huskies in partnership with Ledo Pizza of Clarksville, MD delivered pizza and wings today to the Scaggsville Fire Station in Maple Lawn. The staff at the firehouse were thrilled ! Big thumbs up for all you are doing for our communities !
Shawn Grant Named New Huskies Hockey Director for 2020-21 Season
The Huskies are pleased to announce Shawn Grant as our new Hockey Director. Coach Shawn Grant has worked the past three seasons as a Head Coach for Team Maryland as well as teaching lessons through Wolfe Hockey Development. Prior to that, Coach Grant worked as Volunteer Assistant Coach for Clarkson University men’s team for 5 seasons and 2 seasons with Clarkson’s women’s team (3-time NCAA Champions). Coach Grant’s additional collegiate coaching experience include 1 season as the Assistant Men’s Hockey Coach at Neumann College, 1 season as the Assistant Women’s Hockey Coach at SUNY Potsdam, and 2 seasons as the Assistant Men’s Hockey Coach at SUNY Potsdam. Coach Grant also coached youth hockey in his hometown of Potsdam, NY for 7 years, which included helping lead the Potsdam Icestorm U16 girls’ team to back-to-back State Championships (2013 & 2014) and finished 2nd at USA Nationals in 2013 and 3rd at the USA Nationals in 2014.
Coach Grant left Potsdam, NY his senior year of high school and attended Northwood School (Lake Placid, NY) for 2 years. During his post-graduate year, he was voted by coaches and players as an Assistant Captain and was voted as MVP of the team, and selected to participate in the Hockey Night in Boston All-Scholastic Tournament. During his postgraduate year, Grant also travelled and played Jr. B for the Char-Lan Rebels (Williamstown, ON). Following that season, Coach Grant played Junior A for the Cornwall Colts (Cornwall, ON), leading the league in save percentage (.910) and the second lowest goals against average (3.05). Coach Grant was recruited, and lived his lifelong dream, to play NCAA Division 1 hockey, in his hometown, for Clarkson University. During the 1998-1999 season, Grant set the school record for most wins by a Freshman goaltender (25), won the ECAC regular season championship, and posted his career high of 46 saves in the team’s 3-2 win over arch rival St. Lawrence University in the ECAC Championship game, in front of 8,469 fans in Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY. It was the second largest crowd for a hockey game in the arena, trailing the 1980 Olympic game between USA and Russia. During his freshman season, Grant was voted by teammates and coaches as Clarkson’s Rookie-of-the-Year and was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team. During his Junior season, doctors recommended that he stop playing hockey due to severe knee injuries. Coach Grant finished his collegiate hockey career with a record of 37-20-5, .894 save percentage, 2.89 goals against average, and 2 shutouts.
Coach Grant graduated from Clarkson University in 2002 with B.S. in Management Information Systems and a minor in Telecommunications. He currently lives in Rockville, MD with his dog, Dudley.
Coach Shawn's Weekly Blog June 3rd, 2020
Coach Shawn Grant in the net for Clarkson
During this segment I will discuss the importance of playing multiple sports as a youth and how to decide which level best helps your personal development. Growing up, I was a multi-sport athlete having played baseball, soccer, football, lacrosse, golf, and, of course, hockey! Every sport helped improve my skills as a hockey player, and fortunately provided me the opportunity to play Division I college hockey at Clarkson University. That being said, growing up in Northern NY, we didn’t have AAA hockey in my area, so until I was 17, I played Tier II “B”, which is now Tier II “A”. Even though we weren’t AAA, and the only players were from my small town of Potsdam, we still produced college hockey players, and some that played professionally, including up to the NHL.
Having previously coached hockey at the Division I collegiate level and knowing many coaches from other sports too, I’ve heard countless times the benefits of playing multiple sports growing up. There are many pros on a personal level as well. It helps reduce injuries that occur due to over use and over straining certain muscles. It also provides different environments for youths to grow form experiences and having different teammates. Many skills can be enhanced and translated into success when they are playing hockey. It allows players to understand the importance of being a team player and finding similarities that make them successful at each sport.
I’ve coached at many levels of youth hockey and watched countless hours of games and practices. I can’t say enough how important it is to be on the correct level for the team you choose to play for. Every one’s goal should be to one day play in the NHL or at least at the NCAA level. The reality is, not everyone will be fortunate to achieve those goals. That’s why I can’t emphasize enough how important SKILL DEVELOPMENT is growing up. If you want to getter better personally, then it shouldn’t matter what level you are playing on, as long as you are constantly improving your skill and hockey sense. There are many factors to consider when choosing a team. The ones that I feel are most important are who the coach of the team is, how much time will the team have for practice, financial considerations, travel, amount of playing time they could earn, and ability to be a strong contribution to the team. Having coached for Team Maryland AAA, and seeing many AAA games. I saw many times that there would be players that wanted the notoriety of saying they played for a AAA team, when in all actuality, playing AA would have been better suited for them. It would have allowed some players the chances to gain confidence and have more opportunities to improve their skills.
“You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.” Michael Jordan
Shawn Grant
Howard Huskies Hockey Director
Phone: 315-262-5985
About The HUSKIES
The Howard County Youth Hockey Club (HCYHC), also known as the Howard Huskies, is a not for profit hockey club started in 1971. At that time, there were 45 players. In the 2018 - 2019 season, we had well over 400 boys and girls playing.
The Huskies provide both recreational (CCHL) and tier-II travel (CBHL & EJEPL) hockey ensuring there is a team for every player’s skill and commitment.
We also host the largest SILVER STICK tournament in the United States every Thanksgiving weekend with over 100 teams.
Our Club’s emphasis is on sportsmanship, teamwork, and character; three themes you will hear woven throughout your experience.
