Master’s Division News – Coaching Hires and Evaluation Camps

USA Ball Hockey Masters General Manager Announces Men’s Evaluation Camp Dates

BOSTON — USA Ball Hockey Board of Directors has announced the two open tryout evaluation mini camp dates and locations.  All persons considering attending this open tryout are strongly recommended to attend both camps, as more visibility is helpful in making selections.  These evaluation camps will be used for both Team USA and Masters Team 2.  The official name for Team 2 will be decided at a later date by the USA Ball Hockey staff.

Dates and Locations

  • June 14/15 – 422 Sportsplex, Pottstown PA
  • July 13/14 – Breakaway Hockey Dek & Sports Rink, Dracut MA

Anyone wishing to attend this open tryout must fill out the player registration form in order to attend:
https://usaballhockey.com/mens-masters-evaluation-registration//

Evaluation Format

  • Friday night – Hotel conference room (hotel location to be announced later) – 8-9 p.m.
  • Saturday – 8 a.m. arrival at the rink; start evaluations at 9 a.m.

Friday night will be used to provide attendees with an introduction to the program.  Additionally, the staff will cover expectations of the next year of camps, tournaments, and financial costs for travel to the tournament. Friday night is not mandatory but strongly recommended to ensure all the necessary information has been received.

Players will check in Saturday at 8 a.m., get dressed, and warm up to be ready to start by 9 a.m. Evaluations will finish up around 6 p.m. At that time players may leave to go home, or come to a social event, details of which will be announced at a later date.

Director of Hockey Operations Cory Herschk of Pittsburgh, PA, along with Masters Division Men’s General Manager Chris Caplan, lead the search for Head Coaches for both teams to find the best candidates.  The following gentleman have been named head coach for their respective teams:

  • Jeff Jordan – Team USA Head Coach

Jeff Jordan began playing ball hockey in North East Philadelphia, PA in the late 80s. In the early 90s, he joined Mayfair Hockey, one of the top teams in the region for many years.  Mr. Jordan continued playing “A” level hockey over the next two decades. Most recently he was player/coach with the PA Caspers club team who competed in “A” level tournaments for a number of years. Jordan was a member of the 2014 DC Masters and is a class of 2019 Mid-Atlantic Ball Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

  • Rock Stefan – USA Masters Team 2 Head Coach

Rock has been involved in hockey since 1974. He is proud to have watched this game evolve and states, “As the game has changed, the biggest lesson I have learned as a coach, GM, player or even a referee is I have had to change.” As a coach, Mr. Stefan would take teams every summer to Canada and compete in tournaments to learn the international game. Thanks to YouTube and social media, he makes watching tournaments his hobby, and it has helped to prepare him during the last three World Championships. Rock served as the Head Coach in the Men’s Senior World Championships in 2000, Defensive Coach for Team USA Masters in 2014, and the GM/Head Coach in Bermuda last summer.

Notable USA Masters Division staff members include:
  • Mark O’Neill – Head Scout – Boston, MA
  • Scott Bokowski – Head Scout – Buffalo, NY

USA Ball Hockey scouts and Masters Division staff members are continually scouting the top players in this country who have the desire to compete at the World Championships in 2020.

 

USABH is the premier ball hockey organization in the United States and possesses a comprehensive reach nationally, at all levels of play, thanks to strategic alliances with key organizations. We are focused on growing the game, from the beginner youth levels through international competition. USABH’s intention is to facilitate national teams and unify all juniors, men’s, women’s and masters programs and events.

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