Tag 2020 Junior’s

USA Ball Hockey Junior’s program announces various selections for U18 and U16 Coaching Staffs and National Director

BOSTON — The USA Ball Hockey Board of Directors have selected the following personnel to represent the United States Junior National Ball Hockey program.  These personnel were selected based on their excellent qualifications along with their proven passion for helping grow and develop the sport of ball hockey here in the United States.  These outstanding leaders will be working on building winning rosters for their respective divisions as the United States continues their pursuit of Gold Medals.

Junior U18 Division Head Coach – Josh Barbas, St. Catharines, Ontario, CA

Josh Barbas has been traveling to United States and Canada to play dek & ball hockey since he was 13 years old. Born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Josh comes from a long blood line of hockey players. He is the son of a hockey coach and has been playing the sport since he could walk. Barbas is a current member of the Niagara Rebels Ball Hockey Club, and has earned the respect of the American hockey community by also being a member of the Pittsburgh Gods and Leominster Americans. He has played in three ISBHF World Championships on the Greek National Team, serving as team captain on that roster. One thing has been common no matter where Josh is, he’s always instructing hockey. Not just when working with the youth, but as a player on the bench. Strategy, an eye for talent, the ability to place the right people on the rink at the right times are reasons we are excited to have Josh Barbas serve as our U-18 Head Coach.  In addition, it’s his mentorship and experience that add to why we are thrilled to have him working with our Junior players as he and the U18 staff lead us towards a Gold Medal.

Rounding out the U18 Management and Coaching Staff are the following personnel:

• Assistant GM – Willie Rennebeck, Pittsburgh, PA
• Assistant Coach – Jonny Ruiz, Williamstown, NJ
• Assistant Coach – Mike Malloy Jr, Sewell, NJ

Junior U16 Division Head Coach – John Gallen, Somerdale, NJ

John Gallen is a proven winner, having lead teams that have won numerous tournaments over the years in countless ways. He’s coached many of the top U-16 players ever since they were playing at the U-10 age group, as well as when they were Beaver aged. His 81-4-1 record as head coach in major tournaments is impressive, but the way he’s gone about it is simple. Teach and preach fundamentals. The discipline of the game is what John attributes to much of his player’s good fortune, but most importantly the kids have poured their hearts and soles into playing for him. Despite the tournament wins achieved at each level, Gallen is loved by his players and respected among the entire ball hockey community. “Ball possession, finding lanes, patience, fast pace, but not a run and gun style of hockey, and disciplined defenses,” are what John says will be the team’s list priorities. “No priority is greater than giving every top rated player an opportunity to compete as this level. Myself, Vaccaro (GM) and our coaches, assistant GMs, and scouts have an obligation to be watching players who play in not just tournaments, but leagues on the dek and on the ice. We will be on the phone with club team coaches soliciting their opinions on players that they not only coach but play against to make sure we leave no stone unturned,” says Gallen. “We can’t wait to watch as these players emerge into the stars of hockey for our country headed to the World Championships wearing the red, white, and blue.”  USA Ball Hockey is excited to have Mr. Gallen lead our U16 team towards the Gold Medal.

Rounding out the U16 Management Staff is Angelo Fox from Pittsburgh, PA.

In addition, the USA Ball Hockey Board of Directors have selected the following personnel to complete the U20 Management and Coaching Staffs:

Junior U20 Final Management and Assistant Coaching Staff:

• Assistant GM – Joe Washart, Bellmawr, NJ
• Assistant Coach – Bill Sullivan, Pittsburgh, PA
• Assistant Coach – Mike DeFazio, Lunenberg, MA
• Assistant Coach – Nick Carter, Leominster, MA

Lastly, we are excited to announce that Don Gregory of Pittsburgh, PA has accepted the role of National Director of the Junior Divisions. He will be leading our Junior Division General Managers as they collaborate and coordinate the details for families and players participating in the 2020 games. Gregory will coordinate tryouts, camps, travel logistics, uniform and apparel details as well as assist in developing fundraisers to help players and families afford the travel expenses. He founded the Team Pittsburgh Dekhockey Organization in 1999, growing the program from a few dozen players to over several hundred.

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.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @USAballhockey or search: USA Ball Hockey

USA Ball Hockey Junior’s program announces selections for General Managers and U20 Head Coach

BOSTON —The USA Ball Hockey Board of Directors have selected the following personnel to represent the United States Junior National Ball Hockey program.  These personnel were selected based on their excellent qualifications along with their proven passion for helping grow and develop the sport of ball hockey here in the United States.  These outstanding leaders will be working on building winning rosters for their respective divisions as the United States continues their pursuit of Gold Medals.

Junior U20 Division General Manager – Mike Albright, Pittsburgh, PA

Mike Albright has previously served as the Head Coach of Junior U20 National Teams in World Junior Ball Hockey Championships in 2016 and 2018, winning one bronze medal.  Mr. Albright currently coaches the top ranked Team Pittsburgh Saints freshman team, and also serves well as an assistant coach on the Pittsburgh Gods, one of the top tournament ball hockey teams in the United States.  Mr. Albright has a proven knowledge of the game, and his experience in previous tournaments uniquely positions him to scout the current landscape of players with the knowledge of what skill sets are needed to help the United States win the Gold Medal.  Mike also has a unique ability to build and maintain relationships in this sport, which will benefit him greatly as he looks to assemble to a winning team for 2020.

Junior U20 Division Head Coach – Jim Daugherty, Pittsburgh, PA

Jim Daugherty is a former Men’s National Team player who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Gods.  Mr. Daugherty has a tremendous amount of experience as a player at the international level, and also possesses a keen understanding of what it takes to succeed and win at that level.  He has also served in a leadership capacity as both a player and coach for local and travel teams, and has helped these teams win dozens of tournaments over his playing career.  He will be working closely with General Manager Mike Albright to galvanize a roster of exceptional talent that will help the U20 National Team in their quest for Gold.  Mr. Daugherty will also be working with Mr. Albright to finalize his coaching staff in the near future.

Junior U18 Division General Manager – Mike Malloy, Sewell, NJ

Mike Malloy worked as an Assistant Coach on the 2016 U20 Junior team, before taking the Head Coach position on the 2018 team.  He helped to serve as the logistics manager as well as HC for the U-16 teams in 2018 (both Blue Team and Red Team).  Mr. Malloy also serves as the Head Coach of the Garden State Warriors franchise, a newly established tournament ball hockey team which has 2-Men’s Division second place finishes, 1-Holiday Bash Championship, and a North American Semifinal appearance in its first 4 tournaments with Mike as the Head Coach.  Mr. Malloy works with scouts and evaluates the talent on both the Warriors and their farm-team the Indians.  Malloy is one of the most respected men in New Jersey in this sport among not only his peers but the community.  At the Junior level, he is one of the most knowledgeable leaders in the game.

Junior U16 Division General Manager- Nick Vaccaro, Gloucester, NJ

Nick Vaccaro was the first name that more than a dozen established coaches and players said when asked, “Who do you trust to build a winner at the U-16 level?”  Mr. Vaccaro has been around the sport of hockey for over 30-years and is always the first guy at the rink with a notebook in hand taking notes on players and teams to prepare.  He helped to field and coach a developmental team in the 2018 Junior World Championships when the U.S. produced an “A” and a “B/Developmental” team.  Preparation and organization are his stronger attributes.  Mr. Vaccaro has incredibly strong relationships with the parents, players and coaches throughout the Northeast.  He is one of the nation’s premier talent evaluators, and has established relationships with other talent evaluators to ensure players from all over the country are recognized and reviewed for their talents and possible contributions to the National Teams.

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.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @USAballhockey or search: USA Ball Hockey