Junior’s Division National Teams Announcement
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.
U18 and U16 Head Coaches are expected to be announced next week.
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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