Confident deKastrozza stepping up for Bears

ORONO, Maine — University of Maine senior right wing David deKastrozza entered this men’s hockey season with five assists in 49 career games.

He had his share of injuries and was also a healthy scratch on several occasions. He had trouble staying in the lineup.

But he wanted his senior year to be something special and it certainly has been so far.  Read on

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/128616.html

Two former Titans, both recent invites to Prospect camps in the Blackhawks organization have just landed professional contracts to play in the ECHL, based on their impressive showings at camp and their impressive resumes.

Both players worked hard to advance, one taking the Junior route, and one moving on to play at a top ACHA collegiate program. We wish them both well in their professional debut.

John Morea

ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers announced that they have agreed to terms with winger John Morea. The former Junior Titan and Brooklyn, New York, native will be entering his first full professional season in 2009-10. Morea, 20, spent the 2008-09 season split between the MJAHL, the OHL, and the EPHL. The 5’9, 180-pound forward spent the 2007-08 season with the Bay State Breakers of the EJHL, and notched 27 points in 41 games. Morea was a three time EJHL All-Star, including a hat-trick in the 2007 All-Star Game. Morea was one of 53 prospects to participate in the Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Camp in July.

Jaime Zimmel

The ECHL Charlotte Checkers signed Zimmel after a four-year college career at Penn State. The 5-foot-9, 188-pound center from Lincroft, N.J. was a member of Team USA at the World University Games in 2009 getting to play and win in China and comes recommended by Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Mike Haviland.

Team USA and Team China

Titans Junior B team closed out another successful season, not just on the ice, but with players continuing their career at a higher level.  The Junior’s ended their season with a trip to the USA Hockey Junior Nationals in Marlborough, MA.  Though a few of the players had been there before, for most of the group it was their first trip to the National Tournament and proved to be an experience that all players will certainly draw from and remember as they move forward in their hockey careers.  For some it would be their last wearing of the Junior Titans jersey, as many players from this year’s squad would be moving on to clubs at the Junior A level or onto college programs.

The Titans had a hard fought and exciting playoff run, in which the team won 5 of 6 overtime games on their way to Nationals.   The Titans defeated the NJ Rockets in the first round of the MJHL playoffs.  In the second round best of three series, the Titans gave eventual National Champion Suffolk PAL all they could handle and qualified for the wild card “play-in” series to determine the leagues final bid to Nationals.  Facing off against the Hartford Jr. Wolfpack in an elimination game the Titans kept their season alive on another overtime goal.

This win set up a showdown against the MJHL South Champion Hampton Roads Whalers that ended in dramatic fashion as the Titans, trailing by a goal scored twice in the final 30 seconds of the 3rd period to prevail and earn the fifth and final seed to Nationals.

At the National Tournament the team would face some very good competition against the Keegan Cup Champion Central Penn Panthers, the CHA Champion - Mass Maple Leafs, and the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins, working only with a day’s rest and going 0-2-1 in round robin play which was not enough to advance to the semi final round.  This ended the Junior teams tremendous playoff run which provided exciting hockey, culminating in (9) players receiving Junior A commitments and (2) players going directly to college programs.

The Junior Titans are very proud to announce the following player commitments for the 2009/2010 season:

Junior A Commitments

Jesse Krauss—Hartford Wolfpack  - (AJHL)
Mike Piet—Hartford Wolfpack - (AJHL)
Trevor Black—Portland Pirates - (AJHL)
Joe Guinta—Portland Pirates - (AJHL)
Chris Wollerman—Laconia Leafs - (AJHL)
Steven Braun—Boston Bulldogs - (AJHL)
Rich Meyer—Boston Bulldogs - (AJHL)
Ayrton Doerr—NJ Rockets - (AJHL)
Timmy Clifton—NJ Hitmen - (EJHL)
Bobby Deatrick –committed to New Hampshire Monarchs for the 2010-2011 season. - (EJHL)

College Commitments

Casey Jouaneau—University of Delaware
Chris Swan—Hobart College

In addition,  former Captain Ryan Elsbree will continue his career with the Titans as an assistant coach in our Jr. program.

Congratulations to Head Coach Dustin Deplama and Assitant Rich Haviland, and to all the players.  Best of luck to the young men continuing their hockey careers!

Colby Cohen, former Titan player scored the game winner with an OT slapshot from the point to give the BU Terriers the NCAA D1 Championship over heavily favored Miami OH.  Read the Boston Globe article Here

Benjamin Yuro (Alvernia University) and Kevin Pecca (Catholic University) faced each other on February 22, 2009 in the Mason-Dixon Conference Championship game.  Alvernia beat American University 9-1 on Saturday while Catholic beat Gettysburg 6-5 to advance to the final game.  After a hard fought battle, Catholic University held on for a 2-1 victory and the championship.  Both players were members of the Titans Junior program.  Congratulations to both boys and good luck as they continue their college hockey careers.

EJHL News

PRINCIPATO COMMITS TO ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY

01.27.09 by Mike Klein

Rockland, MA – Bay State Breakers forward Anthony Principato has committed to play Division I hockey for Robert Morris University, which competes in the CHA.

This is Anthony’s second season with the Bay State Breakers program. He was named team captain by not only the coaching staff but fellow players as well. Anthony is currently second on the team in scoring with 18 goals and 25 assists for a total of 43 points in 28 games.

“It has always been my dream to play Division I college hockey. Having the opportunity to play at that level is exciting. I know Robert Morris is a good fit for me academically and athletically,” stated Principato.

“I think one of the major factors in becoming a Division I hockey player is work ethic both in practice and games. Anthony is one of the hardest working players on our team everyday, he never takes a day off. It’s tough to find players that have the same will to win as myself and Anthony has that. I know that Anthony will be a successful Division I college hockey player,” stated Head Coach Dave McCauley.

“Playing for the Bay State Breakers has made me realize what it takes to compete at the next level. I feel that I am part of a family here, the coaching staff cares about their players on and off the ice. I have to thank the coaching staff for always pushing me and making me a better player,” added Principato.

“The coaching staff and the players are excited for Anthony as he has worked hard, he is the extreme team guy. All of us will be glad to call Anthony an alumni of the Bay State Breakers.” replied McCauley.

Anthony is the son of Karen and Anthony Principato of Holmdel, New Jersey.
-Courtesy of Bay State Breakers

Former Titan Coach Mike Haviland is featured in the current NHL Insider

Tuesday, 01.06.2009 / 1:00 AM / NHL Insider
By Brian Compton - NHL.com Staff Writer
“It means a lot to everybody, but maybe even more for me. Starting as an assistant coach in the ECHL, and 10 years later being in the NHL and to be a coach here, it’s pretty special.”
– Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Mike Haviland
It’s been a decade since Mike Haviland became a professional hockey coach.

Ten long years of killer bus rides during his days as head coach in the ECHL, 10 years that featured cross-continent flights from Trenton to Alaska, 10 yea rs that featured two championships in the ECHL and a Coach of the Year Award in the American Hockey League.

Last Wednesday morning, all that sacrifice paid off for the 41-year-old Haviland. On a bitterly cold day in Chicago, there stood Haviland, now an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, skating on the ice at Wrigley Field, helping Joel Quenneville prepare the team for the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009.

The Winter Classic is only one of the most historic sporting events to ever take place in Chicago, a day that made those trips from Atlantic City to Roanoke seem so long ago. Without question, the hard work has paid off for the man who never played in the NHL.
“This is so awesome. Just the history of this building and the history of both organizations, it’s obviously something special,” Haviland said. “It means a lot to everybody, but maybe even more for me. Starting as an assistant coach in the ECHL, and 10 years later being in the NHL and to be a coach here, it’s pretty special.”

He may not be the head coach — that job belongs to Quenneville — but Haviland unquestionably has plenty to do with Chicago’s succes s this season. The New Jersey native coached several of the team’s current players at the American Hockey League level, including Dustin Byfuglien, James Wisniewski, Adam Burish, Kris Versteeg and Troy Brouwer.

Byfuglien raves about the job Haviland did with him personally. The 6-foot-3, 247-pound right wing split the 2005-06 campaign between Norfolk and Chicago, but spent the majority of the following season in the AHL. The lack of time in the NHL took a toll on Byfuglien’s confidence, but Haviland was there for the restoration.

“He just believed in me,” Byfuglien said. “He gave me the opportunities that I needed and gave me the ice time. If I was down, he told me to keep my head up. He stuc k with me and showed me the ropes.”

Wisniewski also spent parts of two seasons with Haviland in Norfolk. The 24-year-old defenseman played in only 19 games for the Blackhawks in 2005-06 before appearing in 60 contests the following season. He was appreciative of the way Haviland treated him during his time in the AHL.

“I think he realized my style of play and my personality,” said Wisniewski, a fifth-round draft pick from 2002. “He knew how to deal with me. Some guys just don’t like to be screamed at, and he recognizes=0 Athat and what type of person you are and what you need to do to be better.”

Those skills may lead to Haviland one day having a staff of his own.

With 309 wins in seven seasons at the minor-league level, an AHL Coach of the Year Award in 2007 and now Chicago’s success this campaign, Haviland certainly has put together a tremendous resume. If he continues to add to it, it may well just be a matter of time before Haviland receives his first NHL head-coaching gig.

Some of his players believe that day is coming.

“He’ll definitely get an opportunity,” Wisniewski said. “He’s an assistant coach right now and he’s learning just like everybody else. He’s worked his way up to each level. One day, he’ll get his opportunity.”

Byfuglien agreed.

“I think he’ll definitely be a head coach sooner or later,” he said. “It’s a matter of time. Everyone has to work their way up.”

The only certainty?

Should that day ever come, Haviland says he will be ready.

“I think it’s good for me that I’m learning what this League is all about and what it’s going to take to be successful,” Haviland said. “Learning from Joel is great for me and for my career. I don’t think there’s been a defining moment, but I feel confident enough that if there was a day — whether it’s two years, three years — I feel confident enough that I could do the job at this level.”

As he should. He has a decade worth of reasons to be confident in his abilities.

“It’s been a long road, probably longer than some of the other guys,” Haviland said. “But a lot of guys start in the minors. It would probably be very gratifying. When I started, that was the goal. If you can reach a goal in any job, I think it’s pretty special — especially in this business. It would be an honor and a privilege to be a head coach at this level, for sure.”

Contact Brian Compton at: bcompton@nhl.com.

On Friday night Nuemann College came into the Wall Sports Arena to take on the IceHawks.

The first goal came off the stick of Steve Black who put up the Hawks to an early 1-0 lead.

Nuemann was able to tie it up before the end of the 1st period getting one in, leaving it 1-1, going into the 2nd period.

Nuemann went ahead in the 2nd with two quick goals; however, Black put his second of the game in making it 3-2 Nuemann going into the final period.

The 3rd opened up with another Nuemann goal putting the score at 4-2, with the game looking bleak for the Hawks.  Nevertheless, Jeff Cash inched the Hawks closer with a goal, leaving the score at 4-3 as the clock was winding down. With time running out, Ryan Melis got one in getting the score at 4-4 before controversy struck.

With too many men on the ice, Nuemann got one in the net making it 5-4.  However, the refs took the goal off the Board realizing Nuemann’s infraction sending the game into overtime.

During the five minute overtime neither team scored, leading to a dramatic shoot-out finale.

The Ex-Junior Titan players truly did shine in the shoot-out!  Both Steve Black and Ryan Melis each scored in the exciting shoot-out and RJ Hering stopped 2 out of 3 to nail down the come from behind victory over Nuemann College!

Ryan Melis was given the “Brian Kirn Hardest Working Player On The Ice” award for Friday night’s play.

On Sunday the IceHawks traveled to Pennsylvania to take on Shippensburg University.

Steve Black took advantage of the power play scoring the only goal of the 1st period.  The Hawks opened it up in the 2nd with Black scoring his second of the game, Defranco scoring, and Miller scoring two, putting the Hawks up 5-0 going into the 3rd period.

Melis got a goal and Shippensburg was able to get one in for a Hawks road victory with a 6-1 final score!

Joe Raimondi won the Brian Kirn award for Sunday’s game with 4 assists.

The Hawks record is 6-1 in league play and 8-2-1 overall.  The Hawks play Rutgers and Lehigh on the road this weekend. Their next home game is Friday, December 5th against Rutgers for a 9pm start.

Again, as always, the Hawks thank you for your continued support!

“As a youth hockey player I was fortunate to be a part of the inaugural  season of the Junior Titans hockey organization. Over the numerous  seasons I played with the Titans I was provided with superior coaching  that helped me to develop the essential tools needed to become a  successful hockey player at the next level. George Haviland, Mike Haviland, Randy Walker and all the rest of my Titan coaches pushed me to the best of my abilities on a daily basis which not only developed me into a good hockey player, but also a good person.”

Kevin Kielt- Boston University Hockey Team