Team
News
and Updates
SECOND HALF SEASON RECAP
From the office of Head Coach Walker Coady
I am very proud to be able to call myself the Head Coach of the UNCW Ice Hockey Team, this incredible group of young men pulled off one of the most amazing comebacks I have ever seen or been apart of. When I took over the team January 1st, I was not sure if I could bring them together as a band of brothers. The team looked to have started to tear apart and the moral was not high. Many of the players were thinking of quitting. When this did not happen, I knew I had something, I knew I had a group of young men who did not want to quit, but just wanted to be a part of something. Well needless to say, we created a memory and a great spring board to the future.
The team really bonded well and became a group so tight knit that even former players became a part of this brother hood. Players like Colin Rossi, who graduated and Todd Nixon, who was on IR, became such a big part of the team that it just goes to prove what a true band of brothers is all about. As for some of our other players:
David Adusei: brought speed and heart with a never say die attitude.
Ian Aldrich: gave us a crafty player with a unique ability to make plays.
Andrew Bitleris: gave us toughness and a will that was un matched
Mike Coccia: was without a doubt the most solid defenseman in the league.
Blake Cute: wore our captaincy the way it was meant to be worn…Steve Yzerman would be proud.
Luke DeFeis: brought us a consistent scoring threat and a great back checking ability.
Brody Glenn: simply put is Mr. Clutch, scoring big goals when we needed them most.
Tim Haggerty: The Bone Crusher, get in his way and you will pay.
Brendan Hayes: the future of our program in goal is as solid as they come.
Matt Huestis: is the most intense player I have ever coached with soft hands and great scoring touch.
Adrian Ionescu: brought us a flair for the magical with great speed and quick shots.
Dylan Koehle: was the Dale Hunter on our team. A fiery player with a never say die attitude.
Kai Curry-Lindahl: after moving to defense controlled the game like no other player in the league. He is the total package.
Tim Mckeag: is a magician on the ice, most spectacular player in the league.
Ryan Meluch: was our Bobby Orr, great gifts in both zones.
Craig Mistarz: embodied what it meant to have more “will than skill” Craig was the heartbeat of the club this year.
Phil Nowak: is a coach’s dream, the hardest worker on the ice.
Jon Roeck: added toughness and grit with a glimpse of great things
to come in the
future...
Bryan Sears: showed the league that Theo Fleury is still around. Bryan is the most intense player I have ever coached.
Sean Wilen: showed the league that defensive defenseman are still the best asset you can have on a team.
Joe Winar: is a players player, there is nothing he wont do for a team.
Pete Schwarz: the backbone of UNCW…Pete stood tall in net all year for us and finished out a remarkable career in college hockey, he will be missed.
I want to also thank my two other
coaches Bryan Hapeman and Craig Newkirk without them we would have never
been able to accomplish the second half the way we did. A special thanks
to our fans especially the "Hell Hawks" who
supported us all year, making noise and cheering loud. Without a doubt
they were our inspiration!
Good luck to all the seniors who are moving on and to the returning players, next year we will fulfill our dream and bring the title to UNCW.
Sincerely Coach Coady
The off-season scheduling has started and the team is looking at coming back even stronger for the 2008-2009 season. We wish to thank all our family and friends for your support this past season. The team also wishes the best for our graduating seniors!!
This season was truly one for the memories and to come within one goal of the championship is remarkable for our young program. Please check the website often during the summer as updates will tend to occur weekly.
Have a great summer and be ready for Dub Hockey to bring home the BRHC Championship for 2009!!
