From The Desk Of Joe Bertagna - Summer 2020

Joe BertagnaThe following is an excerpt from Joe Bertagna's column in Stops and Starts:

This issue of "Stops & Starts" is normally a Naples re-cap and is usually filled with photos of smiling faces, not socially distancing, amid palm trees and red Solo cups. That was then. This is now.

Instead, I write of video conferences, past and present. The lead story summarizes a series of video calls arranged by the AHCA and the NCAA, eight of them now in the books. And next week, normally a week of travel for some of us who would bounce from NCAA meetings in Indianapolis to the annual USA Hockey Congress in Colorado Springs, we remain at home. Both events will take place via Zoom or some equivalent service. Can't say I will miss the travel. Or the inimitable Hotel Elegante of Colorado Springs. I will miss the camaraderie, though.

Speaking of USA Hockey, congrats to Katie Lachapelle of Holy Cross, named head coach of the U.S. Under-18 squad that will compete in January, assuming the event stays on schedule. Katie will be assisted by Princeton assistant Mel Ruzzi, Colgate assistant Chelsea Wakeland, Olympian Brianna Decker and goaltending coach Ali Altmann.

And, staying on the female assistant coach topic, kudos to Nate Leaman for adding Providence Director of Hockey Ops Theresa Feaster to his coaching staff for the World Juniors next year.

My enthusiasm for news coming across the wire dimmed when word got out that the University of Alabama-Huntsville was "discontinuing" its hockey program. Or so it seemed. A May 22 release announcing this development was soon followed by a reprieve. If $750,000 could be raised by May 29, the UAH program would be able to compete in 2020-21. And the UAH hockey community responded, raising the largest athletic "gift" in school history.

– Joe Bertagna

Joe's full column is available in each edition of Stops and Starts - The Official Publication of the American Hockey Coaches Association. Each AHCA Member has access to current and archived editions of Stops and Starts in our Member's Only Section and can read Joe's full column in each edition of Stops and Starts.