​Philip Oberlin - Bird Arena
Athens Youth Hockey Association
With over 45 years of history, the AYHA is the oldest youth sports organization in the Athens area that provides teams from ages 5-18. Despite ongoing issues with funds, equipment, and numbers of participants, the organization continues to be a great option for the youth of southeastern Ohio. Most former players would agree the experiences of playing hockey in the AYHA has provided them with leadership skills, collaboration skills, friendships, as well as a great deal of memories that they can draw from for a lifetime. At the heart of this organization are the parents, coaches, sponsors, and the numerous volunteers that continue to lead the charge. It is truly the long hours that the volunteers put in that make the AHYA continue to thrive. With the persistence and passion that these volunteers provide, the AYHA looks to be a part of southeastern Ohio for many years to come.
*Taken from the Athens Youth Hockey Association Home Page. For more information on the AYHA please use the link to the left.
ACE Coordinator
My responsilities as the Association Coaching and Education Coordinator for the AYHA was to find, interview and deliver my professional recommendation for which candidate was best suited for the open coaching position. I worked with the AYHA Registrar to ensure that all coaches were meeting the proper USA Hockey certifications but my main focus was the on-ice programming. I worked with the coaches on developing practice plans and also assisted with the on-ice execution of practices and bench coaching. I evaluated, gave feedback and educated the coaches on what our association expected out of them and the direction in which our association wanted move toward. Each week I spent 6-10 hours of time on the ice with the players and coaches.
*Pictured above are Athens Youth Hockey Association players and Ohio University DII hockey players getting ready to march together in the OU Homecoming Parade.
*Pictured above is the late Shane Gilkey coaching the Athens High School Varsity Hockey team. Shane passed away February, 27th 2015 and will always be remembered by the AYHA.
*Pictured above is former Ohio University DI player and coach, Dan Morris. He's giving some encouraging first bumps to the AYHA players before they play their mini games in between periods at the Ohio University DI Hockey game.
ACE Coordinator
Besides the on-ice and administrative responsibilities of the ACE Coordinator I also assisted in special events that the AYHA was interested in pursuing. As the Ohio University DII coach we teamed up with the AYHA to march in the OU Homecoming Parade and I also assisted in organizing and executing 2 different dates for the Mini-Mites and Mite teams to play mini games of hockey in between periods at the Ohio University DI hockey games. I personally took part in these mini games when I was younger and it's amazing for the kids to get the opportunity to skate in front of 1,200 people cheering them on!
*Pictured below is former Ohio University DI coach, Craig McCarthy. Coach McCarthy now coaches the AYHA Squirt team that has his sons Jake and Eli on it. I work with coach McCarthy each week on the ice.
*Pictured to the left is the 2001-02 Athens High School Varsity Hockey team. This year was the inaugural season for the Greater Columbus High School Club Hockey League. Athens was undefeated in the league with a record of 31-0 and winning the tournament championship.
*Pictured in the middle wearing the "C" is the late Nick Stachler who we now celebrate with a memorial skate dedicated to him.
