Mad Dogs Hockey: Mad Dogs News

Mad Dogs Hockey is a youth travel inline organization.

What’s the difference between Travel Inline Hockey and Recreational Inline Hockey?

Mad Dogs Hockey offers teams for children and teens usually in single age groups, concentrating on competitive tournaments and team-building activities. Many of our players are ice hockey players during the fall and winter or are inline players year-round.  Many players try to stay together from year to year. Unlike recreational teams, players must tryout and be invited to participate. This is a much more advanced level of play and players are not guaranteed equal playing time. In the competitive tournament environment, players must learn how to adjust to a faster, more physical, more savvy 4 v 4 game. In addition, in the competitive environment players have to understand that teamwork and cooperation on the rink is more important than individual talent alone. Many players have to adjust to being a very good player amongst many equally talented individuals. 

Why should a player tryout for Mad Dogs? 

If you currently excel and are a standout in a recreational inline league, play travel inline, play travel ice or standout in house ice programs, you should consider playing up to a higher level. You'll never know how good you are or can be unless you give it a try! When you play at a more challenging level with a team focused on player development, your skills dramatically improve. For current "A", "AA" and "AAA" ice hockey players coming off a competitive season, it is typically a more relaxed atmosphere where you can really have fun and showcase your talents. 

Teams are based on the ages of the players:

8 yrs old and under
10 yrs old and under
12 years old and under
14 years old and under
15 years old and older


What is the time commitment?

Mad Dogs coaches understand that most players participate in other sports during the spring.  This is why practices are usually every other week.  Practices are also recommended, but not mandatory to play.  Coaches do advise that the more time the players practice together, the better they learn each others’ strengths and strategies of play.

Coaches and Managers also work with each team to decide the best tournaments to play with the most participation.  If a player is not available, alternates will be called to replace during tournament time.  If you are only available as an alternate, you still need to show up to tryouts.  Please be sure to notify the coach prior to tryouts if you are ONLY an alternate.  Most teams request that tournaments be held only on one day of a weekend.  This way our players can still commit to other sports or activities during the weekends.

Still have questions?

Please don’t hesitate to call if you have questions about tryouts or any of our Mad Dogs teams.  Sharon Heiden, Chairman of Mad Dogs Hockey can be reached atsharon@heiden.bz.

The Mad Dogs organization extends its condolences to the family of Brian St. Louis. On September 23, 2010, the Washington Little Capitals, the Kettler Capitals Iceplex and the DC area hockey community lost a great person when Brian passed away unexpectedly in Arlington, Virginia. Coach St. Louis spent eight years with the Washington Little Caps organization as a player, team captain, assistant coach, head coach and hockey director. Two years ago, Coach St. Louis became Hockey Director at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Brian had an enthusiastic passion for the sport of hockey and will be missed by many. He is survived by his wife Emily, who is expecting their first child in March.

Brian's family has created a tributes website and the Iceplex has established a fund to help Brian's family. Contributions can be sent to:

The Brian & Emily St. Louis Family Fund
c/o CRP Management Group
P.O. Box 1548
Ashburn, VA 20146

On August 20-21, 2010, the 8U and 10U Mad Dogs competed in the Susquehanna Summer Showdown at the Susquehanna Sports Center near Harrisburg, in central Pennsylvania (LeMoyne). The 8U Mad Dogs showed everyone that they have improved immensely during the year and flashed some fancy passing and quick stickwork. They went 2-2 during the tournament and took home the Silver Medal. Bauer Morrissey, Landon Young, Owen Thomas, and Justin Evans provided much of the firepower as the team scored consistently throughout the tournament. Janae Conner, a terrific skater, went end-to-end, to score one of the most beautiful goals of the tournament.Hannah Ehlers played awesome defense and stopped countless “odd-man” rushes to help the team throughout the games, and she won the “Hard-Working” helmet for the tournament for her efforts. Dominik “the Dominator” Jordan was his usual dynamic self. He stopped several shots that should have been goals and provided steady goaltending . . . just like all season long. Mad Dog Coaches Thomas and Jordan worked the bench with Coach Young and helped with the doors and the positive feedback. Thanks Chris and Chris!

On August 28, 2010, 8U Mad Dog Natalie Shand hosted an 8U party at her house for the players and their families. A beautiful day and a giant waterslide made for a fun day for all the kids and their siblings. Burgers and hot dogs, salad, and soda along with good friends and the Mad Dogs family provided all of us a great day away from the rink. A big thanks to the Shand Family! This season, the 8U Mad Dogs won many games and took home three trophies. The improvement in the players and the fun had on and outside the rink made it all worthwhile. The coaching staff cannot say enough good things about all the players mentioned and those that missed the last tournament (Ethan Taylor,Mitchell Clifton, Natalie Shand, and Keiran Lynch). They are a hard-working group of players with great heart and determination.

The 10U Mad Dogs also went to the Susquehanna Summer Showdown and they were prepared to show everyone what they had learned over the summer practice schedule. 8U Mad Dogs Ethan Taylor and Landon Young also joined the team for the tournament along with newcomer Connor Gordon. GoalieChristopher Beaulieu was given the starting job for the tournament and, along with the others, he did not disappoint. The team was hoping to add to the other two tournament trophies they had already won.

In the first game, Logan Young scored two goals early to give the Mad Dogs the lead against eventual champs, East Fishkill (New York) Dragons. The 10U Mad Dogs looked to be improved in all areas as they moved the puck with authority and seemed to have control of the game. East Fishkill, with the help of some individual efforts, managed to pull ahead late in the game and win by a 4-2 margin. It seemed to be the little errors that proved critical to the Mad Dogs. The Mad Dogs went on to win their next two games against the Hartford Jr. Fire Ants and the Pennsylvania Typhoons and wind up the number two seed in the playoffs. In the semifinals, they were paired up against the Hartford Jr. Fire Ants, a team they beat earlier in a spirited 5-3 win which was sealed on anAlec Coakley empty netter. Once again, the Mad Dogs were unable to hold the lead and they lost a heartbreaker in overtime in which the Fire Ants scored on a broken play off a faceoff.

Alec Coakley continued to be one of the team’s snipers who, along withLogan Young, provided solid scoring and offensive play. The team’s two defensemen, Mason McMahon (one goal) and Noah Ehlers (two goals) consistently rode the other players off the puck and moved it out of the defensive zone with authority. Wyatt Taylor and Nate DeCecco used their great speed to check the puck all over the rink. Their consistent forechecking led to many scoring chances. Newcomers Connor Gordon (also has great speed),Ethan Taylor, and Landon Young also scored goals for the Mad Dogs in this tournament. Christopher Beaulieu provided consistent and excellent goaltending and took home the coveted “Hard-Working” helmet.…way to go Chris! 
Many of the 10U Mad Dogs, with 12U Potomac Mavericks Ryan Colligan andDavid Balcells along with goaltender Markus Grantz, decided to take on the 12U division at the Susquehanna Showdown against some of the best 12U teams in the region. The team showed great heart and got goals from David Balcells (two), Logan Young, and Alec Coakley. Ryan Colligan provided offense and leadership and Markus Grantz got his first taste of travel hockey. They played three much older and experienced teams (Valken Vikings, Fox Chase, and the Crusaders) and showed that they will be a team to be reckoned with in the 12U division over the next two seasons. Way to go Mad Dogs!

The 10U Mad Dogs also provided a lot of great memories for their families and the coaching staff. The aforementioned players along with Chris Purpura,Corbin and Kylee Flynn, Carter Cunningham, Anthony Smarelli, and Mykyta Andryeyeshyn worked hard all season and were great teammates who were worthy of wearing the Mad Dogs logo on their uniforms.