USA Hockey Magazine

14 // JUNE/JULY 2019 D I G I T A L E X C L U S I V E USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM O F F T HE D R AW The Madison Capitols and Green Bay Gamblers joined forces to close out their USHL seasons and raise awareness against multiple sclerosis, and lend support to former Gambler, A.J. Degenhardt, in his battle with the disease. Degenhardt played two seasons for the Gamblers before heading to the University of Wisconsin where he was a four-year starter and an integral part of the team's 2006 NCAA championship run. After graduation he turned to coaching, including three years as general manager and head coach of the Coulee Region Chill of the North American Hockey League. In 2011, while coaching Team Illinois, Degenhardt was diagnosed with multiple scle- rosis, an incurable disease of the central nervous system in which the body's immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves. A portion of the ticket sales from the game at the Resch Center in downtown Green Bay were slated to benefit A.J. and multiple sclerosis research. In addition, the teams held an auction featuring items that had a personal connection to Degenhardt, includ- ing some from his former teammates such as a San Jose Sharks team-signed jersey on behalf of Joe Pavelski, a Chicago Blackhawks 2019-20 ticket package from Adam Burish and a package of items from the University of Wisconsin, compliments of Tony Granato. "It's been a struggle to cope with, especially early on," said Degenhardt, who is confined to a wheelchair. "I am very thankful for the amount of support I've received from family, friends, and the organizations I've been a part of my entire life. Their support keeps me positive every day in this fight." P JUNIORS PHOTOS BY Deirdre Weiler; Green Bay Gamblers After scoring a hat trick in the state final to lift his team to victory in the Massachusetts Boys' Division 1 State Championship, Duxbury High School junior forward, Friend Weiler, and his date Emerson Hunt arrived at the prom in style. Arriving In Style The Green Bay Gamblers and Madison Capitols battled it out for a great cause in their season finale. k IN AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE for its coaches, USA Hockey is giving its coaching clinics and curriculum a facelift starting with next season. The goal is to provide even greater value to all coaches through its educational materials while enhancing the experience for those who attend annual clinics, which will ultimately help them pass on their knowledge of the game to the next generation of players. Many of these new concepts and practices were discussed during a joint meeting between members of the Coaches Section and regional managers working with the American Development Model, which took place during the NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Buffalo, N.Y., in early April. The timing of the meeting couldn't have been better, as USA Hockey will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ADM during the 2019-20 season. "It's been exciting and fun to watch the USA Hockey Coaches in Chief and ADM regional managers get together to work on reshaping our curriculum for Levels 1-3 to enhance the experience of coaches in our country," said National Coach- in-Chief Mike MacMillan. The goal of the brainstorm- ing session was to not only make the coaching clinics bet- ter, but to ensure that when the coach leaves that clinic they have had a great experi- ence that they can take with them throughout the course of the season. "We're working collaboratively to provide a product that we already consider the gold standard, but we want to make it better," MacMillan said. COACHES COLLABORATE WITH ADM MANAGERS TO GIVE CEP MATERIALS A FACELIFT COACHES USHL Rivals Band Together To Fight MS PROM

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