As we get closer to the start of the 23-24 season, we are running a 9 part Season Preview series to highlight the 9 Hampton Roads Whalers Travel Teams and the upcoming 2023-2024 hockey season. This week, we continue with part 6 of the series and the U14 A team.
The U14 A team will be coached by Hampton Roads native Wayne Robinson, assistant coaches Derek Morgan and Anthony Pellerito and managed by Team Manager Emily Germany.
Coach Robinson has been associated with the Whalers since the early 2000’s when they were the GHRYTHA Whalers. Winning multiple CBHL championships along with Southeastern District championships at 16uA and AA.
This season would mark his 4th season returning as a youth coach and 2nd season coaching youth travel. Last season his team pulled 14 of their 18 player roster directly from the Whaler Nation Rec league and finished the regular season with an outstanding record of 16-7-1. They were the 3rd seed going into playoffs and were able to win their division and finish runner-up in the U14 Wales Division in the CBHL, falling in the CBHL Championship game.
“We work very hard to make sure our players continue to develop their love for this game all while competing against teams that force them to improve” says coach Robinson.
The Whalers have 9 returning players this season in goalie AJ Germany, Brady Miller, Cody Kaplan, Conner McGhee, DJ Morgan Jr, Jacob Dyson, Logan Tippett, Michael Pascal, and Tyler Robinson. Ethan Butler and Tyson Connelly are two returning Whalers who’ve just moved up from the 12uA Travel team.
Niklas Schmidt and Goalie Jack Green will be making their first year travel hockey debut from the Whaler Nation Rec league and Luke Kozlowski and Santiago Rodriguez will be making that same leap from the Peninsula Prowl.
“After a beauty of a season in 22-23, time to get back on track. Having this solid group of core players already, combined with our new hungry players, this season is bound to be a great one” says coach Pellerito.
After tryouts the team competed in the CCM Showcase tournament in Prince William and competed very well. Every game we saw improvement and every player showed that they were willing to make adjustments at the direction of the coaches for the betterment of the team. The team plans on competing in the Veterans Day tournament at Chilled Ponds and are still deciding on what other tournaments for the upcoming season.
Last year they played at Riverworks Outdoor Classic in Buffalo, NY. and a tournament in Charleston SC.
The team has been doing weekly strength workouts at Chilled Ponds and already had a team run at Stumpy Lake. Team runs at Mt Trashmore, Fort Monroe, and Oak Grove Park are already planned.
“We’ll be planning a team run at the beach too. So, after their workout we can all swim or surf to cool down” says coach Morgan.
“At the end of the day, we are trying to develop well rounded athletes and young men. The results from all of our training will extend beyond just the ice.” says coach Robinson. “Those who cheat the task given at practice, will only end up cheating themselves and the team during the game.”, says coach Morgan.
The team has multiple fundraisers planned for this season including a car wash and a Super Bowl fundraiser, along with an already completed and successful Bourbon and Yeti raffle. The teams proceeds will cover multiple tournaments and extra ice time along with hiring a Power Skating coach to work with our players weekly or Bi-weekly. Last year the team was able to cover two Players vs Parents games with an awesome end of year team party in the Norfolk Admirals new locker room. “We plan on covering many team meals along with other great memories that our players and parents will remember well past the end of this season”; says Team Manager Emily Germany. The entire team staff is extremely excited to start the season.
