Bowie Hockey Club Travel Team ON ICE Tryouts

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Below is the on ice travel tryout schedule for selecting 2020-21 Bowie Hockey Club Travel Teams.  There is a $15 non-refundable tryout fee. 

Bowie Hockey Club 2020-21 Season

Bowie Hockey Club is pleased to announce the 2020-21 hockey season. We are very excited as 2021 marks our 50^th anniversary.

PVAHA Statement Regarding Tier II Tryouts for the 2020-21 Hockey Season

While there are still many unknowns for the upcoming season, PVAHA announced beginning on Monday, July 13, 2020, all member associations which are planning to skate Youth 10U-18U teams rostered as Tier II (USA Hockey 1T Roster) for the 2020-21 season, may start to offer player agreements/contracts without on-ice evaluations/tryouts to only those players who were rostered within their respective organization last season (2019-20). Member associations may also at this time conduct on-ice evaluations/tryouts in lieu of, or in addition to, “contracts without tryouts” if that is their preference. Any on-ice evaluation or tryout must follow State Guidelines, and local Health Department guidelines and restrictions that apply to indoor recreational sports activities including social distancing, facemasks and limitations on the number of people within the facility.

On Monday, July 20, 2020 all member associations which are planning to skate Youth 10U-18U teams rostered as Tier II (USA Hockey 1T Roster) for the 2020-21 season, may start to offer player agreements/contracts to all players, irrespective of where they were rostered last season (2019-20). Member associations may also at this time conduct on-ice evaluations/tryouts in lieu of, or in addition to, “contracts without tryouts” if that is their preference. Any on-ice evaluation or tryout must follow State Guidelines, and local Health Department guidelines and restrictions that apply to indoor recreational sports activities including social distancing, facemasks and limitations on the number of people within the facility.

Beginning on Saturday, August 1, 2020, all member associations which are planning to skate Youth travel/house/rec/8U cross-ice teams rostered as Travel/House/Rec (USA Hockey 1T Roster) for the 2020-21 season, may start to offer player agreements/contracts without on-ice evaluations/tryouts to all players, irrespective of where they were rostered last season (2019-20). Member associations may also at this time conduct on-ice evaluations/tryouts in lieu of, or in addition to, “contracts without tryouts” if that is their preference. Any on-ice evaluation or tryout must follow State Guidelines, and local Health Department guidelines and restrictions that apply to indoor recreational sports activities including social distancing, facemasks and limitations on the number of people within the facility.

The following language MUST be included in any player agreement offered to any player/family. Failure to not include this language will result in the Affiliate deeming the player agreement null and void.

PVAHA COVID-19 Financial Hardship Refund Policy Effective for 2020-21 Season Only

Member Association Player Agreements/Contracts shall be required to include a PVAHA COVID-19 Financial Hardship Refund Policy. Parents/Guardians of players signing agreements may petition the association for relief under the following guidelines:

• Under this policy, hardships must be related to the COVID-19 pandemic, where a family’s financial status changed after signing the Player Agreement/Contract.
• Member Associations are allowed to charge for the following:
  • Durable goods that cannot be repurposed (i.e. team uniforms, etc.)
  • Ice fees, coaching fees, and expenses prorated to what has actually been used by the player, up to the date the association received a written request.

• Participants/families exercising this option will not be permitted to roster with another PVAHA member association or with an association in the other three Affiliates of the Southeastern District – CAHA, SAHA, SAHOF, at the same, or higher, competitive level for the 2020-21 season.
• Participants/families may exercise this relief option on, or prior to, October 31, 2020.

Failure to adhere to the policy guidelines above may result in disciplinary action, due to violation of the following rules:

• PVAHA Bylaws – 8.2 Membership

Please note: The following statements from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, may be used in guidance to help determine applicable COVID-19 Financial Hardships.

• Family experiences adverse financial consequences due to being furloughed, laid off, or having work hours reduced due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19;

and/or

• Family experiences adverse financial consequences due to closing or reducing hours of a business that is owned or operated due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19.

If a player is released by a member association due to COVID-19 Financial Hardship, the player information should be sent to the PVAHA president at .

Travel Tryout Registration

Bowie Hockey Club’s travel tryout registration for 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U (it is not known at this time if BHC will field an 18U travel team – discussions with SoMD Sabres are ongoing regarding a possible joint 18U travel team) will open on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. All players must register for travel tryouts in order to be considered for a roster position. Any player registered for “Travel Intent to Play” must also register for travel tryouts. There will be no fee at this time for the travel tryout registration as Bowie Ice Arena has not reopened. A non-refundable $75 tryout fee will be assessed for any on-ice tryouts to be determined when Bowie Ice Arena reopens. The Bowie Ice Arena staff are working hard to get the facility ready to reopen. When we receive reopening confirmation from the Bowie Ice Arena, we will update our website, www.bowiehockey.org and social media sites.

Roster Selection Process

The statement by the PVAHA allowing member associations to offer player Agreements/Contracts without on-ice evaluations/tryouts has never happened before and creates a unique challenge for BHC. Since the Bowie Ice Arena has not yet reopened, BHC will follow the guidelines set forth by PVAHA and offer player Agreements/Contracts without on-ice tryouts at this time. Here is how BHC will handle the roster selection process.

• Evaluation committees will be created for each travel age group 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U. Committee members subject to change.
• The Hockey Director and President will assemble the named travel head coach for an age group and other coaches who possess specific knowledge of a particular age group to form each age group evaluation committee.
• Evaluation committees will review each registered applicant, discuss all the appropriate information and rate each player using TeamGenius evaluation software using criteria developed by the Hockey Director.
• A parent coach of a registered applicant within that specific age group will not be allowed to rate/evaluate/vote for their own player.
• The evaluation committee decision to offer a roster position must be unanimous.
• The Hockey Director and President have final say in all decisions.
• Beginning on Monday, July 13, 2020, Agreements/Contracts for 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U will only be offered to registered applicants who were rostered with BHC last season.
• On Monday, July 20, 2020, Agreements/Contracts for 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U may be offered to registered applicants irrespective of where they were rostered last season.
• Beginning on Saturday, August 1, 2020, Agreements/Contracts for 8U cross-ice teams may be offered to registered applicants irrespective of where they were rostered last season.
• Tryout registered applicants (8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U) not offered a roster position on Monday, July 13, 2020, Monday, July 20, 2020 or Saturday, August 1, 2020 will be invited to an on-ice tryout when the Bowie Ice Arena reopens, date TBD. A non-refundable $75 tryout fee will be assessed for any on-ice tryouts.
• Registered applicants offered an Agreement/Contract will be notified by phone or email by the named travel head coach or Hockey Director or President.
• All roster position Agreements/Contracts expire after 48 hours of original notification method.
• It is possible that teams may be filled prior to an on-ice tryout. Open roster positions will be provided on BHC’s website, www.bowiehockey.org on Thursday, July 23, 2020 for 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U and Tuesday, August 4, 2020 for 8U along with an on-ice tryout date if necessary.
• Evaluation committees will review each on-ice tryout registered applicant, discuss all the appropriate information and rate each player using TeamGenius evaluation software using criteria developed by the Hockey Director.
• A parent coach of on on-ice tryout registered applicant within that specific age group will not be allowed to rate/evaluate/vote for their own player.
• The evaluation committee decision to offer an on-ice tryout roster position must be unanimous.
• The Hockey Director and President have final say in all decisions.
• Agreements/Contracts for 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U may be offered to on-ice tryout registered applicants 48 hours after the on-ice tryout session.
• BHC’s 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U/18U recreational program registration will open on Monday, August 10, 2020 for current BHC members and Tuesday, September 1, 2020 for all others.
• BHC’s recreational program registration will remain open until all the rosters spots are filled. Each recreational team for 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U/18U may roster a maximum of 18 skaters and 2 goalies and a minimum of 11 players.

BHC Tryout Evaluation Committe

8U Youth Travel: Pat Ahern, Jason Dougal, Lori Jones, Bill Palmer and Derek Rabold

10U Youth Travel: Jason Dougal, Lori Jones, Scott Padgett, Bill Palmer, Steve Picarde, Derek Rabold, Bill Schmidt and Scott Schmidt

12U Youth Travel: Jason Dougal, Lori Jones, Bill Palmer, Derek Rabold, Bill Schmidt, Scott Schmidt and Keith Shanahan

14U Youth Travel: Lori Jones, Bill Palmer, Derek Rabold, Bill Schmidt, Scott Schmidt, David Snyder and Mike Viscardi

16U Youth Travel: Lori Jones, Dan Kunath, Mark Levett, Bill Palmer, Derek Rabold, Bill Schmidt, Scott Schmidt and Jason Seaton

18U Youth Travel: Lori Jones, Derek Rabold, Bill Palmer, Bill Schmidt and Scott Schmidt

Evaluation committee subject to change.

Youth Travel Team Size

The budget and plan for teams is as follows (fewer may be selected depending on number trying out): The numbers below include goalies and teams may take additional goalie or skaters depending on skill and need.

8U:     Minimum of 9 and no more than 13

10U:   15-16 players (upper team) and no fewer than 15 players (lower team)

12U:   15-16 players (upper team) and no fewer than 15 players (lower team)

14U:   17-19 players (both teams)

16U:   17-19 players (both teams)

18U:   18-20 players (both teams)

Youth Travel Head Coaches

8U Upper-Gold & Lower-Black: Pat & Li Ahern, Jason Dougal, Rachel Johnson, Mike Kochanski and Dan Kunath

10U Upper-Gold: Scott Padgett

10U Lower-Black: TBD

12U Upper-Gold: Bill Schmidt

12U Lower-Black: TBD

14U Upper-Gold: Derek Rabold

14U Lower-Black: TBD

16U Upper-Gold: Jason Seaton

16U Lower-Black: TBD

18U Upper-Gold: TBD

Assistant coaches will be listed after travel tryouts. Coaches are subject to change.

If you have any questions, please contact Lori Jones, President at or 410-370-4521.

REGISTER FOR TRAVEL TRYOUTS

8U

UPPER-GOLD and LOWER-BLACK - Pat & Li Ahern, Jason Dougal, Rachel Johnson, Mike Kochanski, Dan Kunath

Pat & Li Ahern: 8U House coaches 2017-20 & Instructional Program

Jason Dougal: 8U House coach 2015-19, Asst. Coach 8U Upper Gold 2017-18, Co Head Coach 10U Black 2018-19, Asst. Coach 8U Lower Black 2019-2020, Head Coach 10U Gold 2019-20 & Instructional Program.

Rachel Johnson: Asst. Coach 8U Lower Black & 12U Lower Black 2019-20 & Instructional Program

Mike Kochanski: 8U House coach 2017-19, Asst. Coach 10U Red 2018-19, Asst Coach 8U Lower Black 2019-20 & Instructional Program

Dan Kunath: 8U House coach 2012-14,18-20, Head Coach 10U Red 2014-16, Head Coach 12U Red 2016-18, Asst. Coach 14U Red 2018-19, Asst. Coach 14U Upper Gold 2019-20 & Instructional Program

10U

UPPER-GOLD - Scott Padgett

Scott Padgett: 8U House coach 2018-20, Head Coach 10U Lower Black 2019-20 & Instructional Program.

LOWER-BLACK - Adam Cohen and Steve Picarde

12U

UPPER-GOLD - Bill Schmidt

Bill Schmidt: 22 yrs of coaching experience at all age groups - Travel, Recreational and Instructional.

LOWER-BLACK - Scott Schmidt

14U

UPPER-GOLD - Derek Rabold

Derek Rabold: BHC Hockey Director 2018-20, Assist. Coach Washington Junior Capitals 2001-2005: Head Coach BHC Midget A 2005-2007, Head Coach BHC Peewee AA and A teams 2007-2008, Head Coach BHC Bantam AA 2010-present, Head Coach/Co-Coach BHC Squirt AA - Upper A - and B teams 2010-2018, Head Coach 8U Upper Gold and 8U Lower Black 2019-20 & Instructional Program. 

LOWER-BLACK - Mike Viscardi

16U

UPPER-GOLD - Jason Seaton

Jason Seaton: Asst. Coach 12U Gold 2016-17, Asst. Coach 14U Red 2017-18, Head Coach 14U Red 2018-19, Head Coach 18U Red 2019-2020

LOWER-BLACK -TBD

18U

UPPER-GOLD - TBD

Assistant Coaches will be listed after travel tryouts. Coaches are subject to change.

As some businesses and outdoor sports start to reopen in Maryland, we still do not have any firm dates on when the Bowie Ice Arena (indoor sports) will reopen. It is still closed due to COVID-19. Bowie Hockey Club is working closely with USA Hockey/PVAHA, local and state governments regarding information and potential dates on reopening. Unfortunately, at this time there are no date specified.

Currently, the City of Bowie owns and operates the Bowie Ice Arena and they intend to reopen when allowed to do so. BHC will continue to communicate with the Bowie Ice Arena staff and City Manager’s office regarding reopening of the Bowie Ice Arena. As soon as I have any information, I will let you know.

Once the rinks reopen, our visits will certainly look different. Many are working to create procedures and protocols to protect all staff and visitors to the rinks. Returning to the rinks will create some challenges but we are determined to work together as a team to provide a safe environment for everyone.

As I mentioned in May, here is the Bowie Hockey Club COVID-19 participation survey. This anonymous and confidential survey will assist us with planning for the upcoming travel and recreational season. Please complete this survey by 8pm on Monday, June 8, 2020.

Also, as we do not yet have start dates for the 2020-21 travel, recreational and high school prep season, we opened registration for a no cost “intent to play” for the upcoming season. This does not commit you to our travel tryouts, recreational or high school prep season for 2020-21 but allows us the ability to connect players and parents with the travel, recreational and high school prep coaches for virtual meetings to offer off-ice training programs and communications. This does not mean that we have predetermined any players’ spot on a travel team for the upcoming season. This is a means for the 8U Mite travel and house coaches to connect with the 8U group of players, the 10U Squirt travel and recreational coaches to connect with the 10U group of players and so on.

Please register your player for our “intent to play” as soon as possible so we can generate age group lists for the coaches.

Here are the coaches for the 2020-21 season: (subject to change depending on travel tryout placements)

8U Upper Gold – Pat & Li Ahern, Rachel Johnson, Mike Kochanski, Dan Kunath

8U Lower Black – Jason Dougal

8U House – Bill Palmer

10U Upper Gold – Scott Padgett

10U Lower Black – TBD*

10U Recreational Red – Blake Curtis, Ryan McKalip, Mark Phelps, Michael Sohns

12U Upper Gold – Bill Schmidt

12U Lower Black – TBD*

12U Recreational Red – Joe Lembo, Clint Green, Michael Sohns

14U Upper Gold – Derek Rabold

14U Lower Black – TBD*

14U Recreational Red- Blake Curtis, Clint Green, Joe Lembo, Chris Nolte, Tom Pizzillo

16U Upper Gold – Jeff Matthews

16U Lower Black – TBD*

18U Upper Gold – TBD*

18U Recreational Red – Jason Ford

High School Prep Program-Larry Robinson and Drew Lantz

*Teams listed with coaches as TBD will be named after tryouts.

If you haven’t yet informed me of your wish for a refund check or credit to your account for Spring Hockey, please email president@bowiehockey.org.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call me. Please continue to stay safe, stay strong and stay healthy.

Warm regards,

Lori Jones, President, 410-370-4521

I would like to thank everyone who submitted email letters and videos to the Bowie Councilmembers which were read at the meeting on Monday, May 18th. There were over 190 letters and many videos submitted. The outcome of the meeting was not in our favor as the City Council voted 4-3 to stop construction and cancel the contract for the Bowie IcePlex project and re-purpose the funding to completely renovate the existing Ice Arena and to support other recreational facilities in the City.

What does this mean for Bowie Hockey Club? Bowie Hockey Club still has a home, the Bowie Ice Arena. The Bowie Ice Arena will continue to be our home and the upcoming season, still unknown as to when will start, will take place as planned for the 2020-2021 season.

Currently, the ice arena is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are waiting for a decision from Maryland Governor Hogan as to when ice rinks will reopen. Some rinks in other southern states are reopening and we are monitoring their progress. Linda Jondo, President of Potomac Valley Amateur Hockey Association (PVAHA) conducts Zoom meetings with local club representatives and rink operators every 10 days to provide updates from USA Hockey. The Chesapeake Bay Hockey League Commissioner and Capital Corridor Hockey League Chairman continue to conduct monthly Zoom meetings with local club representatives. We do not know when travel tryouts will be held as no date has been set. PVAHA stated that travel tryouts will not take place until all rinks in the area are open.

A Bowie Hockey Club COVID-19 participation survey will be emailed soon. This anonymous and confidential survey will assist us with planning for the upcoming travel and recreational season. It will provide BHC’s board with information on how likely it is that players will return to the rink.  When you receive the survey, please complete and share your thoughts with BHC. Many other clubs are conducting surveys as well to determine the outlook for the upcoming season.

The registration for travel tryouts and recreational hockey are not yet available on the BHC website. As we do not have a start date for the 2020-2021 travel and recreational season, we do not feel we should collect fees at this time. We will offer a no cost registration link for those who intend to register for 2020-20201 travel tryouts and recreational hockey. This does not commit you to our travel tryouts or recreational hockey 2020-2021 but allows us the ability to connect players and parents with travel and recreational coaches for Zoom meetings to offer off-ice training programs and other communications. This does not mean that we have predetermined any players’ spot on a travel team for the upcoming season. This is a means for the 8U Mite travel and house coaches to connect with the 8U group of players, the 10U Squirt travel and recreational coaches to connect with the 10U group of players and so on.

As the Bowie Ice Arena is still closed and the date to reopen is unknown, it is unlikely we will be able to hold the Spring Hockey program. Most likely, due to continued social distancing, limited numbers of parents and players will be allowed to enter the ice rinks when they reopen. If you wish to receive a refund for Spring Hockey, please email  and let me know if you want a check refund or a credit to your account for the upcoming season.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the rink as soon as it is safe to do so. This will be a different looking season and many are working to develop protocols and procedures to keep players, parents, staff and referees safe once our season opens.

If you have any questions or want to say hello, please do not hesitate to email or call me. Please stay safe, stay strong and stay healthy.

Warm regards,

Lori Jones, President, 410-370-4521

CONGRATULATIONS to 10U Red players and coaches as they are 2020 CCHL Joe Loschiavo Memorial Cup 10U Division IV Playoff CHAMPIONS!

CONGRATULATIONS to 12U Gold players and coaches as they are 2020 Nashville PREDSidents Day Classic Tournament CHAMPIONS!