Former NAHL Coach Geoff Beauparlant to lead Little Caps 18U Team

The Washington Little Capitals are excited to announce that former North American Hockey League (NAHL) coach Geoff Beauparlant will join the organization as new head coach of the 18U Team.

“We are thrilled  to have a coach of Geoff’s talent and experience,” said Little Caps hockey director Dan Jablonic. “Our goal is to move our players to the next level in junior hockey, and Geoff knows how to do that.”

Beauparlant spent six years in the NAHL, including three seasons as the Head Coach, Director of Hockey Operations, and Assistant GM for Alaska’s Kenai River Brown Bears.  Before that he spent three seasons as assistant coach of the NAHL’s Fairbanks Ice Dogs.  During his tenure, the Ice Dogs won the NAHL’s Robertson Cup in 2011, the West Division title in 2012, and made it to the finals of the West Division playoffs b in 2013.  During his three years in Fairbanks, over two dozen Ice Dogs committed to NCAA Division I schools.

“I learned a lot in those six years – from the lowest of lows, being the worst team in the league for a couple of years, to the highest of the highs of winning a national championship,” he says. “The big thing for the boys is being able to lean on that experience, being able to guide them, and being able to put them in the right fit.”  

Beauparlant has worked closely with some of the best junior hockey coaches in the country. “Geoff knows about 90% of the coaches in the NAHL,” Jablonic said. “He has relationships with most of them, as well as many who have gone on to coach in the USHL and NCAA. Those coaches will know what they are getting from Geoff. They know he develops solid players.”

Beauparlant says he is looking forward to working with the Little Caps players to help them achieve their dreams. “The midgets are a great age because they’re trying to find their way as people, as young men, and as players” he says. “To be able to be a part of their development process, and help them in finding their way is what motivates me.”

“What drew me to the Little Caps is the focus on development, doing things the right way, promoting the players,” he added. “We’re all competitive and we want to win, but the organization understands that it’s not about winning at all costs.  It’s about creating the right atmosphere for kids to succeed as players and as people.”

He says his focus will be on creating a family atmosphere where everyone is pulling for each other.  “If you want to advance as a player, you’re going to need your buddies to help you get there – just like your buddies need you,” he says. “I believe in that family chemistry, that you’re playing not just for yourself, but for the guy next to you.  If you can put his needs ahead of yours, you’ll find yourself getting what you want.”

A native of Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, Beauparlant played four years in the Ontario Junior A Hockey League before attending Penn State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition while playing goal for the Nittany Lions. He helped backstop the team to three consecutive Division I ACHA National Championships.

After graduating from Penn State, he went right into coaching, and spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Port Colborne Junior Sailors of the Ontario Golden Horseshoe Junior League (GHL).  Beauparlant spent three years coaching Midget AAA and Junior hockey in Philadelphia and central Pennsylvania.  During the 2007-2008 season he led the Central Penn Panthers (Metropolitan Junior Hockey League) to a quarterfinal appearance in the Keegan Cup playoffs and was named the South Conference Head Coach for the MJHL All-Star Game. 

He then spent two years as the assistant coach for the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), where he focused primarily on defense and goaltending.  In addition to his duties with the Cottonmouths, he was also the director of scouting/recruiting for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League.  

He has an MBA in Athletic Administration and a certificate in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University.

Last season, Beauparlant was the general manager for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers Hockey Club, and served as head coach of their 15-Pure team.  

He says that moving players on is one of his primary goals at the Little Caps.  “Our focus with the U18 team will be to have a competitive team, improve every day, and move players into junior and college ranks,” Beauparlant said.

There will be an informational meeting for the U18 program at Kettler on the first night of U18 tryouts where current and prospective players can meet Coach Geoff and learn more about his plans for the team.