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WLC NEWS

2023-24 Staff: Peewee Major Head Coach Jeremy Barron

By WLC Staff 03/20/2023, 2:00pm EDT

The Little Caps are pleased to announce Jeremy Barron will serve as Head Coach of the Peewee Major (2011) for the 2023-24 season.

Jeremy grew up in western Maryland playing his youth hockey for the Frederick Fury and the Washington Little Caps. 

Prior to joining the Little Caps coaching ranks, he was the Hockey Director for the Hagerstown Bulldogs (CBHL) for the past four seasons. While at Hagerstown, he served across the spectrum of roles-- from a skill development coach to Assistant Hockey Director.

Additionally, Jeremy served on coaching staffs for the Washington Jr Nationals (member of both the Atlantic Junior Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League), the Washington County North Stars (MD HS), and Frederick Freeze. Along the way he's won CBHL, EJEPL, and Maryland HS Championships and earned numerous National Championship bids. 

"Jeremy is another great local product-- a WLC alumni with an extensive coaching resume, an infectious daily enthusiasm, and a drive to succeed," says Hockey Director Matt Thomas."He's already assembled a great staff and we're excited to see them get to work."

2023-24 Staff: Bantam Minor Head Coach Lyon Messier

By WLC Staff 03/17/2023, 2:00pm EDT

The Little Caps are pleased to announce Lyon Messier will serve as Head Coach of the Bantam Minor (2010) for the 2023-24 season.

Lyon grew up in the Washington area and played youth hockey with the Northern Virginia Ice Dogs and the Little Caps.  He then played junior hockey for the Texas Tornado in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), where he won a national championship, and later with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He played major junior hockey in Canada for the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) and Erie Otters (OHL), before moving on to play pro hockey for the New Mexico Scorpions of the Central Hockey League (CHL).  He was invited to the New York Rangers main camp, played an AHL game, and then went to the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) where he won the Kelly Cup with the South Carolina Stingrays. "I feel confident my experience can help our players,” Lyon says.  

Lyon is also the owner and operator of the Messier Selects program, providing spring and summer training and showcase opportunities for area players.

"Lyon is a true professional-- you can see his respect and passion for the game in how he prepares and goes about his business." says Hockey Director Matt Thomas. "For a kid in this area still learning about the skills, tactics, and mindset of high-level hockey, I can't think of a better Head Coach than him."

2023-24 Staff: Bantam Major Head Coach Brad Kostrzebski

By WLC Staff 03/15/2023, 2:00pm EDT

The Little Caps are pleased to announce Brad Kostrzebski will return as Head Coach of the Bantam Minor (2009) for the 2023-24 season.

Brad grew up in the Washington area playing for the Prince William Panthers and Washington Little Caps youth programs. He then played junior hockey for the Potomac Patriots and won a state championship with Woodbridge High School. He played college hockey at Christopher Newport University, winning two Blue Ridge Hockey Conference Championships. After getting into coaching with Pro Ambitions summer clinics, he spent 1 year coaching U16 AA for the Patriots and 2 years with the Little Caps. Brad also coaches for the Messier Selects Spring program.

This past season, Brad led the 2009 squad to the best record in the club, the #3 seed in the AYHL (Elite), and a league playoff Championship.

"Brad is part of a strong wave of young, local alumni who are returning to contribute to the club," says Hockey Director Matt Thomas. "I'm very pleased with what I've seen from him the past three years-- he's organized, disciplined, and he's extremely hungry to get back to work with the 2009's."

2023-24 Staff: 15U Midget Head Coach Alex Guerere

By WLC Staff 03/13/2023, 2:00pm EDT

The Little Caps are pleased to announce Alex Guerere will serve as Head Coach of the 15U Midget Team for the 2023-24 season.

Prior to joining the Little Caps coaching staff, Coach Guerere spent the past four seasons with the Ashburn Xtreme club, earning numerous accolades: EJEPL Championships, CBHL Regular Season and Playoff Championships, and multiple National Tournament appearances. In addition to working with the Xtreme, Coach Guerere worked with Bishop O’Connell and ColdRush.

As a player, Coach Guerere played for both the Washington Little Caps and Washington Jr Nationals prior to attending the University of Delaware, where he played for the ACHA Division 1 team.  

Coach Guerere has coached the WLC 2006 group for the past two seasons, earning a bid to the AYHL Playoffs and going undefeated against Team Maryland (5-0) on the way to earning consecutive bids to the USAH Southeast District Tournament.

“Alex has been a relentless force these past two years.” says Hockey Director Matt Thomas. “He's completely reshaped the 2006 squad-- they're now a group of young men who now train and expect to win. He’s passionate, accomplished, driven, and he’s lived it all himself as a Little Caps alumnus. The 2008 birthyear is going to be in excellent hands next season.”

2023-24 Staff: 16U Midget Head Coach Bryan Reel

By WLC Staff 03/10/2023, 2:00pm EST

The Little Caps are pleased to announce Bryan Reel will serve as the Head Coach of the 16U Midget Team for the 2023-24 season.

A Pittsburgh native, Coach Reel played for the North Pittsburgh Wildcats and attended Penn State University. Prior to this season with the Little Caps, he coached squirts, peewees, and bantams locally in the Ashburn Xtreme program, accumulating 4 CBHL Regular Season Championships, 3 CBHL Playoff Championships, 2 VA State Championships, and a trip to the USAH Nationals. Coach Reel is a level 4 certified USA Hockey coach.

Coach Reel has coached both the 2007 and 2008 birth years since his arrival with WLC, earning consecutive bids to the AYHL Playoffs and qualification for the USAH Southeast District Tournament this season.

“Bryan has been terrific for two different birth years,” says Hockey Director Matt Thomas. “I’ve been extremely impressed with his developmental vision and how it aligns with our club model, and I know he's excited to reconnect with the 2007's next year.”

2023-24 Staff: 18U Midget Head Coach Josh Beck

By WLC Staff 03/09/2023, 2:00pm EST

The Little Caps are pleased to announce Joshua Beck will serve as the Head Coach of the 18U Midget Team for the 2023-24 season.

Originally from Scituate, Massachusetts, Beck played youth hockey for the Bay State Breakers. He then played junior hockey for the Seacoast Spartans Prep where he led the team in points. After the Spartans, he attended and played for Babson College (NCAA DIII) Program. Beck graduated from Babson College in 2020 with a degree in Business & Entrepreneurship. In 2017, Beck represented Team USA for the 20th Maccabi Games in Jerusalem, Israel, and won the Silver Medal.

Coach Beck has led the 18u and 15u squads in his tenure, last season making it all the way to the USAH Southeast District Tournament Championship game and coming within a goal of qualifying for USAH Nationals.

“Josh is precisely as advertised—sharp, organized, and high energy,” says Coach Thomas. “He’s done remarkable things in developing his players the past couple seasons, and I’m excited to see what he can do next year.”

In addition to his Little Caps duties, Coach Beck is an Assistant Coach with Stevenson University Mustangs (NCAA D3) as well as a Regional Scout for Spruce Grove Saints, Jr. A Hockey Club of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and Capital District Regional Scout for Neutral Zone, the leading amateur scouting service in North America.

16U, 15U, 14U Squads at USAH Districts

By WLC Staff 03/01/2023, 12:00pm EST

Next week, the 16U Midget, 15U Midget, and 14U Bantam Major teams will participate in the Southeastern District Tournament in Wesley Chapel, Florida, as the top teams in the region battle for the right to advance to the USA Hockey National Tournament.

All games will be played at AdventHealth Center Ice (AHCI).
Games can be viewed on LiveBarn.

 

Bantam Major 14U

3/10/23 3:20 PM Washington Little Capitals vs. Nashville Jr. Predators at AHCI-B

3/11/23 11:40 AM Florida Alliance vs. Washington Little Capitals at AHCI-C

3/12/23 2:40 PM Washington Little Capitals vs. Carolina Jr. Hurricanes at AHCI-B

3/13/23 8:00 AM 14U Championship Game at AHCI-C

Midget 15U

3/10/23 5:10 PM Washington Little Capitals vs. Nashville Jr. Predators at AHCI-B

3/11/23 12:45 PM Florida Alliance North vs. Washington Little Capitals at AHCI-B

3/12/23 10:55 AM Washington Little Capitals vs. Carolina Jr. Hurricanes at AHCI-C

3/13/23 8:00 AM 15U Championship Game at AHCI-D

Midget 16U

3/10/23 7:20 PM Washington Little Capitals vs. Nashville Jr. Predators at AHCI-B

3/11/23 12:50 PM Florida Alliance vs. Washington Little Capitals at AHCI-D

3/12/23 3:10 PM Washington Little Capitals vs. Carolina Jr. Hurricanes at AHCI-A

3/13/23 10:20 AM 16U Championship Game at AHCI-D

 

Good luck to our squads!

2009's win the AYHL Playoff Championship

By WLC Staff 02/27/2023, 6:00pm EST

The Washington Little Capitals 2009 squad won the 2023 AYHL Playoff Championship in Philadelphia with a 5-1 win against Philadelphia Little Flyers. This win is the first AYHL Championship for the 2009 squad.

This weekend was a strong showing of hard work and contributions from the entire lineup. The 09 Caps won their first game 5-4 in an overtime thriller against the top-seed NJ Colonials and won their second in a comeback win against a strong Jr Flyers team 6-3. After dropping their final round robin game to the Little Flyers 7-1, the 09 Caps regrouped with a dominant 5-1 victory against the Little Flyers on championship Monday. 

Awards:

All American Forward: Rocco Olek 

All American Defenseman: Donovan Ramos 

Great American Goalie: Conner Sestak 

 

“The boys worked hard all season to be ready for big moments like this. We batted through some adversity by blowing a lead in game 1 and having to battle back in game 2, but the group stayed calm and confident throughout the tournament and played their best hockey when it mattered most," said Head Coach Brad Kostrzebski. "I couldn’t be more proud of how our team played under pressure and they deserve all the credit in the world for their hard work this season."

 

Congratulations to our WLC 2009 Team: Tyler Hoyt, Ben Morrison, Thompson Grennan, Rocco Olek, Dean Marulli, Cooper Roberts, Ryan Castro-Ribot, Evan Batbold, Mike Connors, Pierce Williams, Donovan Ramos, Rahmi Moazzez, Andrei Stanislavovich, William Abrantes, Brooks Lytle, Axel Schoenborg, Gavin Werntz, Conner Sestak, HC Brad Kostrzebski, AC Dano Silvers, and Manager Jodie Ramos

WLC Sends Three Squads to Districts

By WLC Staff 02/15/2023, 3:00pm EST

The battle for the PVAHA bid to USA Hockey Southeastern Districts Championships has concluded.

With the Little Caps 15u squad winning game 3 against rival Team Maryland on Saturday night, the Little Caps have clinched 3 of the 4 series: Bantam Major (2008), Midget 15U, and Midget 16U are the PVAHA Affiliate Champions and will head to USA Hockey Southeastern Districts March 9-12 in Tampa. The winner of the Southeast District Championship earns an automatic bid into USA Hockey National Championships in April!

"This is the first time in recent memory we've had the 14u, 15u, and 16u squads to Districts in the same year," says Hockey Director Matt Thomas. "That's a credit to those players and coaches-- winning high-stakes, emotional series against our local rival. But it's also a reflection of the overall developmental pathway happening from the ground up with the coaches of our younger squads. We're all extremely proud and excited to see the boys on this next stage."

 

Bantam Major (2008): 2-game sweep

Game 1: 2-0 Win

Game 2: 7-1 Win

 

Midget 15U: Wins Series 2-1

Game 1: 2-4 Loss

Game 2: 3-1 Win

Game 3: 3-0 Win

 

Midget 16U: 2-game sweep

Game 1: 3-2 Win

Game 2: 6-3 Win

 

Congrats to our WLC Players and Coaches!!

Coach Abercrombie moves up to the NHL

By WLC Staff 10/07/2022, 10:00am EDT

The Little Caps are pleased to announce that Director of Player Achievement Duante Abercrombie has accepted a position with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his new role as Coaching Development Associate with the Leafs, Duante will be involved in all facets of the three coaching staffs in the organization-- the NHL Leafs, AHL Toronto Marlies, and ECHL Newfoundland Growlers-- gaining valuable experience, working with numerous coaching staffs, and contributing across a wide spectrum of development.

For the past four seasons with the Little Caps, Abercrombie served as Head Coach for two midget squads and in his latest role as Director of Player Achievement.

"Crazy as it sounds, that's exactly what Duante did for us here," says Little Caps Hockey Director Matt Thomas."His role as Director of Player Achievement was to work up and down our club, with each squad and coaching staff-- wearing a lot of hats, adapting quickly and repeatedly, sometimes working with three or four teams in a single evening."

Abercrombie is an alumnus of Gonzaga College High School (Class of 2005), where he helped Gonzaga win 4 MSHL/ MAPHL Championships, multiple Purple Puck Championships, and numerous games over nationally ranked prep school programs, as a player (2001- 2005) and a coach (2008- 2013). He also coached at Georgetown Preparatory School, and in his first year, he helped lead his team to its first IAC Championship. For the past three seasons, he's served on the coaching staff at Stevenson University (NCAA Division 3), 48-18-4 record overall, including two 18-win seasons. Premiering earlier this year, Abercrombie was the subject of the 'NHL Bound' video series, documenting his involvement as one of two black coaches in the Arizona Coyotes' inaugural coaching internship program. Click here to view the video.

"Duante is a great example to all young inspiring professionals - in any field - believe in yourself, work as hard as you can, and good things will come your way," says Little Caps Executive Director, Doug Plocki. "We will miss Duante for sure, but could not be happier for this impressive young man."