Summer is ending. Even though it’s still hot outside, the hockey season is approaching quickly, and Power Play Rinks is starting to buzz. The Pennsylvania Huntsmen are gearing up for their third season in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). This is year three for the Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP) team, and year two for the EHL Team. The offseason has been busy, so let’s get to it.

For starters, there’s a new head coach as the Huntsmen welcome Eric Progen to the organization. Coaches Matt Reid and Blaise Kilroy have taken other coaching opportunities, and the Huntsmen organization wishes them best of luck. Progen was the head coach of Team Maryland last season. It was a wild beginning for him as the previous coach moved on to coach NCAA hockey and Progen was brought in just weeks before the season began. Maryland got off to a slow start but finished strong with a 24-18-4 record good enough for 3rd place in the South Division and a playoff berth. Head-to-head, Progen and Maryland were 5-1-1 against the Huntsmen. Maryland’s season came to an end against the New Jersey 87s in the first round of the South Division Playoffs. Team Maryland is no longer part of the EHL and the stars aligned for Progen and the Huntsmen. “Last season, I thought what Eric did was pretty impressive. He got the team up off the ground and got them running, and they were successful. They had our number last season and a good run at the end of the year,” says General Manager Zach Overholtzer.

Progen is no stranger to junior hockey. Every season presents its challenges, and the new head coach is ready to get started. “The focus right now is rebuilding the culture and brand so we can make that jump and be a playoff team,” says Progen. “It’s my job to teach the players how to win and how to conduct themselves on and off the ice. We want to teach our guys how to play the right way, and not just at the EHL level, but hockey that is effective at the NCAA level or higher junior leagues.”

Training camp is underway and Progen wants to engrain a strong work ethic from day one, so the players know what to expect. “We must set the standard, and the standard is that every time we come into this building we are going to compete and work hard,” says Progen. “That’s the way you reach your goals as an individual but also our goals as a team. Training camp is meant to be tough; it’s never meant to be a punishment or anything like that. It’s just the reality that if you want to be a high-level athlete and team, you have to do things that are hard. ”

A few players have followed coach Progen to the Huntsmen. Goaltender Alex Illus and forward Xavier Tremblay played for Progen and Team Maryland. They shared their thoughts on the change of scenery and suiting up for the same coach, but with different color jerseys.

“It’s been a great experience so far,” says Illus. “It’s nice to have some familiar faces and teammates. Since I got here, everyone has been supportive and had a great work ethic and these are the types of people I want to be around. His training camps get harder and harder, but in a good way to prepare us. The best way to describe coach is ‘driven’. He’s a very driven person and wants what’s best for the team. He takes pride in helping every player achieve what they want in their career.”

“It’s nice to already know what coach is expecting,” says Tremblay. “If you're good to him, he's good to you. He likes to joke and have fun, but he is also going to push you to work hard and play to the best of your ability. He knows his hockey and is passionate. Coach Progen’s training camps make you want to puke, but he's pushing us hard so that we are ready for the season.”

The Huntsmen are now established in the EHL at both levels. Despite starting the season with a new coaching staff, GM Overholtzer is ready for year three and looking to raise the standard. “It’s a fresh start. We have new faces, and we are more familiar with how the league operates,” says Overholtzer.  “We are an established team now and I'm looking forward to seeing the players grow. I'm looking forward to seeing our commitments grow and seeing guys from our Premier Team move up to our EHL Team. I want the Huntsmen to become a machine of developing players in a great atmosphere. We have a nice core and some key players returning that understand this level of play. Last year we were very young and didn't have many age outs. We also brought in new pieces from different places that should round us out and make us consistently competitive throughout the season.”

Training camp is in full swing and Progen is getting the Huntsmen ready for the season. “My philosophy is ‘winning is fun’” says Progen. “If you're doing all the work to be successful and you understand that this is the reason why you are successful, it makes it more fun to come to the rink and put the work in. The most exciting part is that it’s a new year and a new challenge and we have another group of kids that we are able to help achieve their goals. As a coach, that’s the most rewarding part, seeing your players at the next level. That’s the most exciting thing for me, other than my green suit.”

By: Joe Sindoni

Staff Writer

Play by Play Announcer