Howell, NJ – With the 2013-2014 season quickly coming upon us, the New Jersey Jr Titans have a number new coaches on board that we are excited about. Here is a little background on each coach and the respective level they will be working with:
Eastern Hockey League:
Tony Valentino: Coach Valentino is a former TItan Junior player for two years and an MJHL All-Star who was a part of the Titans Bronze Medal winning team in Nationals. During his Titan career, Tony was a captain at Red Bank Catholic. After playing for the Titans MJHL team, Coach Valentino moved on to play for the Walpole Express of the AJHL, where the team won the league two consecutive years. At Walpole Tony was an AJHL All-Star and an Assistant Captain.
U18 AAA, U18 AA/Jr Development, and Bantam A:
Oktay Armagan: A native of Queens, New York, Oktay Armagan played at the ACHA Division I & II collegiate levels for both Towson and Rider University's hockey programs as a standout offensive/defensive minded winger and captain.
After graduation, he turned to coaching & skills training, working with players from AAA youth through to the NHL level, developing several national & league championship teams. He is a level 4 USA Hockey coach and was part of the ECHL Trenton Titans staff, winning the 2005 Kelly Cup. He has experience with international & professional scouting, as well as professional video editing & game time video coordination.
U18 AAA:
Rocky Romanella:
Coach Romanella's background recently starts from Saint Michael’s College (NCAA D-2 Assistant Coach) after a successful four-year collegiate playing career. He spent two seasons at the University of Delaware, where he graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in both education and public policy. While at Delaware, Romanella played for the Blue Hens’ ice hockey team, Division I members of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). Romanella was named the team’s Most Valuable Player as a senior in 2009-10, as he tallied 11 goals and 12 assists in leading the Blue Hens to a 24-8-1 regular-season record and a second-place finish in the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL). In two years at Delaware, Romanella played in 68 games, and compiled 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points, and also accumulated 117 penalty minutes.
Romanella transferred to Delaware after playing for two seasons at Lebanon Valley College, a member of the NCAA D-3 ECAC West conference and based in Annville, Pa. Romanella played in 42 games for the Flying Dutchmen, and notched 76 penalty minutes.
Romanella has been a Head Instructor for Pro Ambitions Hockey Camps for the past 2 seasons. He has spent time across the US and Canada at 8 different locations running Jeff Serowik’s summer camps while managing as many as 10 on-ice instructors at once.
Prior to college, Romanella had a successful three-year tenure at The Gunnery School in Washington, Conn., from 2003-06. A native of Allentown, N.J., Romanella has experience as a summer counselor at the CAN/AM Youth Hockey Camp and the Ocean Hockey Academy.
U16 American:
Adam Houli: Born and raised in Howell, New Jersey, Adam grew up playing for many local teams in the area. He attended The Gunnery, a prep school in CT, for his high school. While in high school he also attended the United States Festival Development Program for four years. Following high school, Adam attended Trinity College, NCAA DIII school, where he was a NESCAC champion, 3-time leading point getter and captain in his senior year. Adam has most recently played “A” professional hockey in the Federal Hockey League for the Danbury Whalers.
Nick Roszak: Coach Roszak joins the Titans after working with the Brick Hockey Club at the Bantam AA level. Coach Roszak's Brick teams had much success in the NJYHL. Prior to coaching, Coach Roszak, who is a native of Howell, NJ played locally as a goaltender before attending and playing for the Christian Brothers Academy Varsity Program.
U16 AA:
Scott Harrington: Coach Harrington rejoins the Titans this season after spending the last eight years in Florida where he worked with travel programs in Fort Myers as well as with the Florida Eels. Coach Harrington, a level four coach, in the past, prior to his move to Florida coached a number of Tier I AAA teams here with the Titans including Bantam Minor and PeeWee Major. Coach Harrington is excited to be back.
PW AA:
Todd Wagenbach: While he may be "new" for this year, many in our Titan family are very familiar with Coach Wags as he is known. Wagenbach, who is back with the program has coached many different levels with the Titans with him most recently being in command of the Titans U16 American team two years ago. Wagenbach prior to coaching was a local star at Christian Brothers Academy where he won state titles in 2005 and 2006.
PeeWee White and Squirt Black:
Brendan Kiernan: Coach Kiernan comes to the Titans from the Red Bank Generals and the Red Bank Armory where he was heavily involved in their Hockey Development Program as well as with the Generals Mite Program. Brendan has been involved in hockey in the Shore Area for a long time and joins his brother Matt who heads up the Lady Titan program with our club.
Squirt Red:
Brett DePalma: Coach DePalma comes to the Titans from the Brick Hockey Club, where his first year was spend last year with the Brick Bantam "A" team. Brett, whose brother Dustin is the Titans EHL coach is welcome to the Titan family. Brett who grew up in Howell, NJ played his high school hockey at Christian Brothers Academy where he won a state title at CBA in 2005 and was a member of the first Team New Jersey to win the Chicago Showcase in 2006.