has been Jim Hunt named a regional manager of USA Hockey’s ADM

Press Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Jim Hunt, who spent the last two seasons as president and director of player personnel of the Eastern Junior Hockey League’s New Jersey Hitmen and whose coaching experience includes time at the collegiate, junior, high school and international levels, has been named a regional manager of USA Hockey’s American Development Model.

“Jim’s diverse background makes him ideal for this position,” said Ken Martel, director of USA Hockey’s American Development Model. “His experience level and understanding of the landscape will cerainly be an advantage in helping us roll out the ADM across the country.”

The ADM, with support from the National Hockey League, is a nationwide initiative that was announced by USA Hockey in January. It will provide local associations across the country – for the first time ever – with a blueprint for optimal athlete development that focuses on age-appropriate training utilizing long-term athlete development principles.

Prior to his time with the Hitmen from 2004-09, which included three years (2004-07) as the team’s general manager and head coach, Hunt spent three seasons (2000-03) as the head coach of Fairfield University’s men’s ice hockey team, where he guided the Stags to their best regular-season record in history and first-ever playoff appearance in 2001. He served three years (1997-00) as an assistant coach and assistant director of player personnel with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, and was the general manager and head coach of the New Jersey Junior Devils of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League from 1992-97.

In addition, Hunt spent eight years (1987-95) as head coach of the Paramus (N.J.) Catholic Boys’ High School’s ice hockey team, and was an assistant coach for Saint Mary’s (Minn.) University from 1985-87 while attending the school. He received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology from Saint Mary’s in 1987.

Along with his time spent with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, Hunt’s USA Hockey background is extensive. He has served as the director of player development for USA Hockey’s Atlantic District since 1996, and has been a guest speaker for the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program since 1998. Additionally, Hunt served as an assistant coach for the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team and 2006 U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team.

NOTES: Hunt joins Joe Doyle, Guy Gosselin, Roger Grillo, Bob Mancini, and Scott Paluch as regional managers for USA Hockey’s ADM … The states each regional manager will serve include: Doyle (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming); Gosselin (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin); Grillo (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont); Hunt (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania (eastern) and Virginia); Mancini (Illinois, Michigan and Missouri); and Paluch (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania (western), South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia).

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)