COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – At USA Hockey’s Annual Congress held here last week (June 6-9), the USA Hockey Board of Directors learned that a record 562,145 players were part of the organization in 2017-18.

“With our focus on safety, growth and player development, it is encouraging to see advancements in all areas, especially in the number of players involved in USA Hockey and particularly at the entry level,” said Jim Smith, who was unanimously re-elected president of USA Hockey at Saturday’s (June 9) Board of Directors meeting.

Of the 562,145 players, a record 122,135 were at 8U, which is considered the entry level within USA Hockey.

USA Hockey also finished with a record 1,178,711 players, coaches, officials, volunteers and parents that were part of the organization in 2017-18.

ELECTIONS
At Saturday’s (June 9) Board of Directors meeting, in addition to the re-election of Jim Smith (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) as president, the Board also:

Re-elected Ron DeGregorio (Salem, N.H.) as board chair

Re-elected Dave Klasnick (McMurray, Pa.) as vice president and chair of the youth council.

Elected Don Mulder (Waupun, Wis.) as vice president and chair of the adult council, replacing John Beadle (East Lansing, Mich.), who retired after 27 years in the position

Elected Donna Kaufman (Tacoma, Wash.) to fill the remaining term of John Vanbiesbrouck (Spring Lake, Mich.) as vice president and chair of the junior council

Elected Sarah Fraser (Cheshire, Ct.) and Michigan Amateur Hockey Association President - George Atkinson (Spring Lake, Mich.) to the two available director at-large positions. Atkinson was also re-elected as the Affiliate Presidents Chairperson

Elected Bruce Urban (Queen Creek, Ariz.) as director representative to the executive committee

Affirmed Pam Dreyer (Eagle River, Alaska) as athlete representative to the executive committee

Elected John Beadle (East Lansing, Mich.), Dan Esdale (Hyde Park, Mass.) and Phil Verchota (Bemidji, Minn.) as director emeritus