skip navigation

Behind the Bench -- Chris Cerrella

By Nexlevel Hockey, 02/26/21, 9:00AM EST

Share

Nexlevel Hockey Sits Down With Avalanche Head Coach and General Manager

HOOKSETT, NH -- The 2020-21 hockey season has brought with it many new partnerships for the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) and the Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP). Nexlevel hockey is one of these new partners, and the advising agency offers a qualified, experienced staff of advisors to help players navigate Junior and Collegiate hockey.

NL: You’ve been the Head Coach & GM of the New Hampshire Avalanche program for five years. Can you compare the caliber of play in the EHL from day one until now? The league just seems to get better & better each year?

CC: The EHL as a league gets deeper and deeper every year.  There are no easy games and that is a credit to the all the teams and coaches. I think our league is becoming more popular across the country and a lot of players from all over want to come to the EHL because of its college commitment track record. The proof is in the numbers and every year our league is at the top when it comes to NCAA DII/DIII college hockey commitments. That has been the strength of our league and it has improved our teams recruiting more and more and it shows in the depth of our teams. Our league has done a lot of things to stand out from all the rest such as our All Star team playing NCAA college hockey teams, to our final four that has been played at Division I Providence College the past three years. We try to do more and more each year as a league to prove that we are a great league if you are working towards getting on college hockey radars.

NL: If a player is interested in your program, or the EHL in general, how do they make that known to you as a coach? Do you have camps to sign up for? Should they email you, call you, etc.?

CC: I think every team has its own nitch, but for us, we do have a Main Camp every off season and we also have spring and summer tournament opportunities. We encourage players and families to email and/or call us at anytime to speak about our program. Families should do their research and reach out to the junior teams that fit them the best. I encourage players to visit different junior teams maybe get on the ice for a practice this way you can get a feel for what that program has to offer. I think that is standard for most of the teams in the EHL.

NL: Your program is always toward the top (if not, at the top) of the league in regards to NCAA Commitments. How gratifying is that to you as a Head Coach of a top program in the EHL?

CC: There is only one reason a player wants to play junior hockey and that is to commit to the NCAA level.  To me as a Head Coach in the EHL there is nothing more important than player commitments, it is the most important key to success of any junior hockey organization. We focus on this every season and we work very hard for our players, our guys know if you work hard you will have a chance to play at the NCAA level. To me having a large number of NCAA commitments is the key to our success each year and the key in helping us recruit future inspiring student-athletes.Championships and your position in the standings are great, but NCAA commitments is where an organizational success really matters.

NL: What advice would you give a young player that comes into your program, and aspires to move up the ladder of development and play Tier II after he plays for you?

CC: We do not have a large number of guys leave our junior program to play Tier II to be honest. With our commitment numbers not many of our younger players leave because they can reach their goal of playing college hockey with us. But believing in the process is huge and players now all want to skip the steps and get to the highest level as fast as they can and it does not always work that way. Dominate the playing level you are currently playing in and then go to the next level wherever that may be. Be patient, work hard, and work on developing your skills both on and off the ice. 

NL: Can you describe your programs structure? Practice, video, workouts, community service etc.?

CC: We have a really neat set up for our players. We own our own rink so we have ability to practice five days a week and also have skills ice available. At our rink our players have access to a brand new locker room facility with a changing room giving our players a college hockey atmosphere every day. We have a warming room area where we do our video sessions as a team (this season due to covid-19 restrictions we have had to be a little more creative but we make things work the best we can). We have a great work out facility with a full-time strength coach and we are in the gym 3-4 days a week so our players are being trained off the ice by a certified strength coach not our hockey coaching staff. We also have a full-time goalie coach who works with our goalies on the ice every week which is something not a lot of programs have to offer. On normal years we are a more active in the community where we are a part of National Drug Awareness Day and Keeping our Veterans Warm, both in Derry, NH. Our players also volunteer their time at our rink during our Learn to Skate and Mini Mite skates each week. Our players are very busy and spend a lot of time together working towards their common goal of playing college hockey. Our program gives our players as many resources as possible to improve every day, both on and off the ice. 

Comments