The PCA Blog - New England

Recap: PCA Night With Boston College Men's Hockey

02.22.2017

When you are seven years old and 4 feet tall, Boston College’s six-foot tall Eagle can be a bit imposing. And the six-foot hockey players flying across the ice and smashing into boards in front of you? Imposing, and thrilling. That was the reaction of the young hockey players who joined Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) at Conte Forum for PCA Night at the Boston College v. UMass game on Friday, January 20th.

The kids quickly figure out that the Eagle is furry and gives out hugs and high fives, and that the action on the ice is just a faster version of the game they play. Within moments of entering Conte Forum, the kids love what they see on the ice--lots of goals and a dominating 6-1 win by Jerry York’s Eagles. What they are seeing is more than excellent hockey, they are seeing the results of exemplary coaching.

More than eighty people representing youth hockey programs throughout the state participated in PCA Night celebrating the relationship between the national non-profit and the legendary Coach York and his Boston College hockey program. Coach York is a longtime member of PCA’s National Advisory Board, and there is no coach who better exemplifies what it means to be a PCA coach than Coach York.

Nearly 70 players from PCA partner Starhawks Youth Hockey Association cheered on the Eagles after receiving a tour of the Eagles locker room. The Starhawks hosted a parent workshop to help them understand how best to support their child in hockey, and to be a Second Goal Parent. Joining the Starhawks were two more PCA partners, Andover Youth Hockey and the Junior Crusaders-Worcester.   Thanks to their participation Mass. Hockey’s PCA Grant program, all three organizations had PCA workshops, which are available for coaches, parents, players, and league leadership, right at their own rinks.

During the first intermission, highlights from PCA’s interview with York and his staff following an early season game at the Warrior Ice Arena played on Conte Forum’s big screens for the thousands in attendance. You can watch the complete video here, as well as view additional resources and coaching advice from Coach York in PCA’s DevZone, it’s worth it to learn the secrets of success of the only NCAA hockey coach with more than 1,000 wins. Then, check out a Boston College game and see how Coach York’s team wins, with a “we over me” mentality.

To learn more about how your organization can benefit from a partnership with PCA, contact Chris Fay at chris_fay@positivecoach.org.