NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – The Texas Jr. Brahmas of the North American 3 Hockey League are proud to announce Michael Hill as the team’s new head coach.
Hill, 26, takes over for Al Rooney, who was announced as the new Lone Star Brahmas assistant coach earlier this week.
“I'm very excited for this opportunity. I'm ready to share my knowledge of the game to the players at this developing level,” the new bench boss said. “I love being back home in the state of Texas and still seeing the game of hockey bloom.”
The new coach graduated from St. Norbert College earlier in 2016 and competed on their NCAA Division III ice hockey team for three years. After winning a National Championship in 2014, the Fort Worth native concluded with his following senior season and then a handful of professional games in the ECHL with the Missouri Mavericks, before beginning the venture of his coaching career.
“I'm looking forward to creating opportunities for my players to move to the next level. I'm also looking forward to having my wife and daughter be a part of the Brahmas organization. So far, it's been easy to be here and around people who share the same passion for the sport as you do,” Hill continued.
Former NA3HL Head Coach Al Rooney, who last week was announced as the full-time Lone Star Brahmas Assistant Coach, will assist the newcomer in Hill. The decision comes in light of Rooney being the key recruiter for the 2016-17 team.
"Michael came in here several months back and impressed all of us with his attention to details and enthusiasm for being a part of the Brahmas program,” Rooney said of Hill. “Either way we were going to be working together this coming season, as it turns out we will essentially just be swapping roles and I think it's going to be a great match for our players to learn and develop from."
A former North American Hockey League player himself, Hill holds the all-time goals scored record for the Topeka RoadRunners. As a member of the team in 2009 & 2010, the former lethal scorer deposited 68 goals in 89 regular season games.
“Throughout my youth and college hockey career I have had the honor and privilege of playing in five championship games. After missed opportunities, in 2014 at the NCAA level, I learned precisely what it takes to reach the pinnacle of our sport. I am bringing that dedication, desire, work ethic and all-for-one attitude to Brahmas hockey,” Hill finished with.
Hill had the opportunity to meet some of his players at this weekend’s Open Camp and will have the next few weeks to prepare for the team’s Main Camp, which will take place August 19-21 at NYTEX Sports Centre. For all information on the team and further announcements, stay tuned to “Texas Brahmas NA3HL” on Facebook and “@TXBrahmas” on Twitter.