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July 25, 2002--Josh Brandwene, head coach of the University of Delaware men’s club ice hockey team, has been named an assistant coach on the U.S. national team that will compete in the 2003 Winter World University Games, scheduled Jan. 16-26 in Tarvisio, Italy.
Brandwene will serve on the staff under Penn State’s Joe Battista, who will be head coach for Team USA.
Brandwene played under Battista at Penn State and since has coached against him in several important games as head coach of the Fightin’ Blue Hens. “We’ve done a lot of coaching against each other,” he said. “It will be fun to work together.”
A four-day selection camp will be held next week in Iowa, and coaches will hold a series of practices and games to select a squad from among 80 of the top players from the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Twenty-two players will be selected for the national team.
Delaware competes in the ACHA, as does Penn State, this year’s national champion. Brandwene said the decision by USA Hockey, the national governing body, to allow the country to be represented by ACHA is an important one, both for the organization and for UD ice hockey.
“It says an awful lot about this level of hockey and the caliber of play,” he said, noting that the honor “speaks volumes about how far this level of hockey has come over the years.”
The opportunity is an important one for ACHA hockey, and for Brandwene personally. “This is a big honor, and I’m sure it will be a wonderful experience,” he said. “I’m thrilled to be an assistant coach on the staff. It will provide a wonderful opportunity to gain international experience.”
If the players work hard and learn the system of play, Brandwene likes the chances of Team USA. “The competition will be stiff,” he said. “It will take a lot of preparation on the part of the coaches, and commitment on the part of the players.”
Brandwene has been head coach of the Hens for six seasons and was named the ACHA Coach of the Year for the 2000-01 season, in which UD finished as national runner-up.
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