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AAA Trappers association announces its midget coaches for 2019-20

'They are both very passionate, have great hockey sense and many years of experience as coaches in our association'
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(L to R) New midget coaches Scott Huycke and Billie McMillan. Photo by Chris Dawson/BayToday.ca.

The North Bay & District AAA Trappers Hockey Association has named its new minor and major midget coaches for the upcoming 2019-20 season.  

Billie McMillan, an assistant coach with the GNML champion Major Midget AAA Trappers,  will take over the major midget program while current Major Bantam AAA Trappers head coach Scott Huycke will move up along with his team and coach the Minor Midget team next fall.  

McMillan as been an assistant coach at the major midget level for three years and he’s looking forward to the challenges that come with being a head coach.   

“As a head coach for a number of years and assistant coach for some very knowledgeable mentoring head coaches I feel I am capable of offering some good skill and player development teaching ideas to this coming years major midget age group,” said McMillan.   

Huycke feels that this is a privilege being able to coach the 2004 age group in their ever important minor midget season.

“This is a great group of young men with a very good group of parents that support the players and coaches and allow my staff and I to coach them to the best of our ability,” said Huycke.

“I have been very fortunate to have this age group since their major peewee year. Some players may have changed over those years but every player that has been a part of the 04 group has been a pleasure to coach. This team has a very good nucleus of players and there are some players that may not have played for some or any of those years that we as a staff believe can come in and contribute in the development of all players and more importantly the team.

“We look forward to the tryouts process to start with and then the anticipated season to expose all players to Junior and other teams at the next level,” continued Huycke.

Gilles Ledoux, Trappers AAA President, believes the two selections fit the need and direction the association is going with its coaching selections.  

“We selected Billie as coach of our major midget program, not only with his hockey background he also has a great knowledge and passion for the game and his commitment to bring these hockey players to the next level,” noted Ledoux.  

“Also gaining experience as an assistant coach with Guy Blanchard, Billie will have big shoes to fill and we know he ready for the challenge.”

Ledoux believes McMillan and Huycke are similar in their coaching styles.

“They are both very passionate, have great hockey sense and many years of experience as coaches in our association and we know Scott is an excellent choice to guide these young men through an important hockey season for these players.”  

McMillan says he expects to continue the current morning program with the major midgets next fall.  

“The morning program is excellent and it will allow many of our players to once again continue to participate in high school sports activities,” noted McMillan.  

Ledoux says the new coaches for the two Bantam and two Peewee teams will be announced in early April.