Zach Vit Named Team DMV Coach for 2020
Team DMV is proud to announce that Potomac Patriots USPHL Premier Coach Zach Vit has been named head coach for 2020. Vit just finished his third year at the Patriots’ helm after serving for a graduate assistant with the NCAA Division III program at Stevenson University.
“We are extremely pleased to hand over the reins this year to someone of Zach’s caliber,” Team DMV General Manager Tony MacAulay said. “He checks all the boxes for us as someone who has proven to be a successful coach at a very high level and who understands the recruiting process at both the junior and collegiate levels. His experience and knowledge will be incredibly valuable to our players as they begin the journey toward the next step in their hockey careers.”
Vit is itching to get the tryout process started.
"I'd like to thank Tony MacAulay, {Team DMV Assistant GM} Scott Lowe and the PVAHA for giving me the opportunity to coach Team DMV," he said. "I'm excited to get started with the tryout process next week and look forward to representing our area at America's Showcase St. Louis in April."
Under Vit’s guidance, the Patriots have shown steady improvement each season, and he has sent several players on to play in leagues such as the NCDC and the QMJHL as well as at the NCAA Division III level. This year's team caught fire in November, putting together an 11-2 stretch from Nov. 16 to Jan. 3 and going 15-10 in the final 25 games to finish the year 20-22-2 while playing in the Southeast Division, one of the toughest in the entire 52-team USPHL Premier.
Vit arrived at Potomac after serving as the graduate assistant for the inaugural Stevenson University NCAA Division III men's hockey season. He joined the Stevenson coaching staff in 2015 and worked alongside head coach Dominick Dawes to prepare for the 2016-17 inaugural campaign in which Stevenson finished 10-14-2 and earned a trip to the ECAC West quarterfinals.
Prior to his stint at Stevenson, Vit played professionally in the France Division I League for the 2014-15 season. Playing for the Neuilly-sur-Marne in the France Division 1, he appeared in 24 games and totaled 11 points. His seven goals ranked third among the team's American players. Before heading to France, Vit played four seasons for NCAA Division III SUNY Geneseo, appearing in 109 career college games and totaling 126 career points on 50 goals and 76 assists.
He was named the SUNYAC Men's Ice Hockey Player of the Year as a senior after recording a career-high 18 goals. During that season he also led the Ice Knights to the program's first Frozen Four appearance and was named a CCM Division II/III Men's Ice Hockey First Team All-American. Vit graduated in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in communications and a minor is psychology.
He also serves as the Travel Hockey Lead for the Potomac Patriots youth hockey program.
Team DMV is a high school showcase team that is made up of some of the top prep hockey players in the area and competes annually in America’s Showcase St. Louis.
America’s Showcase St. Louis was founded in 1985 and is held each April in hopes of providing the nation’s premier high school player with an opportunity to be scouted by high-level junior and college programs. The event features all-star teams representing more than 20 states and geographic regions and is intended for high school juniors and seniors who hope to continue their hockey careers beyond school and club hockey.
Tryouts for Team DMV begin Tuesday, March 10, at Bowie Ice Arena. To register or for more information about the team, please CLICK HERE.
