Previewing the NAPHL: Valley Forge Minutemen

September 19, 2016

The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is pleased to announce a series entitled Previewing the NAPHL. Over the course of the next two weeks, the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) will preview each of the organizations in the NAPHL for the 2016-17 season. Each day, leading all the way up to the first event of the season at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, MN, the league will feature a different organization and take a look at their teams.

Valley Forge Minutemen

Location: Oaks, Pennsylvania

Member Since: 2016

Teams: 18U, 16U

Coaching Staff: 18U Sean Cannon, 16U Toni Porkka

Director: Toni Porkka

The Valley Forge Minutemen are looking forward to participating in the NAPHL. Our goal is to immediately establish ourselves as a solid competitive organization in the league.

The pre-season is going well and the teams will be ready to compete as the season gets underway. We have focused on our athletes development and conditioning in the off-season. Both 18U and 16U teams have had a strong showing in the pre-season games. The strong core of returning players and solid additions on both teams help the VFMM reach their goals.

Toni Porkka is the Minutemen Hockey Director and also the16U National Head Coach. He played youth hockey in Finland and played for Team Finland at U20 World Jr. Championships. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1990 NHL Draft and had an 18-year professional career in Europe and North America. This is his 10th season with Minutemen Hockey Club. "I am very excited to show the rest of the country what the Minutemen 18U and 16U National teams have to offer in the NAPHL,” said Porkka. "I am confident we will leave a great impression and be very competitive. The NAPHL has established itself as a premier league in development and exposure in the USA and we are very proud to be a part of it."

18U notable players

Goalie:

Zak Kinard '99

Defensemen:

Shawn Phillips '98

Ivan Sidoriak '00

Forwards:

Casey Sottanella '98

Andrew Keaser '99

Cam Lindsey '99

16U notable players

Defensemen: