To Our Mass Admirals, Devils, and Lady Devils Families,
We want to reach out to our hockey families to address a few recent rumors circulating around the rink and to share with you an important update from our leadership team about the direction of our program.
Recently, there have been rumors suggesting that our program would not have any Village ice next season, that we would be practicing and playing in Cranston, and even that the program had been sold. Please be assured that
none of this information is true or has any validity.
While we don’t know how or why these rumors began, we want to be transparent about where things actually stand. Over the past few weeks, we have been working closely with the Village to finalize our 2026–2027 ice contract. We are happy to confirm that we will have possession of a full ice sheet Monday through Friday evenings, which adds valuable hours to our practice schedule. In addition, our weekend game ice has been secured.
It’s important to understand that this was achieved despite a substantial increase in ice costs—a significant investment made by our new leadership to secure the future of the program. This past season was challenging as we navigated a $20/hour increase in ice costs after tuition fees had already been set. The new leadership has dedicated considerable time and resources to ensuring our program remains stable and continues to offer hockey at a reasonable cost. While rising expenses are a reality across youth sports, our commitment remains to provide quality hockey experiences for all players.
We also want to address the broader issue of recent rumors and misinformation. Unfortunately, as with many youth sports communities, stories can spread quickly and often without full context. We understand that change and uncertainty can lead to speculation, but we want to reassure our families that we are focused on facts, transparency, and continued communication. Our goal is to keep everyone informed and united as we move forward together.
Devils Hockey has always taken pride in being honest, transparent, and family-focused. Our mission remains the same: to develop players both on and off the ice—preparing them not just for the game, but for life.
This season has reminded us how easily assumptions and misunderstandings can take hold. Yet even in difficult moments, our leadership, coaches, and administrators have shown tremendous dedication—leading with integrity, patience, and a shared commitment to keeping our environment positive and supportive for every player.
We ask our families to help us protect that environment. Let’s model resilience, respect, and perspective. Through hockey, our players learn life lessons about teamwork, adversity, and character.
We strive to provide the best possible environment for your player’s growth. Several of our teams faced tough competition this season in divisions that may not have been the perfect fit on paper—but those challenges brought tremendous growth. Wins are not the only measure of success; progress, resilience, and teamwork are equally powerful outcomes. As we prepare for next year, we’re making adjustments to ensure each team is better placed so every player can continue to compete, develop, and thrive at the right level.
The hockey landscape around us is changing. Many programs today are driven more by profit than by player development. The issues and concerns we face are the same in every program, whether you pay more money or not. We are proud to remain one of the few nonprofit organizations in the area. While fees have increased (as they have across youth sports), our focus has never shifted from putting players first.
We also recognize that this year has brought growing pains and uncertainty as our new leadership team transitioned in. They have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to stabilize operations, improve communication, and ensure that the long-term health of the program remains strong. Many of the challenges faced this season were beyond their control, but they have observed, learned, and are now implementing meaningful change.
With that, we want to share a message directly from our new leadership team:
From Mass Admirals & Devils Leadership Team
Over the past year, we know that not everyone has had the experience they hoped for. We’ve heard the frustration. We’ve seen the concerns. And we understand why some families are feeling uncertain right now.
When we took over the program, we did not immediately step in and overhaul operations. We intentionally allowed Patti to continue running the program as it had always been run. Our goal this past year was simple — observe, learn, and truly understand every moving piece of the organization before making changes. We believed that was the responsible approach.
That phase is over.
You will continue to see meaningful, impactful improvements across the board, including:
• A new player evaluation format designed to streamline and simplify the process for families and coaches
• The transition to one unified communication platform to ensure clear, consistent updates and information sharing
• A commitment to secure tournaments balanced in cost and competition to enhance player development and team experience
Moving forward, Patti will continue as Program Director. She brings years of experience and knowledge of the program, and that continuity matters. She will be joined by me, Patrick, providing additional administrative support to further strengthen communication, organization, and overall operations. Together, we are focused on creating a more connected and consistent experience for all families and teams.
Garrett and Lucas will be working directly with our coaching staff throughout the season. This will include preseason coaches training to align expectations, practice standards, communication protocols, and development models across every team. We are committed to giving our coaches better structure and support so they can give your players a better experience.
We are not interested in surface-level adjustments. We are building a better foundation.
Many surrounding programs are being acquired by investment groups and corporate ownership. We completely understand the curiosity and excitement that can come with “new management.” But please understand this:
We are not venture capital.
We are not corporate operators.
We are not here to extract value.
We are three regular, everyday hockey people who care deeply about this sport and about building something sustainable and honest. This is not a portfolio asset to us — it’s a community.
It’s also important to acknowledge the environment we operate in. We do not control the rink. Ice costs are high and have increased. As a nonprofit organization, we do not raise tuition to generate profit. Any adjustments are strictly to offset rising ice expenses and keep the program stable.
We know trust is earned — not requested.
All we are asking for right now is a little patience. Take a breath. Allow us the opportunity to show you what this next chapter looks like. Judge us on what we do moving forward.
Change is coming — thoughtfully, deliberately, and with your players’ development at the center of every decision.
We appreciate every family who has stuck with us, and we are committed to building a program you can be proud to be part of.
Thank you for your trust.
Mass Admirals & Devils Leadership Team
Regarding the Entry of the Mass Admirals into the MVHL
We are also excited to announce that the Mass Admirals will be entering the Mountain Valley Hockey League (MVHL). This opportunity is intended for a few additional
independent teams that are being created through active recruitment.
Our core teams will continue to compete in the Premier Hockey League (PHL) and, new this year, the Bay State Hockey League (BSHL). However, participation in the MVHL provides select teams access to higher competition and additional game opportunities—which will be played on our home ice at NESV.
This structure allows us to expand competitive options while keeping our focus on development, balance, and community.
In Closing
We know this season has brought challenges, but also growth. Together, we are building something stronger—grounded in transparency, teamwork, and community. We appreciate every family who continues to support this program and share in its vision. The future of the Mass Admirals, Devils, and Lady Devils is bright, and we look forward to a successful season ahead.
Thank you for being part of our hockey family.
Patti McTernan
Director of Hockey Operations
