MIDDLETOWN — New Jersey Junior Titans Hockey Director, George Haviland, is turning his attention to the Bantam level.

After leading the Titans 18U, 16U and 15U outfits this past season, on Tuesday it was announced that Haviland would take the reins of the Bantam Minor AAA team (2005) in the forthcoming 2018-19 campaign.

“For the last 30 years I’ve been very lucky to be able to do what I’m passionate about, which is developing hockey players who are prepared to compete and conduct themselves as young men at the next level of the game,” said Haviland, who over the past 20 years has served as the organization’s owner, Hockey Director, Coaching Director and Director of Player Personnel for the club’s North American Hockey League affiliate.

“Now I want to apply those coaching philosophies that have worked for our older skaters, and institute them at the Bantam level.”

Haviland, who was named the 2014-15 North American Prospect Hockey League Coach of the Year, has helped more than 300 of his skaters earn their place at the collegiate level, including 75+ NCAA Division I commitments, 100+ Division II and III commitments, and 250+ ACHA placements.

Most recently Haviland has helped such local standouts as Tommy Panico (UMass-Lowell), Ryan Walker (Union College), Zach Berzolla (Colorado College), Julian Kislin (Northeastern), Jimmy Dowd Jr. (Penn State) and Greg Malafronte (Plattsburgh State) secure roster spots and commitments at the NCAA level.

“In this organization we’re about teaching kids how to be part of a winning team, while developing their individual skill set each day, so they can advance up the developmental ladder,” Haviland said. “We’ve helped a lot of kids realize their NCAA dreams over the past 20 years, and it’s something I don’t anticipate is going end anytime soon.”

As an Atlantic Youth Hockey League coach, Haviland was named coach of the year for the following seasons; 1999-2000, 2003-2004, and 2014-2015. Haviland’s teams have qualified for the District Tournament in six of the last seven seasons, and he has been tapped to coach in the league all-star game in five of those seasons.

At the North American Prospect Hockey League level, Haviland has led teams to the Gold Division Playoffs in each of the eight seasons that the Titans have been a league member

Tryouts for the 2018-19 season are coming quick.

For more information and to register email George Haviland at havs11@aol.com or visit www.jrtitansyouth.pointstreaksites.com/view/jrtitansyouth/titans-tryouts-2