The Valley Jr. Warriors, the Northeast's Premier Elite youth hockey organization, have assembled an impressive coaching staff for their U14 Half Season Elite team. The U14's will be led by one of the most highly regarded coaches in Massachusetts in Bill Pappas and Eric MacAdams.
Pappas has been involved in the development of a plethora of NCAA Division 1 and NHL players over that 10 year period. Bill was instrumental in the success of the ’97 VJW team that advanced to the USA Hockey Nationals 3 times (2009-2014) and boasts 3 NHL 1st & 2nd Round Draft Picks. Bill has also been key to the revitalization of the Austin Prep Hockey Program. Over his 6 seasons as Head Coach at Austin Prep his teams captured multiple CCL Titles and appeared in multiple Super 8 Tournaments. He currently serves as the Head Coach for one of our Valley Jr Warrior U18 Prep teams. Bill has been with the VJW program as a defensive coach since 2006. As a player Bill is a former standout at Malden Catholic, New Prep and Westfield State.
Eric has been with the Jr. Warriors since his youth hockey days where he was a member of the highly celebrated VJW 1997 team. That ’97 team captured the Mass State Championship 4 consecutive years and advanced to the Final 4 at the USA Hockey National Championships 3 times as Pewee Majors, Bantam Majors and Midget U16. Eric went on to play 3 years at Austin Prep where was named captain and advanced to the Super 8 Championship Game in 3 consecutive seasons.
After being drafted in the QMJHL, NAHL and USHL Eric chose to spend 2 years in the USHL with Sioux Falls and Dubuque, where he was recruited to play for the University of New Hampshire in Hockey East. Eric played 5 seasons with UNH and was elected captain both his Junior and Senior year. During his time at UNH Eric was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team and was twice awarded the Robert A. Kullen Award.
After his senior year, Eric signed as a free agent with NJ Devils and played with the ECHL affiliate Adirondack Thunder. Eric continues to work as a skills instructor with the Jr. Warriors and Boston Americans for the past 3 years.We look forward to Eric coaching the Jr. Warrior U14 team this upcoming season.
The Valley Junior Warriors have set a standard of excellence with more than 30 State Championship titles at all levels while representing Massachusetts Hockey as state champions at multiple national USA Hockey Championships. The Warriors have – in 10 years – placed more than 100 alumni in various Division I and Division III college programs, with over 30 of those players making it into the professional ranks in the AHL and NHL.
