Excel Mite Academy

Head Coaches: 

Cameron Kuhl

Cam Kuhl, from Clifton Park, NY, is the General Manager and Head On-Ice Instructor at The Hockey Hut. He played two seasons in the USPHL Premier League, followed by stints with the BCHL Alberni Valley Bulldogs and NJ Titans. Cam continued his career at SUNY Plattsburgh and Liberty University, excelling as a shutdown defenseman. Now, he uses his extensive experience to develop young players, focusing on defensive strategies, skills, and hockey IQ.

Shawn Weller

Shawn Weller, a South Glens Falls native, was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2004 and played 13 pro seasons in the AHL, ECHL, and Europe. After retiring, he became a skills instructor, specializing in power skating, puck control, and game situational training, bringing pro-level insights to EMA athletes.

Pat Williams

Pat Williams has over 10 years of experience coaching youth hockey. As a lead instructor at The Hockey Hut, he specializes in skating mechanics, edge control, and positional play. Pat’s detailed and patient coaching style helps EMA players build strong fundamentals and confidence.

Our Mission

To love the game, there need to be reasons. In the Excel Mite Academy, our mission is to ensure kids have fun while advancing their skills. Every practice includes small team skill sessions led by our professional staff, with the help of a volunteer assistant coach. Players will focus on puck touches, skating techniques, and small games to keep the experience fresh and exciting.

We encourage future coaches to assist on the ice, but the program is designed by The Hockey Hut’s full-time professional staff. The player-to-coach ratio is 6:1, ensuring personalized attention and skill development.

Our goal is simple: get kids on the ice, having fun, and falling in love with the game. The more they enjoy playing, the more they’ll improve—and the better they’ll become.

Program Highlights:

• Age Group: Players 7 & under (birth years 2018 & younger)
• Season Length: 29 weeks (September 6, 2025 – March 15, 2026)
•  2 weeks off during the holidays
• Swag: Home/Away Jersey, Socks, Hoodie, Medals and more
• Weekly Schedule: 2 skill practices + 1 weekend game/event
• Timeslots
  • Monday 5-730p
  • Tuesday 5-7p
  • Thursday 5-7p
  • Saturday or Sunday 8a-1p 
• Total Touchpoints:
  • 66 professionally coached skills practices
  • 22 in-house 4v4 games
  • 5 EMA-exclusive in-house jamborees(4 games per Jamboree)
  • 2 North East Tournament Series events(4 game minimum per NETS) 

EMA players train in small groups, maintain a 6:1 player-to-coach ratio, and are supported by experienced professional coaches who lead every session. We focus on repetition, confidence, and real-time decision-making, with a curriculum tailored to each age and skill level.

New for 2025–26: The Double Header Format

This year, we’re introducing an exciting new competitive format for our oldest two EMA age groups—the Double Header.

These events give players a chance to compete against new opponents in a controlled and fun environment. Here’s how it works:

• The Hockey Hut invites a local organization to bring 15–25 players. 
• EMA splits into two teams, and the visiting organization does the same. 
• The four teams compete in a mini round-robin style event. 

This creates a dynamic setting where players get meaningful game experience, learn to compete as a team, and adjust to unfamiliar opponents—all while staying within the developmental framework that EMA is known for.

Tuition & Registration:

• Season Deposit: $100 (recommended to reserve your spot—over 50% full) 
• Tuition: $260/month (6 monthly payments starting September 1) 

EMA is a no-travel, high-rep, and game-integrated experience built to develop young players faster—and help them fall in love with the game.