Former Springstead hockey coach unretires, joins USF Ice Bulls

Springstead hockey coach Jim Fisher retired after the Eagles/Mustangs ousting from the playoffs last season, and with four state championships and a 161-35-6 record in eight seasons with Springstead, Fisher gained notoriety for shaping a small group of kids from all over the North Suncoast into championship contenders every season.

Now, University of South Florida Ice Bulls hockey club was wooed Fisher out of retirement to head its program in Tampa. The Ice Bulls, who formed in 1989, are entering their 20th season.

Fisher replaces co-coaches Jay Jodoin and Kevin Castine, who led USF to a 103-59-47 record in seven seasons (2002-09). Already in the club are former Springstead players Ricky Nelson (2001-04), Luke Henry (2004-05) and Steven Poteet (2002-05).

Poteet was a member of the team last season, but rarely played, and Henry is entering his first season with the Ice Bulls.

Nelson, who is entering his third season with the team, started 14 games for the club and scored a team-high 19 goals before getting injured midway through the season. He scored 31 goals in 31 games in 2007-08.

USF is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association in Division III. Its schedule includes UCF, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Florida Atlantic.

TRIATHALON: The New Port Richey Recreation Center will host the second annual Chaotic Coteeman Triathlon at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 12.

The event is a sprint triathlon, so it will be a 150-meter swim, a 9-mile bike race and a 5K run. The cost is $65 for those who register today, then $75 starting tomorrow.

For more information, call (727) 842-8066.

RUNNING: The Hernando Branch YMCA in Spring Hill is hosting the eighth annual Run to Remember at 6:30 a.m. Sept. 11. It's a 5K run or a 1-mile walk that is free and open to the public.

T-shirts can be purchased for $5 and registration can be done at the Y's front desk or by downloading a form at www.ymca suncoast.org .

For more information, call (352) 688-9622.

FISHING: The inaugural Catches for Critters event and Scales for Tails Fishing Tournament will be Oct. 1 and 3, respectively, at Catches Waterfront Grille in Port Richey.

The benefit, hosted by Marshall Thomas Burnett, will help the SPCA Suncoast, a nonprofit organization that provides compassionate care to injured, orphaned and abandoned pets.

Admission for the Critters event is free for anglers entered, but $10 for spectators. The Tails event is a catch-and-release tournament for snook, redfish and trout. Entry fee is $50 per angler, or $65 after Sept. 15.

For more information, call Traci Theis at (727) 643-3647 or register online at www.scalesfor tails.com.

BOATING: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-6 of New Port Richey will provide a ABC Safe Boating Program from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday and Sept. 8, 15 and 17 at Gulf High School.

Topics covered will include boat handling, federal regulations, navigational rules and aid, weather, basic coastal navigation and more. There is a $35 fee for materials.

For more information, call (727) 375-1196.

SOFTBALL: The Pasco Parks and Recreation Department will host adult softball leagues at the Land O'Lakes Community Center.

A men's league will play Tuesdays and Wednesdays, a women's league will play Thursdays and a coed league will play Mondays. The cost is $400 per team, which includes two preseason games, a 10-week season and a single-elimination tournament.

For more information, call (813) 929-1229.

MORE SOFTBALL: The city of Brooksville Recreation Department is hosting an NSA Adult Slow-Pitch Softball League with men's and coed teams for players 18 and up. The men's teams play on Monday evenings and the coed teams play on Thursday evenings starting Sept. 14.

Games will be played at Jerome Brown Community Center and the cost is $30 per player or $170 per team. There is a mandatory meeting for coaches at 6 p.m. Thursday.

For more information, call (352) 540-3835.

Times staff writer Mike Camunas contributed to this report. Submit upcoming events, registrations, info to communitysports@tampabay.com.