Local Hockey Team Prepares for 2nd Season, Extends Head Coach and Revamps Rink

CLIFTON PARK — The New York Dynamo, a tier 1 hockey program based at the Capital Arena in Clifton Park, is gearing up for a second season that will run from September 2026 to March 2027. To that end, they recently announced the extension of their Head Coach/General Manager, their efforts to revamp their home ice rink, and the commitment of three of their players to collegiate hockey programs.

HEAD COACH/GENERAL MANAGER EXTENDED

Ron Kuhl recently accepted a two-year extension with the Dynamo. He will be at the helm for the upcoming season and the 2027-28 campaign.

Kuhl originally began as Dynamo’s Assistant Coach at the start of the 2025-26 season. However, a midseason shakeup to the coaching staff provided Kuhl with the opportunity to take the reins as head coach. New York finished with a 14-16 record under Kuhl’s tutelage, an improvement from a 6-16 start.

In 1993, Kuhl started coaching hockey in the New York’s Capital Region. He has spent the last 30-plus years coaching, instructing, and developing players at every age level from youth to pro. In 1997, he founded Excel Hockey Inc. and became an owner of the Hockey Hut Training Center in Clifton Park. Kuhl also delivered the 2001 National Championship to Hudson Valley Community College.

“I appreciate the faith that the ownership has placed in me to build this brand-new program,” Kuhl said. “We have a wonderful group of players returning from last year’s team, and we have a tremendous amount of new talent coming in. Our expectation is to win the league, and we are excited to get started and have a full offseason of planning and preparation. This program is going to be exciting for the community, and we are looking forward to long term success.”

ICE RINK REVAMPED

The Dynamo rebuilt Rink 2 at Capital Arena towards the tail end of their inaugural National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) season as part of a 42-day construction effort.

Overall, the construction fully renovated 17,000 square feet in Rink 2. 

These types of investments have been an ongoing strategy from a busy two years under new ownership.

“The commitment by ownership to ensure we are a leading program in the NCDC was proven again by the arena upgrades,” said Kuhl. “Brand new second-level viewing areas, weight room, NCDC locker room, dasher boards, and benches with six-foot glass around the entire rink is incredible.”

The project broke ground on March 4, and the rink was completed on April 15.

THREE PLAYERS COMMIT 

Three players from the Dynamo’s inaugural 2025-26 NCDC team have committed to collegiate hockey programs. Will McDonald heads to Beloit College, Eric Truesdell advances to Misericordia, and Louis Sweenor stays in-state at SUNY Plattsburgh.

McDonald, a native of Wisconsin, returns to his home state after a successful campaign. The 20-year-old forward paced the team with 52 games played and three powerplay goals. The right-hander was second in points (32) and goals (16).

Truesdell played 49 contests on the ice, compiling nine points (3+6). The Warnerville, New York, product collected an assist in two of New York’s three overtime victories.

Sweenor was second on the team in assists (26) and points (32) last season. The 19-year-old supplied the go-ahead goal in New York’s 2-0 win over the Springfield Pics on March 14 at Capital Arena, ending a scoreless tie with 4:56 into the third period.

“I really enjoyed my season playing for the Dynamo NCDC team — it was a privilege to be a part of starting something new,” Sweenor said. “It also gave me access to amazing people and coaches who helped push me to get better and take that last step to play college hockey. I am very eager to start my college career and couldn’t have picked a better place…to play [than] in front of my hometown.”