Posts by Colleen Lynch
Philip McRae Joins TPH Ownership Group
Blues Draft Pick, Philip McRae becomes owner of TPH St. Louis
TPH St. Louis is proud to announce that former St. Louis Blue, Philip McRae, has become an owner of TPH St. Louis and the St. Louis Center of Excellence (CoE). Philip first joined the TPH team in May of 2019, when he was named the Director and Head of Hockey for TPH St. Louis. After a 10 year professional career, Philip has developed a newfound passion for helping student-athletes maximize their potential, on and off the ice.
Philip’s career has come full circle through the St. Louis hockey community, from his humble beginnings through his professional debut. He discovered his love for the game when he began playing for the Chesterfield Falcons. After leading the Falcons to a Central States League Championship, Philip went on to win a National Championship with the St. Louis AAA Blues. At the age of 15, Philip left home to compete as an underage player for the USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, before signing with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League at 16. Furthermore, Philip won two medals with the USA National Team, a bronze at the U-18 World Championships and a gold at the U-20 World Juniors.
Philip’s childhood dreams came true in 2008, when he was selected 33rd overall by his hometown St. Louis Blues in the NHL draft. He would go on to have a lengthy professional career, competing in the NHL, AHL, and several international leagues, before returning to the Gateway City to join the TPH team.
After retiring from professional hockey, it didn’t take long for Philip to find himself back in the St. Louis hockey community. “I was extremely excited and grateful when TPH took a chance on me and hired me as the Director and Head of Hockey almost two years ago. I am just as excited now to be a partner and owner of TPH St. Louis” said Philip. “When I retired from playing hockey after 10 years pro, I was unsure of my future, but I have been lucky and fortunate to find what I believe is my calling in mentoring young student-athletes. I am excited to continue to run TPH St. Louis to the best of my ability, grow the program, and have a positive impact on as many young athletes as possible”. Philip also mentioned “The St. Louis Blues alumni do an amazing job of giving back to the local hockey community, so as a young player growing up in the St. Louis area, they really ingrained in me that responsibility and that’s something I now get to do each day”.
“We are extremely fortunate to have a positive role model that has played for local St. Louis programs,” stated Alan Keeso, CEO of Total Package Hockey. “Philip was in the same position as many of our Center of Excellence student-athletes, and has played at every level that they aspire to one day play at. Philip demonstrates the “TPH Way” through his actions and mentorship every single day, and his commitment to helping young student-athletes maximize their potential is incredible. We are thrilled to have Philip join our ownership group and we know that he will continue to drive-up the standard in St. Louis as a partner.”
Philip joins the TPH leadership team and ownership group amongst an incredible roster of hockey veterans. With a dedicated staff from around the country, TPH is focused on making student-athletes the best versions of themselves on and off the ice.
Take the next step in your athletic and academic journey by connecting with Philip or reserve your spot for the upcoming free TPH Day!
About Total Package Hockey
Founded in 2001, it is Total Package Hockey’s (TPH) vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through sport. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, teachers, advisors and all other entities within both athletic and academic circles. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, TPH services over 10,000 student-athletes on an annual basis, throughout 15 U.S. based divisions.
Former USHL Coach Mike Berra Joins Nashville Jr. Predators and TPH Nashville Team
We are excited to announce that Mike Berra will be joining the Nashville Jr. Predators and TPH Nashville team later on this month. Mike will assume the role as a full-time head coach for the Jr. Predators program and as the Head of Hockey at the TPH Center of Excellence.
Mike brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience, working with NHL, pro, college, junior and youth hockey players of all ages and skill levels. His experience, coupled with his focus on player development, advancement and mentorship, is a great match and fit with both Jr. Predators and TPH.
Prior to assuming his new role, Mike has spent the last six years with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL; serving as a Scout, Assistant Coach, and currently as Director of Player Development. In his time with the Musketeers, Mike has helped coach, recruit and develop players to reach the NCAA Division 1 and professional levels.
When asked about the transition, Sioux City Musketeers Head Coach, Luke Strand, stated, “Mike is a true pro. He is constantly finding ways for players to develop on and off the ice. His passion and experiences will enhance a player’s knowledge and abilities, translating into new opportunities for their young careers. He will be a great addition to TPH”.
Coach Berra has also spent six years with Synergy Hockey Skills as the Director of Hockey and Lead Instructor; and 10 years with the St. Louis AAA Blues as a Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations where he worked with notable NHL alumni such as Al MacInnis, Jeff Brown, Scott Mellanby and Jamie Rivers.
Mike’s proven track record of helping advance the hockey careers of players in the junior, collegiate and professional levels shows he is a passionate leader who is committed to excellence. As a head coach and program Director for the AAA Blues, Berra mentored and helped Trent Frederic (98) of the Boston Bruins, Christian Berger (00) with Penn State, Tony Follmer (00) now at Bemidji State University, Logan Ritchie (00) currently at St. Lawrence University, Henry Wagner (01) at Yale, Cole Mcward (01) playing at Ohio State, Jakub Dobes (01) also at Ohio State and property of the Montreal Canadiens, Jack Williams (01) a member of the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL and committed to Notre Dame and Hunter Mckown (02) who played at the US National Program and is now playing for Colorado College, to name a few.
Off the ice, Mike enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Rachel, 8-month old daughter, Jovie, and his two dogs, Dave and Dolly.
Mike and his family are thrilled to be taking on this new adventure. Coach Berra stated, “I am very excited to be joining the Jr. Predators and TPH families. I will be committed to making a positive impact in the lives of all of our student-athletes, while helping the continued growth of hockey in the Nashville area”.
Advance your hockey journey in 2022 by learning from Coach Berra and becoming involved with TPH Center of Excellence Nashville.
See you in the classroom, on the ice or around campus soon!
About TPH
Founded in 2001, TPH seeks to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through sport. TPH platforms include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics, and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, serving over 10,000 student-athletes annually throughout 16 U.S.-based divisions. TPH prides itself on taking a holistic approach, one that emphasizes the development of the individual in four ways: (1) as a player within a team setting, (2) as an athlete, dedicated to reaching their physical potential, (3) as a student, working to achieve their academic goals, and most importantly, (4) as a person, striving to win the ultimate game, and that’s the game of life.
The Right Move
How relocating elevated Rylee’s game.
Growing up in a small town in Idaho, Rylee Tanner just didn’t have enough options to take her game to the next level. In a town with just over 3,000 people, she was limited to the house league, AA, or high school boys’ hockey. She knew that if she wanted to accomplish her goals of playing college hockey, she had to make a change.
That’s why at age 17, she packed her bags and pursued a one-of-a-kind opportunity at the Center of Excellence (CoE) in Superior, Colorado. Enrolling at CoE was the perfect fit for her goals, as it allowed her to focus on her education while traveling the country with Team Colorado’s 19U AAA squad.
CoE’s unique blended learning model has already proven to be successful for Rylee on and off the ice. “The CoE model has impacted both my learning and my playing tremendously,” she stated. “Being able to work with other students in the classroom, stand up and move around, and exercise before I do my work helps me focus and be more successful as a student. I have been getting stronger on the ice due to the work we do off of the ice, and we work on the basics every day which helps me be able to execute the basics at a practice”.
When Rylee arrived on campus, she had several goals in mind. She wanted to improve academically, translate classroom lessons into on-ice performance, and learn how to make quicker decisions during games. Not only did she accomplish these goals, but she also manifested her childhood dream of playing college hockey. In the Fall of 2021, Rylee committed to play NCAA DIII hockey at Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan.
Rylee has nothing but positive things to say about the staff at CoE’s Superior location. “Matt Doman, Director of Hockey Operations, has done more than words can describe. I’d also like to give a shout-out to Coach Quailer for being patient and helping me improve my skills in the skills room, and a big thanks to Annie Doman, Head of Academics, for always helping me stay on pace in school, and communicating with my teachers”. Making the decision to leave her friends and family in Idaho wasn’t easy, but the Superior team worked closely with Rylee and her family in order to ensure that the move was as easy as possible. After just 1 year, Rylee has already forged long-lasting relationships with her teammates and classmates.
Ready to take the next step in your game? Make the right move by beginning here with the TPH Center of Excellence!
Detroit’s Norris Featured on Octopuses Podcast
TOTAL PACKAGE HOCKEY AND WORLD HOCKEY GROUP TEAM UP TO CREATE WORLD HOCKEY EVENTS
A coordinated effort to raise the bar of youth hockey tournaments, camps and more
EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Two of the biggest entities in youth hockey events — Total Package Hockey (TPH) and World Hockey Group (WHG) — have teamed up in a joint venture to launch World Hockey Events (WHE). Between the two organizations, WHG and TPH account for more than 20 years of tournament operations experience, with a global network of elite coaches, knowledgeable scouts and evaluators, experienced tournament directors and state-of-the-art facilities. Through World Hockey Events, the two groups combine to raise the bar of expectations regarding tournaments and events worldwide.
Together, the organizations merge to provide more than 25 tournaments, camps and tours throughout North America and Europe. World Hockey Events includes tournaments for Tier-I and Tier-II level teams as well as individual programming for Elite and AAA-level athletes. Not just offering world-class events for the youth hockey community, but a first-class experience for the athlete, the team and the families.
“At TPH, we’ve always prided ourselves on running great youth hockey events since our first tournament 15 years ago,” said TPH chief executive officer Alan Keeso. “By working together with Travis Bezio and his team at World Hockey Group, we feel it’s an opportunity for both groups to elevate all of our events to heights never seen before in youth hockey.”
The current portfolio includes iconic events such as The World Selects Invitational in Nashville, Champions League Hockey and Grand Rapids AAA Kick-Off Classic. Other programming like international tours to European World Selects events and individual-entry tournaments like The Atlantic Scramble and New England States Rivalry Challenge.
“People can expect the absolute best,” said WHG chief executive officer Travis Bezio. “Players, coaches and parents attending a World Hockey Event will experience the very best in competition, hospitality and travel. A seamless process from start to finish that will leave everyone with memories that’ll last a lifetime.”
As part of the merger, WorldHockeyHub.com will serve as home for the entire World Hockey Events portfolio. Every tournament, tour, and event from the team at WHE will be available exclusively on the World Hockey Hub, with multimedia coverage, schedules, standings, tournament recaps and digital media provided by The Pulse of Youth Hockey.
Through World Hockey Events, both TPH and WHG expand their respective footprints on the youth hockey landscape, improving on current programming and venturing into new endeavors like the expansion of Champions League, World Selects and the Centers of Excellence.
For more information regarding World Hockey Events and its complete list of events, click HERE.
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is Total Package Hockey’s (TPH) vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through sport. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, teachers, advisors and all other entities within both athletic and academic circles. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, TPH services over 10,000 student-athletes on an annual basis, throughout 15 U.S. based divisions.
About World Hockey Group: The worldwide leader in youth hockey tournaments and events. World Hockey Group (WHG) provides more than two dozen unique events in exotic locations around the globe. The team at WHG is deeply involved in the youth hockey community, with an international presence in various countries including the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia and central Europe. WHG prides itself on providing world-class competition along with a first-class travel experience. Events like the Champions League and World Selects tournament series offer amazing opportunities abroad both on and off the ice for the entire family to enjoy.
About World Hockey Hub: The Pulse of Youth Hockey. World Hockey Hub (WHH) is your number one resource for the latest news, team rankings, highlights, analysis and more from the world of youth hockey. WHH is the worldwide leader in providing global coverage of the game year-round. With an international rankings system, a comprehensive list of more than 500 tournaments, event ratings and reviews as well as the latest team and prospect news, WHH is your one-stop-shop for everything youth hockey related.
WorldHockeyHub.com | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube
TPH Student-Athletes Are Making An Impact Off The Ice this Holiday Season
Celebration, selflessness, and reflection – three keywords that mean something different to everyone, but are united through youth athletics and the giving spirit that the holiday season brings. No matter the victories or the defeats you experienced in 2021, we shall turn our hearts and focus to surrounding communities that need help. From coast-to-coast, that is exactly what the TPH Center of Excellence student-athletes have been dedicated to accomplishing off the ice; being a helping hand and making a positive impact within their communities this holiday season.
In St. Louis, the student-athletes and their families teamed up with Angel Arms, a non-profit organization, to adopt a family of seven children with a single mother who is currently battling cancer. With this act of kindness, the TPH Center of Excellence in St. Louis was able to provide clothing, gift cards, and raise nearly $2,000; fulfilling the family’s wish list for the holidays. The hand-written letters from the student-athletes brought joy to the family, as well, during this difficult time.
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The Indiana team took action this December by participating in the WRTV6 Toy Drive. With help from the Red Cross, student-athletes collected and filled a van full of new toys that were gifted to families around the Indianapolis area who needed some holiday cheer. Once the last toy was successfully delivered, the TPH Center of Excellence Director in Indiana, Judi Kremer, recapped the exciting experience by mentioning “What a wonderful experience to see the compassion and energy that the student-athletes brought to the toy drive and getting the information out to collect from family, friends, neighbors, and teammates. The community supported our student-athlete’s efforts and everyone showed what the spirit of giving was truly about”.
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In the south, TPH Center of Excellence student-athletes in Nashville wrote and decorated uplifting holiday letters that brought happiness and a smile to the residents of the Morning Pointe Senior Living facility in Franklin, Tennessee. In the spirit of giving, the Nashville team also collected 1,631 pounds of food and delivered it to the Second Harvest Food Bank. “Our original goal was to collect 500 pounds and our students and their families stepped up in a big way,” said Jen Cubides, Head of Academics.
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Out west, the Phoenix team provided nearly $1,000 in hygiene products for women who recently became homeless. Turning the giving up a notch in December, the student-athletes also adopted a family in need; making Christmas a little happier this year.
These selfless efforts made by TPH Center of Excellence student-athletes and their families go far beyond bringing happiness to others, but rather unite teams, families, and communities. No matter if it’s in the classroom, on the ice, or in the community, each TPH Center of Excellence location has an environment built for growth with a holistic approach of preparing student-athletes for success in the ultimate game, the game of life.
Take a moment to reflect on what worked well for you this year in your hockey journey and where you aspire to be this time next year on and off the ice.
If you’re looking to find a better way to academic and athletic excellence, a great first step would be registering for the upcoming National Virtual Open House on Monday, January 10th. You could also get involved in the TK Scholarship Fund to help aspiring student-athletes.
Let’s study, train, and play more in 2022!
The Calendar Turns But the Games Go On
2022 Bauer Music City Invitational Preview
The year is coming to a close and that means that it is time for the annual Bauer Music City Invitational in Nashville, Tenn. Fifty-four teams from Los Angeles to New Jersey are heading to the Music City for games starting on December 29th to compete to be the final team standing in their respective divisions.
With 121 games on the schedule, the event will carry through to 2022 where the champions will hoist the guitar as is tradition at the event. This weekend in Nashville is also focused on exposure. As with the previous TPH events, TPH’s partners at The Prospect Exchange provided all attending athletes the opportunity to take advantage of Premium X.
Premium X, powered by ICEBERG Analytics, gives each player access to shift-by-shift condensed video and analytics to their games. To date, 570 players have taken advantage of Premium X as a resource to learn more and share their skills with coaches. Premium X is available for all players attending this weekend’s event.
The 2022 Bauer Music City Invitational is primed for some highly competitive competition amongst top Tier I programs in the nation. Below is an overview of the event.
14U Girls Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.
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Belle Tire | |
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Cincinnati Lady Swords | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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North Alabama Travel |
18U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.
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California Wave | |
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LA Jr. Kings | |
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Madison Capitols | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Oakland Jr. Grizzlies | |
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Rocky Mountain RoughRiders | |
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Tri-State Spartans |
16U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.
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Carolina Jr. Hurricanes | |
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LA Jr. Kings | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Rocky Mountain RoughRiders | |
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Tri-State Spartans | |
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West Dundee Leafs |
15U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.
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Detroit Compuware | |
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Detroit Honeybaked | |
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Detroit Little Caesars | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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North Jersey Avalanche | |
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Oakland Jr. Grizzlies | |
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Rocky Mountain RoughRiders | |
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Seacoast Performance Academy | |
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Tri-State Spartans |
14U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.
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Detroit Belle Tire | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Rocky Mountain RoughRiders | |
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Tampa Bulls | |
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Tri-State Spartans |
13U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.
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Colorado Rampage | |
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Madison Capitols | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Rocky Mountain RoughRiders | |
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Seacoast Spartans | |
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Tri-State Spartans |
12U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.
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Carolina Jr Hurricanes | |
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CarShield AAA Hockey | |
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Madison Capitols | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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New England Knights | |
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TPH Prospects | |
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Tri-State Spartans | |
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Wenatchee AAA |
11U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.
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Carolina Jr Hurricanes | |
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Florida Alliance | |
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Madison Capitols | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Tri-State Spartans |
10U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.
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Madison Capitols | |
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Detroit Compuware | |
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Detroit Honeybaked | |
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Tri-State Spartans |
FACILITY
Centennial Sportsplex – 222 25th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203
Ford Ice Center – Antioch – 5264 Hickory Hollow Pkwy, Antioch, TN 37013
Ford Ice Center – Bellevue – 7638 B Hwy 70 S, Nashville, TN 37221
To learn more about future TPH Tournaments, click here.
CoE Alumni Rutger McGroarty Heralded as Elite NHL Prospect
Rutger McGroarty’s name is highlighted, underlined, bolded, and circled in red pen by NHL scouts across the country. Long before he was heralded as one of the top Americans eligible in this year’s NHL draft class, Rutger was a student athlete at the Detroit Center of Excellence (CoE). With the 2022 NHL Draft just six months away, let’s take a look at how Rutger made a name for himself.
During his time as a student athlete at CoE, Rutger was lighting the bantam hockey scene on fire. In 2017 and 2018, he tallied 101 points in just 37 games, leading the ‘04 Honeybaked squad to back-to-back Michigan state titles. Rutger began to garner national attention during his U15 season when he linked up with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, where he put up an astonishing 82 goals and 78 assists in just 63 games.
Rutger credits his time at CoE for his on-ice success. “CoE had such a big impact on my hockey game,” he stated. “Skating every day with a bunch of high-end hockey players who all want to be successful in the game – it’s hard not to get better when you’re competing with and against a bunch of kids like that.” His incredible work ethic combined with his raw hockey ability made Rutger a stand out talent from an early age.
Flash forward to 2021, and Rutger is beginning to dominate on an international level. He racked up 35 points in 34 games with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP U17 squad). After graduating to the U18 team, he put up similar numbers, tallying 16 points in 27 games. His consistent play making abilities with the NTDP earned him a roster spot with Team USA at the 2021 IIHF World Under-18 Championship this past spring.
So what’s next for Rutger? Despite being scooped up by the Ontario Hockey League’s Soo Greyhounds, Rutger plans to chase his boyhood dream of winning an NCAA Division I Championship with the Michigan Wolverines. For a young prospect, the number of options and pathways can seem daunting and sometimes overwhelming. The CoE staff is well versed in navigating the nuances of college and junior hockey, and are more than prepared to help student athletes make the decision that’s best for them.
“The entire TPH family is extremely proud of Rutger’s success,” said Nathan Bowen, CEO of Total Package Hockey. “He comes from an incredible hockey family and was raised to be an amazing person. His development is a testament to what any CoE student-athlete is capable of achieving, and we can’t wait to see what the next step of his career looks like.”
Interested in maximizing your student athlete’s potential? Join us Virtual Open House event on January 10th to learn the ins and outs of our NCAA-accredited blended learning program and sport-specific training. Find out if our model is right for your student-athlete and reserve a seat at one of 16 CoE locations across the country for the 2022/2023 academic year.
Click here to register!
Former CoE Star Drew DeRidder Named Big Ten First Star of the Week for the Second Time This Season
Drew DeRidder isn’t afraid to try something new. After all, he was part of the first group of student-athletes to attend TPH Center of Excellence, attributing his passion for hockey to his time at TPH Detroit.
In one of his first summer programs at TPH Detroit, Drew worked to refine his goaltending skills and built a solid foundation that would ultimately carry him to a standout senior season at Michigan State. “We saw a lot of potential in Drew from the moment he skated onto the ice,” says Dwayne Norris, TPH Detroit Director of Hockey. “We’re incredibly proud of Drew and all he’s accomplished. We know he has a great career ahead of him.”
Fast forward a few short years and Drew was called up to his USHL parent club, quickly followed by a commitment to Michigan State. He skated into his freshman year and was instantly thrown into the action. He spent as much time in the goal and learning from upperclassmen as he could. We’d say that time was well spent as he became the starting goaltender and has amassed over 1,300 saves in his career and has set the bar for goaltenders across the league with an impressive .945 save percentage, fourth amongst D1 goalies. And the season isn’t over yet!
Perhaps one of the biggest honors Drew has received in his college hockey career is the title of Big Ten First Star of the Week not once, but twice in the same season. Although this honor comes as no surprise to those who knew him at TPH Detroit. Drew’s natural leadership and love of the game demands greatness from those around him.
If his tenure at Michigan State is any indication of what’s to come for Drew DeRidder, the hockey world better stay on its toes.
Find a campus near you and/or register to attend our upcoming Nationwide Virtual Open House on January 10 at 8 PM to learn about our holistic approach to blended academic learning with innovative, hands-on, sport-specific training and instruction.
Alan Keeso Named CEO as TPH Looks to Next 20 Years
(Nashville, TN – December 15, 2021) – TPH is excited to announce Alan Keeso as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2022. Having served as Strategic Advisor to TPH over the past 5 years, Keeso brings in-depth knowledge of TPH and its Center of Excellence (CoE) academy model, its team members, and culture.
“We’re so excited to have Al lead our team going into our next 20 years at TPH,” said TPH founder Nathan Bowen, who will move out of the CEO role and into the Chairman role, remaining heavily active in TPH. “Having celebrated TPH turning 20 years old this year, we are absolutely pumped about what’s to come as we strive to lead the world in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes. Al is the leader to help us scale that impact.”
In addition to consulting for TPH in recent years, Keeso has helped dozens of small and medium-sized businesses grow for over a decade as a management consultant, independently, as well as through Grant Thornton and BDC. When asked early in 2021 by Bowen and his Investing Partner Taso Sofikitis to work more closely with TPH, Keeso decided to make the move with his family to Nashville.
“TPH to its core is a purpose-driven organization, with an outstanding team of committed professionals,” said Keeso. “It’s an honor to have this kind of confidence from Nathan and Taso to take TPH to new heights, and the responsibility that comes with the CEO role to the TPH team and our student-athletes is something I take very seriously. We’re a team that’s poised for growth through our Center of Excellence Study/Train/Play academy model, association management, camps and clinics, The Prospect Exchange, prospects teams, and events, now featuring Champions League Hockey in partnership with World Hockey Group. All of these efforts and their growth will enable us to positively impact the lives of a greater number of student-athletes, not only at our current locations, but also at many new locations to come. The future is bright at TPH.”
Keeso’s own journey as a student-athlete, and ensuing career, lend perspective to what Bowen believes will continue to differentiate TPH to prospective partners as well as families weighing the incredibly important decision on where to have their children develop as students, athletes, and people.
“Al has not only been an aspiring elite student-athlete, who reached levels in hockey that many TPH student-athletes are working towards daily, but he also exemplifies to our families what the bigger picture can be when lessons learned from sports are applied beyond the game,” said Bowen. “That’s what TPH is all about, and that’s what we feel differentiates us; we prepare our student-athletes not only for the next level in their sport, but also mentor them on habits that will help them experience wild success on the ultimate journey – life. With Al’s leadership, that differentiator will only get stronger. He has lived the ups and downs the game can throw at you and is an incredible role model for young aspiring student-athletes, because he never quit and he has used those tough times as motivation and lessons learned to prepare for the next challenge in life and hit it head on in pursuit of the next success.”
In addition to a successful business career, Keeso has earned two master’s degrees – an MBA and an MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management – from the University of Oxford. At Oxford, he also published a working paper, took to the TEDx stage, and was goaltender for the university’s historic ice hockey team, becoming the only men’s player in the club’s history to have earned an Extraordinary Full Blue, the highest honor in sports at Oxford. Keeso also served as an infantry officer in the armed forces reserves and ran in a federal election.
A native of Listowel, Ontario, Keeso played hockey in his hometown before joining the Huron-Perth Lakers AAA organization and continuing on to Jr hockey with the Listowel Cyclones, Strathroy Rockets, and Sarnia Blast of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOHL). He then went to Boston to study at Wentworth Institute of Technology, where he was a goaltender for the varsity NCAA Division III hockey team and graduated with a BSc in Technology Management with honors.
“Having grown up in the game of hockey, I understand the opportunities for growth that youth sports provide for young people, on and off the ice, field, and court,” said Keeso. “Team members at TPH are deeply committed to the holistic development of student-athletes, knowing that the skills and habits learned extend well beyond the game to many other arenas of life. As a result of Nathan’s leadership and an all-star team of people, we have a great foundation in place as we head into ‘The Next 20’ at TPH.”
If you are interested in learning more about our #StudyTrainPlay model at the TPH Center of Excellence, Alan and other key members of our team will be participating in a Nationwide Virtual Open House on January 10th at 8:00 PM EST. Register for free here!