Posts by Colleen Lynch
TPH Center of Excellence in St. Louis Strengthens its Operations with New Hire Sam Canfield
TPH St. Louis, the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through sport, is thrilled to announce that Sam Canfield, born and raised in St. Louis with deep ties to the community, was recently hired as the full-time Coordinator of Operations and Programming for the TPH Center of Excellence (CoE) in St. Louis. Canfield brings an abundance of expertise and background in all areas including mentoring, coaching, playing, administration, and operations. In addition to assisting with the day-to-day operations of the St. Louis CoE, Sam will be heavily involved in hockey development as well as helping provide the greatest possible experience, in all areas, for our St. Louis families.
The St. Louis CoE is extremely excited to welcome Sam to the team for a few reasons. Number one: Sam’s ability to connect with and mentor young student-athletes on and off the ice. Number two: Sam’s knowledge and experience when it comes to developing young hockey players. And number three: Sam believes in TPH St. Louis and the CoE hybrid-learning and sports training model. He is truly invested in doing whatever it takes to positively impact the lives of each and every one of our students; helping them reach their full potential academically and athletically.
“Most importantly, Sam has a strong passion for making a positive impact on young student-athletes and helping them succeed on and off the ice. Sam is going to be a great addition to the team and myself and the entire CoE St. Louis staff and students are looking forward to working with Sam!” mentioned Philip McRae, Director and Head of Hockey.
Sam comes from Synergy Hockey as Lead Skills Coach with 10 years of overall experience with 6 years experience as an Assistant Coach with AAA Blues. Furthermore, Sam has been lucky to coach with and learn from Jeff Brown, Andy Mcdonald, Alex Brooks, Jamie Rivers and Mike Berra.
Learn more about our St. Louis TPH CoE location here.
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.
Multiple TPH/Center of Excellence Student-Athletes Get Drafted In The WHL U.S. Priority Draft
The Western Hockey League is conducting their 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft and 2021 WHL Prospects Draft on December 8th & 9th respectively. You can follow all the action at WHL.ca/draft.
Three Total Package Hockey/Center Of Excellence student-athletes had their names called in the online draft. Nicholas Christianson was drafted 3rd overall by the Winnipeg ICE, Kolby Gapter was drafted 25th by the Medicine Hat Tigers & Tyler Atchison was selected 28th by the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Christianson, from Upland, CA is a member of the Center of Excellence Program in Chicago and plays for the Windy City Storm 15’s. This 5’11” Center is a prolific offensive player that competes with fierceness.
Atchison, a teammate of Christianson’s with the Windy City Storm 15’s and fellow student-athlete at TPH/CoE in Chicago, is a right-handed forward that also has a knack for finding the back of the net.
“We are very happy for Nick and Tyler. This is a testament to the commitment they make every day to challenge themselves at TPH Chicago. These young men are in the early stages of very bright careers.” says, Rob Rassey, Director & Head of Hockey, TPH Chicago.
Kolby Gapter, a two-year student-athlete at the Center of Excellence in Superior Colorado was drafted 25th overall to the Medicine Hat Tigers. This blueliner defenseman has great size, standing at 6’0, and continues to improve day after day. “Kolby has been with TPH for two years. He serves as a student ambassador for us this year because of his outstanding commitment to excellence. Kolby’s character, attitude, and effort in all aspects of his development are what make him such a special person. We are proud to have Kolby as a part of our TPH family!” says Matt Doman, Director & Head of Hockey, TPH Superior.
“The TPH/Center of Excellence family is extremely proud of our boys and will continue to support their growth both on and off the ice.” says, Nathan Bowen, CEO.
You can find a campus near you and/or attend our upcoming National Virtual Open House on January 10 at 8 PM to see if our unique approach to blended learning and sports-specific training is right for your aspiring student-athlete.
TPH Tournaments Host First Event in “Show Me State”
TPH St. Louis Cup Preview
Thanksgiving weekend marks a first for TPH, the first tournament hosted in St. Louis, Mo. The TPH St. Louis Cup is set to take place at the beautiful Centene Community Ice Center with 28 youth hockey clubs competing to be the final team standing.
Trophies and medals are always great, however this weekend in St. Louis 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 2021 TPH St. Louis Cup is primed for some highly competitive competition amongst top Tier I programs in the nation. Below is an overview of the event.
18U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.
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Belle Tire | |
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Carshield AAA | |
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Chicago Fury | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Rocky Mountain RoughRiders |
16U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.
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Carshield AAA | |
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Chicago Fury | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Rocky Mountain RoughRiders |
15U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.
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Carshield AAA | |
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Chicago Fury | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Rocky Mountain RoughRiders | |
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St. Louis AAA Blues |
13U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.
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Carshield AAA | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Sioux Falls Power | |
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St. Louis Eagles |
11U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.
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Carshield AAA | |
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Indiana Elite | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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St. Louis AAA Blues |
FACILITY
Centene Community Ice Center – 750 Casino Center Dr, Maryland Heights, MO 63043
To learn more about future TPH Tournaments, click here.
Developing Mental Resilience
Five Keys To A Mental Recovery Plan
One of the most demanding positions in any sport is playing goalie. All eyes are on them. They can’t hide from a mistake or a misstep. When the game is over the goalie is analyzed by everyone including their own coach, teammates, parents of the team, the opposing team and coaches, and even themselves.
The position often receives the most credit for a team win, but at the same time receives the most criticism following a loss. The most elite goalies not only require physical strength but mental and emotional strength as well.
An invaluable asset to goalies is to have a mental recovery plan. One that works following a loss, but also can be used right after a bad goal.
Goalies have, on average, less than a minute to get ready and set for the next play. That means if the goalie is thinking about the past mistake, what they should have done better, complaining about the ref, or worrying about their teammates, their mind is not where it needs to be.
If your mindset is not focused on the present play, your performance suffers.
5 Keys to a Mental Recovery Plan
Self-talk
A great question I like to ask athletes I work with is, “Who is the person you listen to the most?” Often, answers include parents, coaches, teammates, or teachers. Many people tend to forget that saying “myself” is an option.
The person you listen to most is yourself. Your internal narrative or self-talk consists of the thoughts and dialogue in your mind that you have all day long. This occurs automatically and we may not even pay attention to messages we send ourselves daily.
When goalies are in the crease, they need to be intentional about the messages they have on repeat. Their self-talk is critical for top performance.
If your self-talk is negative, overly critical and harsh, you are not helping yourself. You need to support yourself through positive self-talk. You don’t have to lie and tell yourself everything is great. But you need to be intentional about helping yourself perform better.
Cue yourself with instruction; “see the puck,” “play strong,” and “quick feet.” These phrases help you stay on task. You can also use motivational self-talk; “trust yourself,” “I got this,” “I’m ready,” or “I trained for this.”
Have 3 to 5 self-talk phrases that help keep you ready, positive and focused. Don’t help your opponents out by beating yourself. Create your top performance through great self-talk.
Body Language
The best way to let your opponent know they’ve gotten the best of you is through body language. Many athletes don’t recognize the importance of body language.
Picture your opponent throwing their head back, then putting their hands up as if to blame their teammates for a bad play. Or if your opponent bends over, slams and breaks their stick, and skates slowly to the bench. Or imagine the players who have their head down on the bench and no one’s communicating with each other. Those players have already lost. They have been mentally beaten. They have checked out and their mindset is not in a place for their top performance.
As a goalie, you cannot let the opponent take up space in your mind. Be intentional about your body language. Imagine 5 things a goalie with good body language does.
Could you do all those things in practice and in games? Don’t allow your body language to be something that just happens. Practice it. Do not allow your body language to give anything away for free.
Positive body language for goalies includes keeping your head up, eyes on the play, standing tall in between plays and communicating effectively with teammates. Work to avoid blaming teammates, slamming your stick, throwing your head back or hanging your head, bending over in disappointment or getting in the referee’s face.
Imagery/Visualization
Goalies need to use their mind to their advantage. It’s great to keep the positivity up through self-talk and body language but these skills bring you back to your baseline performance. Imagery and visualization take your performance to the next level.
You cannot outperform your self-image. That means if you don’t see yourself making incredible saves, showing up big in the third period or shutting down the opponent’s power play, your chances of doing so greatly diminish.
Imagery involves all the senses — seeing, feeling, hearing, movement, smelling, taste — to recreate positive plays in the mind’s eye. The mind is so powerful that simply imagining great plays and good techniques solidify those brain-thinking patterns leading to quicker reaction times, increased performance and improved self-confidence.
Create a self-image of an elite goalie. See yourself succeeding and making the clutch plays.
Re-Focus Cues
It’s easy to get stuck in the last play. Our minds want to analyze the past and make corrections for the future. But there is not time to go through that thinking process during a game. This activity is better saved for after the game.
Instead, you need to forget the last play and re-focus on the immediate task. This is easier said than done, it’s a skill that requires practice.
With intentional attention shifting, you can get yourself back into the present by focusing on exactly what is right in front of you.
One of my favorite re-focus cues from a collegiate goalie I’ve worked with is, “Next Shot. Next Save.” This four-word phrase moves the attention to the next play. The past play doesn’t matter anymore, I need to focus on my next save.
Another goalie reset focus through a physical routine of tapping the goal post with their stick, adjusting their pads and getting back into their ready stance. Doing this routine intentionally helps them reset their mind and body.
Relaxation
The paradox of being a goalie is that you must be alert while at the same time relaxed.
If you become too anxious, you may play ahead of yourself. Getting yourself out of proper position, cheating on your corners or playing too far off the crease.
If you contract your muscles too tightly, you lose reaction time, your movements lose their flow and you get tired much more quickly.
If your mind is not relaxed, tunnel vision occurs and you may not be able to see the entire ice as you should. You may start overthinking about the last couple of plays and losing present focus.
The best performances for goalies requires the right amount of energy.
I’m not saying you should be falling asleep out there; that’s too far in the other direction. You need to find the right energy level for you. Some of your teammates require their energy to be at 10, headbutting one another, jumping up and down, and hyping themselves up. Others require a lower energy level of 3 or 4, listening to music and being calm but ready.
Think of your best performance, what was your energy level at on a scale of 1 to 10. It’s important to work to recreate that exact energy level. Many professional goalies tend to have a lower energy level where they are intensely focused, in the zone and ready for anything.
If your energy level gets too high, which is often the case, you need to be able to relax the body and the mind. Through squared breathing you can calm the mind and the body. This technique requires four-second inhale, four-second hold, four-second exhale, four-second hold and then repeat. This short breathing exercise can be done in between plays, after a goal or during the period break.
Also combine your self-talk and re-focus cues to bring your energy level to where it needs to be. These techniques do not have to occur in isolation and help improve your recovery plan while used together.
Final Thoughts
Having a planned recovery plan will set you apart from your competition. Some of the best goalies in the NHL credit their success to sports psychology skills. Those goalies include Braden Holtby and Carter Hart.
Create your personal recovery plan using the suggestions above. As a goalie you need to be able to shake off the last play. Good or bad, it’s in the past. The most important play is the next one.
By Blaise Fayolle, EdD, CMPC, LLPC
Blaise Fayolle holds a doctorate in Sport and Performance Psychology and is credentialed as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® through the Associated for Applied Sport Psychology. Blaise is also a licensed mental health professional in Michigan.
Girl’s Hockey Takes Center Stage
Smashville Girls Showcase Preview
Nashville is the place to be this Thanksgiving Weekend for Girls and Women’s Hockey. TPH and PIP, Premier Ice Prospects, are proud to host the Smashville Girls Showcase at the Ford Ice Centers in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the 32 Girls AAA teams in attendance, there will be four NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey programs in town for the Smashville Women’s Collegiate Hockey Showcase.
The Women’s and Girl’s Hockey worlds will share the spotlight this weekend with 72 youth hockey games on top of the two-day collegiate showcase that will highlight the best of the NCAA’s women hockey players. Last year Mekenzie Steffen competed in the collegiate event as captain of the University of Wisconsin Badgers, presently she now has the opportunity to see this weekend from the administrative side as the Coordinator of Girls Hockey for TPH-Nashville.
“It’s one of those incredible ‘if you see it, you can be it’ opportunities for all of the young girls,” said Steffen. “Growing up in Minnesota, I was able to attend Golden Gophers women’s hockey games growing up, but several girls don’t have this opportunity. I am excited to see so many teams coming from places where the girls don’t have the opportunity to watch NCAA women’s hockey in person, to not only witness, but play alongside them in the same building and share the weekend.”
The Smashville Women’s Collegiate Hockey Showcase will feature Boston College, Colgate University, Mercyhurst University, and the University of Minnesota competing over November 26-27 at the Ford Ice Center. Single-day standard and VIP tickets can be purchased HERE. Use promo code PREDSGIRLS to save.
“It is just as meaningful to the college players to see all of the young girls in the stands watching the games.” Steffen says, “You know they’re all looking up to you, hoping to be in your shoes one day. Those are the humbling moments that you never take for granted as a college athlete.”
The 2021 Jr. Predators Tier I Host Weekend will be TPH’s first tournament of the season in Nashville and it is primed for some highly competitive competition amongst top Tier I programs in the nation. We are so thankful for everything that the Nashville Predators have done to make this event come to life. It will be a memorable weekend for all. Below is an overview of the event.
19U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.
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Anaheim Lady Ducks | |
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Bishop Kearney Selects | |
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Connecticut Polar Bears | |
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Florida Alliance | |
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Northwood School | |
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Pittsburgh Penguins Elite | |
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Shattuck St. Mary’s | |
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Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep |
16U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.
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Anaheim Lady Ducks | |
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Belle Tire | |
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Bishop Kearney Selects | |
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Connecticut Polar Bears | |
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New Jersey Titans | |
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Pittsburgh Penguins Elite | |
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San Jose Jr Sharks | |
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Shattuck St. Mary’s |
14U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.
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Anaheim Lady Ducks | |
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Belle Tire | |
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Belle Tire White | |
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Carolina Jr Hurricanes | |
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Detroit Little Caesars | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Pittsburgh Penguins Elite | |
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San Jose Jr Sharks | |
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St. Louis Jr Blues | |
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Team Illinois |
12U Division
All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.
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Anaheim Lady Ducks | |
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Arizona Kachinas | |
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Detroit Little Caesars | |
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Honeybaked | |
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Nashville Jr. Predators | |
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Team Illinois |
FACILITIES
Ford Ice Center – Antioch: 5264 Hickory Hollow Pl, Cane Ridge, TN 37013
Ford Ice Center – Bellevue: 7620 Hwy 70 S, Nashville, TN 37221
To learn more about future TPH Tournaments, click here.
TPH Takes the World Stage
Total Package Hockey Set to Compete at World Selects Invitational
Detroit, Michigan: Total Package Hockey (TPH) announced today that it has accepted a bid to the 2022 World Selects Invitational Trophy (WSI), as a North American representative competing at the international tournament this spring. The WSI is an invite-only youth hockey tournament that takes place each spring in exotic locations around the world and features some of the best athletes on the planet.
TPH will enter teams into the Elite and AAA events at the 16U, 15U, 14U, 13U and 12U age groups with rosters composed of top-level players from across North America. The field of opponents consists of teams from the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia and central Europe. Competing at the WSI is not only an opportunity to play against elite international teams, but players and families can also enjoy an authentic cultural experience. All attendees will be treated to first-class facilities from the host arena to hotels, restaurants and meals.
2022 ELITE EVENTS
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Elite | May 1 - 5, 2022 | Exeter, NH, USA |
| 2007 Elite | May 1 - 5, 2022 | Nashville, TN, USA |
| 2008 Elite | May 3 - 7, 2022 | Bolzano, Italy |
| 2009 Elite | May 10 - 14, 2022 | Chamonix, France |
| 2010 Elite | April 26 - 30, 2022 | Bolzano, Italy |
2022 AAA EVENTS
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 AAA | May 25-28, 2022 | San Sebastien, Spain |
| 2008 AAA | May 11-14, 2022 | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 2009 AAA | May 4-7, 2022 | Mont Blanc, France |
| 2010 AAA | May 4-7, 2022 | Prague, Czech Republic |
You can also view all the boy’s events, their locations and dates at this link: https://www.worldhockeygroup.com/worldselectstrophy
For more than 12 years, the WSI has featured some of the best athletes in youth hockey. More than 350 NHL Draft picks and 1,000 NCAA players have competed in a WSI event since 2008. Before they were stars in the NHL, players like Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Alexander Barkov, Adam Fox and Andrei Svechnikov were 13, 14 and 15-year-old standouts at a World Selects event.
“TPH is thrilled to be part of the WSI series of events in North America and Europe,” said Nathan Bowen, CEO of Total Package Hockey. “These events provide players with a global hockey experience that they will remember for a lifetime. In addition to player development, we plan to grow our coaching network through these events and provide new opportunities for our TPH coaches to grow. Ultimately, this is an amazing life experience that everyone in our organization gets to take advantage of through the game.”
Click here to learn more about the World Selects Invitational Trophy.
If you have interest in participating in the World Selects Invitational, please click the following link and complete the questionnaire: https://forms.gle/tacdrGw37ZdhTrP37
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, TPH seeks to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes. 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 on an annual basis, throughout 16 US-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 his/her physical potential,
(3) as a student, working to achieve his/her academic goals, and most importantly,
(4) as a person, striving to win the ultimate game, and that’s the game of life.
Jr. Preds Promote From Within
Nashville Jr. Predators Alumni and Former Captain Teddy Rotenberger Promoted as Tier 1 Director
Total Package Hockey Nashville (TPH) and the Nashville Jr. Predators (NJP) are proud to announce the promotion of Teddy Rotenberger to the Tier 1 Director position. Teddy has been part of the NJP organization for over 12 years, including his early days playing with the U13 squad in 2009, as well as serving as a head coach for the last two seasons. His path as a hockey player was not an easy one, but his relentless pursuit of his goals speaks to his character and his leadership abilities.
Teddy captained the Jr. Predators to appearances in the 2013 and 2014 USA Hockey National Championship Tournament, winning a Bronze Medal in 2013 (U16 AAA). Upon moving to the junior level, he made several stops in the North American Hockey League including Topeka, St. Louis, and Shreveport. Teddy went on to be a 3 time WCHA Scholar-Athlete en route to earning a Master’s Degree in Supply Chain and Logistics Management from University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH).
His commitment to the program shined when he began coaching the TPH Spring Prospect Program during his time at UAH. Teddy joined the coaching staff in August of 2020, working as the Head Coach of the 14AA and 16AA squads before landing with the 12AAA squad this past August.
“We are so fortunate to have Teddy take on this leadership role as the new Tier I Director. We know that under his leadership, the standard will be raised,” says Nathan Bowen, CEO of Total Package Hockey. “He has a passion for helping people, he is a servant leader who puts others first and is an outstanding positive role model for any young athlete.”
Teddy’s first hand experience as a player in the organization will suit him well in his new role. “The Jr. Predators provide the opportunity for student-athletes to compete at the highest level of youth hockey while still being able to live at home as long as possible,” says the new Tier 1 Director. “NJP has continually demonstrated that our unique model fosters player development and advancement through the work of our dedicated full-time coaches and support staff coupled with the long-term commitment of our players and families. Just this past season we saw 14 players from the 18U NJP team sign, get drafted or tendered into Tier II Junior Hockey teams, the next step on their journey to college hockey, which is, a new record for our program.”
TPH Nashville and the Nashville Jr. Predators are so proud to promote from within, and can’t wait to see the impact that Teddy has on the next generation of NJP hockey players.
To learn more about TPH Nashville CoE, click here.
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 15 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.
Michigan Native Leads the Pack
Greg Wolfe Named Head of Hockey at TPH Detroit
Total Package Hockey (TPH) is proud to announce the promotion of Michigan native, Greg Wolfe, to Head of Hockey at TPH Detroit. The program has seen incredible progress with Greg working as a Player Development Coach & Mentor during the last two years. His hard work and dedication have had a massive impact on the day to day lives of student athletes, allowing Greg to surge through the TPH Detroit depth chart.
So who exactly is Greg Wolfe? We’re glad you asked. Take a knee, we’ll give you the rundown.
Greg grew up in Canton, Michigan, where he won three state championships with the Honeybaked Tier 1 Program. He played two seasons in the USHL with the Chicago Steel and Omaha Lancers before taking his talents to East Lansing, where he played four seasons of NCAA hockey with the Michigan State Spartans. He was captain of the team for his final two years at State, when he won the Big Ten Medal of Honor and the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Following his college career, he made his professional debut in 2014 with the Reading Royals of the ECHL, and was named an ECHL All-Star in the 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons.
So yeah…you could say he’s got a pretty solid Michigan hockey pedigree.
“I’m humbled and excited to take on this new position as Head of Hockey with TPH Detroit,” says Greg. “It’s a great opportunity for me to further develop the TPH Hockey Development Model for our student-athletes in Detroit and throughout TPH as a whole.” Greg would go on to add how excited he is to get to work in his new role, and credits his staff for their hard work in providing the highest level of training and mentorship to TPH players.
Director of TPH Detroit, Dwayne Norris, says Greg’s pending success was imminent from very early on. “Having Greg on the team as a Player Development Coach & Mentor has given us front row seats to observe his passion, leadership, and forward-thinking for the game of hockey,” says Dwayne. “He’s made a tremendous impact on the journeys of our student-athletes as they strive towards excellence. Please join me in congratulating Coach Wolfe on his promotion, it is extremely well deserved.”
Interested in training with Greg Wolfe and the team at TPH Detroit? Click here to learn more about our program.
About TPH
Total Package Hockey was founded in 2001 and began operations in 2004 in Ontario, Canada. TPH seeks to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes, all ages and skill level, 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:
- as a player within a team setting
- as an athlete, dedicated to reaching their physical potential
- as a student, working to achieve their academic goals
- as a person, striving to win the ultimate game, and that’s the game of life.
04’s Best Kept Secret
TPH Center of Excellence student-athlete, Ethan Fredericks, defines next steps of his hockey career
Each season is critical for player development and recruiting exposure, and last year’s mid-pandemic hockey season was no exception. For players like Ethan Fredericks who were aiming to raise their stock, a world full of Covid-19 restrictions made it even more difficult to gain attention from college scouts. Regarded by The Scouting Network as “one of the most undervalued 2004’s in the nation,” the Georgia native was in need of a breakout 2021-21 season.
Fredericks cranked it up to ten during the 2020-21 season and put college scouts on notice. He led the Nashville Jr. Predators 16U AAA team with 36 goals and 62 points, which earned him the third place slot among all goal scorers in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL). Individual success was only a portion of the picture for Fredericks’s previous season as he and the Preds tangoed their way to the semi-finals of the T1EHL playoffs.
The hard work paid off in dividends as Fredericks committed to Northeastern University and inked a contract with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Fredericks kicked off his USHL journey this fall at just 16 years old, but made an early impact when he found the back of the net early in his second game. As the Bucs look to build on their 3-0 start, Fredericks hopes to keep the train rolling.
The TPH team will be cheering Fredericks on for the remainder of his USHL journey, and we can’t wait to watch him compete with the Huskies when he makes his arrival at Northeastern.
Want to learn more about how the TPH CoE model can help student-athletes reach their full potential? Check out our website to see for yourself!
Forgione and Fleming Make the Jump to the Junior Level
Former AAA and COE teammates part ways to compete in the OHL and USHL
The path forward from the youth levels of hockey is a forked road with multiple options for leagues and several options for teams. Understanding these options and making the right decision for your future can be daunting is only half the battle; the other half comes down to coaches and teams. This season two TPH Detroit student-athletes, P.J. Forgione and Landon Fleming, approached the fork in the road and picked their path onto the junior hockey level.
In September, P.J. inked his contract with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), while Landon announced his commitment to play for the Madison Capitols of the United States Hockey League (USHL). TPH Detroit is proud of the success of these two former student-athletes and views their accomplishments as a testament to the program’s ability to produce high-performing talent.
The two defensemen were classmates at the Center of Excellence (CoE) during the 2020-21 school year, but their friendship goes back much further than that. Dwayne Norris, the Detroit CoE actually coached the two earlier in their careers when they played for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies. Norris says their potential was clear from the very beginning and that he is extremely proud to have watched the two athletes grow into leaders both on and off the ice.
“I know I speak for the entire TPH organization when I say that we couldn’t be more excited for Forgione. and his new opportunity with Saginaw,” says TPH Player Development Coach & Mentor, Greg Wolfe. “P.J. is a player of high character and work ethic. He shows up at the rink every day, ready to give 100%. There is no doubt P.J. will be an asset for Saginaw, and I can’t wait to see how he continues to develop at the next level.” P.J. has played in all three of the Spirit’s preseason games so far, and netted his first goal of the 2021 preseason on September 18th.
“Landon is a player that improved his focus and attention to detail throughout last year, both on and off the ice. We are ecstatic to see that tireless work ethic payoff as he advances to play in Madison of the USHL this season,” says Dwayne Norris, the Director & Head of Hockey at the TPH Center of Excellence in Detroit. Landon has seen ice time in each of his preseason games with the Capitols, who are ranked second in the USHL Eastern Conference and boast a 3-1 preseason record.
These two young men have had a relatively similar background in training and youth organizations, and have taken the jump to the top junior leagues in both Canada and the United States. TPH wishes them the best in their upcoming seasons and moving forward through life. To learn more about the TPH CoE model, and how it can help student-athletes reach their full potential in academics and athletics, please visit our website.
About TPH
Total Package Hockey was founded in 2001 and began operations in 2004 in Ontario, Canada. TPH seeks to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes, all ages and skill levels through sports. 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:
- As a player within a team setting
- As an athlete, dedicated to reaching their physical potential
- As a student, working to achieve their academic goals
- As a person striving to win the ultimate game, and that’s the game of life