Posts Tagged ‘Center of Excellence’
Norris to Lead TPH Hockey Operation in Detroit
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Dwayne Norris will become the new Director of Hockey for TPH-Detroit. This announcement comes just weeks after former TPH-Detroit Director of Hockey Brandon Naurato accepted a position as a Player Development Consultant for the Detroit Red Wings.
As part of this transition, Naurato will remain in his capacity as both a Partner and Director of Player Development for all of TPH, and will continue to train TPH-Detroit student-athletes on the ice, through both the Center of Excellence and the 8 Week Progression Program.
“First off, we would like to congratulate Brandon on the unbelievable accomplishment of not only earning an opportunity to follow his passion at the NHL level, but also, for the chance to make a mark on his hometown team,” Total Package Hockey CEO Nathan Bowen said. “While Nar is passionate, bright and cutting edge, his desire to grind is his best quality. He has worked effortlessly to grow TPH’s presence in the Detroit market and has been the posterchild for our vision of positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. We look forward to watching Nar succeed in his role with the Red Wings, while he continues to devout his energy to making all TPH student-athletes the best they can be.”
While Naurato is focused on playing his part in helping the Red Wings better develop its players, he is quick to point out that TPH will remain a priority as he begins a new chapter in his professional career.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to contribute to the Red Wings organization,” Naurato said. “What makes this opportunity extra-special is that it will allow me to keep impacting TPH. It’s not one over the other. I am totally committed to assisting Dwayne in bettering what we do, from training, to programming, to mentorship, and I will do everything I can to support our student-athletes in their development in hockey and in life. The kids have always been priority one. That will never change.”
In hiring Norris, TPH welcomes an individual with decades of experience in playing, coaching and management. The former Michigan State Spartan played four seasons in the green and white, from 1988 to 1992. Selected No. 127 overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, the St. John’s, Newfoundland native enjoyed a 16-year professional playing career after graduating from MSU. Norris spent the final 10 seasons of his playing career overseas in Germany. After hanging up his skates in 2007, Norris transitioned from the ice to the front office, becoming the General Manager of the Frankfort Lions, the team he played for during the previous four seasons.
Norris returned to the United States in 2010 and used his hockey management experience to begin a career in business. While working full-time, Norris has spent the last five seasons serving as the Director of Hockey for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies program. During this time, he has coached Grizzlies teams at the U14, U15 and U16 levels. Norris will maintain his role with the Jr. Grizzlies, while taking on the Director of Hockey responsibilities for TPH-Detroit.
CEO Nathan Bowen calls Norris a “hockey man” and believes his diverse resume will greatly benefit all student-athletes within TPH-Detroit programs.
“Dwayne is an impressive guy,” Bowen said. “His hockey and business knowledge, leadership experience and passion for mentorship aligns perfectly with the vision of TPH. Both our hockey department and our student-athletes are in the hands of an individual we have the utmost amount of respect for and confidence in.”
Bowen also referenced his level of intrigue not just with Norris, but also his body of work with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, a program known to be on the rise at both the Tier I and Tier II youth levels.
“For the past few years, I have watched the Jr. Grizzlies program grow the right way under Dwayne and Terry Bishop’s leadership,” Bowen said. “Quality organizations and quality people go hand-in-hand. I would like to thank the Jr. Grizzlies for allowing us to bring Dwayne on board. We would not have been able to make this happen without their cooperation and support.
Norris is energized to begin his new role and make hockey an even bigger part of his life.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to head the hockey operation for TPH in Detroit, a place my family and I have called home for 26 years,” Norris said. “TPH has an outstanding reputation across Detroit and the hockey world for helping players enhance their skills and develop into the types of young people that have success in life. When Nar and Nathan shared their vision for the future and outlined their five-year plan for TPH-Detroit, it became clear to me that this is an opportunity that doesn’t come around every day. To be part of growing TPH while I also maintain my commitment to the Grizzlies is very energizing and motivating.”
Hockey runs deep within the Norris family. Dwayne and his wife Traci are the proud parents of three boys, all of whom are chasing their hockey dreams at elite levels. Their oldest son, Coale will enter his sophomore season at Ferris State in the fall. Middle son Josh is a first-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks and will be a sophomore at the University of Michigan, while youngest Dalton, property of the Tri-City Storm in the USHL, will skate for the U18 Jr. Grizzlies this season and attend the TPH Center of Excellence.
Norris hopes his experience as a “hockey dad” will help him better relate to families of current and prospective TPH players as they embark on their hockey journeys.
“The hockey waters can be challenging to navigate,” Norris said. “Traci and I are going through it now. I’d like to think the experiences we’ve had and the decisions we’ve made – the good ones and the not-so-good ones – will allow us to connect with moms and dads and sons and daughters who are trying to find their path forward. I am a dad first and foremost. I believe this will be an asset in my new role. My goal is to apply the same level of care to our student-athletes as I would if it were my own kids. Education is big in our family. It will be priority one within TPH-Detroit moving forward. If it’s not right for my kids, it won’t be done within TPH. That will be the litmus test for me in this role.”
With the 2018-2019 season right around the corner, Bowen was quick to point out that Norris’ arrival is just another addition to a long list of exciting happenings within TPH-Detroit, among them, the relocation of the Center of Excellence to Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
“We have a great opportunity in front of us in Detroit. The CoE is moving to an immaculate facility in a great location, where we are partnered with like-minded people in Steve Mazur, Jerod Swallow and Joe Neal, who share our vision. We have a terrific support staff. We’re coming off an incredible summer that saw four Detroit CoE alums get selected in the NHL Draft, 26 TPH-trained players attend NHL summer development camps, and now, we have a quality leader in Dwayne, who will build off Nar’s foundation and lead us forward. Now, more than ever, TPH is committed to our mission of exceeding expectations one choice a time.”
Rutger McGroarty commits to Notre Dame
Total Package Hockey is proud to congratulate Rutger McGroarty on committing to Notre Dame.
One of the top players in the 2004 birth-year class, McGroarty announced today that he has verbally committed to Jeff Jackson and the Fighting Irish hockey program.
“There is just no other place like it – I feel like it’s a home,” McGroarty said in a story on MiHockey.com. “I talked with a bunch of the players and they didn’t have one negative thing to say about Notre Dame. The coaches are top notch with Coach Jackson, Coach Slaggert, and Coach Pooley.”
McGroarty, a student-athlete at the TPH Center of Excellence in Detroit, is a forward with the Honeybaked 14U team. He has helped his HB squad capture back-to-back Michigan Amateur Hockey Association state championships.
He has spent the last three school years at the CoE while also participating on other TPH programs.
“TPH has had such a big impact in my hockey game – skating every day with a bunch of high-end hockey players who all want to be successful in the game,” McGroarty said. “It’s hard not to get better when you’re competing with and against a bunch of kids like that.”
His father, Jim, is a Player Development Coach and Mentor at the TPH CoE, as well.
TPH Detroit@TPHDetroitCongrats to #TPHCoE student-athlete @RutgerMcgroarty on his commitment to Notre Dame! #TPHFamily
Damian Surma brings Detroit experience to TPH-Indy Team
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Damian Surma will assume the position of Player Development Coach & Mentor for TPH’s Indy division.
Surma will take on the same role he has held within TPH’s Detroit division since joining the company in 2014. In addition, Surma will serve as the Head Coach of the Indy Junior Fuel ‘AAA’ 2007 team. He takes over for Jared Mohr, who recently accepted a coaching position in Laredo, Texas, with a franchise in the upstart USA Central Hockey League.
“We are thrilled to welcome Damian Surma to the TPH-Indy family,” Greg Austin, Director of Hockey-Operations for the TPH-Indy division, said. “Surms has an extensive hockey background and has spent that past three seasons honing his craft in Detroit under the tutelage of Brandon Naurato. Coach Naurato’s on-ice development plan has aided in the growth of hundreds of players, seven of whom were selected in the NHL draft this past June. Surms has been alongside Brandon, learning from him while putting his own creative stamp on how TPH develops its players. Because of this, Surms’ transition to Indy will be seamless. We are delighted to welcome a man of Damian’s background and character to Indy. Our hockey operation got a lot better today.”
Indy Junior Fuel ‘AAA’ Director of Hockey-Operations Chris Lipsett echoed Austin’s sentiments and says he is looking forward to adding Surma to his coaching line-up for the 2018-2019 season.
“Having Surms coach in the Junior Fuel ‘AAA’ program will be of great benefit to all of our players, notably, the 2007’s that he will directly mentor,” Lipsett said. “Surms has played at many levels, from Major Junior to the minor leagues, to Europe and right up to the NHL. In Detroit, he also worked with a number of elite players such as Zach Werenski, Dylan Larkin, J.T. Compher and Josh Norris. Beyond his resume, however, it his passion for helping players of all ages hone their skills that families in our Junior Fuel ‘AAA’ program will appreciate the most.”
As Lipsett referenced, Surma brings his extensive playing resume with him to Indy. The Lincoln Park, Mich., native played his junior hockey in the Detroit area with the NAHL’s Compuware Ambassadors and the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers. In 1999, Surma was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 6th round of the NHL Draft. Surma spent three seasons in the Hurricanes organization, amassing over 200 games with the Canes and their minor-league affiliates, the Lowell Lock Monsters and Florida Everblades. He would go on to spend the next nine years of his professional career at the Double ‘A’ pro level in the U.S., as well as overseas in Italy.
While in Detroit, Surma was part of a hockey staff that has aided in the development of many elite players. Over the past few seasons, TPH-Detroit’s Center of Excellence alone has produced four NHL Draft picks, eight NHL Central Scouting-listed players, 28 OHL and 29 USHL draft picks and 25 NCAA commitments, just to name a few.
Surma is excited to bring his perspective and experience from both his playing days as well as his time mentoring student-athletes in Detroit to help TPH-Indy further impact student-athletes in a market he describes as “flourishing.”
“First off, I want to thank Brandon Naurato and the entire TPH-Detroit team for all they have done for me to this point,” Surma said. “I have developed a stronger hockey knowledge base thanks to all of my experiences, specifically those from TPH in Detroit. I come to Indy wanting to take all of my experiences to grow an already solid base that Greg Austin and his staff have quickly built over a very short period of time. Whether it be on the ice at the Center of Excellence, in the many other camps and clinics Indy offers, or with the Junior Fuel ‘AAA’ 07’s, everything we do will continue to be about executing the TPH vision of positively impacting the lives of student-athletes. Greg and Chris have set the bar. I look forward to helping raise it.”
TPH Detroit Center of Excellence student-athlete a young entrepreneur
In the fall of 2016, Adam House Jr. moved from Florida to Michigan.
His reasoning? To enroll at the Total Package Hockey Center of Excellence in Metro Detroit.
The House family was intrigued by the Center of Excellence’s mantra of ‘study, train, play’ – helping student-athletes reach their full potential both on and off the ice.
House wasn’t the typical player enrolling in the TPH CoE, starting two years younger than most of the enrollees at the school. He also had plenty of work to do with his hockey skills, as he arrived with the experience of only playing ‘A’ level hockey in the state of Florida.
Brandon Naurato decided to take a chance on House, seeing potential in the ’06 birth-year player.
“When I first met Adam and the House family, I couldn’t help but notice the passion and determination to excel,” Naurato said. “He was a special kid; we felt he could handle coming into the Center of Excellence at a young age and grow quickly as both a hockey player and a young man.”
Two years later, House is preparing to suit up for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies AAA ’06 squad; a testament to his work ethic and drive.
House is excelling off the ice, as well. Following in the footsteps of his father, Adam House Sr., House is has started his own business. The young entrepreneur is the owner and founder of “Jr’s House of Hockey,” a company selling hockey tape on Amazon (see the company’s Instagram page here). At just 12 years old, House is curating a brand following through social media and his passion for videography; see examples embedded below. He is using his education and experiences at the CoE to get real-world business experience before he even reaches high school.
“Being a student-athlete at the CoE has taught me a lot, both about hockey and about my education and life away from the rink,” House said. “Between watching my dad grow his own businesses, and the confidence I think I have gotten from my experiences at the school, I really wanted to try to start my own business. Hockey, obviously, is where I want to be, either as a player or a businessman, and I’m having a blast doing this.
“The CoE helps me improve as a hockey player and as a person; I’m learning a lot and trying to grow a business at the same time.”
TPH is proud to have House as a member of the #TPHFamily, as he continues to be a posterchild for the CoE both on and off the ice.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Adam and what he is doing,” said TPH CEO Nathan Bowen. “Watching him thrive in our CoE environment has been wonderful; he’s a perfect example of how we’re trying to help these student-athletes not only improve on the ice, but pursue their passions away from the rink. He is certainly setting himself up for success in whatever he pursues in the future. We can’t wait to see where he goes from here, and we wish him the best of luck with Jr’s House of Hockey.”
Check out Jr’s House of Hockey on Amazon here or by clicking on the image below.
Click on the tape to visit Jr’s House of Hockey on Amazon
Check out one of House’s video edits, as well.
ABOUT TPH: Founded in 2001, Total Package Hockey is a hockey service provider with the vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of players, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world, one choice at a time. Our staff is committed to providing positive, energetic, hands-on instruction and mentorship, in an effort to develop each individual on and off the ice. If each individual develops as a player, athlete and person, he or she will be better prepared to advance to the highest levels of junior, collegiate and professional hockey, while learning the skills necessary for success in the ultimate game: the game of life.
For more information about TPH, click here
For more information about the TPH Center of Excellence, click here
Josh Blackburn hired as new goaltending coach at Detroit CoE
Total Package Hockey is proud to welcome Josh Blackburn to our coaching family.
Blackburn is joining the TPH Center of Excellence staff in Detroit as the program’s new goaltending coach.
Blackburn brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to the TPH Detroit team. The native of Choctaw, Okla., spent four seasons as the starting goaltender for the University of Michigan before playing professionally for three seasons. From there, he worked as the goaltending coach of his alma mater for eight seasons.
“We are very excited to have Josh Blackburn join our TPH Detroit Center of Excellence staff,” said Dwayne Norris, director of hockey for TPH CoE Detroit. “He is very knowledgeable in his craft, from both playing and coaching at some of the highest levels of hockey. Josh is going to be a great asset to our staff, and he’s already establishing a close connection with our young goaltenders at the CoE.”
Blackburn played three seasons in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints and the Lincoln Stars before joining the college ranks. He was named the USHL’s goaltender of the year in 1998.
At Michigan, he backstopped the Wolverines to consecutive Frozen Four appearances in 2001 and 2002. Blackburn helped Michigan win two CCHA regular-season titles and two CCHA playoff titles, and he was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team in 1999.
He finished with 92 wins, a 2.29 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage over four seasons under Red Berenson.
After graduating, he spent the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons in the ECHL with the Augusta Lynx and the Columbus Inferno. In 2004-05, he suited up for the CHL’s Corpus Christi Rayz.
Blackburn returned to Ann Arbor following his playing career to serve as Michigan’s volunteer goaltending coach while operating his own goaltending school in southeast Michigan.
ABOUT TPH: Founded in 2001, Total Package Hockey is a hockey service provider with the vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of players, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world, one choice at a time. Our staff is committed to providing positive, energetic, hands-on instruction and mentorship, in an effort to develop each individual on and off the ice. If each individual develops as a player, athlete and person, he or she will be better prepared to advance to the highest levels of junior, collegiate and professional hockey, while learning the skills necessary for success in the ultimate game: the game of life.
For more information about TPH, click here
For more information about the TPH Center of Excellence, click here
Dalton Norris to play with NTDP; Thomas Stift also practicing in Plymouth
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce that Center of Excellence student-athlete Dalton Norris has been invited to practice with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, and will skate with the Under-18 Team in their game against the Muskegon Lumberjacks Thursday.
Norris, the younger brother of NTDP alum Josh Norris, is currently a defenseman with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 18U team. He is the son of Dwayne Norris, TPH Detroit’s director of hockey.
“The TPH team is super excited for Dalton, one of our new student-athletes at the TPH CoE in Bloomfield, Mich.,” said TPH CEO Nathan Bowen. “He’s been working incredibly hard both on and off the ice, and he’s getting a nice reward for it.”
Dalton Norris is working towards becoming the third sibling to play college hockey; Josh is a sophomore forward with the Michigan Wolverines, and Coale is also a sophomore forward with the Ferris State Bulldogs.
He’s not the only CoE student-athlete earning opportunities with the NTDP; Thomas Stift has been practicing with Team USA in Plymouth, as well.
Stift, a native of Chino Hills, Calif., has moved to Michigan to join the CoE and play for Belle Tire 16U.
He has skated with the NTDP numerous times over the last few weeks.
Stay tuned for more…
ABOUT TPH: Founded in 2001, Total Package Hockey is a hockey service provider with the vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of players, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world, one choice at a time. Our staff is committed to providing positive, energetic, hands-on instruction and mentorship, in an effort to develop each individual on and off the ice. If each individual develops as a player, athlete and person, he or she will be better prepared to advance to the highest levels of junior, collegiate and professional hockey, while learning the skills necessary for success in the ultimate game: the game of life.
For more information about TPH, click here
For more information about the TPH Center of Excellence, click here
Bode Wilde first TPH Center of Excellence alum to sign NHL contract
Total Package Hockey is proud to congratulate Bode Wilde on signing his entry-level contract with the New York Islanders.
In doing so, Wilde becomes the first TPH Center of Excellence alum to sign with an NHL franchise.
A Birmingham, Mich., native, Wilde was a second-round pick of the Islanders in the 2018 NHL Draft after concluding his two seasons with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
The 6-foot-2, 192-pound defenseman is in the midst of his first season with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit; Wilde has 22 points in his first 21 games.
TPH announces new Center of Excellence location in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce the opening of its fifth Center of Excellence in Grand Rapids, Mich. Grand Rapids will join Bloomfield Township as the second CoE in the state of Michigan, and will be housed inside Southside Ice Arena in Byron Center, a southern suburb of Grand Rapids.
TPH will enter into a partnership with Southside Ice Arena and its co-owners Travis Richards and Mike Slobodnik. Both Richards and Slobodnik bring extensive hockey backgrounds to the TPH family. The two serve as coaches and leaders of the Fox Motors Hockey Club, a Tier I and Tier II organization they founded in 2013 that features 29 teams from the mite through midget age groups.
“Grand Rapids is a terrific location for a Center of Excellence,” TPH Chief Operating Officer Nathan Bowen said. “The venue is exceptional, the location is populated with rising hockey talent and our partners share our values. Both Travis and Mike have great passion for mentoring student-athletes. They are the definition of what it means to be fully ‘invested’ in what they do. We couldn’t be happier about this announcement.”
Built in 1996, Southside Ice Arena is a two-sheet facility located 13 miles south of downtown Grand Rapids. In 2013, the facility underwent a $1 million renovation. The venue will feature a newly constructed classroom (equipped with up to three different learning spaces), a recently renovated off-ice training center, ample locker room space and on-site dining facilities. The Grand Rapids CoE will allow student-athletes to Study, Train and Play all under one roof, maximizing each individual’s hockey, athletic and academic development.
Partners Richards and Slobodnik have not only spent most of their adult life working in and around the game of hockey, but they have established roots in the Grand Rapids area. Slobodnik, a Grand Rapids native, currently coaches at both the pee wee major level for Fox Motors and at the high school level for Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Slobodnik brings 20 years of youth, high school and junior playing experience to TPH, and he has also coached at five USA Hockey national camps.
Richards played ten seasons for the Grand Rapids Griffins and holds the record for most career games with the franchise at 655. Following his retirement, his No. 24 was raised to rafters of Van Andel Arena, becoming the first Griff to enjoy such an accomplishment. Travis brings a lifetime of dedication to the game of hockey, which also includes four seasons as a member of his hometown University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Richards and Slobodnik both believe the Grand Rapids market as a whole is ready to offer an ‘academy-style’ model for its hockey players and feel fortunate to have their venue house the Center of Excellence.
“Both Mike and I are deeply passionate about the growth and development of the hockey players involved in all programs at Southside Ice Arena,” Richards said. “The CoE model will provide the ultimate development opportunity for local players who have a desire to be the best they can be on the ice, in the gym and most importantly, in the classroom. Mike and I take great pride in doing things the right way and giving our best to shape young kids into young men through the game of ice hockey. Hockey is who I am; it is where I made almost all my friends. My goal is to share my wonderful experiences with as many kids as possible. The CoE model provides us with yet another avenue to do that.”
For Mike Slobodnik, “classroom” and the commitment to the academic portion of the CoE model is what he found most impressive when learning about the CoE. Slobodnik believes TPH’s commitment to academics is what prospective student-athletes and their families will appreciate most.
“TPH’s reputation for developing hockey players is extremely positive and well-known throughout the hockey community,” Slobodnik said. “Nathan Bowen and his team didn’t have to do much to convince us that their training methods are cutting edge and transferrable to today’s game. What impressed Travis and I most is that so many of our questions about the academic side of the CoE model were answered in the early stages, without us even having to ask. TPH has invested many resources to ensure that its student-athletes are getting an academic experience that prepares each individual so that he or will be successful in college and in life. They love answering the tough questions about academics and we are excited to put the TPH team in front of our families so they can show our market just how committed they are to the academic experience at the Center of Excellence.”
Brandon Naurato is the director of player development for all of TPH; he founded TPH’s first Center of Excellence in Canton, Mich. in 2014. Naurato, who also serves as a player development consultant for the Detroit Red Wings, takes great pride in the “positive reputation” Slobodnik references, he and believes Grand Rapids is an emerging market – one that fits perfectly in TPH’s Michigan blueprint.
“Grand Rapids is on the rise as a hockey market,” Naurato said. “Travis, Mike and the Fox Motors group are building their hockey program the right way, no different than how we have tried to approach the growth of the CoE model over the past five years.”
In addition, Naurato also hopes TPH’s track record for player advancement will excite dedicated hockey players in the Grand Rapids market.
“The Center of Excellence model alone has produced four NHL draft picks, 33 NCAA Division I commitments and over 60 USHL and NAHL players,” Naurato added. “This has been accomplished because of the hockey, academic and social environments we have tried to foster, and most importantly, because of the passion and commitment shown by the student-athletes. The bottom line is it’s their stage. We just try and help them dance. Travis, Mike and the staff we hire on the ground in Grand Rapids will be totally committed to positively impacting the lives of student-athletes.”
With the 2019-2020 school year right around the corner, TPH will be hosting an open house for interested student-athletes and their families on Jan. 9 and 10 at Southside Ice Arena. For more information on the Center of Excellence model and the upcoming orientation, please visit the links below.
- Click here to download a copy of the CoE brochure
- Click here to visit TotalPackageHockey.com
- Click here to RSVP for the upcoming Open House events in Grand Rapids
TPH CoE student-athlete Lane Hutson commits to Boston University
Total Package Hockey is proud to congratulate Lane Hutson on his commitment to Boston University.
Hutson, a 2004 birth-year defenseman, is a student-athlete at the TPH Center of Excellence in Bloomfield, Mich.
“Playing Division I college hockey has been a goal of mine since I started to play,” Hutson said in a MiHockey.com article. “I picked BU because of the combination of outstanding academics, tradition and the long history of developing excellent hockey players and moving them on to the next level; players like Charlie McAvoy, Clayton Keller, Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel to name a few. Go Terriers!”
Hutson is in the midst of his first school year with the Center of Excellence; he moved to West Bloomfield this year to attend the CoE and play for the Honeybaked ’04 team coached by TPH’s Jimmy McGroarty.
“Training at TPH and going to CoE for school these past few months has played a huge part in my development,” Hutson said. “Getting to train with some of my teammates and some opponents on a daily basis keeps me challenged on the ice. The coaching staff at TPH is some of the best I have worked with. The school part is great because I don’t have to worry about missing school due to travel for hockey and can work at my own pace.”
He is the third TPH CoE student-athlete in the 2004 class to commit to a NCAA D1 school this season, joining classmates and Honeybaked teammates Hunter Brzustewicz (committed to Michigan) and Rutger McGroarty (committed to Notre Dame).
Hutson family thriving at TPH Detroit Center of Excellence
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP – There’s a new hockey family at the Total Package Hockey Center of Excellence in Metro Detroit, and they are certainly enjoying their stay.
The Hutson family moved from the Chicago area to West Bloomfield, Mich., so three of their four sons could start the 2018-19 hockey season and school year at the CoE in neighboring Bloomfield Township.
According to the Hutson family patriarch, it’s been worth re-locating Lane (2004 birth-year), Coale (’06) and Lars (’08) to Hockeytown.
“It was a no-brainer for our family to come and not only train with the best but also for the educational aspect of it and everything else,” Rob Hutson said.
“It was a pretty easy decision.”
Hutson, himself a former college hockey player at the University of Illinois-Chicago and professional for the Muskegon Fury of the old UHL, said his four sons are enjoying all the things the TPH CoE has to offer for growing student-athletes.
“They love it,” he said. “They love coming to school every day, they love getting on the ice every day, they love the kids that they are surrounded by. Overall, it’s a home run.”
That sentiment is backed up by Lane Hutson, oldest of the Hutson boys attending the hockey academy. Lane, fresh off of a Silver Stick title with his Honeybaked ’04 squad, says he’s been thoroughly enjoying his time at the CoE.
“It’s really fun,” Lane said. “Everyone here wants the same thing – they all want to play at a high level in hockey, and everyone works really hard here.”
The recent Boston University verbal commit said he appreciates the flexibility that the Edmentum online education program provides for a student-athlete juggling the demands of a AAA hockey schedule.
“It’s hard, but it’s a lot better than a brick-and-mortar school because you can go at your own pace,” Lane said. “That helps a lot. I get to choose when I do my school work and how much to do at certain times, so that makes it easier to manage things when I’m playing in tournaments or going to practice.”
Rob, reflecting on his own experiences, says the CoE compares to life at a NCAA Division 1 institution – he likes that the TPH structure provides tutors and resources, but also makes the student-athletes take responsibility in their own education.
“The online structure is preparing them for college, preparing them for things down the road. There is more than enough help if they run into a logjam, but overall, the academics are lights-out.
“It’s good, because you have to learn how to balance and manage your own schedule. When you’re on the online platform, you can rest when needed, but you also know that the work has to be done. As long as you stay on top of the work, you’re doing just fine in school.”
The Hutson family has also been impressed by the facilities at both the Detroit Skating Club and the Bloomfield Tennis and Fitness building that holds the TPH classrooms and 2SP, the CoE’s official training partner.
“The facility here at DSC is great, and the classroom being so close, it’s campus-like,” Rob said. “It’s college-like. It’s really convenient for the student-athletes, and they are first-class facilities both here at the rink and across the street at the classrooms and at 2SP.”