Posts Tagged ‘Center of Excellence’
Joel Kwiatkowski Named Director of Hockey for Grand Rapids CoE
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce that Joel Kwiatkowski has joined the staff of the new Center of Excellence in Grand Rapids, Mich., as the program’s first Director of Hockey.
Kwiatkowski brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the new staff for the GR CoE as an 18-year professional hockey player, a coach and a hockey parent.
“What drew me to TPH was thinking about how great this would have been for me when I was growing up,” Kwiatkowski said. “To have a situation where you can work on your education and your hockey skills each and every day, with people right there alongside you to help you both on and off the ice, it’s a tremendous opportunity for kids in West Michigan. We have such a great community here, and I’m incredibly excited to start this new chapter at Southside Ice Arena as a coach and a mentor for our future CoE student-athletes.”
Kwiatkowski, a native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was a draft pick of the Dallas Stars in 1996. He appeared in 282 National Hockey League games over the course of seven seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Thrashers. Kwiatkowski competed in the Western Hockey League, the American Hockey League, the International Hockey League and the highest professional leagues in Switzerland and Sweden. He played in more than 1,000 professional hockey games over the course of his career.
Two of those seasons took place in Grand Rapids, as he played for the Griffins during their last season with the IHL in 2000-01 and their first season with the AHL in 2001-02.
During that time, he built ties to West Michigan, and a relationship with Southside Ice Arena co-owner and TPH GR partner Travis Richards.
“Joel was a tremendous teammate during our time together in Grand Rapids,” said Richards, still the only player to have his number retired by the Griffins. “He has a great knowledge of the game and a passion for teaching and helping players. We couldn’t be more excited to have him joining us as we begin the Center of Excellence for the next school year.
“We are very excited to officially add him to our TPH GR team- he will be a great leader and role model for our kids.”
Following his retirement from professional hockey, Kwiatkowski and his family returned to West Michigan. He accepted an assistant coach position with the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL while also joining the Fox Motors Hockey Club as an assistant coach.
“I’ve gotten to know Joel over the last few seasons through our Fox Motors Hockey Club, and I’ve been impressed by how he conducts himself at the rink as a coach and a parent,” said Mike Slobodnik,” Southside Ice Arena co-owner and TPH GR partner alongside Richards. “The TPH CoE model is here to help young student-athletes develop into good people, not just hockey players. With Joel, we know that these students will not only be improving crucial hockey skills on a day-in, day-out basis, but that they will be learning how to be leaders and students and good teammates and friends at the same time.”
TPH Grand Rapids invites all interested families to meet Joel Kwiatkowski and other members of the team at our upcoming open house on Tuesday, March 19 at 7 PM at Southside Ice Arena. To RSVP and secure your spot for the open house, please click here.
If you’re ready to apply to the Grand Rapids CoE, we invite you to click here and start the registration process.
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Through academics, mentorship and athletics, TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, Total Package Hockey has assisted in the academic, athletic and hockey development of over 600 players who have advanced to junior, collegiate and professional hockey. Since inception, 45 #TPHTrained student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Draft, while 280 have committed to the NCAA level – 189 of which are Division I. In addition, 99 players have been selected in the OHL Priority Selection and 353 have signed tenders or been drafted in the USHL and NAHL. While TPH is proud of its student-athletes who have achieved success on-the ice, it is the process of developing young men and women as people, first and foremost, that our world-class team of coaches and mentors take the most amount of pride in. While it is our responsibility to prepare each individual for success on the ice, it is our mission to prepare each and every individual for success in the ultimate game – the game of life! To learn more about TPH, visit www.totalpackagehockey.com.
TPH-Ricci Hockey Partner to Launch 7th Center of Excellence in Colorado
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that it will be bringing its hallmark Center of Excellence model to the thriving state of Colorado for the 2019-2020 school year. TPH will launch its seventh CoE in the south suburbs of Denver and will partner alongside Angelo Ricci, a name synonymous with player development and advancement in both the state of Colorado and beyond.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to partner with Angelo and his entire team,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “We met several years ago through the Tier I Elite League and his commitment to personal and athletic development with his players is how he has built one of the top programs in the country. He has strategically constructed and grown a performance-oriented club and the results have followed. He is extremely passionate about helping young people grow and consistently raising the standards for all involved in his programs. Colorado is an awesome hockey state and Denver is one of the healthiest metropolitan cities in all of the U.S. While excitement is high to bring a CoE to Denver, we are most looking forward to partnering with Angelo who serves as a positive role model for young aspiring student-athletes. His track record for developing next level hockey players, athletes and people speaks for itself.”
While TPH prides itself on its Study-Train-Play Center of Excellence model and what “it” can do for the aspiring elite student-athlete, Bowen says it is the leader, or “face” of the actual CoE that drives the model. In Ricci, TPH is teaming up with an individual who brings 20-plus years of true player development experience to the Denver area Center of Excellence. Angelo is the founder and head instructor for Ricci Hockey Consulting, a company he formed back in 1996. The Chicago native is also the Director of Hockey Operations for the prestigious Colorado Thunderbirds Hockey Club and has held leadership positions with the Arapahoe and Littleton Youth Hockey Associations.
Ricci is quick to point out that while he is excited about partnering with TPH to bring a Center of Excellence to an area he now calls home, TPH’s commitment to excellence in the areas of on and off-ice training, academic success and mentorship is what sold him on forming a partnership.
“The TPH mission is to exceed expectations of student-athletes, their families and all entities of the hockey world,” Ricci said. “That’s essentially what I have tried to do throughout my career. Being involved with this model is a perfect next step for me, and the model is a perfect next step for hockey in the Denver area. TPH’s methodical approach to the training of The Hockey Athlete, along with their academic partnership with Edmentum puts the needs of students-athletes first. Development is a delicate thing, especially in the classroom. TPH has the plan, and in the Denver area, I believe TPH now has the perfect place.”
While coaching in that “perfect place” Ricci references, the former University of Denver Pioneer has guided teams for 22 seasons, 16 of which have been at the Tier I level. To date, he has posted a Tier I coaching record of 803-192-53. Since 2005-2006, Ricci’s Colorado Thunderbirds 16U AAA squads have won 13 state championships and have made eight appearances in the National Tournament. His teams have finished no lower than 5th place at Nationals, and in 2009-2010, his group achieved a first-place finish.
In addition, Ricci’s leadership has led him to a successful coaching and on-ice instruction career at all levels. Since 2003, the 47-year-old has worked with numerous professional players as a skills coach. He has consulted and worked with big-name players such as Seth Jones, Caleb Jones, Nick Shore, Paul Stastny, Tyler Bozak, Drew Shore, Kyle Quincy, Gilbert Brule, Matt Donovan, Gustav Olofsson, Brandon Carlo, Scott Mayfield, Ben Holmstrom, Troy Terry, Dylan Gambrell, Dominic Turgeon and Jack Skille. For the past nine years, Ricci has been a skills consultant for the Assabet Valley Girls program, which has won 42 USA Hockey Tier I National Championships. Ricci was also the Head Skills Instructor at the NHL Fantasy Skills Camp during the NHL All-Star Games in Denver in 2001 and Los Angeles in 2002.
Since 2014, Angelo has been a part of the Buffalo Sabres organization, serving as a Skills Development Consultant for the NHL club. In addition, Ricci has worked directly with the Sabres’ prospects in the AHL, where he is a Skills Development Coach for the Rochester Americans.
In conjunction with his coaching, Angelo shares his passion, skill and knowledge as a USA Hockey Coaching Education Program presenter. He served as a USA Hockey District Festival Head Coach from 2004-2009 and has conducted multiple coaching seminars and clinics. In 2003, Ricci attained his certification with USA Hockey as a Master Level 5 Coach.
“History and track record are both proof that a partnership between TPH and Ricci Hockey will be successful,” Ricci added. “I am extremely proud of the number of players I have been able to work with who have advanced to the highest levels of hockey. TPH shares that same level of pride and passion. In five years, the CoE model alone has produced four NHL draft picks, 33 NCAA Division I commitments and has helped over 50 players reach the USHL and NAHL. The Denver CoE looks forward to putting our stamp on the growth of those very impressive numbers.”
TPH will be announcing more information in the coming weeks about its Denver Center of Excellence model, including location, open house dates and staffing. In the meantime, TPH invites all interested Denver Center of Excellence candidates to click here and visit the CoE webpage on totalpackagehockey.com, to learn more about the CoE model and the meaning of Study-Train-Play.
If you wish to receive updates on the Denver Center of Excellence, please click here and select “Colorado” for all the latest news and information on the CoE.
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Through academics, mentorship and athletics, TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, Total Package Hockey has assisted in the academic, athletic and hockey development of over 600 players who have advanced to junior, collegiate and professional hockey. Since inception, 45 #TPHTrained student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Draft, while 280 have committed to the NCAA level – 189 of which are Division I. In addition, 99 players have been selected in the OHL Priority Selection and 353 have signed tenders or been drafted in the USHL and NAHL. While TPH is proud of its student-athletes who have achieved success on-the ice, it is the process of developing young men and women as people, first and foremost, that our world-class team of coaches and mentors take the most amount of pride in. While it is our responsibility to prepare each individual for success on the ice, it is our mission to prepare each and every individual for success in the ultimate game – the game of life! To learn more about TPH, visit www.totalpackagehockey.com.
Kassie Whitaker to Lead Academics at Huntsville CoE
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Kassie Whitaker will serve as the Director of Academics for its new Center of Excellence in Huntsville, AL for the 2019-2020 school year. Kassie brings twelve years of classroom experience to the TPH team.
“I am excited to welcome Kassie to the TPH-Huntsville team,” Director of Operations Ryan McCormack said. “She will bring a wealth of knowledge to the classroom setting and will be instrumental in fostering a culture that promotes student success.”
Kassie graduated from Jacksonville State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. After that, Kassie pursed her Master’s Degree from the University of West Alabama, and earned a graduate degree in Elementary Education. She brings a wealth of experience to the Huntsville team, specializing in instructing elementary and middle school level students in particular.
In addition to her experience in the classroom, Kassie spent two years working as a Reading Specialist, assisting teachers in developing and implementing instructional goals for all students.
I am extremely excited to have this opportunity. I hope to use the experiences I have had in the classroom and as a Reading Coach to help student-athletes reach their full potential in all areas of their lives.
-Kassie Whitaker
On behalf of everyone with TPH, we join Ryan McCormack in welcoming Kassie to the TPH-Huntsville team.
To apply to the TPH-Huntsville Center of Excellence for the 2019-2020 school year, please click here.
TPH Grand Rapids announces hiring of Kyle Gagneau, Joe Messina
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce the additions of Kyle Gagneau and Joe Messina to the growing team at our new Center of Excellence in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Gagneau will be the GR CoE’s strength and conditioning coach, while Messina is the new director of goaltender development for the upcoming 2019-2020 school year.
“We are very excited to welcome both Kyle and Joe to the TPH team in Grand Rapids,” said Joel Kwiatkowski, the director of hockey for TPH Grand Rapids. “They both bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of the West Michigan hockey community to our core group of leadership, and we know they will do great things with our inaugural class of student-athletes.”
To apply for the GR CoE, click here
About Gagneau
Gagneau brings 12 years of experience in the fitness industry to TPH. A lifelong hockey player himself, Gagneau holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Michigan State University. HE is a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Gagneau has also earned performance enhancement, corrective exercise and fitness nutrition specializations from NASM to better serve his athletes and clients.
About Messina
Messina is currently the vice president of operations for Bandits Goalie School. A Shattuck St. Mary’s and SUNY Brockport (NCAA Division III) product, he oversees goaltending for numerous programs in Grand Rapids, including the Fox Motors Hockey Club and ACHA programs Davenport University, Aquinas College and Calvin College, among others.
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Through academics, mentorship and athletics, TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, Total Package Hockey has assisted in the academic, athletic and hockey development of over 600 players who have advanced to junior, collegiate and professional hockey. Since inception, 45 #TPHTrained student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Draft, while 280 have committed to the NCAA level – 189 of which are Division I. In addition, 99 players have been selected in the OHL Priority Selection and 353 have signed tenders or been drafted in the USHL and NAHL. While TPH is proud of its student-athletes who have achieved success on-the ice, it is the process of developing young men and women as people, first and foremost, that our world-class team of coaches and mentors take the most amount of pride in. While it is our responsibility to prepare each individual for success on the ice, it is our mission to prepare each and every individual for success in the ultimate game – the game of life! To learn more about TPH, visit www.totalpackagehockey.com
Leah Sarnicola to Head Up Academics for Grand Rapids CoE
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Leah Sarnicola, current Director of Academics for the TPH Center of Excellence at RISE Prep in Nashville, TN, will be relocating north to her hometown of Grand Rapids, MI following the 2018-2019 school year, to take on the same role in the TPH-Grand Rapids Center of Excellence, which will open its doors in August of 2019.
“Appointing Leah to become our first Director of Academics for the Grand Rapids CoE is a huge win on a number of levels,” TPH Chief Academic Officer Bill Simms said. “Leah and RISE Prep Headmaster Brad Guzda have done a fantastic job fostering a disciplined, structured academic culture in Nashville that is consistent with The TPH Way. Leah will bring that same level of focus and passion for student-success with her to Grand Rapids so our student-athletes in GR have every opportunity to Study to their potential. Academics have and will always be priority number one in our Center of Excellence model. Putting a leader in place of Leah’s character and knowledge solidifies that.”
The Grand Rapids native has spent the past four years in Nashville, mentoring students at the TPH Center of Excellence at RISE Prep. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Grand Valley State University. Leah went on to receive her Master’s in Business Administration from Tennessee State University and has an extensive background in teaching Spanish as well as instructing within ESL programs, which is comprised of coursework designed to help students and adults who are looking to learn English as a second language and acclimate successfully to different environments/cultures.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to move to Grand Rapids, a place I love and call home,” Sarnicola said. “But what I am most looking forward to is the chance to take my four years of experience from Nashville and help create an academic culture student-athletes, families, and the Grand Rapids community will be proud of.”
Sarnicola went on to add:
“I want to thank Brad Guzda, Keith Rowe, and all of the wonderful young men and women I have had the pleasure to build relationships with during my time in Nashville. I will always hold the people and experiences from Nashville deep in my heart.”
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Through academics, mentorship and athletics, TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, Total Package Hockey has assisted in the academic, athletic and hockey development of over 600 players who have advanced to junior, collegiate and professional hockey. Since inception, 45 #TPHTrained student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Draft, while 280 have committed to the NCAA level – 189 of which are Division I. In addition, 99 players have been selected in the OHL Priority Selection and 353 have signed tenders or been drafted in the USHL and NAHL. While TPH is proud of its student-athletes who have achieved success on-the ice, it is the process of developing young men and women as people, first and foremost, that our world-class team of coaches and mentors take the most amount of pride in. While it is our responsibility to prepare each individual for success on the ice, it is our mission to prepare each and every individual for success in the ultimate game – the game of life! To learn more about TPH, visit www.totalpackagehockey.com.
Michigan International Prep School Joins TPH-Edmentum Partnership
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Michigan International Prep School (MIPS) will become its primary school partner for the state of Michigan, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. Michigan International Prep School (MIPS) is accredited by the Michigan Department of Education and has earned NCAA accreditation for the student-athletes it serves. MIPS was founded by three proven, visionary leaders with an exemplary record of success in the field of blended education. Collectively, they have over 40 years of experience in virtual education. MIPS has serviced some families in the Detroit Center of Excellence for the past two years and will now become the primary school partner for TPH’s two Michigan-based Centers of Excellence in Bloomfield Township and Grand Rapids.
“We are delighted to work alongside MIPS and our academic platform provider and partner Edmentum to continue to create a unique, one-of-a-kind learning experience for our student-athletes,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “As we went through the process of evaluating potential school partners for next school year, we were most impressed by MIPS’ desire to go above and beyond in providing value to our student-athletes. They put the needs of students first and share in our mission of exceeding expectations of student-athletes and their families.”
TPH’s combined partnerships with Edmentum and MIPS will offer its student-athletes a fully individualized learning experience. Student-athletes will study virtually on a customized learning platform built for TPH by Edmentum. The teachers are primarily focused on servicing student-athletes across all Centers of Excellence and teach virtually via live lessons while interacting with student-athletes via phone, text, instant messaging and Zoom video conferencing. MIPS will add another layer to the learning experience for TPH’s Michigan-based student-athletes, by providing academic and technical support throughout the day and evening to accommodate the individual’s athletic demands. TPH will continue to provide on-site support within all of its Centers, completing the CoE learning experience.
“The educational team at MIPS is excited to have a new partnership with Total Package Hockey,” MIPS Superintendent Drew Hulbert said. “With our student-parent service model, the transition for TPH student athletes and their parents will be seamless. Our educational model and attention to detail in ensuring the success of our students ties in well with TPH’s training model in preparing future collegiate Division I students, hockey players and/or NHL players.”
Hulbert went on to state that like Edmentum, MIPS develops Educational Development Plans based on the individual student’s talents, interests, motivations, goals, schedules and needs. Nathan Bowen believes that the like-mindedness of MIPS and Edmentum will provide a learning experience unrivaled by any other hockey or sports academy across the country.
“TPH has always prided itself on building relationships and forming partnerships with people, groups and organizations who share our passion for positively impacting the lives of student-athletes,” Bowen said. “When we talk to our partners with Edmentum, we feel like we are talking to our new partners with MIPS, and when we communicate with MIPS, we hear the same values Edmentum expresses to us. TPH, Edmentum and MIPS all look forward to a long partnership governed by the principle of making the greatest possible positive impact on our student-athletes.”
MIPS Superintendent Drew Hulbert will be present at TPH’s upcoming informational open house at the Grand Rapids Center of Excellence on Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 PM at Southside Ice Arena. Drew will be presenting in-depth on MIPS’ role in the Study component of the CoE motto of Study-Train-Play. In addition, Drew will be on-site at TPH’s Center of Excellence in Bloomfield Township on Monday, March 25 at 7:00 PM to lead a similar presentation for families of current and future CoE attendees.
- To RSVP for the Grand Rapids Open House on March 19, please click here.
- To learn more about Michigan International Prep School, please click here.
Twenty #TPHTrained players selected in 2019 USHL Draft
otal Package Hockey is proud to congratulate the 20 #TPHTrained players who were selected during the two-day USHL Draft.
Four TPH names were selected during the Phase 1 Draft Monday evening, the portion of the draft that focused solely on the 2003 birth-year class.
On Tuesday, 13 TPH names followed suit, as the USHL clubs filled their rosters with a selection process of all the players eligible to play junior hockey next fall.
Seven TPH Detroit Center of Excellence student-athletes – four current enrollees and three alums – were selected, while a collection of players who have participated in the Eight Week Summer Progression Program or competed with TPH at the World Selects Invite or the OHL Cup. Three players are Thunder AAA alums, as well.
“The TPH family is tremendously proud of these players for this latest achievement,” said TPH CEO Nathan Bowen. “We are confident that due to their character and their work ethic that they’re up to the challenge, and they will continue to make us proud at the next level – wherever that may be.”
Phase 1 Draft
Finn Kilbride – Center of Excellence – Green Bay Gamblers
Ryan Humphrey – Center of Excellence, OHL Cup Team – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Nicholas Sofikitis – Center of Excellence – Tri-City Storm
Luke Buss – Center of Excellence – Tri-City Storm
Sutter Muzzatti – OHL Cup Team – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Riley Rosenthal – OHL Cup Team – Dubuque Fighting Saints
Phase 2 Draft
Davis Pennington – Center of Excellence – Madison Capitols
Dalton Norris – Center of Excellence – Lincoln Stars
Tyler Williams – Center of Excellence – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Sam Antenucci – Eight Week Program – Sioux City Musketeers
Drew Cooper – Eight Week Program – Omaha Lancers
Thomas Middleton – Eight Week Program – Dubuque Fighting Saints
Jacob Willets – Eight Week Program – Green Bay Gamblers
Michael Woll – World Selects Invite – Madison Capitols
Conor Ronayne – OHL Cup Team – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Cameron Rowe – OHL Cup Team – Des Moines Buccaneers
Joseph Blackley – OHL Cup Team – Sioux Falls Stampede
Ben Schultheis – Thunder alum, Eight Week Program – Dubuque Fighting Saints
Cooper Fensterstock – Thunder alum – Des Moines Buccaneers
Therien Thiesing – Thunder alum – Green Bay Gamblers
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Through academics, mentorship and athletics, TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, Total Package Hockey has assisted in the academic, athletic and hockey development of over 600 players who have advanced to junior, collegiate and professional hockey. Since inception, 45 #TPHTrained student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Draft, while 280 have committed to the NCAA level – 189 of which are Division I. In addition, 99 players have been selected in the OHL Priority Selection and 353 have signed tenders or been drafted in the USHL and NAHL. While TPH is proud of its student-athletes who have achieved success on-the ice, it is the process of developing young men and women as people, first and foremost, that our world-class team of coaches and mentors take the most amount of pride in. While it is our responsibility to prepare each individual for success on the ice, it is our mission to prepare each and every individual for success in the ultimate game – the game of life! To learn more about TPH, visit www.totalpackagehockey.com.
Eight #TPHTrained players featured in ‘Michigan names to know’ list for USHL draft
In addition to their annual OHL Draft preview, for the 2019 calendar year, MiHockey has produced a ‘Michigan names to know’ list for the 2019 USHL Phase 1 Draft with the assistance of league scouts.
Eight of the players on the list are of the #TPHTrained variety.
Seven attend the TPH Center of Excellence in Bloomfield, while one competed with TPH team at the recent OHL Cup.
TPH wishes these players, and the rest of the ’03 class, the best of luck heading into Monday and Tuesday’s USHL Draft.
TPH Detroit CoE student-athletes
Jackson Truchan – Compuware 16U
Jack Stolicker – Compuware 16U
Nicholas Sofikitis – Compuware 16U
Finn Kilbride – Honeybaked 15O
Alec Stewart – Honeybaked 15O
Eddie Shepler – Honeybaked 16U
Ryan Humphrey – Honeybaked 16U
OHL Cup
Sutter Muzzatti – Meijer 15O
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Through academics, mentorship and athletics, TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, Total Package Hockey has assisted in the academic, athletic and hockey development of over 600 players who have advanced to junior, collegiate and professional hockey. Since inception, 45 #TPHTrained student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Draft, while 280 have committed to the NCAA level – 189 of which are Division I. In addition, 99 players have been selected in the OHL Priority Selection and 353 have signed tenders or been drafted in the USHL and NAHL. While TPH is proud of its student-athletes who have achieved success on-the ice, it is the process of developing young men and women as people, first and foremost, that our world-class team of coaches and mentors take the most amount of pride in. While it is our responsibility to prepare each individual for success on the ice, it is our mission to prepare each and every individual for success in the ultimate game – the game of life! To learn more about TPH, visit www.totalpackagehockey.com.
Jordan Pietrus to Lead TPH-Colorado CoE
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Jordan Pietrus will serve as the Director of Hockey-Operations for its Colorado Center of Excellence. A graduate of Brown University with an MBA in International Business from Coventry University, Pietrus brings a unique combination of hockey playing and instruction experience as well as academic and business-related experience to TPH’s 7th Center of Excellence location.
“Jordan is the perfect person to lead us in Colorado,” TPH-Colorado Partner Angelo Ricci said. “He played Division I college hockey and spent nine years in the minor pro circuit in both North America and Europe. During that time, Jordan took initiative and bettered himself as a hockey player, as a hockey teacher and also as a leader. His track record inside and outside of the game of hockey is very impressive. We were drawn to Jordan’s passion, intellect, and strategic approach to bettering our student-athletes. I’m looking forward to working with Jordan to make the Colorado CoE the ultimate destination for the aspiring elite hockey player, athlete, student and person.”
In April, Pietrus wrapped up a nine-year professional playing career that included stops in the ECHL with South Carolina, Trenton and Elmira, as well as overseas in England, Poland and most recently Denmark, where Pietrus’ SonderjyskE club reached the league finals.
Prior to turning pro, Pietrus spent four years at Brown University. During that time, the 33-year-old was named to the ECAC All-Academic team, was voted a finalist for the Ivy League Student-Athlete of the Year award and was an NCAA Hockey Humanitarian Finalist. Pietrus’ impressive list of collegiate accolades is topped off with the NCAA Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, which he earned in 2010.
Perhaps what’s most impressive about Pietrus’ playing resume is that in thirteen combined seasons as a collegiate and professional player, the Vermillion, Alberta native served as captain of his team on eight occasions.
“Jordan oozes with leadership,” Ricci went on to say. “His resume illustrates exactly what we want to teach young players to do- pursue your hockey dreams, but better yourself and others along the way. Jordan has used hockey as his vehicle to achieve so much on and off the ice. He will set a great example for the youngsters in our CoE.”
From 2015-2018, while competing for Coventry in the EIHL and pursuing his MBA, Pietrus served as a lecturer in Undergraduate and Masters levels courses at Coventry University. He has run his own hockey skills development business and also has a background in off-ice training and sports marketing. He and his wife Shannon have been married for six years and are the proud parents of two daughters, Maeve (2) and Vivian (2.5 months).
“I am absolutely thrilled about the opportunity to join the Total Package Hockey team in Denver,” Pietrus said. “TPH has an impressive history of developing student-athletes to help them achieve their goals across the country. The game of hockey has been very good to me, but education has always been number one for me and my family, and now it’s my turn to give back. I could not be more excited to combine my two passions in education and hockey, to help guide Denver’s next generation of aspiring young athletes in the pursuit of their dreams at the Center of Excellence.
If you wish to join Angelo Ricci in welcoming Jordan to Colorado, he can be reached via e-mail at Jordan.Pietrus@gmail.com.
Space is limited for the 2019-2020 school year. To apply for the Center of Excellence, which is the first step in the registration process, please click here.
TPH-Summit Education Group Team Up in Colorado
TOTAL PACKAGE HOCKEY IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A PARTNERSHIP WITH SUMMIT EDUCATION GROUP.
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce a partnership with Summit Education Group. Summit will serve as the academic arm for its seventh Center of Excellence at Family Sports Center in the Denver, CO area. TPH and Summit Education Group will work closely together on the Study component of TPH’s Study-Train-Play model to implement the CoE’s fully customized online learning platform, built by Edmentum, the official academic partner of Total Package Hockey.
“We feel extremely fortunate to be entering into an academic partnership with Summit Education Group,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “Summit will commit many valuable resources to enhance the learning experience at our Center of Excellence at Family Sports. They will take the rigorous and robust learning curriculum and platform that Edmentum has built for us in TPH and see that it is delivered to our student-athletes in a way that gives each and every individual the greatest possible opportunity to succeed academically. We view this partnership as central to the success of the CoE model in Colorado.”
Established in 2011, Summit is a Colorado-based Education Management Organization committed to ensuring all student learners have the best opportunity for success in life. Their mission is to empower the world to achieve greatness, one individual, one organization and one community at a time. Summit offers a unique educational model of blended learning, partnering with associations and organizations such as TPH, school districts, home-school communities, local philanthropic institutions, charter and private schools and businesses. Summit presently serves the needs of approximately 2,000 students. They are an AdvancedED accredited Middle/High School with students ranging from grades 6 to 12.
Student-athletes and their families who are interested in learning more about the TPH-Summit partnership are invited to attend tonight’s Open House, which will take place at 7 PM, on-site at Family Sports Center, the home of the TPH-Colorado CoE. To RSVP for tonight’s event, please click here.
To learn more about the Colorado Center of Excellence and to apply for the 2019-2020 school year, click here.
Space will be limited for the 2019-2020 school year. To apply for the Center of Excellence, which is the first step in the registration process, please click here.