Knies, Miller, and Stein to compete in the 2019 World Junior A Challenge

USA hockey announced this week the U.S. Junior Select Team for 2019 World Junior A Challenge coming up December 7-15 in Dawson Creek, B.C. Of the 21 players announced, three are names we are very familiar with. Mitch Miller, Matt Knies, and Logan Stein will be a part of a very strong Team USA.

Miller currently plays for the Tri-City Storm (USHL) and is TPH Center of Excellence alumni for our Detroit location. Knies is a teammate in Tri-City and competed in the World Selects Invite with Total Package Hockey. Stein, currently with the Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL), played TPH Thunder AAA through 16U.

Mitch Miller

Matt Knies

Logan Stein

Five #TPHTrained Named to U.S. Youth Olympic Games Roster

BLOOMINGFIELD HILLS, MI – The 2020 Youth Olympic Games are set to take place in Lausanne, Switzerland from Jan. 9-22 and five TPH Trained players have been named to the Team USA roster. Rutger McGroarty, Hunter Brzustewicz, Cutter Gauthier, Lane Hutson, and Tyler Duke will be representing the red, white, and blue in Switzerland.

McGroarty and Brzustewicz are currently TPH Center of Excellence students in Detroit. Gauthier, Hutson and Duke all attended the Center of Excellence and have since moved on.

“It’s an honor to be selected to play for the Red, White, & Blue. I feel like we have the team that’ll bring home the gold!” says McGroarty.

“It’s an honor to be selected to play for my country and wear their colors.” Brzustewicz added. “I look forward to get started with my new teammates and competing against the best players around the world.”

2020 Youth Olympic Games rosters constructed of 17 hockey players (15 skaters and 1 goalie) consisting of the best 2004 birth years representing U.S., Canada, Denmark, Finland, Russia, and Switzerland will compete in the tournament. Team USA captured gold at the 2016 tournament in Lillehammer, Norway.

“This one is a MAJOR deal,” said Jimmy McGroarty, newly named Head Coach of the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) and father of Rutger. “This event only happens every 4 years. The opportunity these kids have can lead to so much more whether it is a tryout for US National team or an opportunity to build on their NHL draft opportunity. ”

Rutger McGroarty

Hunter Brzustewicz

Cutter Gauthier

Lane Hutson

Tyler Duke

Recruiting tips via USA Hockey

In a special to USA Hockey, Elizabeth Boger spoke with University of North Dakota head coach Brad Berry about how NCAA hockey coaches hit the recruiting trail. The coach of the defending NCAA Division I champions offered all sorts of advice to young hockey players looking to earn a spot on a college hockey roster:

Be aware of body language

Negative body language can be an immediate turn-off, and coaches often see that as hindering that player’s development moving forward.

“Our culture is based on positivity, and playing with energy and having a team-first mentality,” Berry said. “Any time we see that body language, whether we go watch a team, or recruit, or have that kid in our program that has it, it’s immediately addressed.”

Ask questions

Coaches want to make sure incoming players will feel comfortable at their new home away from home. When talking to coaches, ask good questions about the program, players, philosophy, school and more.

Coaches also love players who ask questions about the game. It shows a desire to learn and improve and it shows you are not satisfied.

Be a team-first player

For many coaches, a powerful point shot or keen playmaking abilities mean very little if that player’s personality doesn’t live up to their skill level. It’s not just about what a recruit can take in, but what they can give as a person.

“Giving and care – those are two words we use a lot in our culture,” Berry said. “If you can give a lot, it’s going to come back to you. … I think there’s a deep belief or a deep care in our locker room that everyone has each other’s back and that we’re really team-first.”

Stay on top of your schoolwork

Be committed to your schoolwork and driven to excel in the classroom. Remember that only a very small percentage of players go on to play in the NHL. Getting a college degree will set you up for life after college – and life after hockey. But to get into college, you need to be eligible. And remember, the better your grades and test scores are in high school, the more recruiting opportunities can present themselves due to different academic standards at different schools.

How do you respond?

Coaches are very interested in how players respond to certain situations. Complaining to the officials, flailing your arms in the air after allowing a goal and over-the-top goal celebrations show that a player cannot keep their emotions in check during the game or through adversity.

You can still be an intense competitor with an even-keeled temperament. Look no further than former North Dakota standout and current Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise.

Be coachable

Coaches aren’t just excited to land good players. They look forward to mentoring them and continuing their development, on and off the ice.

“The biggest thing for me is having a role in shaping these kids’ lives to be a good person,” Berry said. “I love seeing our players go through our program and it’s a sad day when they leave our program.”

But if you’re not a coachable kid or responsive to criticism, recruiters can see that. There are a lot of really talented players out there, and for college coaches, a lot of the time their decision making comes down to character.”

Twenty-one TPH Detroit CoE student-athletes invited to MAHA Player Selection Camps

Total Package Hockey is proud to congratulate the 20 TPH Detroit Center of Excellence student-athletes who have received invitations to the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Player Selection Camps for their respective age groups.

The Player Selection Camps for the 2004, 2003 and 2002 birth classes are the final tryouts for Michigan’s representatives at the USA Hockey Boys Select Camps.

“We’re very proud of these young hockey players for earning their spots at the MAHA Selection Camps,” said TPH Detroit director of hockey Dwayne Norris. “It’s a great opportunity for them to compete with the best players in their age group and learn about what it will take to keep advancing in hockey.”

Congrats to the CoE student-athletes who received invitations:

Connor Gengle

Zachary Homer

Dominic Vincent

Kai Janviriya

DJ MacLeish

Nicholas Burke

Zachary Filak

Samuel Haid

Sean Hastings

Hunter  Brzustewicz

Tyler Duke

Lane Hutson

Spencer Sova

Nicholas Babbie

Gavin Morrissey

Eddie Shepler

Nicholas Sofikitis

Jack Stolicker

Jackson Truchan

Finnegan Kilbride

Drake Albers

 

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.

Nine #TPHTrained players invited to World Junior Summer Showcase

Total Package Hockey is proud to congratulate the nine #TPHTrained players who have received invitations from USA Hockey to participate in the World Junior Summer Showcase.

The Summer Showcase, which returns to Plymouth, Mich., after taking place in Lake Placid last summer, serves as an annual kick-off event for the World Junior selection process. Canada, Finland and Sweden will join Team USA in a series of games at USA Hockey Arena from July 26 through Aug. 3.

Five of the players on the U.S. roster are TPH Center of Excellence alums, while four others have taken part in TPH programs during their careers.

“The whole 2000/2001 birth-year group will always hold a special place in the hearts of our TPH family – especially my own,” said TPH director of player development Brandon Naurato. “They were the first group of young men to lead the Center of Excellence and set the bar for the future student-athletes.

“I am extremely honored to have had the opportunity to help them grow as people and players over the years, and I’m always amazed at the success they continue to have on and off the ice.”

Congrats to the following #TPHTrained players:

Drew DeRidder – Michigan State – TPH CoE

Christian Krygier – Michigan State – TPH CoE

Arthur Kaliyev – Hamilton Bulldogs – TPH CoE

Blade Jenkins – Saginaw Spirit – TPH CoE

Bode Wilde – Saginaw Spirit – TPH CoE

John Gruden – 8 Week Progression Program

Alec Regula – 8 Week Progression Program, OHL Cup team

John Beecher – OHL Cup team

Nick Robertson – World Selects Invite team

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.