Our program overview for the the 2016-2017 Season
Midget AAMidget AAA Hockey Club
About Our Program
Our hockey program is designed to help elite hockey athletes manage the strenuous demands placed on their academics while maintaining a commitment to hockey development.
Elite hockey is demanding and those selected will be those individuals who not only possess high level hockey skills, but they must also be ready for the rigors and demands of this highly competitive Alliance Hockey program.
We are commitment to develop elite hockey athletes through preparation, discipline and a commitment to excellence. When developed, this strength of character will sustain and propel them as they move throughout the season, allowing them to withstand any challenges that come their way, in school, in hockey and in their personal lives.
We practice and play from our home arena the oldest operating arena in the world – Galt, Cambridge. Cambridge is a city with a rich tradition of hockey and situated in the heart of Southern Ontario, one of the best hockey regions in Ontario and proud member of Alliance Hockey.
The ALLIANCE Membership is larger than eight (8) Hockey Canada (HC) Branches (Provincial Governing Bodies). During mid-season, ALLIANCE teams will participate in approximately 2,500 games in one week or 10,000 in a month. The ALLIANCE is highly regarded for effective and efficient communication administrative procedures in amateur sport in addition to having relationships with international hockey contacts in Sweden, Finland, Norway, the United States, Japan and Denmark.
As member of Alliance Hockey we adhere to the Alliance Hockey code of Conduct and support their mission statement:
To provide a positive Minor Hockey experience for Members and participants by organizing, coordinating and developing hockey programs for all age levels.
To protect and serve the mutual interest of Members and participants and to place the players and the game in the forefront.
To enhance the positive value of our hockey programs by providing leadership and initiatives to develop better citizens, to encourage and direct the fostering of a strong sense of community pride and participation for all communities large and small.
To develop coaches, officials and volunteers to carry out the expressed goals of our Members.
To work with Provincial (OHF) and National (HC) Hockey Associations to promote the cooperative development of hockey programs and their effective administration.
On Ice Training
The players will be on the 2-3 times a week for practice. The on-ice program will be an intense, high energy/skill program customized for AAA Elite Hockey Players. It is a skills-based program, focusing on skating, stick handling, game situations and hockey IQ. Every player will see a significant development in skating, shooting, puck handling and their overall game.
Our Hockey Development Program Partner is Jamie Israel - His hockey background (Junior Teams) Elmira Sugar Kings Jr. B 1987-89 / Kitchener Rangers Jr. A 1989-90 / Kitchener Rangers/Windsor Spitfires 1990-91 / Waterloo Siskins Jr. B 1991-92. He was Team Captain of Team Ontario U-17 in 1988, Asst Captain of Kitchener Rangers in 1990-91.
Jamie has been teaching power skating and strength training for over 20 years. He encourages players to be the best they can be, no short cuts, teaches accountability and accepting responsibility on and off the ice. Jamie has always believed, confidence is the key, once a player believes they can, they will. Jamie will serve as the head of our hockey development program assisting with practice plans, player assessments and team development.
Off Ice Training/Performance Training
The players will also be part of a Strength and Conditioning program which is critical to their personal development and performance.
Brandon Merli will be responsible for the programming, coaching and nutritional guidance of all Hawks players as our Performance Training Partner. Brandon played in the OHL from 1996-2000 and has been an OHL strength and conditioning coach for the past 8 years.
The program goal is to optimize the health, training and competition performance with a focus on injury prevention with functionally-sound movement patterns. Team Training workouts are carefully constructed using the latest strength and conditioning protocols, with safety and effectiveness our top priority. Our workouts are periodized through the month to meet the collective goals of the team during the season.
Video Training and Analytics
Director of team analytics Derek Lebold and Coach will be working with HockeyTech a leader in providing technology that our coaches and team management can use to help prepare for games, develop players and profile players looking to pursue a career in hockey at a higher level.
Our Team 2016-17
Derek Lebold Coach/Team Analytics - Development 1 Coaching certification, Hockey Trainer Certification, has Coached Rep level hockey as both Asst. and head coach for the past 4 years for the Twin Center Stars hockey program (Bantam/Midget), on Ice instructor at multiple hockey schools and elite training programs over the past 7 seasons, worked with all age groups and levels ranging from Novice to Jr. B and Tier 2 athletes ,assisted and ran off ice training programs during the off season in my home centre of Wellesley for the Twin Centre Stars Bantam and Midget programs and assisted with the Kitchener Rangers training camp over the past 3 seasons working with off-ice trainers as well as gaining experience and assisting with practice planning and training camp organization at the major Jr level. He currently works with Hockey Tech full time a hockey analytics company.
Troy Stephens Coach – played three years in the OHL with the Peterborough Petes, two years in the OUA with Waterloo University, four years of Minor Professional before his retirement following a 10 year professional hockey career in Europe. He has served as a professional coach in Germany and a minor hockey coach for both Waterloo and Cambridge. He continues to coach and work with both minor hockey and major junior hockey supporting skill and development programs each summer.
Jeff Page Coach- played in the OUA with the Western University Hockey Program, three years of Jr. B hockey, coached Jr B for three years, has owned and operated hockey development programs and has been active in coaching working with minor hockey at the AAA level for the past 8 years. High Performance coach certified with the Alliance and Hockey Canada program of Excellence.
Cal Monique Goalie Coach – Sutherland championship level coach who has worked in the mid-western Jr. B league and with elite minor hockey goalies for the past 5 years at the AAA level.
Jason Mooney ass’t coach - Jason has been coaching Minor Hockey with the Kitchener Rangers program for the past four years and has been added to ensure more one on one coaching for the players and video analysis. He is HP1 certified as High Performance coach with the Alliance and Hockey Canada.
Performance Training Partner Brandon Merli - Brandon played in the OHL from 1996-2000 and has been an OHL strength and conditioning coach for the past 8 years. He is owner and operator of Redline Conditioning.
Jamie Israel Hockey Development Program Partner - His hockey background (Junior Teams) Elmira Sugar Kings Jr. B 1987-89 / Kitchener Rangers Jr. A 1989-90 / Kitchener Rangers/Windsor Spitfires 1990-91 / Waterloo Siskins Jr. B 1991-92. He was Team Captain of Team Ontario U-17 in 1988, Asst Captain of Kitchener Rangers in 1990-91.
Other Player Benefits
1. Team locker room with individual player stalls
2. Team scholarship program (One player bursary established to support post secondary education)
Other Notables:
Scott Walker – NHL, Tim Brent = NHL, Louie DeBrusk- NHL, Kyle Clifford – LA Kings, Bryan Little - Winnipeg Jets, Ryan Ellis – Nashville, some minor pros also currently playing Taylor Dorhety and Jake Dotchin
First round picks in the OHL draft - Mitchell Dempsey 1st round OHL Draft, Tim Brent 1st round OHL Draft, and Corey Syvret 1st round OHL Draft.