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.

Twenty-three Thunder AAA alums currently on NCAA D1 rosters

Total Package Hockey is proud to acknowledge and congratulate the Thunder AAA organization for its latest achievement in advancing players to higher levels of hockey.

Twenty-three Thunder alums are currently on NCAA Division 1 rosters.

“Having 23 Thunder alums currently on DI NCAA rosters is a testament of all the hard work that players, families, and coaches have poured into Thunder Hockey over past 15 years,” said Keith Rowe, the Thunder AAA director of hockey. “It’s exciting to look toward the future knowing these student-athletes have paved the way for current and future Thunder players.”

A look at the boys representing Thunder Hockey at the D1 level:

In addition to the updated NCAA roster count, check out these other Thunder advancement numbers:

  • 2 NHL Draft Picks
  • 45 NCAA DI Commits
  • 54 NCAA DIII Commits
  • 19 OHL Draft Picks
  • 39 USHL Drafts, 2 Tenders
  • 16 NAHL Drafts, 61 Tenders

For more on Thunder Hockey, visit the organization’s official website.

Three #TPHTrained players invited to USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Total Package Hockey is proud to congratulate the three #TPHTrained players who have been invited to the 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Congrats to the following players:

Hunter Skinner – Muskegon Lumberjacks – Detroit Center of Excellence, 8 Week Program, OHL Cup

Logan Stein – Waterloo Black Hawks – TPH Thunder alum

Egor Afanasyev – Muskegon Lumberjacks – OHL Cup

The USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is an annual event that showcases top USHL players eligible for the upcoming NHL Draft. The rosters are selected by both USHL and NHL Central Scouting representatives.

The 2019 edition of the showcase event takes place on Jan. 8, 2019 in Lincoln, Neb.

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’s Brandon Naurato named to The Athletic’s Top 40 Under 40 in hockey

Total Package Hockey is proud to announce that TPH partner and director of hockey Brandon Naurato has been named one of the Top 40 Under 40 in hockey by The Athletic.

Naurato founded the Detroit branch of TPH in 2012, spearheading the creation of Michigan Hockey Advancement, the summer 8 Week Progression Program and the Center of Excellence hockey academy.

This past summer, the Livonia, Mich., native and University of Michigan alum was hired by his hometown Detroit Red Wings as a player development consultant.

“This is an incredible honor for Nar when you look at the list of people, and he has certainly earned this recognition,” said TPH CEO Nathan Bowen. “He is a great example to all the players he works with – regardless of what level – of what hard work can generate. Effort and a relentless desire to improve daily creates opportunity, and there is no doubt in our mind at TPH that we will continue to see Brandon climb.

“He has a mind for the game that is elite. He has a gift, but not one that has been given to him, rather one that he has worked for and earned. He puts the time into the game, studying video, forming thoughts and ideas, and what is truly revolutionary is how he has figured out how to train players with what he has coined “relevant skills” which translates into greater probabilities of success in today’s game. I have witnessed it first hand, his ability to create and generate offense through skill development that feeds into team systems directly to produce greater rates of success.”

The Athletic article featuring Naurato can be seen here (it is behind a paywall). Writer Craig Custance says that Naurato, listed at No. 35, is “the perfect mix of video, analytics and former player who is experienced enough to navigate effectively in all three worlds.”

Naurato has played a significant role in the ever-growing number of #TPHTrained players reaching the highest levels of hockey. As director of hockey, he has overseen the training of an incredible amount of hockey players.

 

Total Package Hockey total numbers:

  • 54 Signed or Drafted NHL Players
  • 189 NCAA Division 1 Commitments
  • 91 NCAA Division 3 Commitments
  • 99 OHL Draft Picks
  • 150 USHL Draft Picks, 32 Tenders
  • 61 NAHL Draft Picks, 111 Tenders
  • 47 Players Competing For International Teams (NTDP, Hlinka-Gretzky, Junior Olympics, Etc.)

 

Naurato worked with the likes of Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, JT Compher of the Colorado Avalanche, Andrew Copp of the Winnipeg Jets and Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens, and now he plays an active role in assisting both the Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins.

“(Naurato is) the most knowledgable guy I have ever met in hockey,” Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski told The Athletic’s Tom Reed. “I am starting to realize that more than ever.”

Stories about Naurato:

Brandon Naurato hired by Red Wings in player development role

Articles written by Naurato:

“What Brandon Naurato has built for TPH is being implemented across the board in all of our TPH Centers of Excellence and into our overall TPH player development curriculum for all of our #TPHTrained players,” Bowen said. “We are thankful to be able to share his knowledge and his passion with all of the players who come through TPH programs.”

 

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.

Nashville Jr Predators and Thunder AAA Hockey Club merge to create more opportunity for youth hockey participants

NASHVILLE YOUTH HOCKEY GETS STRONGER
 Nashville Jr Predators and Thunder AAA Hockey Club merge to create more opportunity for youth hockey participants –

Nashville, Tenn. (December 20, 2018) – The Nashville Jr. Predators and Thunder AAA Hockey Club announced today that the two entities will merge together and operate under the Nashville Jr. Predators Hockey Club emblem starting in 2019. This merger affords children a clear path from learning to skate to participating in Tier I AAA hockey and every level in between.

“Hockey in Tennessee and the Southern Amateur Hockey Association (SAHA) region is only getting stronger with the merger between the Nashville Jr. Predators and Thunder AAA Hockey Club,” said Danny Butler, General Manager of Ford Ice Center. “With two new sheets of ice at the Ice Center in Bellevue opening in the Fall of 2019, youth hockey players will have additional opportunities to participate in hockey programs and receive valuable ice time with elite coaches.”

Growing the game of hockey in Tennessee and surrounding states, is a very important initiative of the Nashville Predators. For every new hockey family that is created, provides more opportunity for life-long Nashville Predators fans. “With the newly formed Nashville Jr. Predators, there will be more spots available for kids who want to play, learn to play the game and compete on several different levels,” said Nat Harden, Senior Vice President, Tickets / Premium Sales & Youth Hockey. “More tournaments will be hosted at Ford Ice Center, which will create additional revenue for the surrounding businesses in Antioch, Bellevue and across Middle Tennessee.”

The Nashville Jr. Predators will enlist Total Package Hockey as the administrator of all hockey operations and coaching. One of the main driving forces behind the merger is to help families take advantage of one of the best development programs in the country that does not require them to move.

“We are extremely grateful for the positive leadership and growth of the game in Nashville, Huntsville, and Atlanta from the Nashville Predators.  The NHL-backed Little Preds program being ran in each market is introducing the game to the next generation of players and is critically impacting grassroots growth of hockey.  We would also like to thank the Nashville Jr Predators Board for their support in this merger.  By working together, teams at the Tier I level will immediately be more competitive on the national stage, which will alleviate the pressure often felt by some families to move.  In turn, this will increase the number of players that are drafted and/or tendered by junior hockey programs and commitments made to NCAA Division I schools, while playing youth hockey in the Nashville Jr. Predators Hockey Club.  Perhaps the most important part of this new program is the addition of the Nashville based AA teams that will provide more development options for players” said Nathan Bowen, CEO of Total Package Hockey. “We have a long history of providing outstanding positive mentors and we look forward to staffing the Jr Preds with world class professional coaches and managing the day-to-day operations of the hockey club in a professional, cost-effective and efficient manner. “

“The Nashville Predators continue to do an outstanding job growing the game for players at all levels of hockey and they support this next step in creating a clear path for youth hockey families to follow.  Our board unanimously supported this merger in the long-term best interest of hockey in Nashville.  We also recognized that consolidating the two clubs only strengthens every level of play for the kids.  Adding the AA program creates one homogenous development program for every player.  They can begin in the Little Preds program, move along to House League, Preds Select A, now AA and lastly AAA.  A family can now come into the game, develop here in Nashville until they are ready physically and mentally for junior hockey.” stated Nashville Jr Predators President Matt Goudy.

Total Package Hockey held these same responsibilities for the past 15 years with the Thunder AAA Hockey Club.  During that time, the club provided a path for student-athletes to develop and advance to junior hockey while living at, or close, to home.  The program became a member of the prestigious Tier I Elite League, the only national Tier I Youth Hockey League in the country that produces the most junior, college and professional players in the country.

Thunder AAA Hockey Club Player Advancement Summary:

–       4 NHL Draft Picks or Signed
–       45 NCAA DI Commits
–       56 NCAA DIII Commits
–       39 USHL Drafts, 2 Tenders
–       16 NAHL Drafts, 61 Tenders
–       19 OHL Draft Picks
–       4 International (2 NTDP, 2 Hlinka/Gretzky)

Former alumni include Mitch Eliot who signed just last week with the Vancouver Canucks, Nic Dowd from Huntsville Alabama, now with the Washington Capitals, Bjorn Krupp from Atlanta Georgia who played with the US National Development Team Program and now with Grizzlys Wolfsburg in the DEL, Nathan Krusko from Atlanta Georgia at Harvard University and national honors student, Andrew Sinard from Nashville Tennessee who is a freshman at Miami of Ohio playing NCAA DI and attended Nashville Predators Prospect camp in 2017.

Former coaches for the Thunder AAA Hockey club include:

  • Chris Luongo – Current AC Michigan State Spartans, USA National Development Team Program, Team USA World Championships,
  • Scott Gordon – Current HC Philadelphia Flyers, Team USA World Championships and Olympics, Former Assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs and HC New York Islanders
  • Jim McKenzie – Current Scout Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL and Muskegon USHL
  • Steve Briere – Current Goalie Coach Toronto Maple Leafs NHL, Fargo Force USHL, Topeka RoadRunners NAHL
  • Uwe Krupp – Current HC Sparta Praha DEL and Team Germany World Championships and Olympics
  • Karlis Zirnis – Current AC University of Alaska Fairbanks, Shreveport Mudbugs NAHL, Team Latvia World Championships and Olympics,
  • Darren Eliot – Current Detroit Redwings NHL and Atlanta Thrashers NHL
  • Danny Geoffrion – Former player Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets
  • Jay More – Former player Nashville Predators
  • Jay Leach –Former NCAA DI Maine Black Bears and Washington Capitals NHL
  • Paul Flache – Former associate head coach Flint firebirds OHL

For more information about the NEW Nashville Jr. Predators program, please call Jordan French at email to info@jrpredators.com or Keith Rowe at keith@totalpackagehockey.com  and visit nashvillejrpredators.com.

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).