Posts by Colleen Lynch
Michigan Hockey Advancement Adds The Prospect Exchange to Provide Athlete Analysis
Added service will increase opportunities for virtual recruiting
(DETROIT, MICHIGAN – September 18, 2020) – The Michigan Hockey Advancement (MHA) program has announced an agreement with The Prospect Exchange (TPE) for the 2020-21 season. The agreement will provide MHA student-athletes access to virtual resources such as video breakdowns by shift and analytics.
“We’re ecstatic to add a platform like TPE for our players,” said Rick Gadwa, Total Package Hockey Director of Hockey-Operation & Programming in Detroit. “It’s a massive step for our program for player advancement and exposure. Michigan Hockey Advancement is focused on doing what’s best for our players. Giving our players the opportunity to take their exposure to another level and helping them through the process of advancement in getting to the next level is our main goal. Joining with TPE helps us accomplish that.”
Players will be able to build profile that will have their data. They will be able to send that data, along with videos to both college and junior coaches. All of this will be included in their current tuition as well. During a time when travel for some coaches and scouts may be difficult, this is an excellent opportunity for players to be seen.
“As a former junior coach, I have always thought that some of the best hidden gems came from Michigan high school hockey,” said John Becanic, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of TPE. “With the MHA including TPE as part of their program, hopefully we can help uncover some of these gems and bring them to the forefront. With the ability to connect and share their shift video directly with junior and college coaches, exposure will no longer be an issue for these players.”
As the game continues to change and evolve, MHA continues to lead in a rapidly changing environment. By including TPE, it shows the commitment MHA has to its players.
“The game itself is already fast changing and evolving, and now with the pandemic, it’s really changed things, said Gadwa. “It’s expedited virtual recruiting. This is just another step we’re taking to stay current and make sure we’re doing everything we can for our players.”
Learn more about The Prospect Exchange here.
Learn more about Michigan Hockey Advancement here.
Tri-State Spartans alum commits to SUNY-Oswego
(INDIANAPOLIS, IN – September 11, 2020) – Goaltender Richie Parent has become the first Tri-State Spartan alumnus to commit to play college hockey. Parent will play for the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego this upcoming season. He was one of the original goalies in the first year of the program.
In the 2017-18 season, Parent played for the Tri-State Spartans 18U AAA team. He then went on to guard the crease for the Shreveport Mudbugs in the NAHL where he set a franchise record for consecutive wins at eight. When he joined the Spartans, it was a first year program, but he knew that it would provide a tremendous opportunity to develop as a person and an athlete.
“After going to the tryout, I got to meet some of the players and coach Austin,” said Parent. “Everyone was so nice, and I liked the area. I knew it was a team that would help me develop and get better. It was great because it helped us balance our schoolwork while also getting on the ice. We had dedicated trainers and workout spaces along with tutors to help us study. That’s what I liked when I was there.”
Greg Austin, Director of Hockey-Operation as Total Package Hockey (TPH) in Indianapolis, was honest with Parent when coming to a first-year program. It was about development and ice time, not necessarily wins and losses.
“He recognized that coming to a first-year program was an opportunity for him to face a lot of shots,” said Austin on Parent. “Most first year teams, if you have to be strong, it’ll be between the pipes. It makes it easier to recruit like that. You can promise them that they’ll get lots of shots. When you’re a development guy, you want to be on the ice facing shots. I was honest with him when I recruited him. We had three goaltenders that year, and all three could play. He wasn’t big, but he’s very athletic, good laterally and read the puck well.”
Parent was only able to spend one season in Indianapolis as he aged out of the program, but that one year saw a huge improvement in his skills.
“Towards the end of the season, we really started to see him separate,” said Austin. “He went and trained with the Mudbugs as well and proved his worth. He matured immensely with the experiences he had here. It’s difficult to play on a losing team, but as a goaltender, he found ways to make positives out of negatives. He was a good teammate, and left with a skillset that I think was improved. It was a lot about him in that he worked hard and saw the opportunity.”
The Center of Excellence offers a good balance between academics and athletics. What stood out to Parent was the opportunity to be on the ice and improve.
“The biggest thing about that program is being on the ice all the time,” said Parent. “We’d have a skill skate in the morning and a practice in the afternoon. I had a lot of ice time to develop, and that was huge in helping me get to the next level.”
Austin recognized that the balance and ability to be on the ice twice a day is what opened more opportunities for Parent.
“We’re trying to be a program that implements study, train, play at the Center of Excellence level, which has a lot to do with why Richie got as good as he did,” said Austin. “He was on the ice twice a day. We focus on development, not wins and losses. We focus on individual player development, then it’s up to the student-athlete to embrace that with their own passion for the game. Richie has been one of those success stories, and we’re really proud of him.”
While the college hockey season is currently postponed, Parent is still thrilled at the opportunity to play. He’s enjoying the college life and just hopes that more student-athletes can have the experience that he’s had while developing. As for the future, once Parent has completed his time in college, he hopes to play the sport he loves professionally.
“I’m extremely grateful for every opportunity I’ve had,” said Parent. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do as a little kid. Being able to live the life and be able to play college hockey is just awesome. I hope that every kid that wants this experience gets it. As of right now, I just want to start my season whenever we can and take it year by year. I want to be the best I can be with where I’m at. My goal is to hopefully play pro hockey after my four years at Oswego.”
Learn more about the Tri-State Spartans here.
Interested in attending the Center of Excellence in Indianapolis? Click here.
TPH Adds Bradford to Expand PR and Content Production
Veteran hockey media personality set to tell student-athlete stories
(HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA – September 1, 2020) – Total Package Hockey CEO Nathan Bowen has announced the addition of Justin Bradford as Marketing and Communications Coordinator. Bradford will be based out of Nashville, Tennessee.
Bradford formerly served as the Digital Media Director for the Nashville Symphony, but has been in hockey media for eight years with Penalty Box Radio. Penalty Box Radio (PBR) is weekly hockey-centric radio show that can be heard in Nashville and around the world on ESPN 102.5 The Game. It’s also a media site that is home to multiple writers and content creators, many of whom are aspiring sports journalists.
“Justin is an outstanding add to our team, and we know he will help us improve our communications, our ability to share more positive stories both written, through video and digitally,” said Bowen. “His experience starting, growing and legitimizing Penalty Box Radio is a true testament to his work ethic and journalistic integrity. It will be very exciting to see where he takes us in supporting our team members, student-athletes and TPH families.”
Through PBR, Bradford has covered the Nashville Predators as credentialed hockey media for the past seven years. He’s also been covering the University in Alabama Huntsville Chargers hockey program for eight years. Throughout his career, Bradford has covered multiple NHL events including four NHL Drafts, an NHL All Star Game, the NHL Awards and the Winter Classic. He’s also covered and scouted (with ISS Hockey) several games in the OHL and WHL. Through all of these experiences, Bradford has learned to become a storyteller.
“Over my years as a hockey journalist, I’ve learned that I want to do more than post game reports where I say how the game went; I want to tell the stories of the players,” Bradford said. “From the pros all the way down to prep hockey, I’ve been able to talk to hockey players and tell their unique and fun stories. It’s something that means a lot to me because I believe there’s always a story to tell. Hockey players have amazing personalities that they aren’t always able to share, so I try to do my best to show that they’re people just like the rest of us.”
Bradford’s work as a journalist granted him the opportunity to author a book as well. In 2015, he authored “Nashville Predators: The Making of Smashville,” the first history book on the Nashville Predators franchise. Published by The History Press, “The Making of Smashville” provides history, anecdotes and a deep look into how the Nashville Predators went from an expansion team to a playoff contender. It includes stories from Barry Trotz, Terry Crisp, Pete Weber, original owner Craig Leipold, Peter Laviolette and a multitude of Predators alums and current players.
In addition to hockey journalist, Bradford also serves as the commissioner of the South Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (SECHC). The SECHC is a club hockey conference that now plays in Collegiate Hockey Federation Division-II. The conference consists of 17 teams from across the southeast including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and plenty more.
“From writing a book to working in hockey administration with the SECHC, my passion for this sport runs deep. I want to do everything I can to grow the sport of hockey, especially in previously non-traditional areas of the country. If I’m able to turn just a few people on to the sport with each video I make or a story I write, then I that it’s a major success and worth even minute spent. We have a tremendous that teaches children and adults so many valuable life lessons, and I’m looking forward to being able to do that with Total Package Hockey now.”
Be on the lookout for more TPH content coming soon to all social media channels and the website.
Simon to Appear on American Ninja Warrior
TPH Director of Administration to make second appearance on show
(HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA – September 3, 2020) – During the day, Nichelle Simon serves as the Director of Administration for Total Package Hockey (TPH). During her free time, Nichelle has been a coach for almost 20 years, played in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) and appeared on American Ninja Warrior. This fall, she’ll make another appearance on American Ninja Warrior with an even greater story than when she first appeared three years ago.
It’s been a challenging few years for Simon. Following her first appearance on American Ninja Warrior in 2017, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It put her life and the goals she wanted to accomplish hold. But, she battled cancer and finished her chemotherapy treatments. Simon then went on to tryout and play for the Metropolitan Riveters of the NWHL.
“I did American Ninja Warrior in 2017, and I trained really hard for two years to get on it,” said Simon. “I didn’t get on TV, but made it out of 700,000 applicants and only about 700 were accepted. They only have time to show about 30% of the runners. Less than a year after I ran the course, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February of 2018. I dealt with that for about six months. I was supposed to tryout for the NWHL that June, and obviously I wasn’t able tryout or train. In August, when I had finished the chemo treatments, I started training again. I was 35 at the time. I trained from August to June of the next year. I tried out and made the Metropolitan Riveters less than a year after finishing chemo. I played for them last year.”
Simon played in 21 games as part of the defense corps for the Riveters in the 2019-20 season where she tallied two assists. She played and then everything was put on pause due to the pandemic, but more opportunities were still to come for her.
“I played for the Riveters, then COVID hit and I came home to Huntsville,” said Simon. “I was sitting outside eating dinner in June, and I get a call out of nowhere from American Ninja Warrior asking me to be on their show this year. I had three weeks to train for the show instead of a typical year and a half. Luckily I was already in hockey shape, but that’s still different than hockey shape.”
Most athletes preparing to participate in American Ninja Warrior train for many months before running the course. Simon had three weeks, but she took it in stride and was excited for the opportunity.
“It was super hard,” said Simon regarding the quick training schedule. “You can’t gain a whole lot in three weeks. You can exhaust and hurt yourself if you’re not careful. I did a bit of upper body training, but mostly just tried to get my weight down. Most of my focus was on nutrition and getting my mindset right. Most of it was a mental preparation. Lots of positive self talk and thinking through obstacles. Nothing was open due to the pandemic for anyone to train. A lot of it was just mental training.”
Each experience on American Ninja Warrior has been different for Simon. The first one took a year of training and was a journey for her to reach that goal. This time around, she’s was ready to simply enjoy the opportunity given all the challenges she’s recently faced.
“Honestly, there is a deep meaning there,” said Simon when comparing her experiences. “The first year I did American Ninja Warrior was the most intense because I trained so hard. I had to lose about 35 pounds and gain muscle. I changed my body completely the first time I did it. I was not a body type that would typically do American Ninja Warrior. It was an incredibly difficult journey the first time, and I was extremely proud of that. This time, it was still very meaningful, but it almost made it easier just to say that I’m going to go and have a good time and do the best I can and just enjoy the opportunity because it came up so quickly.”
No matter what, Total Package Hockey is proud of Simon and everything she’s accomplished. She’s the epitome of overcoming a challenge one faces and still achieving a set goal. American Ninja Warrior season 12 premiers this Monday, Labor Day, at 7:00PM Central on NBC. It’s not publicly released as to when or if Simon will make an appearance on the show, so you’ll have to watch every Monday at 7:00PM Central to catch her story and watch her run on the course.
Learn more about American Ninja Warrior here.
TPH Signs Three-Year Deal with Kinduct to Create Better Student Experience
World-leading software platform will use data enhance academic and athletic performance.
(HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA – August, 28, 2020) – Total Package Hockey (TPH) has announced a three year agreement with Kinduct, a world-leader in athlete management software. Kinduct serves over 550 teams and organizations across the globe, including just over a third of the National Hockey League, Hockey Canada, multiple NCAA Division-I programs and many more.
Backed by companies like Intel and the San Francisco 49ers, Kinduct was founded in 2010 and spent its early years in the healthcare industry, focused on educating and engaging patients through patient-centric 3D medical animations and rehab programming. But what coincided with Kinduct’s formation was a tsunami of data — and not just in the medical world. These trends were also found in human performance and elite sport environments, but the data was largely isolated and inaccessible. With the goal of identifying increased risk of injury and optimizing performance still standing as its pillars, the company shifted its focus toward data consolidation and organically grew into what it is now: a world-leading Athlete Management System.1
“We’re extremely excited to be working with Nathan, Francis, Jordan, and the rest of the team at TPH,” said Matt English, Kinduct Account Executive. “They have continually found ways to innovate the student-athlete experience by combining academic, wellness, and performance data to gain a more holistic view of each individual. We look forward to building upon this philosophy and helping to create targeted strategies that help players reach their potential through analytics.”
As a data-driven world continues to evolve, TPH will collect data from on and off ice activities and utilize Kinduct to track multiple areas of focus to help improve student-athlete performance.
“We want to use data to drive performance and drive coaching decisions,” said Nathan Bowen, CEO of Total Package Hockey. “Ultimately, we want to create the best student experience possible and improve and increase the development of our athletes.”
The goal in partnering with Kinduct is to enhance the experience for student-athletes by providing them, their coaches and their parents with data that will help in more than just decision-making for on-ice performance. The data will also help identify red flags in a player’s wellness so coaches are alerted to potential injuries or other health concerns. Kinduct will also provide data-supported rehab programs to aid student-athletes and coaches.
“On a daily basis, it will allow us to individualize the student experience,” said Bowen. “It will serve as a platform to deliver workouts, skill development, off ice training and rehab programs.”
To say that the platform is “smart” is an understatement. Kinduct will be able to integrate academic data into the platform and provide data that coincides with all aspect of the student-athlete’s experience at TPH. Staff, students and families will be able to log in to see all of the information that’s relevant to them in the Kinduct platform, truly customizing the experience for each player in the program.
Learn more about Kinduct here.
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1 Via the Kinduct “About” page at www.kinduct.com.
TPH Phoenix Adds Three Player Development Coaches & Mentors
A wealth of junior, college and pro experience added to growing market
(PHOENIX, ARIZONA – August 25, 2020) – Brett Blatchford, Director of Hockey-Operation for Total Package Hockey (TPH) Phoenix has announced the additions of Matthew Vanden Berg, Brian Slugocki and Scott Munroe as Player Development Coaches and Mentors. The addition will bring a plethora of experience and knowledge to TPH Phoenix.
Slugocki played junior hockey in Phoenix with the Phoenix Polar Bears before going on to play for the University of Arizona. He also took his talents overseas for a year in Sweden following his college career. Lately, he’s spent time with Darryl Belfry, who is recognized as a leader and innovator in hockey having spent time training players like Auston Matthews, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and John Tavares.
“Brian has first class detail in skill development,” said Blatchford on Suglocki. “He’s spent time on the ice with Darryl Belfry learning how Darryl teaches and the best ways for people to acquire skill. He’s very trusted in the Phoenix community as a skills instructor, especially in the way he communicates with the kids.”
Matthew Vanden Berg adds copious amounts of knowledge in coaching. He’s been a Director of Player Advancement as well as a coach and mentor with the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals. Plus, Vanden Berg continues to serve as a video coach and analyst with various organizations. His skills in analyzation will also be valuable as TPH locations begin evolving ways to evaluate player performance.
“Matthew has spent the last few years with the Milwaukee Jr Admirals developing players there,” said Blatchford. “His level of detail is going to help us, especially with the Kinduct app.”
Adding the wisdom of a goaltender is going to be extremely valuable to TPH Phoenix. Scott Munroe brings with him a background in playing and coaching at multiple levels of the sport, including leading the University of Alabama in Huntsville Chargers to a College Hockey America regular season championship in 2003.
“Scott Munroe is a high character guy,” said Blatchford. “Scott has coached in the QMJHL and Division III college hockey. He also played eight years in the American Hockey League, so there’s a huge amount of knowledge for us to draw from. He’s a goaltender and fellow coach and mentor Brendan Burke is a goalie as well. They’ve been collaborating on the best ways to develop a player here. Those two will lead us.”
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All three additions to TPH Phoenix will be excellent role models both on and off the ice, and the student-athletes involved in the program will learn valuable skills that will carry them through life.
“They have to be a role model for the kids from a character perspective, who they are as people and also as mentors,” said Blatchford. “That is almost not hockey related, but obviously in the end, they’ll have something else to offer. It’s character, it’s mentorship, it’s being a good role model for the kids at our center. I don’t think we could have done a better job in Phoenix in that regard.”
Kostolansky Named Director of Hockey-Operation in Denver
Former pro and UNH assistant captain comes home to share his experience with student-athletes
(DENVER, CO – August 21, 2020) – Jordan Pietrus, Executive Director of Total Package Hockey (TPH) Colorado, has announced the addition of Brett Kostolansky as the Director of Hockey Operations for the Denver division. Kostolansky brings with him a tremendous amount of experience from playing Division-I college hockey and taking the next step to the professional level.
“We were looking for someone that first and foremost is of high character,” said Pietrus on hiring Kostolansky. “Everyone we spoke to about Brett spoke extremely highly of him and his character. Our directors are leading young men and women and spending a lot of time with them and mentoring them. His hockey experience both playing and coaching is something we were looking for. He’s a former Thunderbird. He played prep school and then went to the University of New Hampshire, which is one of the top college programs in the country. Then, he had a chance to play professionally after college. Being a homegrown Colorado youth hockey player and now having the opportunity to give back to the next generation is something that’s really exciting for us.”
Following his time in youth hockey programs in Denver, Kostolansky played two seasons of prep hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. He then played for the Chicago Steel of the USHL for one season before beginning his college career at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). Kostolansky played all four years at UNH and then spent three seasons with the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL. He took a path that so many TPH student-athletes wish to take, and now he’s come home to share that experience.
“I think it’s real special to join TPH, especially growing up here in Denver,” said Kostolansky. “Being able to give back to the community and be a part of the Denver hockey community has always been a goal of mine. I grew up here, went through the youth programs and took that path. I’m excited to pass that experience down to the youth hockey players here in Denver.”
Being a former college athlete provides a wealth of knowledge about finding the balance between athletics and education. Kostolansky understands how important education is at TPH and how it molds young minds into being upstanding members of society.
“I learned that you don’t take the education part for granted,” Kostolansky said. “That’s subtly the most important part. Your mind may be more towards the hockey part, but your education, and what you put in the classroom and what you get out of that, is the most important part of being a student-athlete in furthering your hockey career, or any career for that matter.
During his senior year at UNH, Kostolansky wore an “A” as an assistant captain for the team. Being a leader is not an easy task. It’s not something that’s just given. It has to be earned, and Kostolansky is prepared to create future leaders at TPH.
“I think it’s your preparation and being a good role model,” said Kostolansky on what it takes to lead by example. “To be a leader, first and foremost you have to have your teammates look up to you. You have to set the right example. It starts with that and that’s on your own preparation, your own processes and that will bleed down to the rest of the organization. Just setting that good example gets everyone off on the right foot and creates a great culture.”
Kostolansky is bringing the right mindset to mentor the student-athletes in Denver. He’s ready to help them pursue their goals, whatever they may be. By providing them with the right tools for life, it will lead to more opportunities athletically.
“We want our players to be advancing athletically,” said Jordan Pietrus. “We want them to play at the highest level possible. The most important thing for us is preparing them for life. If we can mentor them and give them tools that will help them win at life, that’s what we’re really striving full. If we help them achieve their goals athletically, that’s just a bonus for us.”
Apply for TPH Center of Excellence Colorado-Denver – ONLY 2 SPOTS REMAINING.
TPH St. Louis Adds Former UNO Assistant Captain Zach Jordan
Former D-I athlete to serve as Player Development Coach & Mentor
(ST. LOUIS, MO – August 24, 2020) – Philip McRae, Director of Hockey-Operation for Total Package Hockey (TPH) St. Louis, has announced the addition of Zach Jordan as a Player Development Coach & Mentor.
Prior to joining TPH, Jordan played a season in the NAHL, four seasons in the USHL and for the previous four years, he was a right wing for the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. His path is one that TPH is preparing its student athletes for should they choose it.
“Zach has done exactly what our student hockey players are striving to do,” said McRae. “He is going to be a great example for our kids, and we are thrilled to have Zach join the TPH St. Louis team until the 2020-21 professional hockey season begins.”
Jordan just completed four years playing Division-I college hockey, and he’s excited to share that experience with the student athletes at TPH. One thing he’s quickly learned over his experience in junior and college hockey is that fun still needs to be a part of it.
“I think the main thing I want to instill in them is that there’s a lot of hard work to get there, but there’s fun with it, too,” said Jordan. “If you stop having fun with it all, then you’re not going to enjoy it anymore. You won’t be truly as good as you can be if you’re not having fun.”
During his senior year, Jordan wore an “A” as an assistant captain for the Mavericks. Building good leaders and citizens in the community is a focal point at TPH, and Jordan understands that there are different kinds of leaders. For him, finding balance and understanding your own leadership style is key.
“The biggest thing when it comes to being a leader is that you have to understand the best way for you to lead as a person,” said Jordan. “For me, it was a balance between being vocal and leading by example. I think that’s one of the biggest things with showing younger kids how to be good leaders. It’s not always the rah-rah person. You can lead by example just by doing the work every day.”
When it comes to the big picture, Jordan has the right mindset, and that will be an important factor when helping to prepare TPH student-athletes. When you invest the time in being a part of something great, it comes full circle. That’s also an important concept of leadership.
“As a senior this year, at the end of the year we talked with the freshman class and they were just so appreciative of what we did for them,” said Jordan when sharing one of his favorite moments from last season. “It was just full circle of how we were treated and how we were able to learn and grow and get them started on the right path. It was rewarding going through the whole experience.”
From his experiences going through multiple levels of hockey, to his development as a leader, Zach Jordan brings a wealth of knowledge to his role as a Player Development Coach & Mentor.
Grand Rapids Names Jennifer Marchand Director of Academics
Marchand brings with her a wealth of coaching and teaching experience.
(GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – August 21, 2020) – Total Package Hockey (TPH) Chief Academic Officer Bill Simms recently announced the addition of Jennifer Marchand as the Director of Academics for its Grand Rapids Division.
With her background in coaching and being in an educational environment that requires balance between the classroom and athletics, Simms is confident in how Marchand will be able to adjust and customize the learning experience for each student-athlete.
“Jennifer is a recently certified teacher, and she has a lot of experience working with students as a cheerleading coach,” said Simms. “She’s been working in the school setting and has been a substitute teacher at times in which case you often need to learn how to adjust. She’s definitely presented as having a really good skillset and hit the ground running in Grand Rapids. She’s already contributing immensely to our team.”
Times have been fairly uncertain with the pandemic, especially when it comes to students getting back in the classroom at all levels of education. For Marchand, this was a unique and perfect opportunity to teach.
“I was just really excited to join the team,” said Marchand. “I went to school to become a teacher, but with the current climate, things are a little uncertain right now. To be a part of this opportunity that offers a venue for student-athletes, and it’s really a unique opportunity that I’m excited to be a part of.”
The classroom is evolving almost daily right now, but at the core of Total Package Hockey’s educational offering is fostering a positive learning environment. It’s about individualizing the learning experience to best fit the needs of the student-athlete at TPH.
“TPH allows student-athletes to focus on their training, which is something that they’re so good about, without being bogged down with definitive, hard deadlines,” said Marchand. “This allows student-athletes to combine their passion with their education. With that education, they’re allowed to have more flexibility with it, which allows them to grow with their education and their athletics.”
Flexibility is important, but the student-athletes are still held accountable for what’s expected out of them. This applies not only on the ice or on the playing field, but also in the classroom.
“They’re called student-athletes for a reason,” Marchand said. “They’re students first, athletes second. The biggest thing is to make sure we are focusing on education and using their passion for that sport to keep them accountable. We want them to meet the goals they’re expecting of themselves and what their parents are expecting of them. Athletics is a passion for them, and we want to them to go as far as they can and for as long as they can. At the end of the day, they’re people, and we want them to be knowledgeable and productive members of society.”
Marchand has been on the job as Director of Academics for a short time, but she’s already quickly learned how the positive environment applies to the staff as well as the students.
“I am just so thankful for all of the help and welcomeness I’ve received from everyone,” said Marchand. “When we meet for Zoom calls, we’re all across the country, but we’re so collaborative. It really is just a positive and engaging work environment. This is such a positive place focused on everyone being better and improving.”
Lisa Cannon Named Director of Academics for TPH Florida
(ESTERO, FLORIDA – August 19, 2020) – Total Package Hockey (TPH) Chief Academic Officer Bill Simms announced the addition of Lisa Cannon as the Director of Academics for its Florida Division Wednesday. Cannon is joining TPH following nine years as a teacher lead at Oasis High School in the City of Cape Coral Charter School Authority.
“Lisa’s a fantastic new hire for us and is an experienced educator who’s worked with students at various grade levels and at various capacities whether it’s direct instruction or academic support,” said Simms. “She’s very familiar with the Edmentum learning platform and has used it extensively at her current school setting. Her experiences are going to bring a huge advantage for our students in her ability to understand where our students are at and where they need to go. She’ll help build a successful academic plan for each student.”
The TPH academic staff work on site as coaches and mentors to student-athletes. They mentor students on site in learning labs and help teach organization skills, accountability and provide support when needed. Aside from the classroom, the academic staff serve as great communicators with parents, teachers and hockey staff. For Cannon, she’ll be communicating to the students, and their parents, about the high expectations she has for them.
“I want to put across the high expectations on how important education is,” Cannon said. “My son is an athlete as well, and I’ve always said that as much as you love this, no matter where you go with it, your education has to be the most important thing to get you where you want to be. I think always having high expectations for my students, no matter what they believe about what they can accomplish, that they’ll always try to rise to that expectation. That’s when you’ll see the best from them. When they believe it, you’ve done something right as a teacher.“
Cannon brings with her a tremendous amount of experience not just in education, but also in leadership. She has served as a faculty advisor for the National Honor Society, Student Government Association and Oasis High School Leadership Team for over five years. In addition, she was awarded 2018 Teacher of the Year by the City of Cape Coral Charter School Foundation. Developing a well-rounded person requires education on becoming a leader and learning how to be a good teammate both on and off the ice.
“Teamwork is an important leadership skill,” said Cannon. “You have to be able to know that those people that are there with you, whether it’s in the classroom or on the ice, are working together as a unit. It shouldn’t just be about you. It should be about that person next to you. We grow better when you work as a team and not by yourself. “
Communication is at the core of education and leadership. The Director of Academics is charged with relationship building and having a high-level ability to communicate and connect with their students as well as with TPH staff. Given her award-winning background, there’s no doubt Lisa Cannon will be an incredible addition to the Total Package Hockey family.
“I’m very excited to be a part of this innovative form of education,” said Cannon. “I truly believe this is the direction education is going. I’ve been an educator for the past 10 years, and I’m just very excited to be a part of this growing company and the direction that it’s going.”