Posts by Colleen Lynch
Matt Doman to Lead TPH Superior
TPH Superior is excited to announce that Matt Doman will be its Director of Hockey – Operations for the inaugural 2020-21 Center of Excellence school year. In Doman, TPH brings on board someone with a fantastic blend of playing, coaching, and business experience.
Drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Doman brings experience from all levels of the game. He’s an alumnus of the United States National Team Development Program, USHL (Dubuque Fighting Saints), Wisconsin Badgers, East Coast Hockey League, and the American Hockey League. The University Wisconsin graduate (2005, BA Communications) also spent the past ten years coaching Minnesota high school hockey.
“Matt’s resume speaks for itself. Matt’s playing career, coupled with his coaching background, and more importantly his desire to mentor the next generation, make him the perfect fit for this role in leading our TPH Superior location” states Jordan Pietrus, TPH Colorado Executive Director. “What separates Matt, is how he has shown his ability to effectively translate his playing career into the youth coaching world on multiple levels. He knows what it takes to climb the hockey ladder. Matt has done it as a player and has coached players individually but also in a team setting. Matt comes highly recommended and the more we talk, the more I realize how much of a quality man he is. I believe Matt is the absolute right man to lead us in Superior and we are thrilled to have him join our team here in Colorado.”
Prior to joining TPH, Doman spent the past four years in the financial advising world, owned and operated two hockey development businesses, and served as the Director of Player Development for the Milwaukee Junior Admirals. Doman comes to lead TPH Superior with his wife (Annie) and their three boys Cashton, Tucker and Hank and is excited to become immersed in the Superior community.
“What Derek Robinson and his team have built at the Sport Stable is amazing and I can’t wait to add a new element to the diverse opportunities already available at the Stable,” said Doman. “Coaching and teaching have been passions of mine for a long time and I am honored to be able to provide my guidance and leadership to the student-athletes of TPH Superior. My family cannot wait to get to Colorado… my boys especially can’t wait to get on the ice at the Stable! I am so excited to join the TPH team and look forward to the many exciting challenges ahead.”
RoughRider Executive Sports Director, Derek Robinson, also boasted about the selection of Doman as the newly appointed leader. “From the beginning, we felt it was very important to find someone of not only a high quality playing and coaching background, but more importantly, someone of extremely high character. We believe we found exactly that type of leader in Matt and we think he’s going to be an invaluable addition and resource to our athletes at the Sport Stable.”
TPH Superior is set to embark on its inaugural year. There is a limited number of seats left, so do not miss your chance to be a part of the group that sets the standard for years to come.
Apply to the TPH Center of Excellence Colorado-Superior.
Register for the TPH Center of Excellence Train Only Option.
Do you want to know what a day in the life of a Center of Excellence student not only looks like but what it actually feels like? Come join us for TPH Day and find out! TPH Day is a completely FREE event that will allow families and players to hear presentations on the academics and CoE model as well as participate in an on-ice TPH skills practice with Matt Doman! We will also provide a complimentary meal at the end of the day! Come join us! Click here to RSVP.
TPH Detroit’s Allison Anagyros promoted to Director of Academics
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI – Total Package Hockey Chief Academic Officer Bill Simms announced the promotion of Allison Anagyros to the role of Director of Academics on Monday.
Anagyros, who joined TPH Detroit in the summer of 2019, was previously the Success Coach at the Center of Excellence. In that role she was an integral part in navigating a successful finish to the spring semester where the TPH Center of Excellence adjusted seamlessly to a hybrid model. Anagyros’ transition to her new role will be smooth with her familiarity with the student-athletes and her experience with the model.
“I’m extremely excited to have Allison as our new Director of Academics,” said Simms. “She has valuable experience working with student-athletes from her time at Indiana University and has learned a lot from her time as a Success Coach at TPH-Detroit this past year. I feel confident that she’ll will provide great leadership to our students and families on the academic front.”
As a part of the TPH Center of Excellence Detroit team, Anagyros will lead the student-athletes in the classroom ensuring their academic growth as well as ensuring the whole operation can take place in a safe environment.
TPH Detroit Director of Hockey Operations Dwayne Norris endorsed Anagyros saying, “Her forward thinking and fresh ideas will keep pushing the development of our student-athletes through this difficult time of COVID-19 and beyond. Currently, she is actively preparing the classroom to be a safe and healthy learning environment and is taking proper precautions to ensure everything is up the highest standards while following CDC guidelines.”
Prior to TPH Detroit, Anagyros served as an Academic Adviser for Indiana University Division I Football Program and the University of Louisville Athletic Department where she received her Master’s. Additionally, she has taught classes as a Parent Engagement Coordinator for Grand Rapids Public Schools.
“I’m excited to continue working with the TPH in this new role and being a part of the leadership team! It’s been a great opportunity to take my Division I collegiate experience within academics and bring that mentality to TPH,” said Anagyros. “I’m looking forward to working with our student-athletes again and providing them with the best possible support using best practices. We have a great staff in Detroit and there’s a lot to look forward to this new school year!”
The TPH Center of Excellence Detroit is set to start class on September 9th and are still accepting applications as there is limited space still available. Please join us in congratulating Allison on this promotion and we look forward to her providing a phenomenal experience to the student-athletes at the TPH Center of Excellence in Detroit.
Former TPH and Jr Predators Coach Zirnis takes job at Alabama-Huntsville
Huntsville, AL – The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey head coach Lance West announced the addition of fellow UAH alum Karlis Zirnis and former Nashville Jr Predators Coach to his staff as associate head coach on Tuesday.
“We are very fortunate and excited to be bringing Karlis back to the UAH hockey program,” head coach Lance West said. “He is an outstanding coach who has succeeded everywhere he has been. He has coached at many different levels including world championships, and has worked and learned under some of the top coaches.”
“Karlis’s work ethic and drive to continually improve as a coach is what makes him stand out to me, and his excellent teaching abilities will be a huge asset to the development of our student-athletes.”
Zirnis comes to UAH after two seasons as an assistant coach at Alaska, where he helped guide the squad to back-to-back WCHA playoff appearances.
“I can’t wait to get to work with Coach West on the challenges and potential of UAH hockey, while instilling our culture to shore up the program’s foundations. Being back here at UAH with an opportunity to help take our program to the next level means a great deal to me,” Zirnis continued. “I want to thank Coach Largen and Alaska Fairbanks for my first NCAA coaching experience, and I will forever be appreciative to them for all I have gained during my time in Alaska.”
Prior to his time at Alaska, Zirnis was the first head coach for the Shreveport Mudbugs of the North American Hockey League, and he went on to lead his squad to the 2018 Robertson Cup as NAHL Champions. He was named 2017-18 NAHL South Coach of the Year following his team’s 41-12-7 record during the campaign.
Over the past 13 years Zirnis has been involved on and off with Total Package Hockey programs and the Nashville Jr Predators organization including serving as the Head Coach for two USA Hockey National Championship appearances for the Jr Predators.
TPH Regional Director and former UAH Hockey teammate, Keith Rowe praised Zirnis, “From day one, we knew that Zirney was an elite level coach, starting his coaching path at the youth level and taking it all the way to the Olympics and college hockey. We are excited that he is back joining the UAH Charger Program.”
The Prospect Exchange Joins the TPH Family
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that it has purchased majority ownership in The Prospect Exchange (TPE), a company founded to provide hockey players with exposure to a vast network of coaches and recruiters, through the use of cutting edge video and analytics. In just over a year, The Prospect Exchange has become one of hockey’s most popular links for connecting players, coaches and recruiters, with a network that currently services thousands of players ages 14 -20.
“The vision of Total Package Hockey is to positively impact the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey, and by purchasing majority ownership in The Prospect Exchange, we believe we are simply strengthening our commitment to that vision,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “What John Becanic and his team have built in a short period of time has provided players with opportunities to be seen by coaches and scouts, at the click of a mouse, and has provided junior, college and professional organizations with the ability to evaluate a player without having to travel or spend exorbitant amounts of money to execute their scouting process. For TPH to now become involved with TPE, from both an ownership and operations perspective, is a huge win for us as a hockey-service provider, and in time, will be a great benefit to our own student-athletes.”
In mentioning what “John Becanic and his team have built,” Bowen is referencing the efforts of TPE Co-Founders John Becanic and Michael Zucker. Becanic, a veteran coach who manned benches at the Junior ‘A’ and Major Junior levels for over 30 years, founded his own consulting company, Pyramid Hockey, after retiring from coaching in 2016. In 2018, Becanic and Zucker began building The Prospect Exchange with its official launch coming in September of 2019. With a more than solid foundation under its feet, Becanic feels the time is right for The Prospect Exchange to take its next step, which in this case, means becoming part of the TPH family.
“TPH’s mission, vision and values align with The Prospect Exchange and that is the number one reason why we are here today,” Becanic said. “As a coach, on a daily basis, I always preached the importance of getting better to my players. Today’s announcement is simply an extension of that message. By having The Prospect Exchange under TPH’s umbrella, we have the opportunity to not only continue doing what we have started, but work hand-in-hand with student-athletes in TPH’s twelve Centers of Excellence, as well as the two Tier I organizations TPH manages. TPH is a growing company, with high-character leaders, a professional support team and infrastructure that will help TPE expand its reach and assist more players at climbing up the hockey ladder.”
Student-athletes who Study, Train and Play in TPH’s Center of Excellence model, as well as participate in various programs across TPH’s fifteen US-based divisions, will, in-time, have the opportunity to take full advantage of the cutting-edge resource that is The Prospect Exchange. It is also important to note that The Prospect Exchange recently entered into a partnership with Hockey Tech, and its two biggest entities, Hockey TV and RinkNet. This partnership further speaks to the quality, credibility and popularity of TPE.
In addition, Becanic, well-known across hockey circles for his ability to assist players in improving their hockey IQ through the use of video, will be a resource for TPH, it’s student-athletes, coaches and hockey development team.
“One of the main reasons why our company is where it is today is because we have been fortunate to align ourselves with terrific people,” Bowen added. “John Becanic and Michael Zucker are just that- terrific people and outstanding hockey guys who had hustle, a pure vision and a genuine desire to help hockey players be scouted in an innovative, modern, cutting-edge manner, while saving families time and money. We thank John and Michael for trusting us and we are thrilled to have The Prospect Exchange become a part of the TPH family.”
Center of Excellence Expands to Northeast
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce the launch of its thirteenth Center of Excellence in the state of Massachusetts beginning in September of 2020 at the Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, MA. With support from ESG Associates Inc., TPH will open its first CoE in the Massachusetts.
TPH Boston’s Center of Excellence will be a one-stop academy for student-athletes looking to maximize their development on the ice, in the weight room and, most importantly, in the classroom. TPH’s commitment to providing an educational experience that prepares student-athletes for any university setting is what we believe families in not only Massachusetts, but throughout New England, will most appreciate as we enter the “new normal”.
TPH Boston’s Center of Excellence platform is designed to meet the demands of the aspiring, elite student-athlete who desires structure, discipline and accountability but requires the flexibility to pursue athletic and career goals without the fear of missing school. The “blended learning environment” includes academics on-demand with 24/7, fully accessible NCAA courseware and full-time instructors who are dedicated to each and every enrollee. Courses are available in real time as well as on-demand, with accessible instructors who hold virtual office hours. Centers of Excellence attendees also have access to a virtual tutoring service in the event academic assistance is needed outside of the standard school hours.
Brian DeVellis, President of ESG Associates Inc. and the founder/manager of the Boston Sports Institute, negotiated the deal on behalf of BSI on August 3rd, 2020: “The Boston Sports Institute is thrilled to have TPH Boston join our sports and recreation ecosystem. Having a TPH Center of Excellence, with their long-standing history of educating and training student-athletes, partner with our in-house strength training at Boston Sports Performance Center, Inspirica tutoring center and AXE Hockey Group on ice training, will provide an unparalleled experience for our players. In this uncertain time, parents can be assured that their children will be supported by a year-long, uninterrupted educational environment where they can learn and train for the next stages of their academic and athletic careers.”
Nathan Bowen, TPH CEO, lauded the new partnership. “The Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley is the perfect location to plant our New England roots. Having one facility that already provides training and tutoring for National and Olympic figure skaters, along with top tier girls’ programs such as the North American Hockey Academy, is ready-made for our launch during these unprecedented times. Prospective TPH Boston families will appreciate that throughout the COVID-19 crisis, current TPH student-athletes across all existing Centers of Excellence have not skipped a beat academically. The academic outcomes continue to be extremely positive and student-athletes stayed either on pace or moved ahead with their schoolwork. In addition, while we hope to see a full return to normalcy as the school year rolls around, we have prepared both hybrid and completely virtual Center of Excellence options so that regardless of the pandemic, our student-athletes will have every opportunity to study, train and play”.
The Boston Sports Institute, a Steward Family Facility, is a multi-use recreational center located off Route 9 in Wellesley, Massachusetts, that opened its doors in July 2019. The facility features two pools (2012 Olympic trials pool and warm-up pool), two NHL regulation ice surfaces, indoor synthetic turf field, indoor track, and the Boston Sports Performance Center. TPH Boston will have access to these ancillary features as well as a secured workspace located on the second floor of the facility, which provides the perfect environment for our CoE student-athletes to utilize off-ice time for their homework and tutoring needs. The 2,400-square-foot workspace consists of a lounge and numerous desks, tables, and chairs as well as access to computers, internet, and Wi-Fi. In addition, private cubicles are located in the back of the workspace for undisturbed studying options.
The Boston Sports Performance Center, the premier sports performance, sports physical therapy, and sports medicine center serving the greater Boston and MetroWest communities, is conveniently located on the second floor within the Boston Sports Institute. The center provides patient- and client-centered care to individuals and athletes of all ages. Helping these individuals reach their maximum potential in the areas of health, wellness and athletic performance is the Boston Sports Performance Center’s ultimate goal.
Led by Joe Van Allen, MSPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS, Vice President of Rehabilitation Services for Steward Health Care and former New England Patriots’ Director of Rehabilitation, the Boston Sports Performance Center’s team of elite performance coaches, sports physical therapists, and athletic trainers work alongside sports medicine physicians and orthopedic surgeons. This collaboration provides streamlined coordination of patient care and a high-performance model to the general public.
AXE Sports Group is the parent company of Hockey Night in Boston (HNIB) and the Worcester Railers Junior Hockey Club. HNIB has been at the forefront of running showcase events and news media for high school hockey since 1972. The Railers JHC also runs full-season teams at the Junior Hockey level. AXE strives to offer high school, prep school, junior and future collegiate athletes a full complement of development on and off the ice aimed towards the growth and success of each individual student-athlete while helping families determine the best path for their student-athlete’s success.
Good Nutrition Prepares Athletes for Long Careers
Synapse PT Official Physical Therapy Provider For TPH Colorado
ENGLEWOOD, CO – TPH Colorado is thrilled to announce that Synapse PT will be the official Physical Therapy provider for TPH students in both Denver and Superior locations for the upcoming 2020-21 school year. In Synapse, TPH student athletes and families will have a professional and trusted organization that they can lean on for all their bumps, bruises, and rehabilitation needs.
“We could not be more excited to have the opportunity to have the team at Synapse PT available as a resource to our student-athletes throughout the year at both our Denver and Superior locations.” said TPH Colorado Director, Jordan Pietrus. “Injuries, bumps, and bruises are all apart of sport, so to be able to have our students receive professional help and advice in navigating how to handle these and recover is a huge benefit. TPH is constantly looking for ways to improve our program and provide our student-athletes with every advantage possible. We believe Synapse PT is a great resource for our students, athletes and families, and that Synapse is truly a great piece to add to our program!”
Synapse PT will offer all TPH Students complementary Injury Triage Services on site in Superior and at a pop-up clinic in Denver where Synapse PT will be on site for TPH students. TPH students will also receive FMS (Functional Movement Screening) screenings with corrective exercises delivered through TPH’s training app. TPH will lean on the extensive experience of Mike Keating, his work with USA Rugby and the Chicago Blackhawks, and Synapse’s team of fully qualified and professional staff for things like additional education sessions and even neurocognitive testing. With clinics located at the Promenade Ice Centre in Westminster and the Sport Stable in Superior, Synapse is your hometown physical therapy partner.
“It is part of our core belief at Synapse PT that a healthy student and athlete is a better student and athlete.” said Keating. “We love TPH’s Center of Excellence model, combining high performing academics and athletics together, and believe that we offer a missing piece to the player welfare to these student-athletes. We are really looking forward to being able to help the high performing students at TPH stay healthy, so they can achieve their goals both in the classroom, and on the ice as well!”
TPH students and families will also have the opportunity to work with Synapse in any of the various other services Synapse offers such as:
- Orthopedic care
- Sports medicine
- Manual therapy
- Spine care
- Dry needling
- IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Massage)
- Cupping Therapy
- Joint Replacement Rehabilitation
- Work Hardening/Worker’s Compensation
- Auto Accidents
- Concussion Testing and Treatment
- Running Biomechanics and Gait Analysis
- Return to Sport Rehabilitation and Functional Testing
- Pre and Post-Operative Care
- Gait Training
- Injury Prevention Education
- Home Exercise Program Development
- ACL Prevention
- Athletic Training
- Kinesio Taping
Do not miss your chance to secure your spot at the Center of Excellence in Superior or Denver and take advantage of our blended learning environment! No matter what happens this year with COVID, TPH WILL Go The Distance and has a plan to pivot no matter what! Space is limited and we are down to our last few spots at each location! Take the first step and apply today, or fill out our inquiry form to connect with us.
USA Hockey Feature: Normal Starting to Return at Total Package Hockey Atlanta
USA Hockey Feature: Back to Business at Total Package Hockey Huntsville
Experience TPH Offers Free On-Ice Opportunity to Meet the TPH Phoenix Team
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – TPH Phoenix is excited to announce the dates for Experience TPH, a FREE event offered both at the Ice Den Chandler and the Ice Den Scottsdale. Experience TPH is an opportunity to learn from some of our TPH Phoenix coaches and better understand their teaching style, which focuses on fundamentals, blended skills, and habits/concepts/details that can be taken back and inserted into any club team system. Come have your student-athlete meet our coaching staff at the skate! We will follow up with families to provide additional detail on our “Study. Train. Play” model after the skate. At TPH, we are pride ourselves on the mentorship, growth, and development of the hockey player, athlete, student and person.
If you are interested in the TPH Center of Excellence, this is a perfect opportunity to get a more full experience to better understand if it is a fit for you or your student-athlete at no charge. Space is limited, below is the details and registration links for each location.
Experience TPH – Ice Den Scottsdale Details
- Date: July 20, 2020
- On-Ice Session: 7:45-8:45pm
- Maximum Players: 20
- Birth Years: 2002 to 2009 (NOTE: the CoE accepts 6th through 12th grade only)
- CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Experience TPH – Ice Den Chandler Details
- Date: July 29, 2020
- On-Ice Session: 7:45-8:45pm
- Maximum Players: 20
- Birth Years: 2002 to 2009 (NOTE: the CoE accepts 6th through 12th grade only)
- CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
NOTE: Players MUST be competitive Tier II, AA players or Tier I, AAA players to attend. NO HOUSE/RECREATIONAL REGISTRANTS!