TPH Opens 12th CoE in the Sunshine State

Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce the launch of its twelfth Center of Excellence at the Hertz Arena in Estero, FL. With support from Southwest Florida hockey staple Ryan Brindley, TPH will open its first CoE in the Sunshine State.

“We are thrilled to bring our Center of Excellence model to a state, and community for that matter, that is developing and advancing high-level hockey players at a great clip,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “In addition, by partnering with Ryan Brindley, we are teaming up with an individual who has passion for developing student-athletes on and off the ice, knowledge of what the development process looks like, having sons who are going through it right now, as well as a desire to see the state of Florida grow hockey talent from within. The CoE model will allow ‘AA’ and ‘AAA’ players from Southwest Florida to receive high level on and off-ice training, a fully individualized, customized, NCAA-accredited academic experience within the blended learning environment we foster at the CoE, all while staying at or close to home, continuing to compete for their local teams and enjoying the high quality of life Southwest Florida has to offer. We hope this announcement today will be viewed as a win by aspiring elite hockey players in Southwest Florida, because calling Estero, FL the home to our 12th Center of Excellence is definitely a win for TPH.”

In partnering with Ryan Brindley, who will also serve as Director of Hockey-Operations for the Center of Excellence, TPH is aligned with a figure who has been instrumental in the growth of hockey not just in Estero, but across the state. A former captain of the Florida Everblades ECHL team, Brindley played nine professional seasons in four leagues (IHL, AHL, ECHL, and WPHL), before retiring at the conclusion of the 2006-2007 season. A graduate of Miami University, Brindley donned the red and white for four seasons with the Redhawks, graduating with a B.S. in Physical Education in 1999.

While Brindley’s resume is deep with hockey playing experience, perhaps what is more impressive has been his dedication to the growth of hockey in Southwest Florida. From 2009-2016, Brindley coached for the Florida Jr. Everblades organization, capturing multiple state and league championships. His 2004 birth year Florida Alliance and Southeast Elite Hockey teams (a program Brindley founded), have been ranked in the top five US teams the past six years. Ryan had two of his players named to the USA Youth Olympic team that won a Silver Medal in Switzerland this past January. He also recently had one player sign with the USNTDP, another tender in the USHL and multiple players heard their names called in the 2020 USHL and OHL drafts.

Brindley believes the Center of Excellence will provide a “missing piece” for the right 6-12th grade Florida hockey players, and as Bowen referenced, “incentivize” players to stay close to home until the time is right to advance in the game.

“The CoE really is a one-stop-shop for a hockey player that wants to maximize his or her development on the ice, in the weight room and most importantly, in the classroom,” Brindley said. “TPH’s commitment to providing an educational experience that readies kids for any university setting is what I believe families in Southwest Florida will most appreciate. Flexibility is something young hockey players in our state need and the CoE model offers just that, all while placing demands on the kids that ready them for their futures,whether that’s in hockey, school or life.”

In referencing the educational experience provided at the Center of Excellence, Brindley is pointing to TPH’s unique academic learning platform provided by Edmentum. The TPH-Edmentum platform is designed to meet the demands of the aspiring elite male and female hockey player who desires structure, discipline and accountability, but as Brindley pointed out, requires the flexibility to pursue his or her hockey and career goals without the fear of missing school. The “blended learning environment” shaped by TPH includes academics on demand, with 24/7, fully accessible NCAA courseware and full-time instructors who are dedicated to the student-athletes across all twelve Centers of Excellence. Courses are available live as well as on-demand, with accessible instructors who hold virtual office hours. CoE attendees also have access to a virtual tutoring service, in the event academic assistance is needed after-hours or right on the spot during the CoE school day.

“Prospective TPH-Florida families might be interested to know that throughout this current COVID-19 crisis, our student-athletes across all Centers of Excellence haven’t missed a beat academically,” Bowen added. “Our academic outcomes continue to be extremely positive. Seniors have graduated and our student-athletes stayed on pace or ahead with their schoolwork. And while we hope to see a full return to normalcy once the school year rolls around, we have prepared both a hybrid and completely virtual CoE option so that regardless of the state of the pandemic,our student-athletes will have every opportunity to Study, Train and Play‘on demand.’ This is something Ryan Brindley and all of us in TPH believe Florida families are really going to love.”

Another feature that Bowen and Brindley believe will be an attraction to prospective TPH-Florida families is that its Estero Center of Excellence will be setup like a mini-college campus, with on-ice training sessions taking place four days per week. Student-athletes will be shuttled to a state-of-the-art classroom facility located near Corkscrew Palms Boulevard, adjacent to Estero Community Park, which is located three miles from Hertz Arena. Off-ice training and recreational activities will be held at the Estero Community Center & Park.

“It was evident to us from the very first day we connected with Ryan and looked into having a CoE in Southwest Florida that hockey families along the Gulf Coast crave experiences that are first-class,” Bowen added. “The partnerships Ryan has made and the relationships he has built, whether it be with the ECHL Everblades, our off-ice training provider, the classroom space we have secured, or the support staff Ryan will hire and put in place, are designed to give our student-athletes every chance to Study, Train and Play to their fullest potential.”

Prospective TPH-Florida Center of Excellence attendees are invited to join Brindley and other members of the TPH team for its first open house, being held virtually via Zoom, on Thursday, July 2 at 7:00 PM EST. A link to RSVP is down below. Only families who RSVP will be able to attend.

In addition, with demand for TPH’s Study, Train, Play model expected to be at a high, families of aspiring elite Tier I ‘AAA’ and Tier II ‘AA’ caliber 6-12th grade hockey players who are interested in the CoE model are encouraged to apply to the Center of Excellence at the link below. Applying to the CoE is the first formal step in the registration process and reserves a spot at the center for the upcoming school year.

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TPH Colorado-Denver Names Denver Human Performance as Official Strength and Conditioning Partners

TPH Colorado is pleased to announce Denver Human Performance (DHP) as the official strength and conditioning partners at its Denver location.  Chase Engdahl is the Director of Human Performance for DHP and brings a wealth of high-level knowledge and experience to the athletes of TPH Colorado.  Engdahl’s educational background is extensive, earning his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and then a master’s degree in Applied Exercise Science.  A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Chase parlayed his education to becoming an assistant NHL strength coach, working with some of the top athletes in the world.  Chase now leads Denver Human Performance and TPH athletes with his knowledge and experience to help provide them with the tools they can use to springboard them to their individual next level.

 

Andy Howard will serve as the Head Strength and Conditioning coach for DHP.  Howard completed his undergrad in Exercise Science and is in the process of completing his master’s degree in Exercise Physiology.  Andy is also a registered Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and has interned under former NHLer Brent Severyn at Severyn Sports in Dallas, Texas as well as the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Most recently Andy served as the Assistant Strength Coach for the Colorado Rampage last season.

“We could not be more excited to have Denver Human Performance join our team for this upcoming year,” says TPH Colorado Director Jordan Pietrus.  “Chase and Andy have great backgrounds, and fantastic experience in developing not only hockey players but all athletes.  Their passion for developing more complete athletes and people align with our core values at TPH and we are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Denver Human Performance next year.”

 

In addition to Chase and Andy’s impressive resumes DHP will have the support of one of the most impressive advisory boards in the country, including but not limited to professionals currently working in in the NHL, NFL, MLB, and NCAA. Click here to see the DHP advisory board.

 

The advisory board will provide the Denver Human Performance staff, TPH and their athletes with the most up to date science, training methods and data in the strength and conditioning industry.

 

Engdahl added “I speak for both Andy and I when I say that we could not be more excited to partner with an organization such as TPH that shares the same vision and passion for helping youth athletes achieve their goals here in Denver. We believe that through collaborative efforts with the TPH staff, we can help take TPH’s already proven development model to the next level by providing an unparalleled training experience.”

 

“At TPH we are constantly striving to provide our athletes every opportunity to develop to their fullest potential,” Pietrus adds.  “To have access to industry leaders in not only Strength and Conditioning, but areas such as Nutrition, Exercise Science, and Kinesiology is a big deal for our coaches and most importantly our athletes.”

 

Click here to learn more about Denver Human Performance.

To start working with Denver Human Performance and TPH right away, click here register for the TPH Colorado 6 Week Progression Program.

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Colorado Hockey Leaders, TPH Partner to Grow CoE Model

Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Derek Robinson and Angelo Ricci have come together in partnership with TPH to operate not only its current Denver location, but to also bring a second Center of Excellence to the state of Colorado at the Sport Stable in Superior. Robinson, the Executive Sports Director of RoughRiders Sports Club, and Ricci, Executive Director of the Colorado Thunderbirds, are combining forces with the long-term vision of strengthening hockey in the Rocky Mountain region. The two individuals and entities will partner with TPH in both the Denver and Superior locations. This unique partnership will allow these two leaders in Colorado youth hockey to work together in the Study, Train, Play academy style model to further develop aspiring elite 6-12th grade student-athletes from all over the Rocky Mountain region.

“On behalf of TPH we could not be happier to enter into this partnership, and that’s truly what this is – a partnership,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “What has been built in Superior is truly remarkable. The vision, facility and team members we have met are all first class in every sense of the word. The RoughRiders have a brand that is synonymous with quality and a culture that aligns with TPH. We look forward to this partnership in our efforts to strengthen the development of not just hockey players, but all student-athletes in the Rocky Mountain region.”

The Sport Stable is a truly one-of-a-kind facility and has quickly become a one-stop-shop for all athletes, regardless of their chosen sport, to get the tools needed to develop their game. The facility features two and a half ice sheets, three basketball courts, two turf fields, golf simulators, batting cages, a restaurant, coffee shop, barber shop as well as a variety of health, wellness and performance avenues for its student-athletes, including strength and conditioning, physical therapy and performance psychology consultation. In time, TPH hopes to expand the reach of its Center of Excellence model to the various sports programs housed inside the Sport Stable.

While the Sport Stable offers a plethora of opportunities for all student-athletes, the one piece its leadership has been looking to add is a proven academy-style training, learning and life-development model. Enter TPH and the Center of Excellence.

“We are so excited to launch the academy model at the Sport Stable,” Executive Sports Director Derek Robinson said. “It will provide our players with the best available training and a high-end education that will ultimately provide a better lifestyle for our families. We also know what Angelo Ricci has done for players in the state, and together, we will provide a path from 8U to 18U for Colorado players to stay home and get world-class training until they are ready for junior or collegiate hockey. Now with TPH and their national network and reputation for developing and advancing players, we have everything we need right here in the state for each individual to succeed.”

Just over one year ago TPH brought the Center of Excellence to the South side of Denver, and Angelo Ricci echoes Robinson’s excitement.

“For the past 12 years, Derek and his team have built a program from the ground up and I have a deep respect for what he and his team have done,” said Ricci, who is also the Executive Director of the Colorado Thunderbirds organization. “For the last decade plus, Derek and I have competed against each other, but we have also worked together. I am excited for this new venture and opportunity to work as one, in the best interest of all the student-athletes who want to take advantage of the academy model.”

In his earlier comments about the “high-end” education student-athletes will receive, Derek Robinson is referencing TPH’s best-of-both-world’s academics scenario. Student-athletes complete their NCAA-accredited coursework online, interact with their instructors virtually and have the option to take school home or on the road with them every day, with no fear of days missed due to the demands of being an aspiring elite athlete. At the same time, when student-athletes are on-site, they study under the direction of an academic leader who is focused on fostering a positive culture, maintaining accountability and putting a learning plan in place for each individual based on where, when and how he or she works best. This layered academic approach ensures that when it’s time for TPH student-athletes to focus on their sport, whether its training at the CoE, practicing with their club teams or jumping on a plane to travel to games, they are on-pace or ahead in their courses.

Current TPH-Denver Director of Hockey-Operations Jordan Pietrus oversees its Center of Excellence at Family Sports Center in nearby Centennial. TPH’s Denver-based CoE maximized capacity in year one and expects continued growth for the 2020-2021 school year. Ironically, Pietrus played two seasons of junior ‘A’ hockey with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL, where he was part of a Clark Cup Championship squad in 2005. He will support the setup and growth of TPH’s second CoE in the Rocky Mountain state.

“This partnership between these two long-standing leaders and their programs is a big step for the future and culture of Colorado hockey,” Pietrus said. “They both want to see student-athletes stay in state until they are ready to play and contribute at the junior hockey level. The CoE model offers a degree of flexibility that high-level athletes require if they are to pursue their sport, academic and future career goals. At the same time, there is a level of structure and detail on both the academic and sport side of the model that all kids need. There’s a daily schedule, classroom guidelines, clear expectations and ample opportunities for our staff to mentor our student-athletes on what it means to aspire to be elite and most importantly, how to get there. We also have data that shows just how beneficial our blended learning environment is when it comes to academics, rest, recovery and long-term athlete development. This model is proven and backed by results.”

2019-20 TPH Colorado Academic Data.

The academic data Pietrus is referring to is highlighted in the graphic boxes in this release. The CoE model has grown to twelve locations and has been in existence since 2014. In that time, student-athletes across the country have been able to study and excel through TPH’s on-demand, blended academic learning model. And as Nathan Bowen points out, even during some of the challenges and uncertainties faced in our world today, TPH student-athletes continue to perform.

“Prospective Sport Stable CoE families might be interested to know that throughout this current COVID-19 crisis, our student-athletes across all Centers of Excellence haven’t missed a beat academically,” Bowen added. “Our academic outcomes continue to be extremely positive. Seniors are graduating and our student-athletes are staying on pace with their schoolwork. While routines have certainly changed for our student-athletes over the past several weeks, they have not had to transition from a learning standpoint which is one of the benefits of the academic model we implement in the CoE.”

Obviously, everyone’s hope is that once the CoE school year arrives in late August, we see what Bowen calls a “full return to normalcy.” In the event CoE’s are unable to operate like they did prior to the arrival of COVID-19, TPH has a plan in place to maintain the Study, Train, Play experience for all of its student-athletes.

“Families should rest assured that we will be prepared to mentor our Center of Excellence attendees in a safe, healthy and successful manner,” Bowen said. “We are currently crafting three potential options for the 2020-2021 school year that include hybrid, small group on and off-ice training sessions, revisions to our classroom layouts, increased policies with regards to sanitization, and if necessary, a virtual platform for us to train our student-athletes on in a manner similar to the TPH Virtual Hockey Development platform we have been using to service our student-athletes on for the past two months. The CoE really provides an ‘on demand’ experience, first and foremost on the academics side, something Derek wants for all Sport Stable CoE attendees.”

 

With the success of TPH’s Denver-based CoE and the announcement of its second Study, Train, Play model in the state of Colorado, TPH is looking forward to providing that “missing piece” for the Sport Stable in hopes that it will incentivize its Colorado-based athletes to stay home, enjoy the holistic experience of the CoE and maintain a quality of life that Bowen calls “second to none.”

“While every family’s situation is different, there really is no reason for an athlete to leave the state of Colorado to pursue his or her goals,” Bowen said. “On the hockey side alone, for TPH, Angelo Ricci and Derek Robinson to be joined together, we will do everything in our collective power to accelerate the development and advancement of the hockey players we support and make Colorado the premier destination for hockey players and athletes from other sports who have a desire to Study, Train and Play to their fullest potential.”

Interested families are invited to learn more about TPH’s Superior Center of Excellence during its upcoming virtual open house, scheduled for Thursday, June 11 at 7:00 PM MST via Zoom. A link to register is included below.

  • Click here to register for the June 11 virtual open house.
  • Click here to download our Center of Excellence brochure.
  • Click here to request more information on the Center of Excellence model.
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Rachel Mohr Joins TPH-St. Louis as Director of Academics

Maryland Heights, MO – Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce the addition of Rachel Mohr to the TPH–St. Louis team as the Director of Academics. Mohr is joining TPH-St. Louis after spending the last four years at Lindenwood University pursuing her Master of Arts while serving as an Academic Coordinator and a Course Instructor.

An Illinois native, Mohr attended St. Louis University where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. While completing her Bachelor’s Degree, Mohr competed for her school at the NCAA Division I level in Field Hockey. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree, Mohr continued her education earning a Master of Arts in Higher Education at Lindenwood.

Within her Academic Coordinator position at Lindenwood University, Mohr developed academic plans for several of the university’s athletic teams. In addition, her experience providing ongoing support with organizational and communication skills, study habits, and personal responsibility are highly transferable to the Center of Excellence model.

“TPH-St. Louis is overly excited to have Rachel joining our staff as the Director of Academics,” said Philip McRae, Director of Hockey-Operations. “Rachel is the perfect fit for the position. She has experience as a Division 1 student-athlete, teacher, and working with elite student-athletes. Combine that with her passion to mentor, guide, and develop, and it is a complete combination. I look forward to seeing the positive impact Rachel has on our boys and girls on a daily basis.”

Mohr has the dedication to mentor and guide our student-athletes as they progress towards their future ambitions. With her extensive background of teaching, as well as her experience as a student-athlete, she will be a great asset to the TPH team in St. Louis.

Please join us in welcoming Rachel to the TPH St. Louis and the Total Package Hockey Family.

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Jenkins Signs with New York

TPH Center of Excellence Almun, Blade Jenkins, signed an entry-level NHL contract with the New York Islanders. Jenkins was drafted by the Islanders in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Since his time at the TPH Center of Excellence in Detroit, Jenkins has been quite successful. His junior hockey career began with the USA Hockey National Development Program. Soon after that season he was drafted in the first round of the OHL Entry Draft by the Saginaw Spirit. In his third season, Jenkins was named assistant captain and registered 40 points, compiling 143 points over his three seasons.

We are proud of the accomplishments this young man has achieved. We wish Blade continual success moving forward in his professional career.

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TPH Colorado Welcomes Figure Skating Student-Athletes to the Center of Excellence

TPH Colorado is proud to announce that our Center of Excellence in Denver will be accepting figure skating student-athletes for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year.  TPH has been working closely with Denver skating coaches to develop a customized schedule tailored to figure skaters, allowing them to participate in 3 hours of on-ice each day with their individual coaches, as well as train off-ice with other aspiring elite athletes.  Skaters will also participate in figure skating-specific off-ice classes such as ballet, yoga and more.  Finally, student-athletes will then complete their academics in our blended learning environment, all between the hours of 7:00 AM and 4:30 PM.

The Center of Excellence offers skaters a selective environment where like-minded individuals challenge each other academically and athletically. Prospective CoE attendees will all have to complete TPH’s application process to be accepted for the 2020-2021 school year.  Although the CoE has a selective environment, it does not matter what skating club you compete with. The Center of Excellence welcomes skaters from across Colorado to provide the best possible training environment as they push to achieve their academic and athletic goals.  The academic experience, powered by Edmentum, is state certified, as well as NCAA and AdvancED accredited, ensuring students are challenged to the highest standard.  The CoE is led by coaches, mentors, instructors and academic leaders who push student-athletes to be their best, both academically and athletically.

TPH is excited to welcome a new wave of aspiring elite athletes to the program from all skating clubs across Denver and the state of Colorado.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome figure skaters to our COE for the upcoming year,” TPH Colorado Director Jordan Pietrus said.  “Figure skaters are among the most dedicated athletes in the world, and we know they will be a great addition to the TPH Family. We look forward to working with our incoming figure skaters and helping them grow within our Study, Train, Play model.”

If you are a figure skater and aspire to be elite, we welcome you and your family to join us for an open house exclusive to figure skaters on Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 PM.  To receive the Zoom link and login info, please RSVP here.

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Bobby Feaster Joins TPH-St. Louis Team

Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Bobby Feaster has joined the TPH-St. Louis team as a Player Development Coach / Mentor.  Feaster brings a dynamic of hockey administrative, instruction and operations-related experience to the position.

“I am extremely excited to add Bobby Feaster to the TPH-St. Louis staff.” said Philip McRae, TPH-St.Louis Director of Hockey-Operations. “Bobby has experience on the operations and analytical side of the game at every high level, from Division 1 college hockey, to the American Hockey league, as well as the National Hockey League. Bobby has a wealth of experience where I do not. I believe our combined knowledge on all sides of the game gives us the ability to not only run the program to its full potential, but more importantly, allow us to make the greatest positive impact on each student-hockey player that comes through the CoE. I am excited to get Bobby to St. Louis, up to speed, and get to work with him.”

A native of Hershey, PA, Feaster spent the 2019-2020 season as the Team Services Coordinator for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.  In his role with the Moose, who are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets, Feaster was responsible for many critical behind the scenes functions for the Moose, who many in hockey regard as one of the American Hockey League’s model franchises.

Prior to his arrival in Manitoba, Bobby served on the hockey coaching staff at the University of North Dakota in a variety of roles under the direction of Brad Berry as a student manager .  While at UND, the 25-year-old graduated, cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and made the Dean’s list three years in a row.

In addition, Feaster has served as an intern for the Columbus Blue Jackets , has won a championship as a youth hockey player in Calgary, Alberta and has grown up around the game his entire life.  Bobby’s father Jay is a former National Hockey League General Manager, having guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup in 2004.

Everyone within the TPH family joins Philip McRae in welcoming Bobby to the team.

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TPH Tabs Notre Dame Alum Blatchford as Phoenix Director

Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce the hiring of Brett Blatchford to the position of Director of Hockey-Operations for its Phoenix division.  Blatchford, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, brings a unique blend of NCAA Division I and professional playing experience, hockey coaching, instruction and business experience as well as a unique leadership skill set to his new position in the desert.

“Brett Blatchford is an intelligent, high character, highly passionate leader who brings a tremendous skill set to the position of Director of Hockey-Operations,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said.  “Brett is a great fit not just for the TPH team, but also for the Phoenix market.  Brett was a team-first player, was diligent in the classroom and was a leader within the Notre Dame community.  Throughout the interview process, it became clear that Brett’s credentials made him the overwhelming choice for this role.  He shares in our belief of taking a holistic approach in impacting student-athletes and recognizes that the most important responsibility we have is to improve the individuals under our tutelage as students and as people.  While we know our kids will definitely develop on the ice under Brett’s tutelage, families can rest assured that when their sons and daughters leave the CoE, they will be poised to excel off the ice and in the game of life.”

Photo Source: UND.com

Blatchford has been part of the Notre Dame community for most of the past 14 years.  He was a member of the Fighting Irish hockey team from 2006-2010, helping his squad to its first National Championship appearance in school history, a number one national ranking, and two CCHA championship titles.  While at Notre Dame, the Temperance, MI native was chosen as the recipient of the Charles “Lefty” Smith Coaches Award, given to the unsung hero of the hockey program who had to overcome adversity while displaying loyalty and commitment to his teammates.  In addition, Blatchford was a three-year member of the Young Leaders of Notre Dame and a four-time Monogram winner.

Blatchford, his wife Kaci, and his daughters Stevie and June are excited about joining the TPH family and calling the Phoenix-area home.

“It is an honor to be named Director of Hockey-Operations for TPH-Phoenix,” Blatchford said.   “The resources in place provide a tremendous opportunity to develop and mentor each student-athlete at a very high level.  I look forward to joining the strong management nucleus already in place in the TPH-Phoenix model.”

After a brief playing career with stops in the CHL, ECHL and AHL, Blatchford transitioned to coaching and instruction.  He served as the Director of Hockey for the Coppell High School Hockey Association in Coppell, TX, returning to a state where he played three seasons of junior hockey.  The 33-year-old established himself as a force with the NAHL’s Texas Tornado from 2003-2006.  During his time in the Lone Star State, Blatchford was a team captain for two of his three seasons, was named the NAHL Academic Player of the Year, earned the Texas Tornado Award, given to the player who exemplifies a team-first attitude, and won three consecutive NAHL National Championships.

“A reoccurring theme throughout Brett’s career were the awards he received which spoke to his leadership, perseverance and selflessness,” TPH-Phoenix Partner Taylor Burke said.  “A significant part of our responsibility in the TPH-Phoenix CoE is to prepare our student-athletes for any demand they may face, whether that be in hockey, the university setting or in the real world.  Brett knows the way to do that and we are confident he will show our student-athletes the path to reaching their full potential on and off the ice.”

After his retirement from the professional game, Blatchford had the unique experience of serving on the coaching staff at Denver University.  He spent one season as the Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Pioneers program, considered by many to be a national powerhouse.

In 2016, Brett would return to South Bend to take on the role of Assistant Program Manager for the Compton Family Ice Arena at the University of Notre Dame.  In his role, the former Fighting Irish defenseman would find himself back on the ice, training players of various ages and skill sets within small group settings, similar to the CoE model.  Two young, aspiring elite hockey players Blatchford would find under his tutelage were the sons of Andy Slaggert, who is the long-time Associate Head Coach of the Notre Dame hockey team.  Slaggert, whose sons have worn the red, white and blue with the US National Team Development Program, praises TPH’s hiring of Blatchford.

“Brett will be a great addition to TPH as he has extensive experience instructing all levels of players on ice,” Slaggert said.  “He is passionate about player development and I have seen this first-hand when he worked with our sons.”

Prospective TPH-Phoenix Center of Excellence families, as well as those already registered for the 2020-2021 school year, are invited to meet Brett virtually during a hybrid meet & greet / open house event, scheduled for Monday, June 8 at 6:00 PM PST via Zoom.  Click here to RSVP.  In addition, families are welcome to e-mail Brett directly at bblatchford@totalpackagehockey.com

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