Posts by Colleen Lynch
Sean Guerin Tenders with Wichita Falls in NAHL
Nashville Jr Predators Coach, Allie Lacombe, Featured in NHL.com Article
Alumni Josh Kestner Leads ECHL Scoring
Total Package Hockey Cancels Jr Predators/Tri-State Spartans AAA Invitational and Suspends Access to Center of Excellence Campuses
Nashville, Tenn. – Total Package Hockey (TPH) announced this morning it has cancelled the Jr Predators/Tri-State Spartans AAA Invitational set to take place in Nashville this weekend, March 13-15. In addition, TPH has taken precautions with the TPH Center of Excellence as well, requiring all student athletes to work from home.
The health and well-being of our student-athletes and their families has always been a top priority and with the current coronavirus (COVID-19) circumstances, the decision to take these precautions has been made.
All seven of our operating Center of Excellence locations have suspended access to campus interaction. Considering the unfortunate situation, we are glad that our student-athletes will not fall behind academically. Although student-athletes are not permitted on our campuses, they will easily be able to maintain their course work through our online academic program.
As the coronavirus situation evolves, TPH will put safety and well-being first and follow the advice of medical professionals and USA Hockey.
One team! We got this!
Dear TPH Student-Athletes, Coaches, Volunteers and Parents,
What a past week it has been for all of us! You are receiving this message because of hockey… because hockey has connected us with you in some way at some time. But this message really has nothing to do with hockey. It has to do with being a team and taking care of one another– our family, friends and the people in our community, to beat this virus, and win over the challenges it is laying out in front of us.
The formal message is below. Please read it and please use it as a resource if you need it. But today, we want to talk directly to you.
We have cancelled tournaments, training and all TPH events over the past week, and will do so for at least the next 30 days. All of this has been done to be proactive and to take precautions. Our heart goes out to all of you who will miss out on a chance to compete for a national championship, play your last game as a senior or compete in that end of the year tournament you were so looking forward to competing in. This is extremely tough to accept, but with each door closed, a new one opens up to us, so take this time to think thru the next door, to look for that next opportunity, and when it opens up, maximize it and take advantage of it to the fullest. You never know when that door may close. As coaches, we always preach to play the game like its your last, train in the spring like its your last season and see opportunity and a chance to grow in all you do!
My good friend Brandon Walker who works for the Nashville Predators, recently posted this on his Facebook page:
“One thing to remember today – we are in charge of our kindness and attitudes. We are gearing up for some weird and tough times. No idea how long – days, weeks, months. Either way things will happen that we have never experienced before.
To you it may just be an overreaction. It may just be “the flu”. To someone else it may be much more. They may have a love one effected. They may have financial implications with their employment. They may not have the resources to be in their homes for several days or longer.
We never know what each other are going though and that needs to be respected. Think before you speak. Think before you post, none of us are experts.
Our compassion, staying positive together and showing kindness to others will help make today better. We got this.”
Walks, you could not have said it any better, and thank you for sharing this with the world. You are so right. We absolutely got this, together! One team! We got this!
Nathan Bowen
Chief Executive Officer
Additional Information:
TPH is committed to the safety and well-being of all our student-athletes, their families and our staff. In the past 24 hours we have made decisions to physically close our Centers of Excellence (CoE), temporarily, and have cancelled the Jr Predators/Tri-State Spartans AAA Tournament scheduled for the weekend of March 13 – 15, 2020. This is an unprecedented time and situation. We felt that this was the best method to safe-guard our student-athletes and those who participate in, anddeliver our programming.
The TPH vision is to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Because of the virtual and on-demand nature of our business, specifically our Center of Excellence model, there is no reason why we will not be able to execute our vision moving forward, despite not having ice to execute it on. In short, it’s business as usual for TPH, with a few necessary tweaks, alterations and additions on the way starting Monday.
In reaching the decision to cancel tournaments, training and all TPH events for 30 days, we relied on information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization and other health officials. It was apparent that one of the most effective means of reducing or slowing the spread of the virus was to take mitigation steps that keep people further apart. The decision was not made because we had received notification that an infected person was in direct contact with anyone associated with any of our CoE’s or other programs or teams. If we learn that someone in our program has had contact with an infected person, we will notify those who could be impacted. We are in close contact with the facilities we operate in and gain information and guidance from them as to how they are responding to the situation. Prior to making the decision to temporarily shut down the CoE’s, we had instituted a protocol in each of them that had a number of components. Those included education of the students on the nature of the virus, symptoms to be aware of and to stay home if they exhibited any, heighten emphasis and awareness of the importance of frequent hand washing and other hygiene habits, increased sanitation of surfaces in our classrooms and other facilities, having a plan for continuing to support and monitor academic performance in the event of a temporary closure, and increased communication. The source of this guidance and recommendations was the CDC.
We will continue to monitor the recommendations of the CDC as well as that of local health officials in the various communities in which we operate and keep you updated of relevant operational decisions as they occur. Because the safety and wellbeing of all who participate in our various programs isour top priority, we have been recommending the following precautionary guidelines from the CDC to help keep peoplehealthy and prevent the spread of the virus:
If you have symptoms or if you or your child are feeling ill, it is recommended you contact your doctor. You may need to be tested and told to stay home for up to 14 days to prevent the spread of the virus, even though you may not show immediate symptoms. Additionally, if you have traveled to affected areas, please be sure to follow the CDC guidelines and recommended quarantine protocols.
We encourage everyone to stay up to date about this information – See the resources below for the latest developments from the CDC.
Because this is a fast-moving and ever-changing situation, we want to assure you that we will be diligent in monitoring updates and following official recommendations from the public health authorities. Please stay tuned for further information from our team on this matter as the situation warrants.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Multiple #TPHTrained Athletes Named to 2020 NAHL Top Prospects Rosters
Central
Jed Pietila /// Michigan Hockey Advancement
East
Cannon Green /// 8 Week Program, Detroit CoE
South
Matt Hutton /// Nashville Jr Predators
Ryan Dickinson /// 8 Week Program, Detroit CoE, OHL Cup
Richie Parent /// Tri-State Spartans, Indy CoE
Nick Trela /// 8 Week Program
Selects Blue
Carson Riddle /// Detroit CoE, OHL Cup, World Selects Invite
Selects Blue
Tiernan Shoudy /// 8 Week Program
Selects Red
Samuel Brennan /// 8 Week Program, World Selects Invite
Grant Hindman /// 8 Week Program
About NAHL Top Prospects
2020 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament Schedule (all times eastern)
Monday, February 17th
Tuesday, February 18th
Aaron O’Neill was presented with the Peter Taylor Award
TPH and Sequoia Choice Strike Academic Partnership
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce a partnership with Sequoia Choice, an Arizona public charter school that will help deliver the TPH-Edmentum NCAA-accredited, customized, blended academic learning experience to student-athletes at its eighth Center of Excellence, which will open its doors at the Ice Den Scottsdale for the 2020 school year.
“We feel extremely fortunate to be entering into an academic partnership with Sequoia Choice,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “Sequoia will implement the same rigorous, robust Edmentum curriculum and CoE learning experience provided across all of our Centers of Excellence, to our student-athletes at our TPH-Phoenix Center of Excellence. The leadership within Sequoia schools are passionate about student success. Their motto of ‘every child is individually known’ makes them a perfect partner for us and Edmentum, and a perfect fit for our future student-athletes, who seek a flexible yet customized learning experience. We are very excited about working with Sequoia to positively impact the lives of student-athletes at our Phoenix CoE.”
Sequoia Choice is a tuition-free Arizona public charter school and Legal Educational Agency of Edkey, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Sequoia was one of the original schools authorized by the Arizona Department of Education to provide distance learning services to Arizona students in grades K-12, and have continued to innovate and advocate for Arizona online schools since 1998.
Sequoia Choice will work alongside TPH and Edmentum to provide the CoE learning experience, one that is built on individualizing and customizing the learning experience based on where, when and how each individual learns best. The Academic Site Coach and Sequoia leadership will push TPH-Phoenix Center of Excellence attendees to produce positive academic outcomes, which Bowen says, is one of the primary goals with the Center of Excellence model.
“We always say that hockey training is the intrigue that drives interested families to the front door. Hockey is what gets them interested in the model. But we believe it is our responsibility to give student-athletes every opportunity to not only achieve their hockey goals, but their academic goals as well. The CoE model allows our student-athletes to dream big and chase hockey, academics and career all at once. This announcement puts us in a great position to ‘exceed expectations,’ which is the mission of Total Package Hockey.”
Interested in learning more about the TPH-Phoenix Center of Excellence? Click here.
TPH Expands to the Heartland
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce expansion into the Heartland of America, as it will launch its ninth Center of Excellence inside the recently opened Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, MO, a suburb of St. Louis. The Centene Community Ice Center is an $83M facility that is home to many organizations including the NHL’s St. Louis Blues.
“We are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to not only bring our Center of Excellence academy model to St. Louis, but to have the opportunity to be part of a facility that will do so much good for the growth of both hockey and entertainment in the St. Louis area,” TPH Chief Executive Officer Nathan Bowen said. “The Centene Community Ice Center is far from just a hockey venue. The opportunities and amenities the facility will offer families in the St. Louis area is exciting to say the least. TPH is very pleased to be able to add the CoE to the list of services provided by the facility. Today’s announcement completes a project we in TPH have been working on for over a year. I want to thank Patrick Quinn, Chairman of the St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation for his hard work, persistence and friendship. We would not be making this announcement today if it wasn’t for Patrick.”
Patrick Quinn, a native St. Louisan with deep roots the game locally as a player, parent, coach and club founder echoed Bowen’s sentiments.
“We are delighted to welcome TPH to the Centene Community Ice Center,” he said. “From the onset, I have been nothing but impressed by Nathan Bowen, the TPH brand and the Center of Excellence model. The CoE offers a unique hockey training experience, combined with an academic and life-learning experience that will benefit players across the Heartland and provide them a chance to live at home as they pursue their hockey ambitions. St. Louis just improved its ability to develop hockey players, students and future leaders with this announcement today.”
For Quinn, it is important that the St. Louis market understand what the Center of Excellence model is, and also, what it is not.
“The most important aspect of the CoE model is that it isn’t restricted to student-athletes who live in certain zip codes or play on certain teams,” Quinn said. “The Center of Excellence is open to 6th through 12th grade girls and boys who have the character, work habits and desire to maximize their potential on and off the ice. The CoE operates during traditional school hours so that the student-athletes can make it to their club team’s events in the evening. Players from CarShield, the ‘AAA’ Blues, Kirkwood, Chesterfield, St. Peters, Rockets or any other local club are welcome at the CoE. The CoE is for the right hockey players from metro-St. Louis and across the Heartland, as the Centene Community Ice Center was built to grow the game here in the Heartland. My hope is that boys and girls from outside St. Louis, be they from Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas or Nebraska, will also see the CoE as a place to achieve their goals and still be close to home.”
The 277,000 square foot Centene facility opened its doors in September and features four NHL-sized ice surfaces, including a covered outdoor rink that will also be used to present concerts, community events and children’s programming. TPH will join the St. Louis ‘AAA’ Blues, St. Louis Lady Cyclones, Lindenwood University, the St. Louis Blues Alumni and the NHL Blues as the primary tenants in the facility. Additionally, the facility is home to the 3,000 square foot artificial ice surface Bauer Team Training Center along with the over 9,000 square foot Mercy Sports Performance Center Powered By EXOS. The Center of Excellence academic space will actually border the NHL’s Blues training facility and provide endless possibilities for TPH to achieve its goal of individualizing and customizing the learning experience for all student-athletes.
“The CoE classroom we are designing at Centene will provide student-athletes with a physical environment that matches the type of culture we look to foster in the classroom,” Bowen said. “Our space will allow our Director of Academics to create four different learning environments so that each individual student-athlete is studying in a physical space that he or she learns best in. Whether it be traditional seating, a private learning space, high top tables or comfortable lounge-style seating, our student-athletes will experience the customization that we in TPH pride ourselves on.”
The classroom “culture” Bowen referred to centers around 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 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 nine 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.
While Bowen enjoys telling the “story” of academics at the Center of Excellence, he is the first to admit that data points that support the message are what families care about most.
“Over the three years TPH and Edmentum have been partnered, we are proud to say that 67% of our student-athletes are maintaining a 3.7-4.0 GPA. In addition, 90% of our student-athletes are maintaining an A or B average, and last year, on average, students across our CoE’s placed above the national average on both the SAT and ACT. We are proud of these numbers, especially when you consider that online courseware is often more rigorous and robust than that of traditional school.”
Just as the academics at the Center of Excellence are individualized, customized and proven, so too is the hockey training. TPH’s Hockey Development model is built on 7 pillars, starting with character traits, athletic qualities and hockey qualities and then expanding to foundational skills, blended skills, and habits, concepts and details central to success on the ice. CoE attendees train off the ice 4-5 days per week and participate in on-ice training sessions 4 days per week, where emphasis is placed on the skills, habits, concepts and details that often get neglected at the club level, where, as Bowen says, the emphasis is more on team play versus the “individual parts that make up the whole.”
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhrCFzlfD1Q[/embedyt]
“Our Hockey-Athlete training model is designed to provide instruction and reps on the fundamentals that make a hockey player successful,” Bowen said. “Once the individual learns the A-B-C’s behind the foundational skills we teach, they are put in drill situations that maximize the use of hockey sense, while utilizing obstacles and people that force awareness, just like in the game. Our training blueprint isolates the parts that make up the whole, and most importantly, is built on skills, habits, concepts and details that are relevant and transferrable once the puck drops.”
While Bowen and TPH get excited any time it launches its Study, Train, Play model, the CEO admits there is a bit more enthusiasm with this announcement, pointing to three factors: timing, quality and reputation of the market.
“St. Louis has been an established hockey market for decades and the success of the NHL Blues has certainly added to that,” Bowen added. “Most people within hockey circles are well-aware of the number of current and future NHL players who have honed their skills in St. Louis, including an unprecedented 5 first-round NHL Draft picks in 2016. Simply put, we are grateful to be a part of the ever-growing St. Louis boys and girls hockey landscape and are very fortunate to be able to execute the TPH vision of positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey in a facility that will push us to turn our vision into a reality on a daily basis.”
Hockey families from across both St. Louis and the Heartland are invited to attend our first open house, presented virtually via Zoom, on Monday, February 3 at 7:00 PM CST. A link to RSVP is included below.
- Click here to RSVP for our upcoming virtual open house on Monday, February 3 at 7:00 PM CST.
- Click here to download our Center of Excellence brochure.
- Click here to request more information on TPH-St. Louis and the Study, Train, Play
About St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation
The St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation was founded to provide the St. Louis region – with an emphasis on youth – with the opportunity to develop their skills in ice sports in setting that foster personal growth and excellence. The Centene Community Ice Center is our “flagship” facility ensures that our region will attract major ice sport events and tournaments, contributing to economic development and job creation, with the resulting effect of strengthening ice sports across our region. In these and related endeavors, we champion the value inherent in ice sports: commitment, good sportsmanship, teamwork, personal integrity, and respect for others and self. Visit us at www.legacyice.org and www.centenecommunityicecenter.com.
For more information on the St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation, contact Patrick Quinn at pq@legacyice.org, or (314) 619-9929.
2020 Freedom Memorial Tournament Completed
Thank you to all that attended the Bob O’Gorman Freedom Memorial Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama this past weekend. There were 35 teams in attendance for the 5 divisions below are the winners of their respective brackets.
