Posts by Colleen Lynch
TPH Takes the Ice at All-American Prospects Game
Total Package Hockey Detroit is pleased to announce that eight TPH-trained players will be participating in the 2017 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects game tonight in Buffalo, NY.
“On behalf of TPH, we congratulate these players on being selected to compete in an event that is truly one of a kind,” TPH Director of Hockey Brandon Naurato said. “This is a testament to both the talent of these young men, as well as their willingness to go above and beyond to hone their craft over the years in various TPH programs.”
Five of the eight TPH-trained All-American Prospects Game participants, which includes defensemen Cole Krygier (Novi, MI), Christian Krygier (Novi, MI), Bode Wilde (Birmingham, MI) and Jacob Semik (Canton, MI), along with goaltender Drew DeRidder (Fenton, MI), attended the TPH Center of Excellence in Detroit, MI, honing their skills in a unique environment that combines both academics and on-ice training. Four of these five players join forwards Paul Cotter (Canton, MI) and John Gruden (Rochester Hills, MI) along with defenseman Alec Regula (West Bloomfield, MI) who participated in TPH’s 8 Week On-Ice Summer Training Program. Regula also donned the TPH colors for both the Michigan Hockey Advancement and OHL Cup programs. In all, four TPH programs are being represented at the event, which features forty-two of the best US-born players, all eligible for the 2018 NHL draft.
Interestingly, no other players in Thursday’s event hail from the state of Michigan, highlighting TPH Detroit as the destination for the future stars of tomorrow, something Naurato and his staff take great pride in.
“The goal of Total Package Hockey as a whole is to positively impact the lives of all of our athletes through the game of hockey. We are proud of the platforms we offer our players and feel incredibly fortunate to play a role in their development, both on and off the ice. It has been a thrill to coach and mentor these eight players. We all look forward to cheering them on tonight in Buffalo,” Naurato added.
For more information on the 2017 CCM/USA Hockey-All American Prospects game, visit www.allamericanprospectsgame.com.
’02 THUNDER PLAYER AIDAN FLYNN COMMITS TO UAH CHARGERS
THUNDER WANTS TO CONGRATULATE 16U AIDAN FLYNN.
Thunder would like to congratulate ’02 Forward Aidan Flynn on committing to play DI College Hockey for the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
Aidan has been with the Thunder family for five years will begin during the ’21-’22 season. He is one of six Thunder players to commit to UAH.
Michigan Hockey Advancement Enjoys Successful Blaine Showcase
Total Package Hockey is pleased announce that the Michigan Hockey Advancement U16 and U18 programs finished a combined 8-0 in the midget division of the 2017 NAHL Showcase this past weekend in Blaine, MN. With their victories, the U18 team has improved their overall record to 5-0-1 and the U16’s moved to 4-2.
“While winning is certainly not the main goal of the MHA program, it is nice to see the players get rewarded,” TPH Director of Player Development and MHA U18 Head Coach Brandon Naurato said. “Michigan Hockey Advancement is about providing our players with a platform to be seen by the top junior and collegiate programs. That was the real win this past weekend.”
In addition to their perfect record, the U18 MHA squad led the entire event with a goal differential of +15. The U18’s were also the only team in their age group to finish a perfect 4-0 on the weekend. The U16’s were one of three teams in their division to finish 4-0, joining Honeybaked and the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies.
As Naurato mentioned, the goal of Michigan Hockey Advancement is just that- advancement. Perhaps the highlight of the weekend came when U18 defenseman Sam Brennan of Brighton High School committed to play Division I hockey at the Air Force Academy and dress for the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas in their Saturday morning game against the Philadelphia Rebels.
“We are proud of the steps the MHA program continues to take, and we were thrilled to be able to wear our colors at an event like the NAHL Showcase,” Naurato added. “We look forward to once again exposing our players to the Blaine experience next September.”
To learn more about Michigan Hockey Advancement, visit https://totalpackagehockey.com/mha-hockey-tph-detroit.
MHA 18U defeats Meijer 18U 4-1 to capture Compuware – Honeybaked Invitational Title
MICHIGAN HOCKEY ADVANCEMENT 18U TEAM BACK TO BACK COMPUWARE – HONEYBAKED INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS
NOVI – For the second time in program history the Michigan Hockey Advancement 18U team has won the Compuware – Honeybaked Invitational Championship, after defeating the Meijer 18U AAA Hockey Club 4 – 1 at the Novi Ice Arena on Sunday.
Plymouth High School Senior Andrew Garby started the scoring for the MHA 18U’s before Meijer fought back to tie the game at 1, early in the second period.
Brighton High School Senior Sam Brennan’s power play goal broke a 1-all tie at 6:54 of the second period giving the MHA 18U’s the lead. Brennan an United States Air Force Academy Commit ended the night with three points (1 goal and 2 assists).
Novi Catholic Central Senior Jared Lee scored the third goal on a nice feed from fellow Shamrock Mitch Morris. Morris a Novi Catholic Central Junior, got the puck from Brennan in the neutral zone, drove wide and fired a pass to Lee who tipped the puck past the outstretched Meijer goaltender.
Novi Catholic Central Senior Brenden West sealed the win with fourth goal. Lake Orion Junior Gabe Potyk and Hartland Senior Josh Albring applied heavy pressure on the Meijer defense, winning a 50-50 puck battle before sliding the puck to a wide open West who fired a high blocker side shot for the goal.
West lead the MHA 18U’s in scoring on the weekend with 7 goals and 5 assists good for 12 points.
Ann Arbor Huron Senior Ethan ST. Pierre registered the win in net for the Michigan Hockey Advancement 18U team.
The MHA 18U team will continue their Fall Season October 20th when they compete in the Bauer Motown Classic.
For more information on the Michigan Hockey Advancement Program please visit:
CoE Student-Athlete Tanner Kelly Commits to MSU
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce that Center of Excellence student-athlete Tanner Kelly has committed to Michigan State University.
Kelly, a student at Hazel Park CoE, is a forward currently playing for the Little Caesars 15U team.
“I chose Michigan State because I’m really excited to play for Danton Cole and the awesome program that he is putting together,” Kelly said in an interview with MiHockey. “Also, playing in the Big Ten is going to be awesome because there is so much good competition so there will be many rivalries and I love playing in big games like that when the pressure is on.”
The ’02 birth-year skater moved to Michigan from California three years ago, and he has been a fixture on a Kris Draper-led Little Caesars team ever since.
MHA 18U Team captures second-straight Bauer Motown Classic
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce that for the second straight season, our Michigan Hockey Advancement 18U Team has won the prestigious Bauer Motown Classic in Metro Detroit.
The MHA 18U squad secured the title in their respective division with a 4-2 victory over the Ted Reeve Thunder Sunday afternoon in Fraser.
The championship-game victory was the sixth of the tournament for the MHA team; they out-scored opponents 39-10 en route to a perfect 6-0 record.
On the season, the 18s are 15-1-1. The team now heads to Boston this week for the Beantown Fall Classic – the final event before the players depart for their respective high school hockey programs.
16U Team finishes second
While the 18U Team won their division, the 16U Team had an impressive showing, as well, finishing in second place.
The 16s finished with a 4-2 record after falling to Belle Tire 16U in the championship game.
Spending their weekend in Novi, the 16U Team recorded wins over the San Diego Gulls, the Cleveland Wildcats, the Cleveland Barons and Hill Academy.
Thunder Alums Commit to Division I Colleges
SINARD AND GORDON COMMIT TO PLAY DIVISION I HOCKEY
Thunder Alumni Andrew Sinard commits to play at Miami University. Sinard spent time in the USHL and the NAHL following his time with the Thunder.
Thunder Alumni Erik Gordon commits to play at the College of the Holy Cross. Gordon has spent time in the USHL, NAHL, and the AJHL following his time with the Thunder.
Detroit CoE Student signs NLI to Michigan State
DREW DERIDDER RETURNS TO HIS OLD SCHOOL IN CANTON TO SIGN NLI TO MICHIGAN STATE
Drew DeRidder with Brandon Naurato (photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)
By @MichaelCaples –
CANTON – Drew DeRidder could have signed his National Letter of Intent to Michigan State University via phone app from Finland.
The Fenton native had a different idea in mind, however.
On Tuesday, just a few days after his U.S. National Under-18 Team returned from an international tournament, DeRidder and his mom, Jennifer, arrived at Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Canton.
Why? His mentor, Brandon Naurato, and his former school, the Center of Excellence.
“TPH is the reason that I’m any good,” DeRidder said with a smile.
The future Spartans goaltender was part of the inaugural Total Package Hockey Center of Excellence class in 2014-15, and he stayed with the CoE until he got an early-season call-up to his USHL parent club in Cedar Rapids last year.
DeRidder credited Naurato and the TPH staff for helping him reach this new opportunity – a now-secured spot with the Big Ten hockey program in East Lansing.
“I came in here, not very good, debating playing high school hockey,” DeRidder said. “This was a huge turning point for me.”
His mentor, Naurato, knew there was big things in store for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies goaltender at the time.
“When Drew first showed up, we could see a lot of potential in him,” the TPH Detroit Director of Hockey said. He’s a special kid from a great family, and it’s been awesome to work with him and help him grow through this process. He’s a tremendous goaltender but a better person, and I’m thrilled for him to have this opportunity to play Big Ten hockey next season.”
He’s now officially living out one of his childhood dreams. Jennifer DeRidder told MiHockey about how from an early age, he had Munn Ice Arena circled as a destination for his hockey career.
Jennifer DeRidder with her son and Naurato (photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)
“His hard work and dedication and through people like Brandon and his coaches, they’ve supported and encouraged and led him to the next phase – college hockey,” the proud mom said. “Drew had a plan when he was 5 or 6 years old that he was going to go to Michigan State and play college hockey, and it’s exciting to see his dreams come true.”
Watching him sign his NLI was “really exciting, really exciting to see him sign the next chapter of his hockey career,” said Jennifer.
DeRidder praised his time with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies program, as well; he spent four years with the Tier 1 organization before becoming a third-round pick of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
“That was four years, it was a great place to play,” DeRidder said. “They have everything you need, and I played with a lot of kids throughout my whole time there – it was a great place to learn and grow as a hockey player and as a person.”
Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey
Roster turnover gave him the chance to come home from Iowa earlier than expected – after a remarkable season with the RoughRiders as one of the youngest goalies in the USHL, he was summoned to Plymouth to be the NTDP’s new starting goaltender for the U18 Team.
“It’s the best season I’ve ever had, the best season of my life so far,” DeRidder said. “We just got back from Finland, not the best tournament, but so many good experiences playing international and college and USHL teams.”
And he doesn’t know if any of it would be possible without Naurato firing pucks at him for years.
“I just can’t explain it, it’s amazing,” he said of his TPH training. “The first summer program that I did, every shot, that’s where I got my compete level from, every shot you’re struggling, fighting to keep the puck out of the net. Especially against Brandon, because he just celebrates so hard. It’s unbelievable.”
11 TPH Trained Players on November NHL Central Scouting List
COE, 8-WEEK PROGRAM, THUNDER, AND MHA ALUMNI GETTING NOTICED BY NHL SCOUTS
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce that 11 TPH-trained players have recently been recognized by NHL Central Scouting as ‘players to watch’ for the upcoming 2018 NHL Draft.
On Central Scouting’s November watch list, players were grouped by A, B and C ratings – one TPH alum appeared in the A group, while three appeared in the ‘B’ and seven in the ‘C’ group.
“It’s awesome to see these players be rewarded for all their hard work,” said TPH managing partner Nathan Bowen. “We’re proud of all of them for everything they do on and off the ice to be elite hockey players and even better young men.”
Six of the players on the Central Scouting list are alumni of the TPH Center of Excellence in Detroit, eight of the players have taken part in the TPH 8-week offseason training program, two of the players are TPH Thunder alumni, and one is a product of the Michigan Hockey Advancement high school hockey fall program.
“A” rated players
Bode Wilde – TPH CoE (Detroit) – USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program
“B” rated players
Johnny Gruden – 8-week training program (Detroit) – USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program
Christian Krygier – TPH CoE and 8-week training program (Detroit) – Lincoln Stars
Cole Krygier – TPH CoE and 8-week training program (Detroit) – Lincoln Stars
“C” rated players
Caleb Everett – TPH CoE and 8-week program (Detroit) – Saginaw Spirit
Blade Jenkins – TPH CoE and 8-week program (Detroit) – Saginaw Spirit
Will MacKinnon – TPH CoE and 8-week program (Detroit) – Des Moines Buccaneers
Tommy Miller – 8-week training program (Detroit) – Michigan State Spartans
Alec Regula – MHA and 8-week training program (Detroit) – London Knights
Renars Krastenburgs – TPH Thunder AAA Hockey Club alum – Oshawa Generals
Ben Schultheis – TPH Thunder AAA Hockey Club alum – Minnesota Magicians
Anzalone, Zirnis Reunited with Team Latvia
COACH ANZALONE AND COACH ZIRNIS JOIN TEAM LATVIA AT UPCOMING 2018 WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Francis Anzalone, Vice-President, TPH Way, and Karlis Zirnis, former TPH coach/instructor and current Head Coach of TPH hockey partner, the Shreveport Mudbugs, will team up to coach the Latvian Under-20 Men’s Hockey Team at the upcoming 2018 World Junior Hockey Championships in Meribel, France next month. This assignment will reunite Zirnis and Anzalone, who coached together in Shreveport during the 2016-2017 season, when the tandem helped guide the expansion Mudbugs to a successful 35-win inaugural season in the NAHL.
“We are very excited for Karlis and Francis to coach together on this big stage,” TPH Managing Partner Nathan Bowen said.
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“Karlis and Francis share the same amount of passion for getting the most of out players. While their personalities and leadership styles differ, they see the job of a coach, the game of hockey and the vision for their teams the exact same. They made a great one-two punch last season in Shreveport and I know they will give their best with Team Latvia.”
Zirnis began coaching with TPH after retiring from professional hockey in 2010. He guided teams at the Bantam and Midget levels for TPH, coaching in the Thunder ‘AAA’ organization. He also led the NA3HL’s Nashville Jr. Predators for two seasons, amassing an impressive 73-17-4 record. After a memorable first season in the NAHL last year, Zirnis has the Mudbugs off to a terrific 16-4-1-1 start through the first 22 games of the 17-18 NAHL season.
The 2018 World Junior Hockey Championships will be another one of many assignments Zirnis has had on the international stage. The Riga, Latvia native has served in various coaching roles for his native country at numerous international events, including the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where the 40 year old was as an Assistant Coach on Ted Nolan’s staff. The upcoming World Junior Championships will be Zirnis’ first assignment as a Head Coach for Team Latvia.
Anzalone returns to the bench after transitioning into an executive role with TPH back in July. Prior to coaching alongside Zirnis in Shreveport last season, Anzalone guided the NAHL’s Aberdeen Wings for three seasons, spending two as Head Coach. Before that, the Sault Ste. Marie, MI native spent four seasons with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids Roughriders, serving in various roles from Regional Scout to Assistant Coach. It was while coaching ‘AAA’ hockey and scouting for Cedar Rapids back in 2010 that Anzalone was first introduced to Zirnis. The two met at the Elite Edge Hockey Showcase in Nashville, TN and have grown their relationship ever since.
“Total Package Hockey has always been about connecting quality, like-minded people and building relationships so that we can make a positive impact on the lives of our student-athletes. Former NHL Coach and Stanley Cup Champion, Bob Hartley and the Latvian Federation believe in the impact that Karlis and Francis can have on the country’s top junior players. This speaks volumes to the kind of people, coaches and instructors that TPH student-athletes are consistently working with.” Bowen added. And it is just that, relationships, that Managing Partner Nathan Bowen has always taken pride in.