News
TPH team reaches quarterfinals of OHL Cup
Total Package Hockey is proud to congratulate the team representing TPH at the OHL Cup for a strong tournament showing.
The TPH team reached the quarterfinals of the prestigious end-of-season tournament, recording three wins at the Scotiabank Pond in North York, Ontario.
“We’re very proud of this team and how they performed this past week,” said head coach Francis Anzalone. “For a roster filled with players who had no experience playing together, they did an outstanding job of coming together as a team and supporting one another, all while competing against elite teams in a high-pressure environment.”
The TPH team was a group of #TPHTrained players from across the country (the roster is below).
After falling to the Halton Hurricanes in their first game, the TPH boys rallied to record three straight victories – securing their spot in the quarterfinals in the process.
First, they recorded a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Nationals. Following that Wednesday win, they rattled off Thursday and Friday victories, respectively, over the North York Rangers (5-2) and Brantford 99’ers (4-1).
In the quarterfinals, they fell to the Don Mills Flyers, the eventual OHL Cup champions.
Ryan Humphrey, a TPH Detroit Center of Excellence student-athlete, led the TPH team in scoring with seven points in four games. Connor Miller, a Fenton, Mich., native, was second with six points. Click here for a full statistical breakdown for the team.
Between the pipes, Grand Rapids, Mich., nativeHomer Gibson recorded two wins, while Nashville native Slava Gordeichuk picked up a win, as well.
| Pos | Name | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | Humphrey, Ryan | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| F | Miller, Connor | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| F | Hayes, Lucas | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| F | Mangan, Jared | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| F | Muzzatti, Sutter | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 |
| D | Heroux, Logan | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| F | Karaman, Sean | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| D | Austin, Ryan | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| D | Blackley, Joseph | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 0 | 6 |
| D | Clark, Austin | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
| D | Lewis, Braydin | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| F | Luther, Jackson | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 2 | 3 |
| F | Nichol, Hayden | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 0 | 3 |
| D | Rosenthal, Riley | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 2 | 4 |
| G | Gordeichuk, Slava | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| G | Homer, Gibson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C | Faucher, Trevor | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| F | Lipsett, Keaton | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| F | Ushakov, Yuri | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 2 | 13 |
CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND FOR THE THUNDER HOCKEY CLUB
The Thunder Hockey Club finished the 2018-19 season on a high note as three teams took division championships at regional tournaments.
Michigan International Prep School Joins TPH-Edmentum Partnership
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Michigan International Prep School (MIPS) will become its primary school partner for the state of Michigan, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. Michigan International Prep School (MIPS) is accredited by the Michigan Department of Education and has earned NCAA accreditation for the student-athletes it serves. MIPS was founded by three proven, visionary leaders with an exemplary record of success in the field of blended education. Collectively, they have over 40 years of experience in virtual education. MIPS has serviced some families in the Detroit Center of Excellence for the past two years and will now become the primary school partner for TPH’s two Michigan-based Centers of Excellence in Bloomfield Township and Grand Rapids.
“We are delighted to work alongside MIPS and our academic platform provider and partner Edmentum to continue to create a unique, one-of-a-kind learning experience for our student-athletes,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “As we went through the process of evaluating potential school partners for next school year, we were most impressed by MIPS’ desire to go above and beyond in providing value to our student-athletes. They put the needs of students first and share in our mission of exceeding expectations of student-athletes and their families.”
TPH’s combined partnerships with Edmentum and MIPS will offer its student-athletes a fully individualized learning experience. Student-athletes will study virtually on a customized learning platform built for TPH by Edmentum. The teachers are primarily focused on servicing student-athletes across all Centers of Excellence and teach virtually via live lessons while interacting with student-athletes via phone, text, instant messaging and Zoom video conferencing. MIPS will add another layer to the learning experience for TPH’s Michigan-based student-athletes, by providing academic and technical support throughout the day and evening to accommodate the individual’s athletic demands. TPH will continue to provide on-site support within all of its Centers, completing the CoE learning experience.
“The educational team at MIPS is excited to have a new partnership with Total Package Hockey,” MIPS Superintendent Drew Hulbert said. “With our student-parent service model, the transition for TPH student athletes and their parents will be seamless. Our educational model and attention to detail in ensuring the success of our students ties in well with TPH’s training model in preparing future collegiate Division I students, hockey players and/or NHL players.”
Hulbert went on to state that like Edmentum, MIPS develops Educational Development Plans based on the individual student’s talents, interests, motivations, goals, schedules and needs. Nathan Bowen believes that the like-mindedness of MIPS and Edmentum will provide a learning experience unrivaled by any other hockey or sports academy across the country.
“TPH has always prided itself on building relationships and forming partnerships with people, groups and organizations who share our passion for positively impacting the lives of student-athletes,” Bowen said. “When we talk to our partners with Edmentum, we feel like we are talking to our new partners with MIPS, and when we communicate with MIPS, we hear the same values Edmentum expresses to us. TPH, Edmentum and MIPS all look forward to a long partnership governed by the principle of making the greatest possible positive impact on our student-athletes.”
MIPS Superintendent Drew Hulbert will be present at TPH’s upcoming informational open house at the Grand Rapids Center of Excellence on Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00 PM at Southside Ice Arena. Drew will be presenting in-depth on MIPS’ role in the Study component of the CoE motto of Study-Train-Play. In addition, Drew will be on-site at TPH’s Center of Excellence in Bloomfield Township on Monday, March 25 at 7:00 PM to lead a similar presentation for families of current and future CoE attendees.
- To RSVP for the Grand Rapids Open House on March 19, please click here.
- To learn more about Michigan International Prep School, please click here.
Twenty #TPHTrained players selected in 2019 USHL Draft
otal Package Hockey is proud to congratulate the 20 #TPHTrained players who were selected during the two-day USHL Draft.
Four TPH names were selected during the Phase 1 Draft Monday evening, the portion of the draft that focused solely on the 2003 birth-year class.
On Tuesday, 13 TPH names followed suit, as the USHL clubs filled their rosters with a selection process of all the players eligible to play junior hockey next fall.
Seven TPH Detroit Center of Excellence student-athletes – four current enrollees and three alums – were selected, while a collection of players who have participated in the Eight Week Summer Progression Program or competed with TPH at the World Selects Invite or the OHL Cup. Three players are Thunder AAA alums, as well.
“The TPH family is tremendously proud of these players for this latest achievement,” said TPH CEO Nathan Bowen. “We are confident that due to their character and their work ethic that they’re up to the challenge, and they will continue to make us proud at the next level – wherever that may be.”
Phase 1 Draft
Finn Kilbride – Center of Excellence – Green Bay Gamblers
Ryan Humphrey – Center of Excellence, OHL Cup Team – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Nicholas Sofikitis – Center of Excellence – Tri-City Storm
Luke Buss – Center of Excellence – Tri-City Storm
Sutter Muzzatti – OHL Cup Team – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Riley Rosenthal – OHL Cup Team – Dubuque Fighting Saints
Phase 2 Draft
Davis Pennington – Center of Excellence – Madison Capitols
Dalton Norris – Center of Excellence – Lincoln Stars
Tyler Williams – Center of Excellence – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Sam Antenucci – Eight Week Program – Sioux City Musketeers
Drew Cooper – Eight Week Program – Omaha Lancers
Thomas Middleton – Eight Week Program – Dubuque Fighting Saints
Jacob Willets – Eight Week Program – Green Bay Gamblers
Michael Woll – World Selects Invite – Madison Capitols
Conor Ronayne – OHL Cup Team – Muskegon Lumberjacks
Cameron Rowe – OHL Cup Team – Des Moines Buccaneers
Joseph Blackley – OHL Cup Team – Sioux Falls Stampede
Ben Schultheis – Thunder alum, Eight Week Program – Dubuque Fighting Saints
Cooper Fensterstock – Thunder alum – Des Moines Buccaneers
Therien Thiesing – Thunder alum – Green Bay Gamblers
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Through academics, mentorship and athletics, TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, Total Package Hockey has assisted in the academic, athletic and hockey development of over 600 players who have advanced to junior, collegiate and professional hockey. Since inception, 45 #TPHTrained student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Draft, while 280 have committed to the NCAA level – 189 of which are Division I. In addition, 99 players have been selected in the OHL Priority Selection and 353 have signed tenders or been drafted in the USHL and NAHL. While TPH is proud of its student-athletes who have achieved success on-the ice, it is the process of developing young men and women as people, first and foremost, that our world-class team of coaches and mentors take the most amount of pride in. While it is our responsibility to prepare each individual for success on the ice, it is our mission to prepare each and every individual for success in the ultimate game – the game of life! To learn more about TPH, visit www.totalpackagehockey.com.
Eight #TPHTrained players featured in ‘Michigan names to know’ list for USHL draft
In addition to their annual OHL Draft preview, for the 2019 calendar year, MiHockey has produced a ‘Michigan names to know’ list for the 2019 USHL Phase 1 Draft with the assistance of league scouts.
Eight of the players on the list are of the #TPHTrained variety.
Seven attend the TPH Center of Excellence in Bloomfield, while one competed with TPH team at the recent OHL Cup.
TPH wishes these players, and the rest of the ’03 class, the best of luck heading into Monday and Tuesday’s USHL Draft.
TPH Detroit CoE student-athletes
Jackson Truchan – Compuware 16U
Jack Stolicker – Compuware 16U
Nicholas Sofikitis – Compuware 16U
Finn Kilbride – Honeybaked 15O
Alec Stewart – Honeybaked 15O
Eddie Shepler – Honeybaked 16U
Ryan Humphrey – Honeybaked 16U
OHL Cup
Sutter Muzzatti – Meijer 15O
About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. Through academics, mentorship and athletics, TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, Total Package Hockey has assisted in the academic, athletic and hockey development of over 600 players who have advanced to junior, collegiate and professional hockey. Since inception, 45 #TPHTrained student-athletes have been selected in the NHL Draft, while 280 have committed to the NCAA level – 189 of which are Division I. In addition, 99 players have been selected in the OHL Priority Selection and 353 have signed tenders or been drafted in the USHL and NAHL. While TPH is proud of its student-athletes who have achieved success on-the ice, it is the process of developing young men and women as people, first and foremost, that our world-class team of coaches and mentors take the most amount of pride in. While it is our responsibility to prepare each individual for success on the ice, it is our mission to prepare each and every individual for success in the ultimate game – the game of life! To learn more about TPH, visit www.totalpackagehockey.com.
Jordan Pietrus to Lead TPH-Colorado CoE
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Jordan Pietrus will serve as the Director of Hockey-Operations for its Colorado Center of Excellence. A graduate of Brown University with an MBA in International Business from Coventry University, Pietrus brings a unique combination of hockey playing and instruction experience as well as academic and business-related experience to TPH’s 7th Center of Excellence location.
“Jordan is the perfect person to lead us in Colorado,” TPH-Colorado Partner Angelo Ricci said. “He played Division I college hockey and spent nine years in the minor pro circuit in both North America and Europe. During that time, Jordan took initiative and bettered himself as a hockey player, as a hockey teacher and also as a leader. His track record inside and outside of the game of hockey is very impressive. We were drawn to Jordan’s passion, intellect, and strategic approach to bettering our student-athletes. I’m looking forward to working with Jordan to make the Colorado CoE the ultimate destination for the aspiring elite hockey player, athlete, student and person.”
In April, Pietrus wrapped up a nine-year professional playing career that included stops in the ECHL with South Carolina, Trenton and Elmira, as well as overseas in England, Poland and most recently Denmark, where Pietrus’ SonderjyskE club reached the league finals.
Prior to turning pro, Pietrus spent four years at Brown University. During that time, the 33-year-old was named to the ECAC All-Academic team, was voted a finalist for the Ivy League Student-Athlete of the Year award and was an NCAA Hockey Humanitarian Finalist. Pietrus’ impressive list of collegiate accolades is topped off with the NCAA Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, which he earned in 2010.
Perhaps what’s most impressive about Pietrus’ playing resume is that in thirteen combined seasons as a collegiate and professional player, the Vermillion, Alberta native served as captain of his team on eight occasions.
“Jordan oozes with leadership,” Ricci went on to say. “His resume illustrates exactly what we want to teach young players to do- pursue your hockey dreams, but better yourself and others along the way. Jordan has used hockey as his vehicle to achieve so much on and off the ice. He will set a great example for the youngsters in our CoE.”
From 2015-2018, while competing for Coventry in the EIHL and pursuing his MBA, Pietrus served as a lecturer in Undergraduate and Masters levels courses at Coventry University. He has run his own hockey skills development business and also has a background in off-ice training and sports marketing. He and his wife Shannon have been married for six years and are the proud parents of two daughters, Maeve (2) and Vivian (2.5 months).
“I am absolutely thrilled about the opportunity to join the Total Package Hockey team in Denver,” Pietrus said. “TPH has an impressive history of developing student-athletes to help them achieve their goals across the country. The game of hockey has been very good to me, but education has always been number one for me and my family, and now it’s my turn to give back. I could not be more excited to combine my two passions in education and hockey, to help guide Denver’s next generation of aspiring young athletes in the pursuit of their dreams at the Center of Excellence.
If you wish to join Angelo Ricci in welcoming Jordan to Colorado, he can be reached via e-mail at Jordan.Pietrus@gmail.com.
Space is limited for the 2019-2020 school year. To apply for the Center of Excellence, which is the first step in the registration process, please click here.
TPH welcomes more than 50 teams to inaugural Grizzlies AAA Invite
On the last weekend of April, Total Package Hockey held its inaugural Grizzlies AAA Invite, in partnership with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies Hockey Club. More than 50 teams took part in the spring tournament at Fraser Hockeyland, which featured divisions ranging from Mites to 16U – with every age group filled to capacity. TPH is proud to say that it was a successful weekend.
“We were very pleased with how the first-ever Grizzlies AAA Invite went, and we look forward to hosting more events like this in the future,” said TPH’s Keith Rowe. “Thanks to the Fraser Hockeyland for hosting, and thanks for all the teams for joining us for a fun-filled weekend.”
TPH-Summit Education Group Team Up in Colorado
TOTAL PACKAGE HOCKEY IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A PARTNERSHIP WITH SUMMIT EDUCATION GROUP.
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce a partnership with Summit Education Group. Summit will serve as the academic arm for its seventh Center of Excellence at Family Sports Center in the Denver, CO area. TPH and Summit Education Group will work closely together on the Study component of TPH’s Study-Train-Play model to implement the CoE’s fully customized online learning platform, built by Edmentum, the official academic partner of Total Package Hockey.
“We feel extremely fortunate to be entering into an academic partnership with Summit Education Group,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “Summit will commit many valuable resources to enhance the learning experience at our Center of Excellence at Family Sports. They will take the rigorous and robust learning curriculum and platform that Edmentum has built for us in TPH and see that it is delivered to our student-athletes in a way that gives each and every individual the greatest possible opportunity to succeed academically. We view this partnership as central to the success of the CoE model in Colorado.”
Established in 2011, Summit is a Colorado-based Education Management Organization committed to ensuring all student learners have the best opportunity for success in life. Their mission is to empower the world to achieve greatness, one individual, one organization and one community at a time. Summit offers a unique educational model of blended learning, partnering with associations and organizations such as TPH, school districts, home-school communities, local philanthropic institutions, charter and private schools and businesses. Summit presently serves the needs of approximately 2,000 students. They are an AdvancedED accredited Middle/High School with students ranging from grades 6 to 12.
Student-athletes and their families who are interested in learning more about the TPH-Summit partnership are invited to attend tonight’s Open House, which will take place at 7 PM, on-site at Family Sports Center, the home of the TPH-Colorado CoE. To RSVP for tonight’s event, please click here.
To learn more about the Colorado Center of Excellence and to apply for the 2019-2020 school year, click here.
Space will be limited for the 2019-2020 school year. To apply for the Center of Excellence, which is the first step in the registration process, please click here.
Nashville Predators Sign TPH Thunder alum Josh Wilkins to Entry-Level Contract
Nashville, Tenn. (April 18, 2019) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Thursday that the team has signed forward Josh Wilkins to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Wilkins, 21 (6/11/97), helped lead Providence College to its fifth Frozen Four appearance in school history in 2018-19 and capped off his junior campaign with a career-high 46 points (20g-26a) in 40 games. He led the Friars and was ninth in the country in points, and his 20 goals – also a career best – were 10th among all NCAA players. Wilkins, who was among the top three on his team in scoring during all three of his college seasons, was a 2019 NCAA All-American and a 2019 First Team Hockey East All-Star, both career firsts. He closed out his time at Providence with 108 points (48g-60a) in 119 games from 2016-19.
Never drafted, the Raleigh, N.C., native spent one season with the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers in 2014-15 before enrolling at Providence, tallying 29 points (16g-13a) 49 games. Wilkins is a product of the TPH Thunder youth program, which merged with the Nashville Jr. Predators in December of 2018 and plays out of Ford Ice Center, captaining its U-16 team in 2013-14.
The day before each Predators Playoff game, both at home and on the road, fans can partake in the Monster Block scavenger hunt. Follow @PredsNHL on Twitter for hints to the locations of ice blocks in and around Nashville that contain Preds memorabilia, gift cards to local businesses, tickets to upcoming Playoffs games and more!
All Citizens of Smashville will have the ability to enter the Drive to the Cup ticket contest for a chance to win one of 50 pairs of free tickets provided by Bridgestone. To enter, the day before each home game, fans can find any Bridgestone logo, add their Preds Pride and tweet a photo using #Bridgestone. On game day, the 50 winners will be contacted directly with additional information on claiming their pair of tickets!
Family Sports Center to House Colorado CoE
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that it’s seventh Center of Excellence will be housed inside Family Sports Center in Centennial, CO, a south suburb of Denver. The two-ice sheet, multi-purpose facility offers many amenities to its visitors and is also the training facility of the Colorado Avalanche.
“Partnering with Family Sports is a great avenue for us as we strive to do things The TPH Way at our Colorado Center of Excellence,” TPH-Colorado Partner Angelo Ricci said. “We love the quality of the venue, love the location and believe in the programs Family Sports runs to appeal to hockey players of all ages and abilities. Above all, what we are most excited about is the commitment the leadership of the facility and South Suburban Parks and Recreation is making to the CoE model. They want to see the CoE concept succeed in the Denver area and today is proof of that.”
In addition to providing student-athletes the opportunity to skate on the same ice as the NHL’s Avs, Family Sports will provide classroom space which will enable TPH to create the customized learning experience it promotes in the CoE model. Student-athletes will perform a portion of their off-ice training across the parking lot in the 45,000 square foot South Suburban Sports Dome and will have the opportunity to pick from a customized, TPH athlete-friendly lunch menu inside Avalanche Grill. The landscape of Family Sports Center will allow TPH to create a mini-campus within its new Centennial home.
“Total Package Hockey’s vision aligns with South Suburban’s culture of providing quality experiences to our community,” said Family Sports General Manager Bill Dobbs. “We feel fortunate to be the home of such a high-caliber program.
Family Sports Assistant General Manager and Director of Travel Hockey Randy Murphy echoed Dobbs’ sentiment.
“We are excited to partner with Total Package Hockey and the Center of Excellence,” Murphy said. “The nationally recognized program will provide unique opportunities for our local community and athletes who are committed to success on and off the ice.”
Prospective student-athletes and their families are invited to join Ricci and the TPH leadership team for its second open house, and first from its new home inside Family Sports Center, on Monday, April 29 at 7:00 PM. To RSVP for the event, please click here.
Space will be limited for the inaugural 2019-2020 school year, so interested student-athletes and their families are encouraged to apply to the Center of Excellence by clicking here. Doing so will allow the prospect to secure the opportunity to be part of the Study – Train – Play experience in Centennial this fall.