The Calendar Turns But the Games Go On

2022 Bauer Music City Invitational Preview


The year is coming to a close and that means that it is time for the annual Bauer Music City Invitational in Nashville, Tenn. Fifty-four teams from Los Angeles to New Jersey are heading to the Music City for games starting on December 29th to compete to be the final team standing in their respective divisions.

 

With 121 games on the schedule, the event will carry through to 2022 where the champions will hoist the guitar as is tradition at the event. This weekend in Nashville is also focused on exposure. As with the previous TPH events, TPH’s partners at The Prospect Exchange provided all attending athletes the opportunity to take advantage of Premium X.

 

Premium X, powered by ICEBERG Analytics, gives each player access to shift-by-shift condensed video and analytics to their games. To date, 570 players have taken advantage of Premium X as a resource to learn more and share their skills with coaches. Premium X is available for all players attending this weekend’s event.

 

The 2022 Bauer Music City Invitational is primed for some highly competitive competition amongst top Tier I programs in the nation. Below is an overview of the event.

 

14U Girls Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.

  Belle Tire

Ranking: 15th | Record: 11-27-3 | Roster | Schedule

  Cincinnati Lady Swords

Ranking: 87th | Record: 8-2-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 19th | Record: 1-3-2 | Roster | Schedule

  North Alabama Travel

Ranking: NA | Record: NA | Roster | Schedule

18U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.

    California Wave

Ranking: 99th | Record: 8-17-2 | Roster | Schedule

  LA Jr. Kings

Ranking: 90th | Record: 10-16-0 | Roster | Schedule

Madison Capitols

Ranking: 114th | Record: 5-21-1 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 12th | Record: 22-8-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Oakland Jr. Grizzlies

Ranking: 9th | Record: 26-9-0 | Roster | Schedule

Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

Ranking: 32rd | Record: 26-10-0 | Roster | Schedule

Tri-State Spartans

Ranking: 44th | Record: 23-18-0 | Roster | Schedule

16U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.

  Carolina Jr. Hurricanes

Ranking: 80th | Record: 11-24-2 | RosterSchedule

  LA Jr. Kings

Ranking: 92nd | Record: 6-20-0 | RosterSchedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 55th | Record: 12-24-0 | RosterSchedule

Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

Ranking: 67th | Record: 13-20-0 | RosterSchedule

Tri-State Spartans

Ranking: 102nd | Record: 10-25-1 | RosterSchedule

West Dundee Leafs

Ranking: NA | Record: NA | Roster | Schedule

15U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.

  Detroit Compuware

Ranking: 16th | Record: 16-13-1 | Roster | Schedule

Detroit Honeybaked

Ranking: 20th | Record: 21-16-0 | Roster | Schedule

Detroit Little Caesars

Ranking: 4th | Record: 24-13-2 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 34th | Record: 21-8-3 | Roster | Schedule

North Jersey Avalanche

Ranking: 9th | Record: 26-7-1 | Roster | Schedule

  Oakland Jr. Grizzlies

Ranking: 50th | Record: 15-17-0 | Roster | Schedule

Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

Ranking: 33rd | Record: 18-13-0 | Roster | Schedule

Seacoast Performance Academy

Ranking: 25th | Record: 18-13-0 | Roster | Schedule

Tri-State Spartans

Ranking: 65th | Record: 17-14-5 | Roster | Schedule

14U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.

  Detroit Belle Tire

Ranking: 62nd | Record: 8-16-2 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 54th | Record: 15-16-2 | RosterSchedule

Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

Ranking: 64th | Record: 14-13-2 | RosterSchedule

Tampa Bulls

Ranking: NA | Record: NA | RosterSchedule

Tri-State Spartans

Ranking: 93rd | Record: 15-14-3 | RosterSchedule

13U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.

  Colorado Rampage

Ranking: 148th | Record: 4-15-1 | Roster | Schedule

Madison Capitols

Ranking: 52nd | Record: 22-16-5 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 46th | Record: 18-11-2 | Roster | Schedule

Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

Ranking: 95th | Record: 8-11-2 | Roster | Schedule

Seacoast Spartans

Ranking: 111th | Record: 11-18-1 | Roster | Schedule

Tri-State Spartans

Ranking: 102nd | Record: 17-7-1 | Roster | Schedule

12U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.

  Carolina Jr Hurricanes

Ranking: 76th | Record: 14-15-2 | Roster | Schedule

CarShield AAA Hockey

Ranking: 79th | Record: 6-25-4 | Roster | Schedule

Madison Capitols

Ranking: 47th | Record: 19-15-2 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 64th | Record: 12-17-3 | Roster | Schedule

New England Knights

Ranking: 172nd | Record: 4-13-3 | Roster | Schedule

TPH Prospects

Ranking: NA | Record: NA | Roster | Schedule

Tri-State Spartans

Ranking: 175th | Record: 8-13-2 | Roster | Schedule

Wenatchee AAA

Ranking: 258th | Record: 1-10-1 | Roster | Schedule

11U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.

  Carolina Jr Hurricanes

Ranking: 45th | Record: 18-10-4 | Roster | Schedule

Florida Alliance

Ranking: 20th | Record: 4-6-2 | Roster | Schedule

Madison Capitols

Ranking: 36th | Record: 17-19-2 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 84th | Record: 10-19-2 | Roster | Schedule

Tri-State Spartans

Ranking: 192nd | Record: 4-16-2 | Roster | Schedule

10U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 12/27/2021.

  Madison Capitols

Ranking: 83rd | Record: 8-20-1 | Roster | Schedule

Detroit Compuware

Ranking: 45th | Record: 8-16-1 | Roster | Schedule

Detroit Honeybaked

Ranking: 63th | Record: 6-16-1 | Roster | Schedule

Tri-State Spartans

Ranking: 325th | Record: 3-13-1 | Roster | Schedule


FACILITY

Centennial Sportsplex222 25th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203

Ford Ice Center – Antioch5264 Hickory Hollow Pkwy, Antioch, TN 37013

Ford Ice Center – Bellevue7638 B Hwy 70 S, Nashville, TN 37221


To learn more about future TPH Tournaments, click here.

 

CoE Alumni Rutger McGroarty Heralded as Elite NHL Prospect

Rutger McGroarty’s name is highlighted, underlined, bolded, and circled in red pen by NHL scouts across the country. Long before he was heralded as one of the top Americans eligible in this year’s NHL draft class, Rutger was a student athlete at the Detroit Center of Excellence (CoE). With the 2022 NHL Draft just six months away, let’s take a look at how Rutger made a name for himself. 

 

During his time as a student athlete at CoE, Rutger was lighting the bantam hockey scene on fire. In 2017 and 2018, he tallied 101 points in just 37 games, leading the ‘04 Honeybaked squad to back-to-back Michigan state titles. Rutger began to garner national attention during his U15 season when he linked up with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, where he put up an astonishing 82 goals and 78 assists in just 63 games. 

 

Rutger credits his time at CoE for his on-ice success. “CoE had such a big impact on my hockey game,” he stated. “Skating every day with a bunch of high-end hockey players who all want to be successful in the game – it’s hard not to get better when you’re competing with and against a bunch of kids like that.” His incredible work ethic combined with his raw hockey ability made Rutger a stand out talent from an early age. 

 

Flash forward to 2021, and Rutger is beginning to dominate on an international level. He racked up 35 points in 34 games with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP U17 squad). After graduating to the U18 team, he put up similar numbers, tallying 16 points in 27 games. His consistent play making abilities with the NTDP earned him a roster spot with Team USA at the 2021 IIHF World Under-18 Championship this past spring. 

 

So what’s next for Rutger? Despite being scooped up by the Ontario Hockey League’s Soo Greyhounds, Rutger plans to chase his boyhood dream of winning an NCAA Division I Championship with the Michigan Wolverines. For a young prospect, the number of options and pathways can seem daunting and sometimes overwhelming. The CoE staff is well versed in navigating the nuances of college and junior hockey, and are more than prepared to help student athletes make the decision that’s best for them.

 

“The entire TPH family is extremely proud of Rutger’s success,” said Nathan Bowen, CEO of Total Package Hockey. “He comes from an incredible hockey family and was raised to be an amazing person. His development is a testament to what any CoE student-athlete is capable of achieving, and we can’t wait to see what the next step of his career looks like.”

 

Interested in maximizing your student athlete’s potential? Join us Virtual Open House event on January 10th to learn the ins and outs of our NCAA-accredited blended learning program and sport-specific training. Find out if our model is right for your student-athlete and reserve a seat at one of 16 CoE locations across the country for the 2022/2023 academic year.

 

Click here to register!

Former CoE Star Drew DeRidder Named Big Ten First Star of the Week for the Second Time This Season

Drew DeRidder isn’t afraid to try something new. After all, he was part of the first group of student-athletes to attend TPH Center of Excellence, attributing his passion for hockey to his time at TPH Detroit.

 

In one of his first summer programs at TPH Detroit, Drew worked to refine his goaltending skills and built a solid foundation that would ultimately carry him to a standout senior season at Michigan State. “We saw a lot of potential in Drew from the moment he skated onto the ice,” says Dwayne Norris, TPH Detroit Director of Hockey. “We’re incredibly proud of Drew and all he’s accomplished. We know he has a great career ahead of him.”

 

Fast forward a few short years and Drew was called up to his USHL parent club, quickly followed by a commitment to Michigan State. He skated into his freshman year and was instantly thrown into the action. He spent as much time in the goal and learning from upperclassmen as he could. We’d say that time was well spent as he became the starting goaltender and has amassed over 1,300 saves in his career and has set the bar for goaltenders across the league with an impressive .945 save percentage, fourth amongst D1 goalies. And the season isn’t over yet!

 

Perhaps one of the biggest honors Drew has received in his college hockey career is the title of Big Ten First Star of the Week not once, but twice in the same season. Although this honor comes as no surprise to those who knew him at TPH Detroit. Drew’s natural leadership and love of the game demands greatness from those around him.

 

If his tenure at Michigan State is any indication of what’s to come for Drew DeRidder, the hockey world better stay on its toes.

 

Find a campus near you and/or register to attend our upcoming Nationwide Virtual Open House on January 10 at 8 PM to learn about our holistic approach to blended academic learning with innovative, hands-on, sport-specific training and instruction.

Alan Keeso Named CEO as TPH Looks to Next 20 Years

(Nashville, TN – December 15, 2021) – TPH is excited to announce Alan Keeso as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2022. Having served as Strategic Advisor to TPH over the past 5 years, Keeso brings in-depth knowledge of TPH and its Center of Excellence (CoE) academy model, its team members, and culture.

 

“We’re so excited to have Al lead our team going into our next 20 years at TPH,” said TPH founder Nathan Bowen, who will move out of the CEO role and into the Chairman role, remaining heavily active in TPH. “Having celebrated TPH turning 20 years old this year, we are absolutely pumped about what’s to come as we strive to lead the world in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes. Al is the leader to help us scale that impact.”

 

In addition to consulting for TPH in recent years, Keeso has helped dozens of small and medium-sized businesses grow for over a decade as a management consultant, independently, as well as through Grant Thornton and BDC. When asked early in 2021 by Bowen and his Investing Partner Taso Sofikitis to work more closely with TPH, Keeso decided to make the move with his family to Nashville.

 

“TPH to its core is a purpose-driven organization, with an outstanding team of committed professionals,” said Keeso. “It’s an honor to have this kind of confidence from Nathan and Taso to take TPH to new heights, and the responsibility that comes with the CEO role to the TPH team and our student-athletes is something I take very seriously. We’re a team that’s poised for growth through our Center of Excellence Study/Train/Play academy model, association management, camps and clinics, The Prospect Exchange, prospects teams, and events, now featuring Champions League Hockey in partnership with World Hockey Group. All of these efforts and their growth will enable us to positively impact the lives of a greater number of student-athletes, not only at our current locations, but also at many new locations to come. The future is bright at TPH.”

Keeso’s own journey as a student-athlete, and ensuing career, lend perspective to what Bowen believes will continue to differentiate TPH to prospective partners as well as families weighing the incredibly important decision on where to have their children develop as students, athletes, and people.

 

“Al has not only been an aspiring elite student-athlete, who reached levels in hockey that many TPH student-athletes are working towards daily, but he also exemplifies to our families what the bigger picture can be when lessons learned from sports are applied beyond the game,” said Bowen. “That’s what TPH is all about, and that’s what we feel differentiates us; we prepare our student-athletes not only for the next level in their sport, but also mentor them on habits that will help them experience wild success on the ultimate journey – life. With Al’s leadership, that differentiator will only get stronger.  He has lived the ups and downs the game can throw at you and is an incredible role model for young aspiring student-athletes, because he never quit and he has used those tough times as motivation and lessons learned to prepare for the next challenge in life and hit it head on in pursuit of the next success.”

 

 

In addition to a successful business career, Keeso has earned two master’s degrees – an MBA and an MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management – from the University of Oxford. At Oxford, he also published a working paper, took to the TEDx stage, and was goaltender for the university’s historic ice hockey team, becoming the only men’s player in the club’s history to have earned an Extraordinary Full Blue, the highest honor in sports at Oxford. Keeso also served as an infantry officer in the armed forces reserves and ran in a federal election.

 

A native of Listowel, Ontario, Keeso played hockey in his hometown before joining the Huron-Perth Lakers AAA organization and continuing on to Jr hockey with the Listowel Cyclones, Strathroy Rockets, and Sarnia Blast of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOHL). He then went to Boston to study at Wentworth Institute of Technology, where he was a goaltender for the varsity NCAA Division III hockey team and graduated with a BSc in Technology Management with honors.

 

“Having grown up in the game of hockey, I understand the opportunities for growth that youth sports provide for young people, on and off the ice, field, and court,” said Keeso. “Team members at TPH are deeply committed to the holistic development of student-athletes, knowing that the skills and habits learned extend well beyond the game to many other arenas of life. As a result of Nathan’s leadership and an all-star team of people, we have a great foundation in place as we head into ‘The Next 20’ at TPH.”

 

If you are interested in learning more about our #StudyTrainPlay model at the TPH Center of Excellence, Alan and other key members of our team will be participating in a Nationwide Virtual Open House on January 10th at 8:00 PM EST. Register for free here!

TPH Center of Excellence in St. Louis Strengthens its Operations with New Hire Sam Canfield

TPH St. Louis, the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through sport, is thrilled to announce that Sam Canfield, born and raised in St. Louis with deep ties to the community, was recently hired as the full-time Coordinator of Operations and Programming for the TPH Center of Excellence (CoE) in St. Louis. Canfield brings an abundance of expertise and background in all areas including mentoring, coaching, playing, administration, and operations. In addition to assisting with the day-to-day operations of the St. Louis CoE, Sam will be heavily involved in hockey development as well as helping provide the greatest possible experience, in all areas, for our St. Louis families.

 

The St. Louis CoE is extremely excited to welcome Sam to the team for a few reasons. Number one: Sam’s ability to connect with and mentor young student-athletes on and off the ice. Number two: Sam’s knowledge and experience when it comes to developing young hockey players. And number three: Sam believes in TPH St. Louis and the CoE hybrid-learning and sports training model. He is truly invested in doing whatever it takes to positively impact the lives of each and every one of our students; helping them reach their full potential academically and athletically.

 

“Most importantly, Sam has a strong passion for making a positive impact on young student-athletes and helping them succeed on and off the ice. Sam is going to be a great addition to the team and myself and the entire CoE St. Louis staff and students are looking forward to working with Sam!” mentioned Philip McRae, Director and Head of Hockey.

 

Sam comes from Synergy Hockey as Lead Skills Coach with 10 years of overall experience with 6 years experience as an Assistant Coach with AAA Blues. Furthermore, Sam has been lucky to coach with and learn from Jeff Brown, Andy Mcdonald, Alex Brooks, Jamie Rivers and Mike Berra.

 

Learn more about our St. Louis TPH CoE location here


About TPH

Founded in 2001, TPH seeks to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through sport. TPH platforms include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics, and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, serving over 10,000 student-athletes annually throughout 16 U.S.-based divisions. TPH prides itself on taking a holistic approach, one that emphasizes the development of the individual in four ways: (1) as a player within a team setting, (2) as an athlete, dedicated to reaching their physical potential, (3) as a student, working to achieve their academic goals, and most importantly, (4) as a person, striving to win the ultimate game, and that’s the game of life.

Multiple TPH/Center of Excellence Student-Athletes Get Drafted In The WHL U.S. Priority Draft

The Western Hockey League is conducting their 2021 WHL U.S. Priority Draft and 2021 WHL Prospects Draft on December 8th & 9th respectively. You can follow all the action at WHL.ca/draft

Three Total Package Hockey/Center Of Excellence student-athletes had their names called in the online draft. Nicholas Christianson was drafted 3rd overall by the Winnipeg ICE, Kolby Gapter was drafted 25th by the Medicine Hat Tigers & Tyler Atchison was selected 28th by the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Christianson, from Upland, CA is a member of the Center of Excellence Program in Chicago and plays for the Windy City Storm 15’s. This 5’11” Center is a prolific offensive player that competes with fierceness. 

Atchison, a teammate of Christianson’s with the Windy City Storm 15’s and fellow student-athlete at TPH/CoE in Chicago, is a right-handed forward that also has a knack for finding the back of the net. 

“We are very happy for Nick and Tyler. This is a testament to the commitment they make every day to challenge themselves at TPH Chicago. These young men are in the early stages of very bright careers.” says, Rob Rassey, Director & Head of Hockey, TPH Chicago

Kolby Gapter, a two-year student-athlete at the Center of Excellence in Superior Colorado was drafted 25th overall to the Medicine Hat Tigers. This blueliner defenseman has great size, standing at 6’0, and continues to improve day after day.  “Kolby has been with TPH for two years. He serves as a student ambassador for us this year because of his outstanding commitment to excellence. Kolby’s character, attitude, and effort in all aspects of his development are what make him such a special person. We are proud to have Kolby as a part of our TPH family!” says Matt Doman, Director & Head of Hockey, TPH Superior.

“The TPH/Center of Excellence family is extremely proud of our boys and will continue to support their growth both on and off the ice.” says, Nathan Bowen, CEO. 

 You can find a campus near you and/or attend our upcoming National Virtual Open House on January 10 at 8 PM to see if our unique approach to blended learning and sports-specific training is right for your aspiring student-athlete.

 

TPH Tournaments Host First Event in “Show Me State”

TPH St. Louis Cup Preview


Thanksgiving weekend marks a first for TPH, the first tournament hosted in St. Louis, Mo. The TPH St. Louis Cup is set to take place at the beautiful Centene Community Ice Center with 28 youth hockey clubs competing to be the final team standing.

 

Trophies and medals are always great, however this weekend in St. Louis is also focused on exposure. As with the previous TPH events, TPH’s partners at The Prospect Exchange provided all attending athletes the opportunity to take advantage of Premium X.

 

Premium X, powered by ICEBERG Analytics, gives each player access to shift-by-shift condensed video and analytics to their games. To date, 570 players have taken advantage of Premium X as a resource to learn more and share their skills with coaches. Premium X is available for all players attending this weekend’s event.

 

The 2021 TPH St. Louis Cup is primed for some highly competitive competition amongst top Tier I programs in the nation. Below is an overview of the event.

 


18U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.

  Belle Tire

Ranking: 39th | Record: 9-12-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Carshield AAA

Ranking: 59th | Record: 12-15-0 | Roster | Schedule

    Chicago Fury

Ranking: 30th | Record: 17-13-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 24th | Record: 13-6-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

Ranking: 31st | Record: 21-7-0 | Roster | Schedule


16U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.

    Carshield AAA

Ranking: 32nd | Record: 14-13-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Chicago Fury

Ranking: 25th | Record: 17-12-0 | Roster | Schedule

    Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 57th | Record: 7-15-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

Ranking: 64th | Record: 11-14-0 | Roster | Schedule


15U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.

    Carshield AAA

Ranking: 65th | Record: 12-18-1 | Roster | Schedule

  Chicago Fury

Ranking: 40th | Record: 16-12-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 30th | Record: 12-5-3 | Roster | Schedule

  Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

Ranking: 32nd | Record: 17-10-0 | Roster | Schedule

  St. Louis AAA Blues

Ranking: 18th | Record: 17-11-1 | Roster | Schedule


13U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.

  Carshield AAA

Ranking: 39th | Record: 13-7-1 | Roster | Schedule

    Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 44th | Record: 12-8-2 | Roster | Schedule

  Sioux Falls Power

Ranking: 19th | Record: 4-2-0 | Roster | Schedule

  St. Louis Eagles

Ranking: 82nd | Record: 24-6-3 | Roster | Schedule


11U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.

    Carshield AAA

Ranking: 52nd | Record: 16-10-3 | Roster | Schedule

  Indiana Elite

Ranking: ???? | Record: ?-?-? | Roster | Schedule

    Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: 82nd | Record: 8-12-2 | Roster | Schedule

  St. Louis AAA Blues

Ranking: 13th | Record: 21-9-5 | Roster | Schedule


FACILITY

Centene Community Ice Center750 Casino Center Dr, Maryland Heights, MO 63043


To learn more about future TPH Tournaments, click here.

 

 

Developing Mental Resilience

Five Keys To A Mental Recovery Plan

One of the most demanding positions in any sport is playing goalie. All eyes are on them. They can’t hide from a mistake or a misstep. When the game is over the goalie is analyzed by everyone including their own coach, teammates, parents of the team, the opposing team and coaches, and even themselves.

The position often receives the most credit for a team win, but at the same time receives the most criticism following a loss. The most elite goalies not only require physical strength but mental and emotional strength as well.

An invaluable asset to goalies is to have a mental recovery plan. One that works following a loss, but also can be used right after a bad goal.

Goalies have, on average, less than a minute to get ready and set for the next play. That means if the goalie is thinking about the past mistake, what they should have done better, complaining about the ref, or worrying about their teammates, their mind is not where it needs to be.

If your mindset is not focused on the present play, your performance suffers.

5 Keys to a Mental Recovery Plan

Self-talk

A great question I like to ask athletes I work with is, “Who is the person you listen to the most?” Often, answers include parents, coaches, teammates, or teachers. Many people tend to forget that saying “myself” is an option.

The person you listen to most is yourself. Your internal narrative or self-talk consists of the thoughts and dialogue in your mind that you have all day long. This occurs automatically and we may not even pay attention to messages we send ourselves daily.

When goalies are in the crease, they need to be intentional about the messages they have on repeat. Their self-talk is critical for top performance.

If your self-talk is negative, overly critical and harsh, you are not helping yourself. You need to support yourself through positive self-talk. You don’t have to lie and tell yourself everything is great. But you need to be intentional about helping yourself perform better.

Cue yourself with instruction; “see the puck,” “play strong,” and “quick feet.” These phrases help you stay on task. You can also use motivational self-talk; “trust yourself,” “I got this,” “I’m ready,” or “I trained for this.”

Have 3 to 5 self-talk phrases that help keep you ready, positive and focused. Don’t help your opponents out by beating yourself. Create your top performance through great self-talk.

Body Language

The best way to let your opponent know they’ve gotten the best of you is through body language. Many athletes don’t recognize the importance of body language.

Picture your opponent throwing their head back, then putting their hands up as if to blame their teammates for a bad play. Or if your opponent bends over, slams and breaks their stick, and skates slowly to the bench. Or imagine the players who have their head down on the bench and no one’s communicating with each other. Those players have already lost. They have been mentally beaten. They have checked out and their mindset is not in a place for their top performance.

As a goalie, you cannot let the opponent take up space in your mind. Be intentional about your body language. Imagine 5 things a goalie with good body language does.

Could you do all those things in practice and in games? Don’t allow your body language to be something that just happens. Practice it. Do not allow your body language to give anything away for free.

Positive body language for goalies includes keeping your head up, eyes on the play, standing tall in between plays and communicating effectively with teammates. Work to avoid blaming teammates, slamming your stick, throwing your head back or hanging your head, bending over in disappointment or getting in the referee’s face.

Imagery/Visualization

Goalies need to use their mind to their advantage. It’s great to keep the positivity up through self-talk and body language but these skills bring you back to your baseline performance. Imagery and visualization take your performance to the next level.

You cannot outperform your self-image. That means if you don’t see yourself making incredible saves, showing up big in the third period or shutting down the opponent’s power play, your chances of doing so greatly diminish.

Imagery involves all the senses — seeing, feeling, hearing, movement, smelling, taste — to recreate positive plays in the mind’s eye. The mind is so powerful that simply imagining great plays and good techniques solidify those brain-thinking patterns leading to quicker reaction times, increased performance and improved self-confidence.

Create a self-image of an elite goalie. See yourself succeeding and making the clutch plays.

Re-Focus Cues

It’s easy to get stuck in the last play. Our minds want to analyze the past and make corrections for the future. But there is not time to go through that thinking process during a game. This activity is better saved for after the game.

Instead, you need to forget the last play and re-focus on the immediate task. This is easier said than done, it’s a skill that requires practice.

With intentional attention shifting, you can get yourself back into the present by focusing on exactly what is right in front of you.

One of my favorite re-focus cues from a collegiate goalie I’ve worked with is, “Next Shot. Next Save.” This four-word phrase moves the attention to the next play. The past play doesn’t matter anymore, I need to focus on my next save.

Another goalie reset focus through a physical routine of tapping the goal post with their stick, adjusting their pads and getting back into their ready stance. Doing this routine intentionally helps them reset their mind and body.

Relaxation

The paradox of being a goalie is that you must be alert while at the same time relaxed.

If you become too anxious, you may play ahead of yourself. Getting yourself out of proper position, cheating on your corners or playing too far off the crease.

If you contract your muscles too tightly, you lose reaction time, your movements lose their flow and you get tired much more quickly.

If your mind is not relaxed, tunnel vision occurs and you may not be able to see the entire ice as you should. You may start overthinking about the last couple of plays and losing present focus.

The best performances for goalies requires the right amount of energy.

I’m not saying you should be falling asleep out there; that’s too far in the other direction. You need to find the right energy level for you. Some of your teammates require their energy to be at 10, headbutting one another, jumping up and down, and hyping themselves up. Others require a lower energy level of 3 or 4, listening to music and being calm but ready.

Think of your best performance, what was your energy level at on a scale of 1 to 10. It’s important to work to recreate that exact energy level. Many professional goalies tend to have a lower energy level where they are intensely focused, in the zone and ready for anything.

If your energy level gets too high, which is often the case, you need to be able to relax the body and the mind. Through squared breathing you can calm the mind and the body. This technique requires four-second inhale, four-second hold, four-second exhale, four-second hold and then repeat. This short breathing exercise can be done in between plays, after a goal or during the period break.

Also combine your self-talk and re-focus cues to bring your energy level to where it needs to be. These techniques do not have to occur in isolation and help improve your recovery plan while used together.

Final Thoughts

Having a planned recovery plan will set you apart from your competition. Some of the best goalies in the NHL credit their success to sports psychology skills. Those goalies include Braden Holtby and Carter Hart.

Create your personal recovery plan using the suggestions above. As a goalie you need to be able to shake off the last play. Good or bad, it’s in the past. The most important play is the next one.

By Blaise Fayolle, EdD, CMPC, LLPC 

Blaise Fayolle holds a doctorate in Sport and Performance Psychology and is credentialed as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® through the Associated for Applied Sport Psychology. Blaise is also a licensed mental health professional in Michigan.

Girl’s Hockey Takes Center Stage

Smashville Girls Showcase Preview


Nashville is the place to be this Thanksgiving Weekend for Girls and Women’s Hockey. TPH and PIP, Premier Ice Prospects, are proud to host the Smashville Girls Showcase at the Ford Ice Centers in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to the 32 Girls AAA teams in attendance, there will be four NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey programs in town for the Smashville Women’s Collegiate Hockey Showcase.

 

The Women’s and Girl’s Hockey worlds will share the spotlight this weekend with 72 youth hockey games on top of the two-day collegiate showcase that will highlight the best of the NCAA’s women hockey players. Last year Mekenzie Steffen competed in the collegiate event as captain of the University of Wisconsin Badgers, presently she now has the opportunity to see this weekend from the administrative side as the Coordinator of Girls Hockey for TPH-Nashville.

 

It’s one of those incredible ‘if you see it, you can be it’ opportunities for all of the young girls,” said Steffen. “Growing up in Minnesota, I was able to attend Golden Gophers women’s hockey games growing up, but several girls don’t have this opportunity. I am excited to see so many teams coming from places where the girls don’t have the opportunity to watch NCAA women’s hockey in person, to not only witness, but play alongside them in the same building and share the weekend.”

 

The Smashville Women’s Collegiate Hockey Showcase will feature Boston College, Colgate University, Mercyhurst University, and the University of Minnesota competing over November 26-27 at the Ford Ice Center. Single-day standard and VIP tickets can be purchased HERE. Use promo code PREDSGIRLS to save.

 

“It is just as meaningful to the college players to see all of the young girls in the stands watching the games.” Steffen says, “You know they’re all looking up to you, hoping to be in your shoes one day. Those are the humbling moments that you never take for granted as a college athlete.”

The 2021 Jr. Predators Tier I Host Weekend will be TPH’s first tournament of the season in Nashville and it is primed for some highly competitive competition amongst top Tier I programs in the nation. We are so thankful for everything that the Nashville Predators have done to make this event come to life. It will be a memorable weekend for all. Below is an overview of the event.


19U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.

  Anaheim Lady Ducks

Ranking: 43rd | Record: 2-12-0 | Roster | Schedule

    Bishop Kearney Selects

Ranking: 9th | Record: 19-6-2 | Roster | Schedule

  Connecticut Polar Bears

Ranking: 7th | Record: 12-2-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Florida Alliance

Ranking: 16th | Record: 20-8-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Northwood School

Ranking: 20th | Record: 14-13-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Pittsburgh Penguins Elite

Ranking: 18th | Record: 11-14-3 | Roster | Schedule

    Shattuck St. Mary’s

Ranking: 15th | Record: 8-8-6 | Roster | Schedule

  Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep

Ranking: 3rd | Record: 15-7-4 | Roster | Schedule


16U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.

    Anaheim Lady Ducks

Ranking: 37th | Record: 4-9-1 | Roster | Schedule

  Belle Tire

Ranking: 13th | Record: 15-11-7 | Roster | Schedule

  Bishop Kearney Selects

Ranking: 7th | Record: 24-6-2 | Roster | Schedule

    Connecticut Polar Bears

Ranking: 11th | Record: 12-2-2 | Roster | Schedule

  New Jersey Titans

Ranking: 18th | Record: 8-3-0 | Roster | Schedule

    Pittsburgh Penguins Elite

Ranking: 17th | Record: 10-16-3 | Roster | Schedule

    San Jose Jr Sharks

Ranking: 42nd | Record: 3-10-2 | Roster | Schedule

  Shattuck St. Mary’s

Ranking: 3rd | Record: 14-6-1 | Roster | Schedule


14U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.

    Anaheim Lady Ducks

Ranking: 37th | Record: 3-7-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Belle Tire

Ranking: 31st | Record: 9-19-3 | Roster | Schedule

  Belle Tire White

Ranking: Unknown | Record: Unknown | Roster | Schedule

  Carolina Jr Hurricanes

Ranking: 48th | Record: 4-7-0 | Roster | Schedule

  Detroit Little Caesars

Ranking: 6th | Record: 22-7-5 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: Unknown | Record: Unknown | Roster | Schedule

  Pittsburgh Penguins Elite

Ranking: 5th | Record: 21-3-3 | Roster | Schedule

  San Jose Jr Sharks

Ranking: 47th | Record: 2-12-2 | Roster | Schedule

    St. Louis Jr Blues

Ranking: 35th | Record: 7-14-4 | Roster | Schedule

  Team Illinois

Ranking: 10th | Record: 16-0-3 | Roster | Schedule


12U Division

All rankings and records were referenced from myhockeyrankings.com on 11/21/2021.

  Anaheim Lady Ducks

Ranking: 16th | Record: 13-2-2 | Roster | Schedule

  Arizona Kachinas

Ranking: Unknown | Record: Unknown | Roster | Schedule

    Detroit Little Caesars

Ranking: 6th | Record: 19-9-2 | Roster | Schedule

  Honeybaked

Ranking: 23rd | Record: 8-16-1 | Roster | Schedule

  Nashville Jr. Predators

Ranking: Unknown | Record: Unknown | Roster | Schedule

  Team Illinois

Ranking: 13th | Record: 20-10-1 | Roster | Schedule


FACILITIES

Ford Ice Center – Antioch: 5264 Hickory Hollow Pl, Cane Ridge, TN 37013

Ford Ice Center – Bellevue: 7620 Hwy 70 S, Nashville, TN 37221


To learn more about future TPH Tournaments, click here.

 

TPH Takes the World Stage

Total Package Hockey Set to Compete at World Selects Invitational


Detroit, Michigan: Total Package Hockey (TPH) announced today that it has accepted a bid to the 2022 World Selects Invitational Trophy (WSI), as a North American representative competing at the international tournament this spring. The WSI is an invite-only youth hockey tournament that takes place each spring in exotic locations around the world and features some of the best athletes on the planet. 

 

TPH will enter teams into the Elite and AAA events at the 16U, 15U, 14U, 13U and 12U age groups with rosters composed of top-level players from across North America. The field of opponents consists of teams from the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia and central Europe. Competing at the WSI is not only an opportunity to play against elite international teams, but players and families can also enjoy an authentic cultural experience. All attendees will be treated to first-class facilities from the host arena to hotels, restaurants and meals.

 

2022 ELITE EVENTS

EventDateLocation
2006 EliteMay 1 - 5, 2022Exeter, NH, USA
2007 EliteMay 1 - 5, 2022Nashville, TN, USA
2008 EliteMay 3 - 7, 2022Bolzano, Italy
2009 EliteMay 10 - 14, 2022
Chamonix, France
2010 EliteApril 26 - 30, 2022Bolzano, Italy

2022 AAA EVENTS

EventDateLocation
2007 AAAMay 25-28, 2022San Sebastien, Spain
2008 AAAMay 11-14, 2022Prague, Czech Republic
2009 AAAMay 4-7, 2022Mont Blanc, France
2010 AAAMay 4-7, 2022Prague, Czech Republic

You can also view all the boy’s events, their locations and dates at this link: https://www.worldhockeygroup.com/worldselectstrophy

 

For more than 12 years, the WSI has featured some of the best athletes in youth hockey. More than 350 NHL Draft picks and 1,000 NCAA players have competed in a WSI event since 2008. Before they were stars in the NHL, players like Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Alexander Barkov, Adam Fox and Andrei Svechnikov were 13, 14 and 15-year-old standouts at a World Selects event. 

 

“TPH is thrilled to be part of the WSI series of events in North America and Europe,”  said Nathan Bowen, CEO of Total Package Hockey. “These events provide players with a global hockey experience that they will remember for a lifetime. In addition to player development, we plan to grow our coaching network through these events and provide new opportunities for our TPH coaches to grow. Ultimately, this is an amazing life experience that everyone in our organization gets to take advantage of through the game.”

 

Click here to learn more about the World Selects Invitational Trophy.

 

If you have interest in participating in the World Selects Invitational, please click the following link and complete the questionnaire: https://forms.gle/tacdrGw37ZdhTrP37

 


About Total Package Hockey: Founded in 2001, TPH seeks to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes. TPH platforms include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics, and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, serving over 10,000 student-athletes on an annual basis, throughout 16 US-based divisions. TPH prides itself on taking a holistic approach, one that emphasizes the development of the individual in four ways: 

(1) as a player within a team setting, 

(2) as an athlete, dedicated to reaching his/her physical potential, 

(3) as a student, working to achieve his/her academic goals, and most importantly, 

(4) as a person, striving to win the ultimate game, and that’s the game of life.