Tri-State Spartans 18U team to be part of first class

TPH is proud to announce the opening of a Center of Excellence in Cincinnati, Ohio for the 2022-23 hockey season.

Located inside Sports Plus Ohio, a multi-sport facility, the new TPH CoE will offer student-athletes in grades 6-12 the opportunity to excel on and off the ice through the academy-style, blended learning model TPH provides at its now 16 locations across the country. The Cincinnati CoE will offer the unique learning and training model to athletes in and around the Buckeye State.

“TPH is very excited to bring our Center of Excellence to Cincinnati and partner with Sports Plus Ohio,” said Alan Keeso, Chief Executive Officer of TPH. “We have had a great deal of success in helping our student-athletes grow athletically, academically, and personally, and we look forward to offering the same opportunities to student-athletes across Ohio with our new location in Cincy. TPH strives to develop and advance the next generation of impact players, and that mindset fits in well with the growing sports community of Ohio and the surrounding areas.”

Some of the first attendees at the new Cincinnati CoE will be the 18U Tri-State Spartans team. Starting with the 2022-23 hockey season, players on the 18U Spartans roster will attend the CoE, creating a tremendous opportunity for the players to study, train and play together as they will see a dramatic increase in ice-time, both for individual skills and team concepts. By all enrolling in the online learning program cultivated by TPH and educational partner Edmentum, the team will be afforded the unique ability to customize their learning schedule to meet their demanding hockey needs. At the same time, being able to have a full team practice during the day means more quality time at home with their families than their AAA hockey peers.

“Sports Plus Ohio is excited to welcome the TPH Center of Excellence and Tri-State Spartans hockey program to our facility,” said Greg Martini, CFO of Sports Plus. “As the largest indoor sports facility in Greater Cincinnati, we believe that this joint venture will take our facility to the next level.  Housing an elite sports training facility and education center under one roof is exactly what the Cincinnati market is looking for.  We cannot wait for the Fall 2022 academic year to begin.”

With the move to Cincinnati, TPH and the Tri-State Spartans will join forces in a renovation project for Sports Plus. A new academic area will be constructed within the facility, a new locker room will be built for the Spartans, a new weight room will be installed, and the rink will see upgrades to the benches, boards, glass and more.

“We feel that this will be a tremendous opportunity for the players of our 18U team,” said Chris Lipsett, co-director of the Tri-State Spartans. “The players will receive world-class individualized and team training, and with all of them on the same school and training schedule, we can enhance their hockey experience. Handling the time commitments that come with elite 18U AAA hockey will become much easier when we have all of the players under one roof for their on-ice and off-ice training, as well as their education.”

“The possibilities are endless when you consider having all of the players utilizing the online curriculum for their final years of high school,” said Judi Kremer, co-director of the Spartans with Lipsett. “With them all being together, they can all rest when they need to, they can all recover when they need to, and they can manage their school and their athletic schedules in unison for a best of both worlds experience.”

The 18U Team enrollment is just the start; in 2023-24, the 16U Tri-State Spartans will enroll in the CoE, as well.

Athletes of other sports will be invited to enroll in the CoE, which offers a unique blend of online education with in-person instructors and tutoring. It is designed to benefit the needs of all elite student-athletes, not just hockey players. Full-time academic leaders are on-site daily to ensure that the student-athletes are held accountable for their education and assist them in any way necessary.

“A quality education is a top priority for any family, and we have spent several years working with Edmentum to create an academic experience where student-athletes are able to achieve positive academic outcomes that prepare them for success at the next level, whether it be in athletics or academics,” Keeso said. “We have also been working diligently to create applicable, real-world experiences that develop the student-athlete beyond the boundaries of the ice and classroom. We are confident that families in Cincinnati and the surrounding areas will see that the Center of Excellence provides a better way to academic and athletic excellence.”

Founded in 2001, Total Package Hockey’s (TPH) purpose is to lead the world in the holistic development of student-athletes, advancing – in and beyond the game – the next generation of impact players. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, teachers, advisors and all other entities within both athletic and academic circles. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, TPH services over 10,000 student-athletes on an annual basis, throughout 16 U.S. based divisions.