TPH Announces Tier I (AAA) Approval for Nashville Jr. Predators and Southeast Blades for 2025-2026 Season
Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA — TPH is thrilled to announce that the Southern Amateur Hockey Association (SAHA) and USA Hockey have officially approved the Nashville Jr. Predators and the Southeast Blades as Tier I (AAA) hockey associations for the 2025-2026 season. This significant milestone reflects a growing commitment to elevating youth hockey in the Southeast, providing top-tier opportunities for local athletes to compete at the highest level without leaving their communities.
TPH extends its gratitude to the SAHA Tier I Committee, SAHA Board Members, and dedicated volunteers for their thorough review and support throughout this process. Their dedication ensures that young hockey players across the region can pursue their dreams in an elite environment close to home.
“This is a significant step for Tier I hockey within SAHA as NJP transitions to a Nashville-based model,” shared JP Dumont, NJP Program Director. “The NHL Nashville Predators have done an incredible job growing the game not only in Nashville but throughout the SAHA affiliate, and our mission with NJP remains to Develop, Impact, and Guide our athletes beyond the game.”
TPH is excited to collaborate with all SAHA associations to provide every player access to Tier I hockey and continue developing athletes for success in and beyond hockey. Over the past 20 years of operating Tier I (AAA) programs, including the Nashville Jr. Predators and Thunder AAA Hockey Club, TPH has helped over 300 student-athletes advance to junior leagues like the USHL, OHL, and NAHL, and more than 150 student-athletes to NCAA collegiate hockey.
“It has taken over 23 years of growth for Tier I Hockey in SAHA to reach this point, and we are excited for this new chapter”, stated Program Director of the Southeast Blades, Brad Schell. “We look forward to supporting all SAHA associations with this regional model that will allow players and their families to stay at home.”
Tryout Information: Nashville Jr. Predators
Tryouts for the Nashville Jr. Predators AAA teams will take place at Ford Ice Center – Bellevue on the following dates:
- April 12-13, 2025: 11U (2014) /12U (2013) /13O (2012) REGISTER HERE
- April 26-27, 2025 14U (2011) /15O (2010) /16U (2009) /18U (2008/2007) REGISTER HERE
For additional details, please contact:
- JP Dumont, Director of Hockey Operations: jpdumont@jrpredators.com
- Kevin Muller, Tier I Director: kmuller@jrpredators.com
Tryout Information: Southeast Blades
Tryouts for the Southeast Blades will be held at Duluth Ice Forum on April 12-13, 2025 for the following age groups:
- April 12-13, 2025 for the 11U (2014) / 12U (2013) /13U (2012) REGISTER HERE
For more information, please contact:
- Brad Schell, Tier I Director: bschell@tphacademy.com
Further details on ice slots and tryout logistics will be announced soon. TPH encourages all aspiring athletes to register and take the next step in their hockey journey.
About TPH:
Founded in 2001, TPH (Total Package Hockey) aims to positively impact the lives of student-athletes through sport. Serving over 10,000 athletes annually across 20+ U.S. and Canada-based divisions, TPH offers association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments, camps, and its signature TPH Academy model. With a focus on holistic development, TPH helps athletes grow as players, students, and individuals prepared for success both on and off the ice.
Nathan Bowen
Born in Ontario, the game of hockey took Nathan to the University of Alabama-Huntsville where he played 4 years of NCAA hockey at the University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH), winning the Division II National Championship in 1998 while captaining the team. Prior to graduating with a degree in Finance and later his MBA from UAH in 2002, Bowen was the recipient of the President’s Award, given to the top athlete at UAH based on academic, community and athletic performance, as well as the Dr. Jeanne Fisher Award, the Civic Service award and the Iwin/McGraw-Hill Finance service award. Following his time as a student at UAH, Bowen has accumulated over 30 years of coaching, instruction and hockey leadership experience including four years serving as the UAH Hockey Assistant Coach. Currently, Bowen resides in Killen, AL with his wife Heather, daughter Bailey and son Mac.
Alan Keeso
Prior to becoming TPH’s CEO, Alan was a strategic advisor with the company while also helping for over a decade dozens of small and medium-sized businesses scale. He has earned two master’s degrees from the University of Oxford, where he was the 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. Alan also served as an infantry officer in the armed forces reserves and ran in a federal election.
A native of Listowel, Ontario, Keeso played minor hockey in his hometown before advancing to AAA, Jr hockey, and NCAA Division III at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, where he graduated with honors.
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Jacqueline Keeso
Jacqueline Keeso is the Chief Experience Officer for TPH and is responsible for the creation, execution, and integration of the overall customer experience. As CXO, she works to define and enhance TPH’s customer journey, finding new ways to delight TPH families and ensure a consistent, empowering experience for all student-athletes.
Jacqueline has a BBA of International Business from Boise State University and an MBA in Business Administration from the University of Oxford, UK. She also holds her Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate as well as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB).
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Chris Powers
Powers has coached youth and ACHA hockey over a twenty-year period. Additionally, he is on the Board of Directors for the Southern Amateur Hockey Association for twelve years and on the Board of Directors for USA Hockey for six years. Powers graduated with a BA in History from Kenyon College and JD from DePaul University. Powers also have been admitted to the Bar in the states of Illinois, Florida, Georgia, and California.
Aaron Kitchell
Aaron (“Kitch”) Kitchell joined the TPH team after 16 years running accounting and finance departments in businesses ranging from small private companies to large fortune 500 companies. After beginning his career a Big 4 accounting firm, he was the Division Group Controller for a Fortune 300 company where he oversaw seven manufacturing facilities across the United States and one in France. Most recently, he was the Vice President of Finance for the 5th largest Kombucha manufacturer globally. In addition to his professional experience, Aaron earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance with a minor in Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Oregon.