TPH is pleased to announce a partnership with the Florida Panthers to bring its Study, Train, Play Center of Excellence (CoE) academy model to aspiring-elite hockey players and figure skaters from across Southeast Florida for the 2021-2022 school year.  The CoE model allows student-athletes to receive a completely individualized, customized, NCAA accredited education, sport-specific training, and mentorship, while still participating in their youth or club organizations.  TPH presently operates a Center of Excellence in Estero, and its Coral Springs based CoE will be TPH’s fifteenth in the United States.

“On behalf of all of us in TPH, we are thrilled to be able to offer the Center of Excellence experience to student-athletes across Southeast Florida,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said.  “We are beyond grateful to Keith Fine and the Panthers organization for trusting us to house a Center of Excellence in their facility.  We are thrilled to grow our Florida footprint and feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to play a role in developing driven, goal-oriented student-athletes who are looking for a flexible, individually-tailored academic learning option that allows them to pursue their sport, school, and life goals all at once, without having to worry about fitting into a traditional school structure.  In year one, our doors will be open not just to competitive Tier I and Tier II hockey players, but also to figure skaters.  Between the passion and resources of the Panthers, our desire to shape well-rounded student-athletes regardless of their individual sport, and the resources that will be available to us in the IceDen, we see endless possibilities with this partnership.”

TPH Ft. Lauderdale will be housed at the Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs, FL

“We’re excited to partner with TPH in bringing an academy-style model to the Panthers IceDen,” Panthers IceDen General Manager Keith Fine said.  “Our facility wanted to provide academic resources at the rink for our dedicated hockey players and figure skaters so they could feel comfortable dedicating time to both their academic and athletic careers.  TPH and the Center of Excellence model allows that to happen.”

While training hockey players has always been at TPH’s core, its main focus has been strengthening what Fine referred to as its “academic resources.”  Delivered in partnership with Edmentum, the Center of Excellence education model is created in a blended learning environment that combines online curriculum and online learning with on-site infrastructure and academic support.  Coursework can be completed on-demand, with 24/7, fully accessible NCAA courseware and full-time instructors who are dedicated to the student-athletes across all Centers of Excellence.  CoE attendees have access to their instructors as well as a virtual tutoring service, in the event academic assistance is needed after-hours or right on the spot during the CoE school day.  A full-time academic leader will be on-site daily and will ensure that all student-athletes are held accountable, are studying in a positive learning environment and are receiving an experience that is tailored to when, where and how the individual learns best.

’19-’20 TPH Center of Excellence Student-Athlete Academic Results

“As we all know, student-athletes have to be extremely dedicated to reach the highest levels in sport and in life,” Bowen added.  “In many cases, reaching their goals requires flexibility on the academic side.  Our model provides that.  The CoE is the anti-one-size-fits-all educational and sport training program.  Students study at their own pace and train to their own individual standard.  We believe Southeast Florida families are going to quickly see the advantages and positive outcomes that come with the Center of Excellence model.”

Ryan Brindley serves as a Partner and Director of TPH’s Estero-based Center of Excellence, which reached capacity in its first year in operation.  A staple in Florida youth hockey circles, Brindley believes Southeast Florida families will be impressed by what the CoE program has to offer.  He also believes that families who would ordinarily need to look beyond their backyard for a high-level sport and education opportunity for their son or daughter, now have an “incentive” to keep their athletes living at home as long as possible.

“I have been proud to call Florida home for close to two decades,” Brindley said.  “The quality of life that all of us get to enjoy as Florida residents is second-to-none.  What I love about the Center of Excellence is that it allows our student-athletes to stay home, get high level training and get an education experience that prepares them for the more independent lifestyle they will live once they graduate to the university setting, all while enjoying the great benefits of living in the Sunshine State.  The CoE has been that missing piece for us over in Southwest Florida, and I am confident families in Southeast Florida will feel the same way.”

Families interested in learning more about the Center of Excellence model are invited to attend our first TPH-Fort Lauderdale Center of Excellence Virtual Open House, presented through Zoom Webinar, on Wednesday, March 31 at 7:00 PM.  To register for our Virtual Open House please click here.  Please know that registration is required for families to attend this event.

RSVP for the TPH Center of Excellence Ft. Lauderdale Open House.

Learn more about the TPH Center of Excellence.

Apply for the 2021-22 TPH Center of Excellence Ft. Lauderdale.

About TPH

Founded in 2001, it is TPH’s vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through sport.  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 15 U.S. based divisions…  While sport, specifically hockey, has been TPH’s primary vehicle for positively impacting the lives of our student-athletes, our company 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.

About the Panthers IceDen

The Florida Panthers IceDen is a community facility that hosts over 1 million annual guests in the tri-county area. Located in Coral Springs, the 125,000-square-foot facility is the official practice facility of the Florida Panthers. The Panthers IceDen is home to the Florida Junior Panthers, Coral Springs Makos, Youth Hockey Leagues, Learn To Skate, Learn To Play as well as figure skating lessons, making it the perfect location to reach families in both Broward and Palm Beach Counties. For more information on Panthers IceDen and its offerings, please visit PanthersIceDen.com or follow @PanthersIceDen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.