Posts Tagged ‘Staff’
TPH’s Matt Larke named Flint Firebirds’ skill development coach
Total Package Hockey is proud to congratulate Matt Larke on his new position as skill development coach for the Ontario Hockey League’s Flint Firebirds.
Larke, a player development coach and mentor at the Center of Excellence in Detroit, played eight seasons of professional hockey before joining the TPH team. Along with his role in the Center of Excellence, Larke also coaches in the TPH Michigan Hockey Advancement program, as well as the TPH team that annually attends the OHL Cup.
“We are incredibly proud of Matt and very excited for him,” said TPH director of player development Brandon Naurato. “He is a world-class instructor, and he’s going to do great things with Flint.”
Larke specializes in skating stride, edge work and mechanics, among other hockey skills.
“I want to thank the Flint Firebirds organization for trusting in me and giving me this opportunity,” Larke said. “I’m looking forward to working with the players and helping them each individually develop so that at the end of the day, the team’s having success on the ice.
“The Firebirds have a tremendous staff in Flint; I’m very much looking forward to learning from Ryan Oulahen and the rest of the coaching staff. A gold medal at the Gretzky Hlinka Cup speaks for itself – Oulahen is an elite head coach and I’m excited to learn and help in any way I can.”
The new position with the Firebirds will not impact Larke’s day-to-day operations with the TPH CoE; Larke will work with Flint players after school ends for both respective groups.
“I’m thankful of TPH and the great hockey minds I have learned from such as Brandon Naurato (Detroit Red Wings) and Jimmy McGroaty (Hamilton Bulldogs),” Larke said. “The way they think helps me put skating skills into situations that are relevant so the player feels the most comfortable in games. When they get into those situations they know all of their options and how to win each battle.”
ABOUT TPH: Founded in 2001, Total Package Hockey is a hockey service provider with the vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of players, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world, one choice at a time. Our staff is committed to providing positive, energetic, hands-on instruction and mentorship, in an effort to develop each individual on and off the ice. If each individual develops as a player, athlete and person, he or she will be better prepared to advance to the highest levels of junior, collegiate and professional hockey, while learning the skills necessary for success in the ultimate game: the game of life.
For more information about TPH, click here
For more information about the TPH Center of Excellence, click here
Josh Blackburn hired as new goaltending coach at Detroit CoE
Total Package Hockey is proud to welcome Josh Blackburn to our coaching family.
Blackburn is joining the TPH Center of Excellence staff in Detroit as the program’s new goaltending coach.
Blackburn brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience to the TPH Detroit team. The native of Choctaw, Okla., spent four seasons as the starting goaltender for the University of Michigan before playing professionally for three seasons. From there, he worked as the goaltending coach of his alma mater for eight seasons.
“We are very excited to have Josh Blackburn join our TPH Detroit Center of Excellence staff,” said Dwayne Norris, director of hockey for TPH CoE Detroit. “He is very knowledgeable in his craft, from both playing and coaching at some of the highest levels of hockey. Josh is going to be a great asset to our staff, and he’s already establishing a close connection with our young goaltenders at the CoE.”
Blackburn played three seasons in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints and the Lincoln Stars before joining the college ranks. He was named the USHL’s goaltender of the year in 1998.
At Michigan, he backstopped the Wolverines to consecutive Frozen Four appearances in 2001 and 2002. Blackburn helped Michigan win two CCHA regular-season titles and two CCHA playoff titles, and he was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team in 1999.
He finished with 92 wins, a 2.29 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage over four seasons under Red Berenson.
After graduating, he spent the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons in the ECHL with the Augusta Lynx and the Columbus Inferno. In 2004-05, he suited up for the CHL’s Corpus Christi Rayz.
Blackburn returned to Ann Arbor following his playing career to serve as Michigan’s volunteer goaltending coach while operating his own goaltending school in southeast Michigan.
ABOUT TPH: Founded in 2001, Total Package Hockey is a hockey service provider with the vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of players, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world, one choice at a time. Our staff is committed to providing positive, energetic, hands-on instruction and mentorship, in an effort to develop each individual on and off the ice. If each individual develops as a player, athlete and person, he or she will be better prepared to advance to the highest levels of junior, collegiate and professional hockey, while learning the skills necessary for success in the ultimate game: the game of life.
For more information about TPH, click here
For more information about the TPH Center of Excellence, click here
Dan Riedel joins TPH Detroit coaching staff
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce that Dan Riedel has joined the TPH Detroit staff as a player development coach and mentor at the Center of Excellence.
Riedel has playing experience at the NAHL, USHL, NCAA, ECHL, IHL and CHL level. A Rochester Hills native, Riedel played for Ferris State University for two seasons following his NAHL/USHL junior career. He was named First Team All-CCHA in 2005-06.
Following his time in Big Rapids, he played professionally for five seasons before returning to his home state. Since, Riedel has worked as a scout for the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and as head coach of the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 16U team.
With OJG, he has found considerable coaching success – multiple National Championship tournament appearances, 29 players being selected in the USHL Draft, nine in the OHL Draft, and 18 players making Division 1 college commitments. Three have made USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program – Drew DeRidder, Josh Norris and Joey Cassetti – and two have been drafted by NHL organizations – Norris and Brandon Halverson.
“We are very excited to have Dan Riedel join our staff at the Center of Excellence in Detroit,” said Dwayne Norris, director of hockey for the Bloomfield-based school. “I have had the privilege of working with Dan in a youth hockey capacity, and seeing how he treats and helps his players, we know he will be a valuable asset for our student-athletes.”
ABOUT TPH: Founded in 2001, Total Package Hockey is a hockey service provider with the vision to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the game of hockey. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of players, families, coaches, advisors and all other entities of the hockey world, one choice at a time. Our staff is committed to providing positive, energetic, hands-on instruction and mentorship, in an effort to develop each individual on and off the ice. If each individual develops as a player, athlete and person, he or she will be better prepared to advance to the highest levels of junior, collegiate and professional hockey, while learning the skills necessary for success in the ultimate game: the game of life.
For more information about TPH, click here
For more information about the TPH Center of Excellence, click here
TPH’s Brandon Naurato named to The Athletic’s Top 40 Under 40 in hockey
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce that TPH partner and director of hockey Brandon Naurato has been named one of the Top 40 Under 40 in hockey by The Athletic.
Naurato founded the Detroit branch of TPH in 2012, spearheading the creation of Michigan Hockey Advancement, the summer 8 Week Progression Program and the Center of Excellence hockey academy.
This past summer, the Livonia, Mich., native and University of Michigan alum was hired by his hometown Detroit Red Wings as a player development consultant.
“This is an incredible honor for Nar when you look at the list of people, and he has certainly earned this recognition,” said TPH CEO Nathan Bowen. “He is a great example to all the players he works with – regardless of what level – of what hard work can generate. Effort and a relentless desire to improve daily creates opportunity, and there is no doubt in our mind at TPH that we will continue to see Brandon climb.
“He has a mind for the game that is elite. He has a gift, but not one that has been given to him, rather one that he has worked for and earned. He puts the time into the game, studying video, forming thoughts and ideas, and what is truly revolutionary is how he has figured out how to train players with what he has coined “relevant skills” which translates into greater probabilities of success in today’s game. I have witnessed it first hand, his ability to create and generate offense through skill development that feeds into team systems directly to produce greater rates of success.”
The Athletic article featuring Naurato can be seen here (it is behind a paywall). Writer Craig Custance says that Naurato, listed at No. 35, is “the perfect mix of video, analytics and former player who is experienced enough to navigate effectively in all three worlds.”
Naurato has played a significant role in the ever-growing number of #TPHTrained players reaching the highest levels of hockey. As director of hockey, he has overseen the training of an incredible amount of hockey players.
Total Package Hockey total numbers:
- 54 Signed or Drafted NHL Players
- 189 NCAA Division 1 Commitments
- 91 NCAA Division 3 Commitments
- 99 OHL Draft Picks
- 150 USHL Draft Picks, 32 Tenders
- 61 NAHL Draft Picks, 111 Tenders
- 47 Players Competing For International Teams (NTDP, Hlinka-Gretzky, Junior Olympics, Etc.)
Naurato worked with the likes of Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, JT Compher of the Colorado Avalanche, Andrew Copp of the Winnipeg Jets and Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens, and now he plays an active role in assisting both the Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins.
“(Naurato is) the most knowledgable guy I have ever met in hockey,” Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski told The Athletic’s Tom Reed. “I am starting to realize that more than ever.”
Stories about Naurato:
Brandon Naurato hired by Red Wings in player development role
“What Brandon Naurato has built for TPH is being implemented across the board in all of our TPH Centers of Excellence and into our overall TPH player development curriculum for all of our #TPHTrained players,” Bowen said. “We are thankful to be able to share his knowledge and his passion with all of the players who come through TPH programs.”
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.
Joel Kwiatkowski Named Director of Hockey for Grand Rapids CoE
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce that Joel Kwiatkowski has joined the staff of the new Center of Excellence in Grand Rapids, Mich., as the program’s first Director of Hockey.
Kwiatkowski brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the new staff for the GR CoE as an 18-year professional hockey player, a coach and a hockey parent.
“What drew me to TPH was thinking about how great this would have been for me when I was growing up,” Kwiatkowski said. “To have a situation where you can work on your education and your hockey skills each and every day, with people right there alongside you to help you both on and off the ice, it’s a tremendous opportunity for kids in West Michigan. We have such a great community here, and I’m incredibly excited to start this new chapter at Southside Ice Arena as a coach and a mentor for our future CoE student-athletes.”
Kwiatkowski, a native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was a draft pick of the Dallas Stars in 1996. He appeared in 282 National Hockey League games over the course of seven seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Thrashers. Kwiatkowski competed in the Western Hockey League, the American Hockey League, the International Hockey League and the highest professional leagues in Switzerland and Sweden. He played in more than 1,000 professional hockey games over the course of his career.
Two of those seasons took place in Grand Rapids, as he played for the Griffins during their last season with the IHL in 2000-01 and their first season with the AHL in 2001-02.
During that time, he built ties to West Michigan, and a relationship with Southside Ice Arena co-owner and TPH GR partner Travis Richards.
“Joel was a tremendous teammate during our time together in Grand Rapids,” said Richards, still the only player to have his number retired by the Griffins. “He has a great knowledge of the game and a passion for teaching and helping players. We couldn’t be more excited to have him joining us as we begin the Center of Excellence for the next school year.
“We are very excited to officially add him to our TPH GR team- he will be a great leader and role model for our kids.”
Following his retirement from professional hockey, Kwiatkowski and his family returned to West Michigan. He accepted an assistant coach position with the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL while also joining the Fox Motors Hockey Club as an assistant coach.
“I’ve gotten to know Joel over the last few seasons through our Fox Motors Hockey Club, and I’ve been impressed by how he conducts himself at the rink as a coach and a parent,” said Mike Slobodnik,” Southside Ice Arena co-owner and TPH GR partner alongside Richards. “The TPH CoE model is here to help young student-athletes develop into good people, not just hockey players. With Joel, we know that these students will not only be improving crucial hockey skills on a day-in, day-out basis, but that they will be learning how to be leaders and students and good teammates and friends at the same time.”
TPH Grand Rapids invites all interested families to meet Joel Kwiatkowski and other members of the team at our upcoming open house on Tuesday, March 19 at 7 PM at Southside Ice Arena. To RSVP and secure your spot for the open house, please click here.
If you’re ready to apply to the Grand Rapids CoE, we invite you to click here and start the registration process.
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.
TPH-Ricci Hockey Partner to Launch 7th Center of Excellence in Colorado
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that it will be bringing its hallmark Center of Excellence model to the thriving state of Colorado for the 2019-2020 school year. TPH will launch its seventh CoE in the south suburbs of Denver and will partner alongside Angelo Ricci, a name synonymous with player development and advancement in both the state of Colorado and beyond.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity to partner with Angelo and his entire team,” TPH CEO Nathan Bowen said. “We met several years ago through the Tier I Elite League and his commitment to personal and athletic development with his players is how he has built one of the top programs in the country. He has strategically constructed and grown a performance-oriented club and the results have followed. He is extremely passionate about helping young people grow and consistently raising the standards for all involved in his programs. Colorado is an awesome hockey state and Denver is one of the healthiest metropolitan cities in all of the U.S. While excitement is high to bring a CoE to Denver, we are most looking forward to partnering with Angelo who serves as a positive role model for young aspiring student-athletes. His track record for developing next level hockey players, athletes and people speaks for itself.”
While TPH prides itself on its Study-Train-Play Center of Excellence model and what “it” can do for the aspiring elite student-athlete, Bowen says it is the leader, or “face” of the actual CoE that drives the model. In Ricci, TPH is teaming up with an individual who brings 20-plus years of true player development experience to the Denver area Center of Excellence. Angelo is the founder and head instructor for Ricci Hockey Consulting, a company he formed back in 1996. The Chicago native is also the Director of Hockey Operations for the prestigious Colorado Thunderbirds Hockey Club and has held leadership positions with the Arapahoe and Littleton Youth Hockey Associations.
Ricci is quick to point out that while he is excited about partnering with TPH to bring a Center of Excellence to an area he now calls home, TPH’s commitment to excellence in the areas of on and off-ice training, academic success and mentorship is what sold him on forming a partnership.
“The TPH mission is to exceed expectations of student-athletes, their families and all entities of the hockey world,” Ricci said. “That’s essentially what I have tried to do throughout my career. Being involved with this model is a perfect next step for me, and the model is a perfect next step for hockey in the Denver area. TPH’s methodical approach to the training of The Hockey Athlete, along with their academic partnership with Edmentum puts the needs of students-athletes first. Development is a delicate thing, especially in the classroom. TPH has the plan, and in the Denver area, I believe TPH now has the perfect place.”
While coaching in that “perfect place” Ricci references, the former University of Denver Pioneer has guided teams for 22 seasons, 16 of which have been at the Tier I level. To date, he has posted a Tier I coaching record of 803-192-53. Since 2005-2006, Ricci’s Colorado Thunderbirds 16U AAA squads have won 13 state championships and have made eight appearances in the National Tournament. His teams have finished no lower than 5th place at Nationals, and in 2009-2010, his group achieved a first-place finish.
In addition, Ricci’s leadership has led him to a successful coaching and on-ice instruction career at all levels. Since 2003, the 47-year-old has worked with numerous professional players as a skills coach. He has consulted and worked with big-name players such as Seth Jones, Caleb Jones, Nick Shore, Paul Stastny, Tyler Bozak, Drew Shore, Kyle Quincy, Gilbert Brule, Matt Donovan, Gustav Olofsson, Brandon Carlo, Scott Mayfield, Ben Holmstrom, Troy Terry, Dylan Gambrell, Dominic Turgeon and Jack Skille. For the past nine years, Ricci has been a skills consultant for the Assabet Valley Girls program, which has won 42 USA Hockey Tier I National Championships. Ricci was also the Head Skills Instructor at the NHL Fantasy Skills Camp during the NHL All-Star Games in Denver in 2001 and Los Angeles in 2002.
Since 2014, Angelo has been a part of the Buffalo Sabres organization, serving as a Skills Development Consultant for the NHL club. In addition, Ricci has worked directly with the Sabres’ prospects in the AHL, where he is a Skills Development Coach for the Rochester Americans.
In conjunction with his coaching, Angelo shares his passion, skill and knowledge as a USA Hockey Coaching Education Program presenter. He served as a USA Hockey District Festival Head Coach from 2004-2009 and has conducted multiple coaching seminars and clinics. In 2003, Ricci attained his certification with USA Hockey as a Master Level 5 Coach.
“History and track record are both proof that a partnership between TPH and Ricci Hockey will be successful,” Ricci added. “I am extremely proud of the number of players I have been able to work with who have advanced to the highest levels of hockey. TPH shares that same level of pride and passion. In five years, the CoE model alone has produced four NHL draft picks, 33 NCAA Division I commitments and has helped over 50 players reach the USHL and NAHL. The Denver CoE looks forward to putting our stamp on the growth of those very impressive numbers.”
TPH will be announcing more information in the coming weeks about its Denver Center of Excellence model, including location, open house dates and staffing. In the meantime, TPH invites all interested Denver Center of Excellence candidates to click here and visit the CoE webpage on totalpackagehockey.com, to learn more about the CoE model and the meaning of Study-Train-Play.
If you wish to receive updates on the Denver Center of Excellence, please click here and select “Colorado” for all the latest news and information on the CoE.
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.
Kassie Whitaker to Lead Academics at Huntsville CoE
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Kassie Whitaker will serve as the Director of Academics for its new Center of Excellence in Huntsville, AL for the 2019-2020 school year. Kassie brings twelve years of classroom experience to the TPH team.
“I am excited to welcome Kassie to the TPH-Huntsville team,” Director of Operations Ryan McCormack said. “She will bring a wealth of knowledge to the classroom setting and will be instrumental in fostering a culture that promotes student success.”
Kassie graduated from Jacksonville State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. After that, Kassie pursed her Master’s Degree from the University of West Alabama, and earned a graduate degree in Elementary Education. She brings a wealth of experience to the Huntsville team, specializing in instructing elementary and middle school level students in particular.
In addition to her experience in the classroom, Kassie spent two years working as a Reading Specialist, assisting teachers in developing and implementing instructional goals for all students.
I am extremely excited to have this opportunity. I hope to use the experiences I have had in the classroom and as a Reading Coach to help student-athletes reach their full potential in all areas of their lives.
-Kassie Whitaker
On behalf of everyone with TPH, we join Ryan McCormack in welcoming Kassie to the TPH-Huntsville team.
To apply to the TPH-Huntsville Center of Excellence for the 2019-2020 school year, please click here.
TPH Grand Rapids announces hiring of Kyle Gagneau, Joe Messina
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce the additions of Kyle Gagneau and Joe Messina to the growing team at our new Center of Excellence in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Gagneau will be the GR CoE’s strength and conditioning coach, while Messina is the new director of goaltender development for the upcoming 2019-2020 school year.
“We are very excited to welcome both Kyle and Joe to the TPH team in Grand Rapids,” said Joel Kwiatkowski, the director of hockey for TPH Grand Rapids. “They both bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of the West Michigan hockey community to our core group of leadership, and we know they will do great things with our inaugural class of student-athletes.”
To apply for the GR CoE, click here
About Gagneau
Gagneau brings 12 years of experience in the fitness industry to TPH. A lifelong hockey player himself, Gagneau holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Michigan State University. HE is a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Gagneau has also earned performance enhancement, corrective exercise and fitness nutrition specializations from NASM to better serve his athletes and clients.
About Messina
Messina is currently the vice president of operations for Bandits Goalie School. A Shattuck St. Mary’s and SUNY Brockport (NCAA Division III) product, he oversees goaltending for numerous programs in Grand Rapids, including the Fox Motors Hockey Club and ACHA programs Davenport University, Aquinas College and Calvin College, among others.
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
Leah Sarnicola to Head Up Academics for Grand Rapids CoE
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Leah Sarnicola, current Director of Academics for the TPH Center of Excellence at RISE Prep in Nashville, TN, will be relocating north to her hometown of Grand Rapids, MI following the 2018-2019 school year, to take on the same role in the TPH-Grand Rapids Center of Excellence, which will open its doors in August of 2019.
“Appointing Leah to become our first Director of Academics for the Grand Rapids CoE is a huge win on a number of levels,” TPH Chief Academic Officer Bill Simms said. “Leah and RISE Prep Headmaster Brad Guzda have done a fantastic job fostering a disciplined, structured academic culture in Nashville that is consistent with The TPH Way. Leah will bring that same level of focus and passion for student-success with her to Grand Rapids so our student-athletes in GR have every opportunity to Study to their potential. Academics have and will always be priority number one in our Center of Excellence model. Putting a leader in place of Leah’s character and knowledge solidifies that.”
The Grand Rapids native has spent the past four years in Nashville, mentoring students at the TPH Center of Excellence at RISE Prep. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Grand Valley State University. Leah went on to receive her Master’s in Business Administration from Tennessee State University and has an extensive background in teaching Spanish as well as instructing within ESL programs, which is comprised of coursework designed to help students and adults who are looking to learn English as a second language and acclimate successfully to different environments/cultures.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to move to Grand Rapids, a place I love and call home,” Sarnicola said. “But what I am most looking forward to is the chance to take my four years of experience from Nashville and help create an academic culture student-athletes, families, and the Grand Rapids community will be proud of.”
Sarnicola went on to add:
“I want to thank Brad Guzda, Keith Rowe, and all of the wonderful young men and women I have had the pleasure to build relationships with during my time in Nashville. I will always hold the people and experiences from Nashville deep in my heart.”
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.