Posts Tagged ‘Staff’
Karlander, Van Drunen join Grand Rapids CoE team
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce the additions of Kory Karlander and David Van Drunen to the Grand Rapids Center of Excellence for the upcoming 2019-2020 school year.
In their new roles of player development coaches and mentors, the two bring a combined 32 years of professional hockey playing experience to the growing staff at the new CoE at the Southside Ice Arena on Michigan’s west side.
“Both Kory and David have a passion for helping the next generation of hockey players, and we’re excited to have them join our team for our inaugural school year,” said TPH GR director of hockey Joel Kwiatkowski. “From playing such extensive professional careers and now both coaching in the youth ranks, they know from experience what it takes to reach the highest levels of hockey, and how to communicate those lessons to our young student-athletes.”
Karlander, a co-hockey director for the Fox Motors Hockey Club, coaches two youth teams after a 18-year professional hockey career. A Northern Michigan alum, Karlander played for the Grand Rapids Griffins in five different seasons, and seven seasons with the Kalamazoo Wings. He served as an assistant captain for the Wings from 2005-13 before retiring from professional hockey.
Other hockey stops for Karlander included the Detroit Vipers (IHL) and two years with the Belfast Giants in the British Ice Hockey Superleague.
Van Drunen, a coach of Fox Motors midget teams, played for the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL for junior hockey before embarking on a 14-year professional career that brought him to Michigan.
He played five seasons for the Griffins, and four for the Muskegon Fury, before concluding his career with the Odessa Jackalopes in 2010-11.
Along the way, Van Drunen also played for the Detroit Vipers and the Saginaw Gears as he made his way around the Great Lakes State.
Both work for the Southside Ice Arena, extending their roots in the Grand Rapids hockey community.
For more information about the TPH Center of Excellence in Grand Rapids, click here.
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.
Lala Wilcox Joins TPH-Atlanta as Director of Academics
Total Package Hockey is pleased to announce that Lala Wilcox will serve as the Director of Academics for the Center of Excellence in Atlanta, Ga. for the 2019-2020 school year.
Lala brings thirteen years of experience serving as a teacher leader, new teacher mentor and student mentor to the TPH team. Lala will be replacing Kris Jennings, who will be transitioning to Nashville and will join the Center of Excellence in Nashville, Tenn.
Lala graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s in Biology Education. Since graduation Lala has taught all grade levels of high school science teaching students ranging from at ‘risk/struggling’ students to ‘gifted/accelerated’.
“In Lala, we feel we have found an Academic Director who will continue the standard of Academic Excellence in the Atlanta CoE” said Steve Jennings, Director at the Center of Excellence-Nashville. “I am certain we have found the absolute right person to join our team and look forward to seeing the continued academic growth of the Center under Lala’s Leadership.”
“We are very excited to add Lala to our team here in Atlanta. She has the necessary structure, discipline, and work ethic to keep the Atlanta center of excellence growing.” said Brad Schell, the Director of operations in Atlanta.
On behalf of the everyone in the TPH family, welcome to the TPH-Atlanta team.
To apply to the TPH Center of Excellence – Atlanta for the 2019-2020 school year, please click here.
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.
Greg Wolfe joins TPH Detroit staff
Total Package Hockey is proud to announce the addition of Greg Wolfe to the TPH Detroit team.
Wolfe, a former captain of the Michigan State Spartans and professional hockey player in North America and Norway, will be a player development coach and mentor for the TPH Center of Excellence in Bloomfield, Mich., for the 2019-2020 school year.
“We are excited to add Greg Wolfe, a tremendous example of an outstanding student-athlete, to our staff in Detroit,” said TPH Detroit director of hockey Dwayne Norris. “He maintained excellence in the classroom during his time as captain of Michigan State, and he has continued to work on and off the ice ever since. Greg will be a great role model for our student-athletes, both in how to improve as a hockey player and to prepare for life away from the rink.”
Wolfe, a Canton, Mich., native, just concluded a five-year professional hockey career that spanned the AHL, the ECHL and Norway’s top professional league.
A two-time captain of the Spartans, he maintained a 3.6 grade-point average during his four years in East Lansing, and he won the Big Ten Medal of Honor and the Big Ten Sportsmanship Awards in his senior season of 2013-14. Prior to his collegiate career, Wolfe played Tier 1 youth hockey for HoneyBaked and two years of USHL hockey for the Chicago Steel and Omaha Lancers.
From 2014-17, he split time between AHL and ECHL franchises, playing in a total of 23 AHL games with the Iowa Wild and Albany Devils. In 2017-18, he spent the season playing for Sparta Sarpsborg in Norway’s top league, and last season, he returned to the U.S. to play for the Toledo Walleye, where he racked up 51 points in 63 games.
His on-ice pursuits haven’t limited him from success off of it, however. Since 2017, Wolfe has run his own hockey school, while also serving as a player advisor and mentor for Coast 2 Coast Player Development, where he helps guide younger generations of players chasing their hockey dreams.
Wolfe is the second addition to the TPH Detroit CoE staff this off-season, joining fellow Michigan State product Jeff Lerg in Bloomfield.
Nichelle Simon, Former College Hockey Defender and “American Ninja Warrior” Contestant, Joins Riveters
September 12, 2019 – Defender Nichelle Simon, who played college hockey at Hamline and Neumann universities and appeared in season 9 of NBC’s hit show “American Ninja Warrior,” has signed with the Metropolitan Riveters of the NWHL.
Simon is also a breast cancer survivor who completed her treatments in June, 2018. She has preparing for a comeback to hockey ever since, and achieved her dream after a successful tryout before the Riveters’ hockey operations staff.
The veteran defender was born in Ft. Lauderdale and attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s School before playing college hockey at Hamline University and Neumann University. She scored 19 goals in 87 career games, including 10 goals in her freshman season at Hamline University, and was named to ECAC West’s All-Academic Team in her senior season.
Simon, 36, is a dedicated athlete. She competed during the ninth season of “American Ninja Warrior” at the Daytona Beach qualifiers and continues to train for ninja events. Simon participated at the 2018 USA Pond Hockey National Championship in Wisconsin and led her team, the Southern Thunder, in goals at the 2019 Chipotle-USA Hockey Nationals in Anaheim.
“I’m extremely proud and honored to be selected to represent the Riveters and the NWHL on and off the ice,” said Simon. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing with and against great hockey players and the opportunity to be a role model for girls and women coming up in the sport. My message is that it’s never too late to follow your dreams!”
Simon has been committed to promoting hockey in the South and has been an instructor for over a decade. She is an “Operations Ninja” for Total Package Hockey, a service dedicated to positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through the best sport in the world.
Contact: Chris Botta, NWHL cbotta@nwhlhq.com
Taso Sofikitis (’96 BSBA, Marketing) Recipient: 2019 UAH Alumni of Achievement
Hard work and faithfully practicing the Golden Rule in business has allowed Taso Sofikitis, CEO and President of Maynards Group of Companies to achieve immeasurable success.
Maynards manages auctions/liqudations, asset valuation projects valued up to half a billion dollars as well as operates a Capital business that does asset-based lending from eleven offices in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and China. In addition, the Maynards Group owns and operates manufacturing companies both in the paper/containerboard sector as well as the oil and gas sector.
Sofikitis will be honored in October during the UAH Alumni of Achievement ceremony for his successful international business accomplishments and philanthropic work.
“It’s an honor to accept this award, it means a lot to me because it confirms that if you work hard, treat people right you can achieve success, it is both personally and professionally satisfying to be recognized,” said Sofikitis.
Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, he attended UAH on an athletic scholarship. Sofikitis was a member of the team that won the Division II Hockey National Championship in 1996.
In addition to playing hockey, Sofikitis excelled in his academic studies at UAH. He has fond memories of his College of Business professors including Dr. Brent Wren and Dr. Jim Simpson.
“My favorite UAH experience was being part of the hockey team for four years, building relationships and friendships with my teammates Sheldon Wolitski, Mario Mazzuca, Wade Tulk, Brad Dame, Lance West, and others.
“UAH had a significant impact on my life and my business career, I learned how to manage my time, I learned what it took to work hard both in the classroom and in athletics,” said Sofikitis. “UAH helped me understand the importance of building relationships, and being part of a team…all things needed to be successful in the business world.”
He began his career at Maynards, in 1998, and has been an integral part in helping the company become a global leader. Sofikitis became the majority shareholder in the Maynards Group of Companies in 2012 and has managed countless sales projects around the globe equating to over a billion dollars in sales.
In 2018, Sofikitis and Sheldon Wolitski (’96 BSBA) generously donated funds for a full renovation of the UAH Spragins Hall weight room.
The two alums earned First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors as seniors and played for the UAH Chargers under legendary head coach Doug Ross.
Sofikitis is a member of the Machinery Dealers Network Association, the Association of Machinery and Equipment Appraisers, and is a Certified Equipment Appraiser.
He has volunteered and generously donated funds to the Greek Evangelical Church, First United Methodist Church, Make a Wish Foundation ® America, Youth Hockey Programs (USA Hockey), and the UAH Hockey Program. Sofikitis is married to UAH alumna Carrie Hopper Sofikitis and the couple has three children, Nicholas (16), Evan (12) and Sophia (8).
View original article at: https://www.uah.edu/news/news/taso-sofikitis-ninety-six-bsba-marketing-recipient-twenty-nineteen-uah-alumni-of-achievement
TPH Operations Ninja Nichelle Simon Set to Play First Professional Game Tonight and Featured in The Hockey News
The greatest challenge in writing about Metropolitan Riveters defender Nichelle Simon is knowing where to start. Do you begin with the fact she didn’t get her on-ice start until she was a 17-year-old? Do you instead go with the fact that she rose so quickly, was so head-and-shoulders better than those she played with and against, that she transferred from her public school in Atlanta to the veritable hockey factory that is Shattuck St. Mary’s mere months later? Or how about the fact that she started her own women’s team, she hasn’t played at a major competitive level since her final college campaign in 2004-05, she competed on American Ninja Warrior or she’s a cancer survivor who tried to put off chemotherapy treatments last summer in order to tryout for the NWHL?
Maybe we should start with that last one, because it’s why Simon, 36, will be the league’s oldest newcomer this season instead of a spry 35-year-old rookie.
When the NWHL burst onto the scene in 2015, Simon had heard about the fledgling league and was urged by some of those around her to give it a shot, test her mettle, see if she could transition from standout recreational player to professional athlete in the burgeoning women’s circuit. In the years since her time at NCAA Div. III Neumann University ended, she had continued to grow her game. She was and had been practicing with a boys AAA team in Huntsville, Ala., since 2007, she continued skating in recreational men’s leagues and she played on weekends. By her estimation, she was a better player then – and she’s a better player now – than she had never been. The issue, however, was that Simon was on a different journey at the time.
In August 2015, she had committed herself and her life to training for American Ninja Warrior. Hockey was on the back burner, and that’s where it remained for the next two years while Simon lived in the gym, earned her spot on the ninth season of the program and competed with and against some of the best athletes in the world. But at the culmination of her pursuit of one dream, and with time to take stock of what she wanted to tackle next, Simon’s focus shifted.
During the 2017-18 NWHL campaign, she began flirting with the idea of playing in NWHL. And it was in the late stages of that season that she committed. In February 2018, Simon made plans to head to Nashville where she would train with Total Package Hockey – she’s the director of administrations for TPH – in preparation for an NWHL tryout.
“I was ready to go do that, had a hotel booked, was ready to move and everything,” Simon said. “I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with breast cancer on February 22nd of that year, two weeks before I was ready to go.”
And here’s the part where you come to understand something about Simon’s drive and determination: when faced with the cancer diagnosis, among her first questions was whether or not she could put off the surgery, stall the chemotherapy and continue the pursuit of her newfound NWHL dream. As Simon put it, she’s not one who does well when her plans are altered by outside forces. She didn’t want to let anything get in her way. But this? This she had to accept. Her doctors told her she could wait weeks, but not the months her training would require. She went under the knife. She went through four hard months of chemotherapy.
“And all that time, all I was thinking was, ‘Get through this so I can try out for the NWHL next year, because I’m only getting older every year. I’m healthy and I’m strong,’” she said. “And coming off of American Ninja Warrior, I was the strongest and healthiest I’ve ever been and I didn’t want to lose that.”
By the time she finished her treatment in July, however, it had taken its toll. And while it didn’t stop Simon from skating in Chicago’s “Puck Cancer” tournament four weeks after her final round of chemotherapy, which she called one of the most challenging weekends of hockey of her entire life, she felt the impact of what her body had gone through. When she got back into the gym, she was a shadow of what she had been only several months earlier. “I was weaker and tired so quickly, so I couldn’t go as long, couldn’t go as heavy, couldn’t go as hard,” Simon said. “I think it was January, probably, before I really started to feel good in the gym again and could really start pushing a little more.”
But over the next several months, with longtime boyfriend, Eric Smith, by her side, she worked tirelessly. She pushed her body to its limit. The gains were small but incremental. In June, she stepped on the ice for an open tryout in front of Metropolitan Riveters staff. The coaches were impressed, enough to give Simon another look. And that’s when Simon ramped up her workouts. For the next eight weeks, she trained “100 percent, full, all out, every day, like I had been for Ninja Warrior.” Her devotion was rewarded the next time she stepped in front of the coaches. On Sept. 13, her signing by the Riveters was made official when it was announced by the NWHL, and on Sept. 28, Simon stepped foot on the ice for the first time in her professional career.
“I was very overwhelmed,” she said. “I was trying to focus on the game but my mind kept coming back to, just, ‘My God, what am I doing here and how did I get here? This is amazing.’ I’m just in awe of everything and of myself and everything around me. I played that game with a smile on my face almost the entire time. My legs were burning, my lungs were burning and my everything hurt.”
Through it all, though, Simon said she was smiling and happy, thankful for what she’s been able to accomplish. And when she steps foot on the ice for Game No. 1, her big-league debut, she will do so as one of the league’s elder stateswomen despite the fact she is, by all measures, an NWHL rookie. She jokes about it, quips about feeling old – “I told (my teammates) the other day that I’ve been working at my job for 12 years…And one of them looked at me and said, ’12 years? How old are you?’” Simon laughed – but everything that has brought her here has given her a unique perspective on what it means to be accomplishing this dream.
“I’m older than most of them by 10 years or more, and I’ve lived a lot of things,” she said. “I’ve been through a lot of things, obviously, competed at high levels and different things. I sit there and I feel like I have a different outlook on life and on what I’m doing there. I feel very, very honored and lucky to be there.”
View original article at: https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/nwhl-preview-meet-36-year-old-rookie-nichelle-simon-the-nwhls-most-interesting-woman?sfns=mo
Olivia Barnett Joins the TPH Family
Total Package Hockey is excited to announce the addition of Olivia Barnett to the TPH Nashville team. Barnett, native of Erie, Penn., will be the new Program Administrator for the Nashville branch.
Barnett graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, with a Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management degree. Barnett has spent time working with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League (PIHL) in Event Operations and Marketing during in-season events and the PA State Championships during the spring of 2018.
Over the past year and a half, Barnett spent time as an Administrative Assistant in Pittsburgh for CMMI Institute, a global leader in enabling organizations to elevate and benchmark performances across critical business practices.
Please join us in welcoming Olivia to the TPH Family!