Rep Coaches, Rep Hockey (Erin-Hillsburgh Minor Hockey Association)

Your hockey background: My highest level of hockey was AAA in the MTHL (now the GTHL) from Peewee to Midget, and I also played A level Lacrosse, and then played Junior A and Senior Lacrosse.

Your coaching history: I coached in the GTHL at the AA and AAA levels and this past season I was the head coach of the EHMHA Novice Red team.  I am also an on-ice helper with the CHIP program.

What you are looking forward to accomplishing with your team this coming season: The most important thing is that I want the kids to come to the rink excited to play hockey.  I want the kids to develop as individuals and I hope this will lead to a fun learning environment and a team where the kids make new friends and want to play for each other.  The goal for me as a coach is to help each player learn new skills and improve on the skills they already have. 

What you will be looking for at tryouts: I will be looking at fundamental skating and stick handling skills.  Another important thing I will be looking for is willingness to learn.   Focus is a very important quality I will be looking for, are they paying attention to the Coach when drills are being explained?  Drive and effort during tryouts will also be key factors.

Your hockey background:
Highest Level Hockey was Junior B in Orangeville and then I played 5 years of Senior A Hockey.

Your coaching history: I have participated in a coaching role every year since the 2009-2010 season.  I was the head coach of the 2016-2017 EHMHA Novice team & I’m an assistant coach on the Brampton Canadettes Pewee AA team.

What you are looking forward to accomplishing with your team this coming season:  Providing an environment where the kids are comfortable so they can learn and have fun.  My goal is to develop these young players to their full potential with a focus on individual skills and tactics.  I'm committed to developing a culture where every player gives their best effort to contribute to team success.

What you will be looking for at tryouts: For this level, I will be looking at fundamental skating and stick handling skills.  The other major attribute I look for is teachability.  To assess this, I’m looking for focus and effort during tryouts.

Your hockey background: I've played hockey most of my life, in the MTHL and AAA in Brampton starting at the age of 6.

Your coaching history: I'm excited to be working with this group for the first time as a coach.  

What you are looking forward to accomplishing with your team this coming season: My focus will be the development of hockey smarts and skills. Teaching this group smart heads up hockey will also be a priority.  Most important of all though is building their self confidence, so they can feel they are able to walk into any situation and have the confidence to be self assured. This is a stepping stone of life experiences.

Your hockey background:  Started hockey at age 8, played AAA hockey in Bantam and moved to Jr B hockey at 15, Played University hockey in Michigan, Played various senior men’s leagues

Your coaching history:  Coached minor midget AAA and Jr hockey in Western Canada ( non-parent )
Along with Steve Busby, developed the EH Chip program
Developed the Wizards spring hockey organization
Worked with the i-train hockey organization
Built and ran first Select 6 and Select 7 program in EH
Coached Novice BB – Provincial Champions
Atom BB – Tri -County Champions
Women’s hockey: PeeWee Tier 1 – Provincial Champions
Bantam Tier 1 – Lower Lakes Silver Medalist
Midget Tier 1 – Provincial Champions
Successfully developed 14 female players into NCAA Div 1 schoolarships and 2 players chose Canadian U-sports opportunities.  Out of 17 players.  

What you are looking forward to accomplishing with your team this coming season:
FUN – A cliché as it sounds, we forget all the time that hockey is a game and the kids play for fun.  I will make sure my team has the most fun this season.

Development – There are many different development opportunities for these kids, skating, shooting, individual tactics, team tactics.  But we also overlook the life skills we engrain in these kids, development of hard work, respect, resiliency, working with others and how to overcome obstacles and challenges.  We will look to ensure the players finish the season not only better hockey players but better people.

Competition – This is representative hockey and every player and family starts the season with an expectation to win.  Depending on the group of athletes there are many different ways to win and be competitive.  As we go through the tryout process and select a team we will select our team goals over the summer and start executing in the fall.  

What you will be looking for at tryouts:      
Relentless drive - will the player do whatever it takes to win a battle, a game of hockey is made up of hundreds of little battles all wrapped up in an hour of fun.  If you win more little battles than your opponent you will be successful (Blocking shots, back checking, winning the battles for pucks in the corners, being physical without taking a penalty)
Team first mentality – will the player do what’s right for the team first before their own personal success.  As an example on a 2 on 1 will the player make the right pass versus taking a selfish shot   (Passing, passing, passing, positional play, thinking two steps ahead of the puck and then passing)  

Willingness to learn – every kid that comes to the tryout is an athlete but some athletes are not willing to learn, effort combine with the willingness to learn are the fundamental pieces I will be looking for

Your hockey background: I love the game of hockey.  The pace, the strategy, the technique, the excitement.  I didn't get the chance to play myself as a kid, but I was (and still am) obsessed with the NHL - Go Leafs!   Seeing my son and his team mates share this appreciation has been so amazing to watch them go from flat on the ice in CHIPs 1, to now really understanding the game and developing on their strengths.  I love seeing the bonds they have made as team mates and the lifetime of memories they are making.

Your coaching history: I have been part of Erin-Hillsburgh Minor hockey for 3 years of CHIPS, then Tyke, Novice BB, Atom AE, Atom BB and now PeeWee AE.  In those years, I've done everything from being an on-ice helper for the little ones, Team Manager to Assistant Coach - working the bench and supporting practices.I think most that have worked with me before would say I bring a positive attitude to the rink and I keep spirits up.  I am always trying to find ways to connect with the players on their level.  I take the time to get to know them, so when we're talking game I know what will make sense to them.

What you are looking forward to accomplishing with your team this coming season: I am so excited to work with this group of athletes to help them develop into stronger hockey players, to bring a "team-first" attitude, all while growing their love for the game.  My end goal is to keep them wanting to play hockey throughout their full lives

My hockey background:
 I have been playing hockey since I was 6 in EHMHA. A mix of Rep, Select and LL. 3 years of inter-murals at Brock University and 3 years of Men’s League here in Erin.

My coaching history:
‘16-‘17 Assistant Coach/Goalie Coach for Novice BB; OMHA ChampionsSummer ‘17 Head Coach of Team Canada (Jr. A, Jr. B divisions) and International Team (Open division)at the World Dwarf Games; 2 Golds for Canada‘17-‘18 Head Coach for a Novice and Midget LL teams; Novice Consolation ChampsGoalie coach for 3 Rep teams ‘18-‘19Head Coach of Novice BB Devils; Tri-County Champions

What am I looking forward to accomplishing with my team this year?
I’m looking forward to developing a good team first mentality with lots of respect, self realization and character development.  Get these guys playing hockey the right way with lots of passing, possession as well as teaching how to create options for yourself and make yourself an option for your teammates.  Drills with multiple skills and strategies.  I’m definitely looking forward to learning about and bonding with one of the only age groups I have yet to Coach in EHMHA.  Most of all I want the game to be fun for everyone, players and parents alike. I hope everyone wants to extend their hockey careers past EHMHA and minor hockey as I have due to my great experiences in EHMHA. 

I've been involved in hockey ever since I was young. I played rep hockey from Novice through Midget and went on to play Junior for three years. 

Hockey has continued to play an important part of my life and I hope that I can, in the not too distant future, play men’s league with both of my boys.

I coached my first hockey team in my early twenties.  I have been coaching high school hockey since 1999 and joined Erin-Hillsburgh as on ice coach with the Chips program in 2006.  I have been either a head coach or assistant coach since that time.  I have been lucky enough to coach every level from Tyke to Bantam, and this year I will be coaching the Midget BB team.

I know the pride that comes from winning the OMHA title as I have experienced it both as a player and as a coach. 

I also know that success is the result of many hours of hard work and dedication. 

I am excited and looking forward to the Midget tradition of welcoming home the young men who have played in other centres but would like to conclude their hockey career in their home town, with their friends.

I look forward to guiding the dedicated and hardworking players through a unforgettable year filled with fun and friendships they will remember for years to come.