posted 04/21/2010 IHA Jr. Thrashers Travel Hockey 2010/2011
Program Mission
Our mission is to provide the opportunity for the players to be the best they can be. An environment where our players will have fun, develop skills to the best of their abilities and enjoy the spirit of hockey competition and camaraderie.
Season Overview
Every season the IHA Jr. Thrashers program officially rosters all teams with USA Hockey. Our intent is to schedule games against the best teams available at each level. Our coaches at the house level are working to develop players for the travel A teams. Coaches at the travel A level are working on developing players for travel AA teams and coaches for travel AA program working with our players to help them reach the AAA level. We are taking this approach in order to best develop our players and to prepare them for the possibility of playing at the AAA level and beyond. This will be accomplished through our association with the SIHA Thunder AAA teams. It is our intention to meet the stated goals of the program while playing as many games in Atlanta as possible. Obviously, some travel will be required for the travel teams; however, we intend to develop a very competitive and challenging schedule while limiting overnight and long distance travel as much as possible.
Team Play
The 2010/2011 IHA Jr. Thrashers travel teams will learn and employ a total team approach to the game of hockey. Our systems require every member of the team to know their responsibilities and be able to perform their responsibilities in any given situation. We will practice just like we want it played – hard, fast and smart. Our Pee Wee through Midget teams practice 3 times a week and each practice focuses on specific skill development. All of our travel teams participate in High Performance Weekends (HPW) lead by Yan Kaminsky (Hockey Director) and Patrick Houlihan (Assistant hockey director) along with the coaching staff of each travel team. During the HPW weekends, we will introduce our players to specific skills for defense and offense. Also we will work with the teams on the Jr. Thrasher systems, composed of d-zone coverage, fore-check, zone entry etc. Team members will be asked to work diligently both on and off the ice in order to learn their roles and responsibilities as well as the roles and responsibilities of their teammates.
A child “playing up.”
I am frequently asked by both parents and coaches about the possibility of a child “playing up.” Playing up means that a child who is mite age plays squirt and a squirt aged child playing pee-wee and etc. It is both my personal policy and the policy of the Ice Forum Hockey Association that a child in these age brackets should play within his/her age group. This will remain the general rule!
Our goal is to have competitive travel teams at each level of the IHA Jr. Thrashers program. In order to do this it is important that there are enough skilled players on each team. Allowing a child to play up dilutes the talent pool at that level thereby potentially defeating the goal of a competitive team at every level. I also believe that having a core group of players advance together and that are of the same age creates a camaraderie that is vital to every team’s success. Therefore, you have my philosophy for the general rule.
However, as a Professional Hockey player I recognize that there are those special players who may need to play up. I do believe those players are rare. With this in mind I am setting up criteria that allows an exception, in certain circumstances, to the general rule. Please understand, there will always be a certain amount of subjectivity in evaluating players, there is no perfect way. Keep in mind during the evaluation process that it is the child’s best interest that must be foremost in your mind. Do not attempt to use this program as a means to build a “super team,” or appease parents who may have an unrealistic opinion of their child’s ability! This system does not need to be abused, we need this system in tact for the naturally talented children that are deserving of it. Remember, this is about our children!
In order for a child to tryout for a team other than their respective age group division, the parent must make the request in writing to
three weeks prior to evaluations to insure that the child’s name is on that team’s tryout list.
The coach’s board will be charged with evaluating a child wishing to play up. The board will evaluate the child based on overall hockey skills and physical ability to play up. If the coaches’ board decides to let this player try-out for an older division, I will present the recommendation to the parent of this player.
The coach’s board has as its number one priority to evaluate the individual child and make their assessments concerning the skill and ability of that child. My responsibility is two-fold; consider the recommendations of the board and what the overall impact may be on the program. Therefore, as the Director of Hockey and active member of the evaluation board, I am reserving for myself the right to veto any recommendation. This will help insure that each team remains competitive which is vital to the entire program.
Always remember, it is about our children! Please share in my goal for each child participating in this program; to provide each child with a competitive environment so he or she may reach his or her fullest potential insuring the program remains strong.
Sincerely;
Yan Kaminsky – the Hockey Director
Tryouts
IceForum Hockey Association Junior Thrashers Travel Program 2010-2011 Season
The IceForum Hockey Association (IHA) is the premier ice hockey program in the state of Georgia. We are committed to the pursuit of excellence in both athletics and academics. The IceForum is the only official Junior Thrashers Travel Program. With a highly skilled coaching staff under the direction of Yan Kaminsky, Patrick Houlihan, Daren Elliot, Chris Uber and the Atlanta Thrashers HDT. This program is designed to advance and develop elite players to their maximum ability.
Our program continues to take on a new approach from the USA Hockey ADM concept and look towards the future to create teams in the major and minor groups (birth year). This is our long-term goal. To be able to accomplish this goal, this season the following concept will be used for our travel teams:
· Each player will try out for their age division. For example, 99’s and 98’s birth year by USA Hockey rules next season will be in the peewee division. In the peewee division we will have peewee minor (99’s) and peewee major (98’s).
· The goal for this season for major teams (older age group in division) is to be able to create 100% of the core group by the birth year. However, we understand that we are still in a transition period, so the following rule will apply for this season: We will keep three (3) spots available on the older birth year team, for the younger players to tryout for. These three (3) spots are not guaranteed for the younger birth year players. The spot must be earned at the older birth year tryout.
The only exception to this rule will be at Midget U16 division. At that level 15, 16 years old players will compete equally for position on major AA team
- The goal for this season for minor teams (younger age group in division) we will allow 5 players from older age group to play on minor team. We do recognize this is a big step in our program. We are trying to keep as many of the players currently playing travel to continue playing travel the next year. We will keep five (5) spots available on the younger birth year team, for the older player to tryout for if they do not make the team of their birth year in their division. (ex.: the peewee division consists of 1st year peewee (99’s) and 2nd year peewee (98’s), if the 98 cannot make the 98 team he will be allowed, if he wishes, to try out for the 99’s team for one of the five (5) spots available.) These five (5) spots on the 1st year team are not guaranteed for the 98 birth year player. The spot must be earned at the 99 tryouts.
- Players will not be allowed to tryout outside of their age division. For example, 98 birth years which are 2nd year players in the pee wee division will not be allowed to try out for 97 and 96 Bantam division. This rule applies to all divisions, mite – midgets.
Special consideration may be given to individual players on a case by case basis! Please see a child “playing up.” Policy above.
Try-out format
The travel tryouts will begin May 29th and continue through June 6th. Each division will have two work outs on the ice and one final tryout/scrimmage. For the detailed tryout schedule, please check the website, www.IceForum.com. After the second tryout each player will receive an email with information regarding which birth year he or she will have a final tryout/scrimmage with. After the final tryout/scrimmage we will post the final roster on the IceForum website within 72 hours. The final roster will be determined by the Hockey Department with input from all the Head Coaches. With in 72 hours of the tryouts, selected players for each team will receive a personal congratulations e-mail from the hockey department containing detailed information about the registration process and fitting day information after final tryout.
Summer Sessions
The summer sessions for each team will be optional. The coaches must contact the IHA Hockey Department if your team decides to skate in the summer. The summer sessions will consist of drills, small area games and scrimmages. The intent of the summer session is to simply provide ice time and an opportunity for team building. The summer sessions will also include 30-45 minute strategy sessions prior to or after the on-ice practice time. The intent is to learn our team systems off ice and practice them on ice. This will permit us to make the most out of the limited and expensive ice time we have available to us.
Practice Schedule
We will begin ice practices twice for Mite and Squirt teams and three times a week for Pee Wee – Midget teams in August. During the season our regular practice sessions will be supplemented by on-ice HPW clinics hosted by Yan Kaminsky, Patrick Houlihan along with the coaching staff of each travel team and other top instructors from the area. We will make full use of any and all the hockey resources made available to us by the Atlanta Thrashers.
The Schedule
It is our goal to expose our teams to the best competition available. We intend to accomplish this goal and minimize our travel by strategically scheduling our league, scrimmage games and tournaments. Our schedule is inherently dependant on a number of different factors. Many of the factors are out of our team’s and our hockey association’s control. As a result, the schedule is subject to adjustments. We will make every effort to communicate all information to you on a timely basis. Our focus will be on quality games rather than quantity. Our goal will be to play 35 – 50 quality games.
League Games
We will participate in the Southern Youth Travel Hockey League (SYTHL) “AA” or “A” Division.
- All of our MAJOR teams will play in SYTHL “AA” division.
- All of our MINOR teams will play in SYTHL “A” division.
- *The MINOR team needs to submit request in writing to the IHA Hockey director, if they want to participate in SYTHL “AA” division.
Scrimmage Games
We will invite the best talent to Atlanta to play. We will also attempt to schedule games against local teams. Through our association with the SIHA AAA Thunder teams, it is anticipated that we will have the opportunity to schedule practice weekends, when IHA Jr. Thrashers and SIHA Thunder AAA teams are practicing together and play controlled scrimmages.
Player Development
In addition to our on-ice team practices, time will be set aside throughout the year for individual player skill analysis and development. It will be the primary goal of the coaching staff to instruct, motivate and develop every player. Individual skill based goals will be set by our players and tracked by our coaching staff. One on One meetings with players and parents will occur at your request.
Coaches Expectations
We will strive to create a fun and exciting atmosphere for our players. We will place your child in situations he can be successful in to build confidence in his abilities. Our coaching plan will include a natural progression for skill development and understanding of team systems. We will be organized and prepared before practice to maximize the use of limited ice time.
Player Expectations
One of the major benefits of participating with the IHA Jr. Thrashers travel teams this year will be the ability to practice, play and compete against other players in a similar skill range. However, with this comes a significant responsibility we place on each player. We expect our players to place a heavy emphasis on family, school work, discipline and work ethic. All players will be expected to work diligently on and off the ice to become the best team member they can be. Players are expected to act on and off the ice in a manner that is a positive reflection of your family, your team and the IHA Junior Thrashers organization.
Collaboration / Parental Involvement
In order to have a successful season at this level of hockey a significant amount of time and effort is required by all families. This team belongs to the players and the families that are selected to play. We will ask for help and feedback all along the way. The coaching staff will always beavailable to discuss team and player issues.
Dress Code and Hotel Curfew
In order to continue the Jr. Thrasher Program standard of excellence we are requiring a dress code for all players. Players will need to be properly dressed in a Jr. Thrasher Polo Shirt and Khaki pants while at the rink or traveling by air. After games, at the hotel, and car travel, Jr. Thrasher players are required to be in their Jr. Thrasher wind suits. This dress code is for Mite-Midget. Also a hotel curfew will be in place for all teams. This curfew will be set by the Head Coach. Coaches will be discussing these items with all players and parents.
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Players will be grouped into teams of like abilities, with the overall focus on evenly distributing the player ability pool across all teams. Team composition is ideally at a maximum of 9 to 13 skaters per team. Each team will be divided into three groups of equal ability. (Top 1/3; middle 1/3; bottom 1/3) 
The goaltender position will be rotated between team members. In the situation where a player only wants to play goalie, we will make an exception to this rule, with the understanding that if someone else wants to try the position, we will rotate. 
The Belleville Bulls have trimmed their roster to 25 players heading into exhibition play this week. The Bulls roster includes 14 forwards, eight defencemen and three goaltenders. 
IceForum would like to welcome Patrick Houlihan as its new Assistant Hockey Director. Patrick’s hockey experience is extensive going back to 1989. His playing experience includes playing for Southern Connecticut State University, Bentley College and the American Hockey League. 
