YOUTH HOCKEY PROGRAM 2013-2014 Season
August 17, 2013
Welcome Back Everyone!
In just a few weeks we will be returning to the ice and North Hockey will return as the all new, NORTH DEVILS!
WHY? In order to grow more competitive amongst other programs, the attempt is to refocus the misconception that we are only a one town program. We started our program 8 years ago as the North Attleboro Hockey Program. A few years back, after having a strong Foxboro population, we attempted to drop the “Attleboro” from our name. When out in the community, many still associated us with North Attleboro, regardless. Our uniform and web colors contributed to that. In a strong effort to keep our identity, yet appeal to players outside of our small community, we decided to create a new and appealing logo and name – The NORTH DEVILS. Although slight changes have been made over the past few years, this past summer multiple efforts were made to recreate our marketing strategy. Our website has been redesigned with a stronger focus on the black and white, with red as an accent color. Having to purchase new white away jerseys last year, we did not want to have everyone purchase new uniforms this year. So to transition, we will provide new NORTH DEVILS helmet decals to everyone this season. Next season, we will transition the new NORTH DEVILS logo onto our uniforms. The pride of the NORTH DEVILS is the pride we have for promoting a program where players can be provided an organized, well run program with instruction provided from coaches and partners who are passionate about the sport of hockey. Our coaches come from an extensive background of highly qualified training, education and hockey experiences. Our coaches are not paid. They are here because of their passion for the game. What you pay a lot more money for in other programs, we are able to offer to you in the North Devils program, due to the fact that we have Board Members, Coaches, Team Administrators and volunteers invested in the success of our program and our players. We have many, many supporters who have helped us grow along the way. We bring in outside instructors to continue to expose players to higher levels of instruction. We provide additional opportunities for players who desire more. We provide social opportunities so players can grow and mature in a safe and comfortable environment, supported by coaches and adults from their community, who genuinely care about them. Yes, we are a grass roots effort, but passion is what creates great athletes. Bonding with teammates, developing lasting relationships with families in our own communities, building a sense of community pride, understanding that “it takes a village to raise a child.” These are all values you will not find in larger, select programs. This is what we are proud of. Our goals? To keep players from migrating to select programs at all levels with the draw of they can be offered more – at a cost. To maintain the success of High School Hockey teams in the area where you can see the values and pride instilled in our players as they are successful on the ice. To create players who have grown and gained confidence, skill and a strong sense of community, while creating lasting friendships and memories to carry with them throughout their life.
We hope our logo will provide our players a name and look they can identify as their own. We are looking forward to a great season ahead. The Board has been working hard to provide you some new opportunities, which we hope you will be pleased with. As we enter year 9, we have grown through the years, learning from mistakes but constantly striving to improve what we can offer to you and your child. We thank you for your patience and support, which is a big part of making this program what it is! This program belongs to you..
Now for the stuff you all want to know about!
Where Do I Find Information?
Your coach and your team administrator are your key sources of communication.
You will receive weekly updates from your team administrator reminding you of upcoming practices, games and events. The team admin will collect monies for tournaments and social events. They may call on you for support or to assist with various team activities. Please respond quickly to emails and correspondence so that we can stay organized and focused on the players throughout the season. Your team administrator will be looking for assistance with team photos and team publicity. See more info below.
Website – www.northdevilshockey.com - Schedules and important dates are kept current on the North Devils website. For game cancellations, please check the website calendar. Each team has their own webpage to share pictures, game results, team info, etc. You will find a Team Calendar, where your personal team schedule can be found. You can even have this linked to your phone so that all schedules are at your fingertips! Please refer to the website as your central source of information. (please notify us if you do not want your child’s picture posted)
Facebook – northdevilshockey Our new Facebook page is live! The Facebook page will not replace the website or regular email communications. We will use the page as a secondary vehicle for sharing event announcements, league information and photos collected throughout the season. For starters, we've added albums for each team who provided pictures during the 2013 season for you to share with friends and family. Check back frequently for updates! Please LIKE our page now! (please notify us if you do not want to have your child’s picture posted)
North Devils Newsletters are sent out about every 2 months to update you on what’s happening in the program and to provide you any information we can, to help you to prepare for important activities and events such as:
• Season Start Up Information
• Program Events such as Boston Bruins, Providence Bruins and College Hockey games
• Tournaments
• Social Events such as Papa Gino’s Nights and 99 Restaurant Nights
• Uniform Ordering
• Tryouts
• Banquets
• Any additional available program opportunities such as skate clinics, pond hockey, etc.
Please take the time to keep yourself updated and informed so that your child can get the most out of their NORTH DEVILS Hockey experience.
Our Staff
Board & Coaching Staff - All North Devils Board members, Coaches and Assistant Board members are CORI’d by USA Hockey. Our program cares about the safety of your child. Players are not left unattended in locker rooms until MS age. Coaches are also required to attend Hockey Coaching Clinics and take online modules appropriate to their age group. The role of a coach requires sincere dedication, patience, time, commitment and passion. Please appreciate the efforts your coaches put forth each and every week.
We are fortunate to have such an involved and dedicated group of Board Members, Coaches, Team Administrators and Committee Members who donate their time and energy to make this program what it is. Please take the time to share a word of appreciation every now and then and please understand that they are volunteers, not paid positions. Assistance you can offer in any way is always appreciated.
Team Administrators - Each of our teams in the North Devils program has a designated Team Administrator. Your team administrator will keep you informed of practice times, game times, schedule changes, North Devils events and more. They are also responsible for the collection of monies for tournaments, pictures, tickets, etc. Please be considerate of their time and availability. Prompt payment makes their job much easier. I promise – they do not enjoy sending numerous emails and hunting people down. Team Admins will also be reaching out to the team for assistance with the following:
• Team Publicist – Needed to write weekly articles for submission to town newspapers and North Devils website. This person may also update the team stats on the website each week.
• Team Photographer – Needed to submit pictures to the local newspaper, keep website refreshed and to add to our new Facebook page.
North Devils Events
North Devils Kickoff Party! Please join us on Sunday, August 25th at our 2013-2014 Season Kickoff Party! The fun starts at 2:00pm, with Ice Skating, Pick Up Street Hockey, Chuck a Puck, a Coaches Dunk Tank, New North Devils Apparel, music, refreshments and MORE will be offered! Iorio Rink, Walpole, 2-5pm. Thank you to our newly established EVENT COMMITTEE for putting this together.
Providence Bruins Games! The dates have been set for the P-Bruins games this year! Some great perks will once again be offered! Mark your calendars now so you can invite the family!
• October 27 – Squirt Black, Pee Wee Black,
• November 3 – Mite Black, Mite Red, Mite White, Squirt Red, Squirt White, Pee Wee Red, Pee Wee White
Boston Bruins 3 Minutes of Fame! The North Devils are fortunate enough to have a long time partnership/friendship with the Boston Bruins! At the following games we offer the opportunity for our players to participate in the 3 Minutes of Fame Intermission Skate, on ice at the TD Garden. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for your player. SO mark your calendars now and let the family know – 14 players per game are allowed on a first come basis. You can reserve your spot today! Email northhockey@comcast.net
• Squirts – Saturday, October 5th, 7:00pm vs. Detroit Red Wings. Tickets $95.00 each
• Mites – Saturday, February 8th, 3:00pm vs. Ottawa Senators. Tickets $90.00
Tournaments All teams will participate in tournaments throughout the season. The number of tournaments and the tournament selection is determined by the level and commitment of each team. Tournaments are a great way for teams to bond and enjoy moments off the ice too. Great memories are created. Tournament information is presented and made available as it approaches. “Think Waterville”!
Other North Devils Events & Activities The North Devils is truly a family oriented program. With that said, we provide other activities and events which bring the players and their families together both on and off the ice. Please note the following events, which you will receive more information about as they get closer.
• Santa Parade – December 1
• Canning – September 28 & 29
• College Hockey Family Game Nights - TBA
• Family Winter Skate at Patriot Place – TBA
• Jim Plunkett – Blast from the Past! March, 2014
• Founders Day Parade, June 2014
• And more!
North Devils Uniforms and Apparel
Uniforms The North Devils uniform consists of:
• Black Helmets with North Devils Decal (Provided by North Devils – will be distributed prior to 1st game )
• Home and Away Game Jerseys
• Black Pants
• Home and Away Hockey Socks
• Mouthguard
• Neckguard
• North Hockey Practice Jersey (Provided by North Devils – will be distributed by coaches)
Players are expected to be in the proper and complete North Devils uniform for all games and practices. Please do not wear socks from other teams or 2 different colored socks. Please wear North Devils complete uniform at all times. For all uniform questions, please contact our uniform coordinator, Holly Sparrow at sparrowsna@gmail.com
Apparel We are excited this year to call ourselves the all new North Devils! To kick off the excitement, all new North Devils Apparel will be available for purchase at our North Devils Kickoff Party on Sunday, August 25th, from 2-5pm at the Iorio Rink in Walpole. T-shirts, sweatshirts, warm ups, jackets, hats and more will be available. Throughout the season all items will be available for purchase at any time, at Manny’s 2nd Time Around Hockey Shop located on Mendon Road, In Cumberland RI. (Exit 10 off of 295 South)
Your Role?
Parent Responsibilities Each parent has the responsibility of understanding that they are a role model to each of the children in our program. Please refrain from inappropriate language, tone and actions at any time. Keep in mind that you represent North Devils and it’s players in every rink and at every game and practice. We are proud of our players and our program.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out for assistance. We are all here to help you and welcome you into this crazy sport of “hockey” and the North Devils family. Please call me at 508-507-1952 or email me at northhockey@comcast.net anytime.
• Please make every effort to have your child attend all scheduled practices and skills sessions.
• Have players arrive to the rink and prepared to be on the ice 5 minutes prior to ice time
Hockey is a team sport and relies on the attendance of all to be able to work on game play, improvement and team cohesiveness.
• Be sure your child is prepared prior to games and practices. Do they have all of their equipment? Have they remembered to bring both of their game jerseys? Do they have the right socks? Have they had a healthy meal prior to burning all of that energy? Are the properly hydrated? These are the ways that you can assist your children to be happier and healthier athletes, prepared to take the ice to learn from their coaches and teammates.
• Allow your coach to spend the time with the players that he needs. Many will ask for 5-15 minutes with the team before and after a game.
• Support your child no matter how skilled or competitive they may be. Leave the coaching to our coaches on the ice. We rely on the parents to be role models for their children in encouraging positive attitudes, showing respect for coaching staff/adults, promptness in attending scheduled practices and games, showing respect and admiration for all team members and families. And last, showing respect for the opponent.
• Be communicative and prompt in any collection of monies for tournaments, events, etc. Respond to emails when coach or team admin is requesting feedback from you
• Have FUN and encourage your child to ENJOY the great sport of HOCKEY!
Fall 2013 Game & Practice Schedules
Practice Schedules The 2013-2014 practice schedule will be posted in its entirety on the website team pages by September 2nd.
So that you may prepare your families’ fall schedules, I am providing a general outline of practice days and times for you below. Please note that the schedule below is subject to change.
Game Schedules Game schedules are provided by the leagues and have not yet been released. They generally are not released until 1-2 weeks prior. I can promise you that they are posted on the North Devils website as SOON as they are received. An email alert will go out to let you know when they have been posted to the website www.northdevilshockey.com
DAJ Skills DAJ Skills is a new and unique opportunity which we are offering our program members this year. The North Devils have partnered with 1984 US Olympic Hockey player, David Jensen, at his new facility located at the Foxboro Sport Center, Our players will attend on a rotating basis, to be instructed “off ice” focused skills of puck control, stick handling, and shooting. We expect to see a marked improvement in the abilities of our players as the season progresses. Players are expected to attend with their team when scheduled.
Skills Instruction provided by Outside Professionals New this year, our Squirt players and Mite players (2nd half of season) will be instructed by players, Jake Schuster and Will Ortiz. Their bio’s are provided below. New skills, new drills, new exposure for our players. On ice practices will focus on skating and other hockey skills such as puck handling, stick handling and shooting.
High School Coaches Running Pee Wee & Bantam Skills Local High School Varsity and Junior Varsity Coaches will be instructing skills with our Bantam and Pee Wee players. What better exposure for our young players than learning from the top? Coaches will prepare players for the rigorous workouts and expectations of the high school level player.
Please see below for your Fall 2013-2014 Schedule. This schedule is still subject to change! These are general days and times. In addition, slight changes will be made to the schedules after Thanksgiving. Please note specific dates of rotating schedules will be posted on the website.
• Mite Black (Coach Leach)
o Tuesdays, 5:00pm – Iorio. Start September 10
o Thursdays 5:10pm – Iorio Skills. Start September 12
o Games –TBA, weekends. Start September 14
o DAJ Skills – Wednesdays, 6:00pm every other week
• Mite Red (Coach Franco)
o Tuesdays, 5:00pm – Iorio. Start September 10
o Thursdays, 5:10pm – Iorio Skills. Start September 12
o Games – Saturday mornings, Iorio. Start September 7
o DAJ Skills – Wednesdays, 6:00pm – every other week
• Mite White (Coach Kojoian)
o Saturdays, 9:50am – Raynham Iceplex. Start September 7
o Thursdays, 5:10pm – Iorio Skills. Start September 12
o Games – Sunday mornings, Rhode Island Sport Center. Start September 22 (tentative)
• Squirt Black (Coach Nukovic)
o Tuesdays 7:30pm – Raynham Iceplex. Start September 3
o Thursdays, 6:00pm – Iorio. Start September 12
o Games – TBA, weekends, Start Date – September 14
o DAJ Skills – Wednesdays, 7:00pm, rotating
• Squirt Red (Coach Meech)
o Tuesdays 6:30pm – Raynham Iceplex. Start September 3
o Thursdays, 6:00pm – Iorio. Start September 12
o Games – TBA, weekends, Start Date – September 14
o DAJ Skills – Wednesdays, 7:00 rotating
• Squirt White (Coach Leclair)
o Sundays, 5:20pm – Raynham Iceplex. Start September 8
o Thursdays, 6:00pm – Iorio. Start September 12
o Games – TBA, weekends. Starts September 14th
o DAJ Skills - Wednesdays, 7:00 rotating
• Pee Wee Black (Coach Zammiello)
o Tuesdays, 8:30pm, Raynham Iceplex. Start September 3
o Thursdays, 5:00pm, Iorio. Starts September 12
o Games TBA, weekends. Starts September 14
o DAJ Skills – Wednesdays, 8:00 rotating
• Pee Wee Red (Coach Chu)
o Tuesdays, 7:30pm, Raynham Iceplex. Start September 3
o Thursdays, 5:00pm, Iorio. Start September 12
o Games – TBA, weekends, Start September 14
o DAJ Skills – Wednesdays, 8:00 rotating
• Pee Wee White (Coach Vincuilla)
o Tuesdays, 6:30pm, Raynham Iceplex. Start September 3
o Thursdays, 5:00pm, Iorio. Start September 12
o Games – TBA, weekends. Start September 14
o DAJ Skills – Wednesdays, 8:00 rotating
• Middle School Black (Coach Horgan)
o Thursdays, 4:10pm, Iorio. Start September 12
o Games Friday nights, Foxboro. Starts September 6 (occasional Sunday games)
• Middle School Red (Coach Gentile)
o Thursdays, 4:10pm, Iorio. Start September 12
o Games Friday nights, Foxboro. Starts September 6 (occasional Sunday games)
• Middle School White (Coach Chu)
o Saturdays, 9:50am, Raynham Iceplex. Start September 7
o Games Friday nights, Foxboro. Starts September 6 (occasional Sunday games)
• Bantam Black (Coach Balamas & McAuliffe)
o Tuesdays, 8:30pm, Raynham Iceplex. Start September 3
o Thursdays, 5:00pm, Iorio. Start September 12
o Games TBA, weekends. Start September 7 (tentative)
o DAJ Skills – Wednesdays, 8:00 rotating
• Northeast Sports Training
o Mites & Squirts, Mondays, 6:00-7:00pm, Rhode Island Sport Center. Start September 9
o PW & Bantam, Mondays, 7:00-8:00pm, Rhode Island Sport Center. Start September 9
• Goalies – Stop It Goaltending – Wednesdays 5:00pm, Mondays, 5:00 Foxboro.
Cost $120.00 for 8 weeks. Please contact northhockey@comcast.net to reserve your timeslot.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this newsletter. It has provided you with a lot of information. Again, always feel free to call me if you have any questions.
I would like to thank the Board, the Coaches, the Team Administrators and Event Committee for helping to get this season off to a smooth start! We cannot wait for the new NORTH DEVILS season to officially begin!
GO NORTH DEVILS!
See you at the rinks soon!
Bio’s
Jake Schuster, Squirt & Mite Skills Instructor - Jake Schuster grew up in Hopkinton, MA and played high school hockey at Lawrence Academy in Groton, MA. Prior to his senior year, Jake was offered a tender position from the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and Jake spent two years in the countries’ top junior hockey league before playing college hockey at two-time NCAA Champion, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
Jake began coaching for the Massachusetts Satellite Program (MASTP) while playing junior hockey and is now one of the programs lead on and off-ice in structures. Jake has twice coached the MASTP's 14 year-old trip to Stockholm Sweden and has run numerous coaching and skills clinics over the years. Jake has also spent time the last several years coaching the Assabet Valley Patriots boys midget program and the Boston Junior Bruins youth program.
Jake is a managing partner at DPA Communications located in Boston's North End and currently resides in Winthrop, MA.
Will Ortiz, Squirt & Mite Skills Instructor - Will Ortiz's hockey career began playing for the Framingham Jets and he spent his entire high school career playing under Coach Paul Spear at Framingham High School. Ortiz was a first team all-star sophomore-senior year and was a part of the 2004 team which played at the Boston Garden for the state title against St. John's Shrewsbury but fell short after a 4-0 loss.
Following Ortiz's high school career, he was granted the opportunity to develop his game at Salisbury Prep under Coach Dan Donato. Ortiz played two years for Salisbury Prep capturing a New England Prep Title his second year. Following his second year at Salisbury, Ortiz accepted a scholarship to play at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2006.
After a stellar four-year career at UMass, Ortiz signed a contract with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). Ortiz recorded his first professional points and won the Kelly Cup Championship in 2010.
Ortiz currently teaches math at Framingham High School and coaches Varsity Hockey and JV Baseball. Ortiz is in his second year of running hockey and baseball clinics for 14-18 year olds in the MetroWest area.
NORTHEAST SPORTS TRAINING, MIKE MACCHIONE
Off Ice Hockey Strength and Conditioning
Mike opened the doors at NEST, the first private sector training facility in Rhode Island geared specifically for athletes, in 1999. A graduate of Merrimack College where he played ice hockey and lacrosse, he worked for noted Strength and Conditioning pioneer Mike Boyle upon completing college. In addition to his duties at NEST, Mike currently serves as the assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. He has worked with athletes from the NHL, NFL, MLB (several during their formative years in high school), and is a former Strength and Conditioning coach at Providence College. Mike is a past state president of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and USA Weightlifting, and has been a featured speaker at several regional and national conferences for industry professionals. Mike continues to actively participate in Men’s league hockey when not busy working or with his family. A Warwick native, Mike and his wife, Lindell, have four children; Michael, Maximus, Marcus, and Mya.
DAJ SKILLZ, DAVID JENSEN
Off Ice Hockey Specific Skills Training Facility
David Jensen attended Belmont Hill and transferred to Lawrence Academy, his junior year graduating in 1984.
Some Highlights of his career:
• ISL First Team All League - freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years.
• New England Independent Prep School All-Star First Team - sophomore, junior and senior years.
• 4 Year HNIB All Scholastic
• All time ISL leading scorer in goals, assists and points and only ISL player in top 20 All-Time Mass HS points scorers.
• First and only junior in high school to be selected, as a 17 year old, in the first round of the 1983 June NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers. (20th overall)
• Selected on Team USA on July 4th, 1983 as a 17 year old, weeks after completing his Junior year at Lawrence Academy.
• Spent Senior year on the Pre-Olympic Tour and competed as a member of Team USA in the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Played left wing on the “Diaper Line” with Pat LaFontaine and Eddie Olczyk and finished 2nd on the team in scoring with 22 goals and 56 assists in 61 Pre-Olympic Games and 5 goals and 3 assists is 6 Olympic Games.
• Played 8 years of Pro Hockey with the Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins Organizations.
North Devils 2013-2014 Hockey Board
Executive – Patti McTernan, Paul Brooks, Vinny Zammiello, Harry Kojoian, Barbara McAuliffe.
Board Members - Jeff Ambs, David Boucher, Chris Chu, Jay DiBattista, Matt Franco, Rick Gentile, Eric Gruber, John Gugliotta, Shawn Horgan, Mike Lavoie, Keith Leach, John Leclair, Ronnie MacLellan, Jerry McAuliffe, Jim Meech, Ras Nukovic, Scott Raymond
North Devils Hockey Mission Statement
The purpose of the North Devils Hockey Program is to teach the art of skating to all participating in the program; to instruct to those participating the fundamentals of ice hockey; to instill the necessary attitudes for team spirit and sportsmanship through success and cooperative effort; and to foster safety, fairness, and fun.
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