Gavin Brindley’s Breakout Year
CoE Student Athlete Finds Success Through Remote Learning
Gavin Brindley has had one heck of a year. The 17 year old forward has scored nine points in nine games with the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL), inked his commitment to the University of Michigan, and traveled overseas to compete with USA Hockey’s U18 National Development Team. All in a matter of – well – two months. As Ryan Whitney of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast would say, “not a big deal”.
What’s even more impressive than those three accomplishments is the fact that he hasn’t let his education slip. With the help of EdOptions, Gavin has been able to take full advantage of the Center of Excellence’s (CoE) academic programming, without the need to be on campus.
So what does that mean? Gavin is able to take full control of his schedule in order to maximize his academic and athletic potential. Whether he’s traveling to Nebraska with the Storm, or heading to Sweden with Team USA, he hasn’t missed a beat. Call it ‘remote learning’, or ‘working from the wifi’, we’re just going to call it a pretty sweet opportunity.
“We work with student-athletes to provide a flexible learning environment that fits the custom needs of our student population,” stated Nathan Bowen, CEO of Total Package Hockey. “Academic success is not a secondary thought at the COE and it’s a focal point of our efforts. Gavin is just one example of thousands that have followed our model and gone on to lead successful careers both on and off the ice.”
Gavin grew up being coached by his father, Ryan, who played Division I and professional hockey before becoming the Head of Hockey at CoE Estero. The CoE family ties go a step further than that, as Gavin laced up for Team USA alongside 5 other CoE alumni on the U18 squad. While in Sweden, Gavin tallied a goal and an assist during the USA’s convincing nine to one win over the Czech Republic. Team USA would go on to take home the Five Nations Championship title.
“Being surrounded by like-minded student-athletes with the same drive that I have has really made my experience at the CoE superior to public schools,” says Gavin. “The support I’ve received from teachers and the flexibility to pursue hockey has helped me develop into the person I am today, and I think it has really prepared me to attend the University of Michigan next year.”
Interested in leveraging CoE’s online opportunities to maximize your potential? Click here to learn more about TPH Center of Excellence.
About TPH
Founded in 2001, TPH seeks to become the world leader in positively impacting the lives of student-athletes through sport. TPH platforms include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics, and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, serving over 10,000 student-athletes annually throughout 15 U.S.-based divisions. TPH prides itself on taking a holistic approach, one that emphasizes the development of the individual in four ways:
- as a player within a team setting,
- as an athlete, dedicated to reaching their physical potential,
- as a student, working to achieve their academic goals, and most importantly,
- as a person, striving to win the ultimate game, and that’s the game of life.
