TPH and Florida Alliance Team Up for Development and Advancement
Long-term athletic, academic and personal development are about to take on a whole new meaning for Florida Alliance 15U, 16U and 18U teams. The three Alliance teams will have the opportunity to attend the TPH Center of Excellence in Coral Springs, Fla., and enroll in TPH’s Study, Train, Play “team model.” This truly elite level experience will mesh hockey skills training with team practices, add more opportunities for quality off-ice training sessions, present endless team building possibilities for Alliance teams and offer an educational experience that is tailored to aspiring-elite hockey players who are striving to pursue their academic, athletic and life goals all at one time.
“TPH is incredibly excited to work with the Florida Alliance in providing an exceptional experience for these talented hockey players,” said Alan Keeso, Chief Executive Officer of TPH. “The players will be able to grow athletically, academically and personally thanks to our Center of Excellence model, and they will be able to spend more time than ever before, together, as a team, training and developing inside a world-class facility at the Panthers IceDen.”
Alliance players will have an expanded space to Study, Train and Play, as 15U, 16U and 18U players will have a dedicated locker room space, equipped with a change area, video theater and equipment room all in the Panthers IceDen. In addition, a completely customized, state-of-the art academic space, featuring open ceilings, natural light and Steelcase furnishings will be part of the on-site experience.
While the aesthetics of this expansion will be attractive to present and future Alliance families, SAHOF President Jeff Wood and Executive Director Steve Lynch believe the opportunities for added ice and gym time, more skills-based coaching and the academic and personal growth avenues provided within the Center of Excellence are what players and their parents will appreciate most.
“When we began having conversations with TPH about their Center of Excellence ‘team model,’ we had one thought in mind: doing what is best for our Alliance players and families,” Wood said. “From an athletic perspective, this model brings together skills training with team training, will allow our players to maximize strength and speed gains and offer them greater rest and recovery. Couple that with quality coaching and the structure TPH will bring, and we have what we believe is a huge win not just for Alliance families, but for hockey in the state of Florida. Our best 15U, 16U and 18U players across the state now have an incredible opportunity to develop as individuals and as a team, right here at home, and the rest have something to aspire to.”
Steve Lynch, Executive Director of SAHOF echoed Wood’s sentiments.
“Florida hockey players that advance to the next level are extremely dedicated individuals,” Lynch said. “We all know that our kids and families travel more than most, are absent from school and have to make sacrifices. Now, we have an option for Alliance players to get extra training, enroll in the CoE’s flexible learning model and not have to worry about missed school days. This Alliance-TPH partnership is going to allow our kids to chase their hockey, education and life dreams at once. That’s one sacrifice they won’t have to make.”
The 15U, 16U and 18U families who enroll in the “Study” aspect of TPH’s Study, Train, Play CoE model will enjoy the benefits of completing their coursework online, while experiencing the advantages of the CoE’s blended learning environment. While coursework and teacher interaction takes place virtually, TPH’s onsite academic team will individualize and customize the learning experience based on when, where and how each student-athlete learns best. This is something that attracted longtime Alliance coach and current TPH-Estero Director & Head of Hockey, Ryan Brindley, to TPH back in the spring of 2020.
“This is just an awesome day for Alliance players and families,” Brindley said. “This partnership means that we can now offer Florida’s best hockey players elite training, NCAA-accredited academics and all the great growth opportunities that come with the CoE model. Our players are going to learn a lot about hockey, but they are also going to learn a lot about life. For me, it’s the mentorship, the relationships built and the added value experiences the CoE provides that will make the greatest impact. Of course training time will increase, and so too should academic outcomes, time spent together as a team and last but not least, time spent at home between players and their families.”
Current and prospective Alliance 15U, 16U and 18U players who wish to learn more about the Center of Excellence ‘team model’ and this unique relationship, are invited to attend an upcoming Zoom Webinar on Wednesday, April 6 at 8:00 PM EST. To register for the event, click here.
About TPH
Founded in 2001, Total Package Hockey’s (TPH) purpose is to lead the world in the holistic development of student-athletes, advancing – in and beyond the game – the next generation of impact players. TPH prides itself on operating at a standard that exceeds expectations of student-athletes, families, coaches, teachers, advisors and all other entities within both athletic and academic circles. With platforms that include association management, elite prospects programs, tournaments and showcases, camps and clinics and its hallmark Center of Excellence academy model, TPH services over 10,000 student-athletes on an annual basis, throughout 16 U.S. based divisions.
