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Update from Tom Tilley, KC Stars Director of Hockey

07/15/2009, 8:36pm CDT
By webmaster

 

KC Stars Hockey Director Update 7-13-09
 
In our continued effort to improve communication within the Stars organization, the following is a mid-summer update for all of our families. The following are some of the items I want to update and inform everyone that we have accomplished as well as some of the events we have planned.
 
  1. Travel Coaches: The travel coaches have been named for the upcoming season. I am excited about the group that Travel Hockey Director J-F Quintin has assembled. They are qualified and knowledgeable coaches. They will be under the guidance and supervision of J-F for the upcoming season. They will be great role models, teachers and instructors. We look forward to giving them the tools and direction to make this season great for all involved in travel hockey.
 
  1. House Coaches: I have started contacting house coaches. I expect to have those coaches placed in the near future as my next objective. I will be personally working with these coaches to ensure we have the same great instruction at the house level. Some positions will not be filled until just before the season pending the final travel team roster player assignments.
 
 
  1. “A” Travel Hockey Program: We will be placing increased emphasis on our “A” level Travel Hockey program. In the past, the “A” program was perceived as secondary to the “AA” program. In reality, “A” level hockey is an ideal opportunity for developing players to transition from house and select play to a more competitive level of play. “A” hockey is also essential in providing additional practice time and a higher level of competition that will enable the “A” level player to progress to the “AA” level as his or her skills and physical abilities mature. This year we will hold separate “A” tryouts after the “AA” teams have been selected. Our goal is to promote “A” hockey and encourage players to participate in travel hockey so they can continue to progress and be able to be prepared for “AA” in future years. My feeling is that the best players at the squirt level may not be the best players as they get older and move up the ranks. Having a strong “A” program will give more players the opportunity to practice and play more games. It will allow our organization to develop more players which will in turn make our organization stronger. We are firmly committed to providing quality opportunities for each player to participate at the highest level of competition consistent with his or her skill level and desire.
 
  1. Developmental Clinics/Practices: In my earlier communications I talked about holding additional skill development clinics for players. The first series is on the calendar for August 17th-21st. J-F and I will be hosting this pre-season camp to allow house and travel players to get on the ice prior to tryouts and evaluations. We will be doing drills and controlled scrimmages to allow the players to get some work in prior to tryouts and evaluations. The camp will encourage fun but also provide great instruction and conditioning work as well. We are limited by ice availability so we can only offer a certain number of spots per level. Please visit the Stars website (www.kcstarshockey.com) to access the on-line registration form. This camp is open to all hockey families throughout the Kansas City area so I encourage you to sign up early to reserve a spot.
 
 
  1. Registration and Orientation: The Stars registration is set for this Saturday at Pepsi Ice Midwest. Again, please visit our website for more information. I will be there to answer questions for existing families as well as to welcome our new families. There will be 2 formal orientation meetings during registration but I will be available for individual discussions as well. I will be wearing a yellow USA Hockey golf shirt so please say “hello” if we haven’t met before. I want to know our families and as mentioned in previous correspondence I will be visible and available as the leader of the Stars program.
 
  1. Equipment Sale: There will be a used hockey equipment sale at Play It Again Sports this Saturday afternoon that will coincide with registration. Details are on the website but this is a great opportunity for hockey families throughout Kansas City to sell their used equipment as well as get fitted and purchase quality used equipment at reasonable prices for the upcoming season. Play It Again Sports will be closing the store to regular customers for this hockey equipment only sale from 3-8 p.m. We decided to team up with Stars hockey family member Bob Jarvis who owns Play It Again to make this event more organized as well as to make it a citywide event to offer more selection. The staff knows how to properly size the equipment as well which will make it safer for the players as well as guiding families on which size will last the longest to ensure value with less turnover of equipment.
 
 
Enjoy the rest of the summer and I look forward to seeing everyone soon!
 
Regards,
 
Tom
 
Tom Tilley
Kansas City Stars Hockey Director
913-238-0295

Tag(s): News & Events