Hockey Background:

I started my career playing AAA hockey for the Halton Hurricanes and later for the Toronto young Nationals and the Toronto Red Wings. At 15 I played Junior hockey in Kitchener for the Dutchmen. I was rated in the top 5 of the OHL draft that year but elected to go to the College route and signed with The Ohio State Buckeyes. After a short stint there I came to Ottawa and played 3 years for the Ottawa 67s. After my first season with the 67’s I was drafted to the Carolina Hurricanes and participated in 2 final NHL camps. After not catching on with the Hurricanes I went to Europe and played 9 seasons.

Coaching Philosophy

I have been an assistant coach the last two years with the Rangers and have learned a lot working with 9- and 10-year-old hockey players. Having fun, playing with integrity, teamwork and working hard will be the most important parts. I will really focus on skating and skill development while having fun doing it.

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Capital Fall Classic (Ottawa) - November 3 to 5, 2023
• Winter Classic (Upper York) - January 19 to 21, 2024
• Showdown in YGK (Kingston) - February 16 to 18, 2024
• Ajax Pickerings “Spring Thaw” - April 4 to 7, 2024

Hockey Background:

Born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, I began playing competitive hockey at the age of 10 in Canterbury/South Ottawa, which later became Ottawa Sting. Subsequently, I played AAA hockey with the Outaouis Express. My passion for the sport continued into my university years, where I had the opportunity to play for Carleton University during the early stages of their hockey program as a competitive club working towards OUA/CIS acceptance. My coaching experience began with IP 4 through till spring AAA and has continued to the Gloucester Rangers in 2022-2023 as one of the U9 Assistant Coaches / Trainer.

Coaching Philosophy:

My coaching philosophy is based on fostering a rounded approach to player development / fun, emphasizing not just athletic ability but the complete individual. I prioritize the success of fundamental motor skills, with a strong focus on agility, balance, coordination, and speed, ensuring a strong foundation for future excellence. Recognizing the evolving nature of hockey, I advocate for early commitment to essential skating techniques, puck control in tight spaces, and the importance of teamwork and respect on and off the ice. I'm passionate about instilling a sense of self-motivation in each player, encouraging them to continuously work to realize their fullest potential. Above all, my measure of success is making sure players find a passion for the game, their continuous skill improvement, and having the ability to ascend to the next level if they choose.

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Capital Fall Classic - November 3 to 5, 2023
• Winter Classic (Upper York) - January 19 to 21, 2024
• Showdown in YGK (Kingston) - February 16 to 18, 2024

Hockey Background:

For the majority of my youth I played in the Cumberland organization. I was drafted 2nd overall to the Ontario Hockey League where I played 5 years, with my last season being on the Ottawa 67’s. I was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the 4th round in the NHL draft but never made it to NHL. I did however play 12 season professionally with the majority of my professional career being spent in Europe.

Since retiring from hockey:

• I started by own hockey school that I ran for two years – 2016-2018
• I have been the assistant coach for two years with the Prebbel Selects spring team-  2020- 2022
• Assistant coach for the Gloucester Rangers U9 - 2021

Coaching Philosophy:

I believe if you have knowledge then you need to pass it on. I also believe that playing sports and specifically; teams sports, builds character, confidence, work ethic, team comradery and prepares kids for life.  Lastly, but certainly not the least, playing sports is about having fun and making memories that will last a lifetime!

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• TBC - Date
• TBC - Date
• TBC - Date

Hockey Background:

I grew up playing AAA in the Niagara region, then went on to play junior for several years before finishing my playing career in USports with Queen’s University. After my playing career, I began coaching and have been an assistant, associate, and head coach at the AAA and AA level in Canada and the USA.
This will be my third-year coaching with the Rangers having served most recently as the Head Coach of
U9 Green in 2022-2023.

Coaching Philosophy
I aim to create a fun environment for hockey skill and personal development. Practices will have a strong
focus on skill development with an emphasis on skating and skill application in small area games. An
emphasis will be placed on learning, work ethic, competition, and teamwork. Most importantly, players
should look forward to coming to the rink and have fun.

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Capital Gold Rush - September 29 to October 1
• Northumberland Silver Stick - November 24 to 26
• Bell Capital Cup - December 30 to January 1
• Josh Bailey Classic (Clarington) - February 15 to 18

Hockey Background:

• Assistant Coach - Steve Lussier
• Assistant Coach - Steve Harapiak

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Bring Your AA Game (Ajax/Pickering) - November 2 to 5, 2023
• Bell Capital Cup (Ottawa) - December 28 to 30, 2023
• Kingston Canadians Tournament (Kingston) - February 2 to 4, 2024

Hockey Background:

I have been playing hockey from the age of 8 at various levels ranging from house league (my home town didn't have enough players to field a rep team) to AAA, progressing to Major Junior and University hockey levels. I have benefited from playing with many great players and learning from numerous inspirational coaches. Hockey has opened doors for me and allowed me to meet a lot of great people.

Coaching Experience:

I have been coaching hockey for the past 16 years at many different age categories and skill levels ranging from IP to High School Varsity teams, in both Head and Assistant Coaching positions. Before having children of my own, I coached multiple years of high school hockey, both boys' and girls' teams, and experienced the excitement of winning a City Championship. Over the past 8 years,  I have really enjoyed coaching my kids and meeting other families. I truly value watching the players I coach improve and progress. Prior to coaching hockey, I also had the opportunity to run City of Ottawa Hockey Camps for children aged 5 to 16 for multiple years. 

Coaching Philosophy:

Hockey is a great game that is based on achieving your best results through hard work and emphasizing fun. Each player’s individual skill levels are unique and always have room for improvement. Learning while having fun creates an environment for success and the desire to continue to develop. Just like my career in education, I try to create a place where kids feel safe and happy which allows them to grow as individuals. 

Preparedness and organization are fundamentals of coaching that allows for success. Properly organized practice plans lead to successful expectations of players and the proper use of time.

My goal for each team that I have coached is for each player to do their best at all times while having fun doing it. Working hard leads to success which in turn results in fun. Each players’ development and love for the game is the most important aspect.

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Pat Larock Memorial Tournament (Peterborough) - September 22 to 24, 2023
• Green Mountain Avalanche (Jay Peak - Vermont) - October 20 to 22, 2023
• Kanata Blazers Shootout - November 10 to 12, 2023
• Taylor Hall Classic (Kingston) - January 12 to 14, 2023

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Rangers Gold Rush - September 22 to 24
• Best of the Best (Halton Hills) - October 6 to 8
• Mississauga Rattlers - November 24 to 26
• Capital Winter Classic (Kanata) - January 19 to 21

Hockey Background:

I have played competitive hockey in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick at the AA and AAA level, finishing my amateur hockey experience with a New Brunswick Junior B championship.
On the coaching side, I’ve coached my three sons over the last 10 (plus) years from IP to U16 within the Gloucester Rangers and Leitrim organizations. This past season, I was the head coach of the Leitrim U16 Rep team. Over the previous 4 seasons, I was the head coach of the Leitrim U15 Rep team and an on-ice helper with the U12 Rangers AA team; head coach of the U11 Rep
team (2020-21); head coach of the Leitrim U10 Rep team (2019-20); assistant coach on the Rangers U12 “A” team (2018-19); and assistant coach on the Rangers U11 “A” team (2017-18).

Coaching Philosophy
I have a passion for coaching and thoroughly enjoyed coaching both at Leitrim and the Gloucester Rangers over the past decade. Over that time, I have oriented my coaching philosophy into five themes:

Hockey is fun – As a coach, our primary goal is to ensure that the practices and games are fun. It is often cited that most young hockey players in their teen years leave the game for a variety of reasons. My coaching staff will strive to make our players continue to love the game while improving their athletic skills through competition, teamwork and fun.

Respect – This theme is enforced 100%. I have always stressed to my coaching staff that we will ensure that the hockey experience – both on and off the ice – is safe and fun that seeks to build on key values such as teamwork, learning from setbacks and working towards a shared goal. I will be adamant that my dressing room and bench will be an inclusive, safe and fun environment where my players can have an opportunity to be kids while understanding that all 16 of them are part of a team. I demand that all my players support each other and the coaches 100%. I will not tolerate unacceptable behavior towards teammates, coaches, management, opponents, or officials – either in the dressing room or on the ice.

Commitment – Playing hockey at any level requires commitment. My coaches take the responsibility for the team seriously and I would expect the same from the parents and players.
This commitment would also mean that the players would come to the rink prepared to play or practice, have fun and give 100%.

Development - As the head coach, I am committed to develop a practice plan in conjunction with Hockey Canada guidelines that emphasize technical skills and individual tactics while introducing team tactics and team play.

Keeping the Proper Focus – My expectation is that by playing "the proper way" - having fun, promoting respect, being committed to the team, and working hard on skill development - the "winning" would take care of itself. I take pride in not being strictly focused on winning every game and tournament "at all costs" but playing the "proper way" as noted earlier. I would also ensure, to the greatest degree possible, that each player receives equal ice time in conjunction with the GHA fair ice policy.

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Rangers Gold Rush - September 29 to October 1
• Gene Harrington AA Cup Challenge (Buffalo NY) - October 20 to 22
• Kingston Canadian Tournament - December 1 to 3
• Toronto Aeros Winter Challenge- January 11 to 14
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Hockey Background:

As a player, I was lucky enough to be coached by Larry Robinson’s brothers in Junior Hockey – Moe and Brian. They taught us a lot about hockey but also stressed the importance of being good people in life and that being part of a team extends beyond arenas to our personal lives too.

I strongly believe that talent, coachability and respect for everyone involved in the game (fellow players, officials, coaches, parents) plays a pivotal role in the success of our players on and off the ice.

After 17 years+ of Coaching at every level, I can take the best of what I have learned (and continue to learn) and apply this to developing player performance both individually and as a Team. Practices will be a combination of high intensity drills, combined with tactical/situational drills, and a big emphasis on learning the key systems that your players will need to advance further in their hockey aspirations.

I strongly encourage creativity and often consult with the players to gauge how they prefer to learn drills and use their input to make learning a more positive experience for them.

I also believe that you can still have fun and meet your targets. Hockey should be enjoyable and yes, we will push the players to be their best but always with their best intentions in mind. We also like to provide communication to our parents and use Team Snap as an excellent platform to give regular updates from the Coaching Staff.

As with all competitive hockey programs, a high level of commitment is expected from everyone involved with the team. There will be on average 4-5 team sessions per week that will include practices, games, and off ice training.

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Capital Gold Rush - September 22 to 24, 2023
• Capital Winter Classic - January 5 to 7, 2024

Hockey Experience:

My hockey career as a goalie expands from playing in House league as a Tyke to playing AAA in Bantam and Midget levels. I started learning the art of coaching while playing with a few clubs in NOJHA. As a back up goalie, listening and learning from those with great knowledge of the game guided me to relinquish my goalie pads for a rink diagram pad. 

Coaching Experience: 

This will be my 31st year offering and sharing my hockey knowledge. I have a diverse portfolio of coaching experiences which include: Educator, Evaluator, Training Specialist, Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Consultant, on-ice helper, Coach Mentor and Trainer. The only thing missing is being a Zamboni driver. All those roles have allowed me to understand better the game from different lenses. This will be my 4th year that I will be a Head Coach with the Gloucester Rangers. Prior to this association, I have coached within multiple associations such as recently with the OMHA, CMHA, Eastern Ontario Wild. Also coached in Sudbury, Montreal and was an instructor in Switzerland. 

Coaching Philosophy: 

My primary goal is to develop players to their maximum potential to eventually expose them to other opportunities associated with hockey. The way to do this is to continue improving their strengths and overcome their weakness while still learning the game. 

In addition to this, my expectations are usually high for any age group but mostly at Midget levels. I expect the team to compete at the highest level and to be accountable of the type of game/practice is played on any given day. Open communication and leadership will be stressed on all. The combination of the attributes of practicing and playing hard will lead to building self-confidence in which in tails to offer a better positive team concept.

Coaching Staff and Training:

• Head Coach – Terry Lemieux
• Assistant Coach: Jonathan L’abbe
• Associate Coach: Jocelyn Clement
• Skills Providers: Apex and Ryan Hand
• Dryland Provider: Fitquest
• Goalie Providers: Jonathan L’abbe and Advanced Solutions Counselling

2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Gloucester Rangers Gold Rush – September 22-24, 2023
• Orangeville Fall Classic – September 29 – October 1, 2023
• Oshawa Generals Challenge Cup – November16-20, 2023
• Sudbury Silver Stick Regional – November 30 - December 3, 2023

Hockey Background:

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2023-2024 Tournaments:

• Mississauga North Stars Classic - November 9 to 12, 2023
• Pembroke Silver Stick - November 30 to December 3, 2023
• Capital Winter Classic Kanata - January 5 to 7, 2024