Andrews Hockey School News and Tips

Registration for the 2nd Annual Andrews Pond Hockey Fest There are divisions for Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget and up. Games will be played on the Outdoor Rink at Sherwood Greens and the tournament will be “Pond Hockey Style!"

 -         Teams consist of 5 players (no goalies, pond hockey nets to be used)

-         Guaranteed 4 games

-         Games will be 20 mins in length of exciting fast past 4 on 4 pond hockey!

-         Teams Must supply their own jerseys

-         Mandatory Equipment: skates, gloves, helmet. Shin guards encouraged!

-         Cost is $150 +GST per team

-         Participants receive a free weekend pass to the Jack Frost Children's Winterfest

-         Games will be held Friday, Feb 10 – Sunday, Feb 12, 2012

To register, contact Andrews Hockey at 1-877-936-6699 or email amy@hockeygrowth.com.  Online Registration Also available (only 1 player needs to register for the event under camp registration).  Click Here

Andrews Hockey Growth Program is accepting registrations for the 2012 Oyster Cup Tournament which will take place April 20 - 22nd 2012 in Charlottetown, PE.  The 2012 Tournament will feature Elite AAA Divisions for the 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, & 1999 age groups.  For more information on the tournament or to register please contact the Andrews Hockey Office at 18779366699.

The 17th Annual Atlantic Hockey Showcase - Charlottetown PE dates have been set.  Doug Shepherd, Andrews Hockey Executive Director, confirmed the event will take place June 24 - 29th 2012.  This is the Premier Showcase event in Eastern Canada and has boasted some of the regions top talent in recent years.  Each year Scouts, Coaches, and Recruiters from US Colleges, US Prep Schools, Canadian Prep Schools, Canadian Major Junior, Tier II Junior, Tier III Junior, and Canadian University are attracted to this event. 

The 2012 version of the Atlantic Hockey Showcase will feature Team Canada U16 ID Camp.  Andrews Hockey is proud to operate the Team Canada Selects Under 16 Program.  In August of 2012 we will be taking Canada's top 1997 born players to Austria to compete against the Under 16 National Programs from some of the World's top hockey powers including Russia, Czech Republic, and Finland.  The Atlantic Hockey Showcase is the Official Identification Camp for Team Canada for the 1997 group and future players.

The Showcase format will consists of a series of practices and games over the course of the week and will operate under a tournament/playoff style format. An All Star game at the end of the week will close out the event.  Daily seminars are conducted by professional, NCAA, Prep Schools, Junior Coaches, recruiters, and guest speakers.  Players also have the opportunity to write their SSAT at the end of the week.  Select teams will also be chosen to take part in The EJHL Summer Showcase in Marlborough, MA and other Select High Level US Tournaments.

The Atlantic Hockey Showcase is an invitation only event.  For more information on the invitation process please contact Andrews Hockey at 1.877.936.6699

Andrews Hockey Growth Programs is excited to host the 2nd Annual Andrews Pond Hockey Fest. Jack Frost Winterfest will play host to this exciting event with divisions for Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget and up. Games will be played on the Outdoor Rink at Sherwood Greens and the tournament will be “Pond Hockey Style!"

 -         Teams consist of 5 players (no goalies, pond hockey nets to be used)

-         Guaranteed 4 games

-         Games will be 20 mins in length of exciting fast past 4 on 4 pond hockey!

-         Teams Must supply their own jerseys

-         Mandatory Equipment: skates, gloves, helmet. Shin guards encouraged!

-         Cost is $150 +GST per team

-         Participants receive a free weekend pass to the Jack Frost Children's Winterfest

-         Games will be held Friday, Feb 10 – Sunday, Feb 12, 2012

To register, contact Andrews Hockey at 1-877-936-6699 or email amy@hockeygrowth.com.  Online Registration Also available (only 1 player needs to register for the event under camp registration).  Click Here

Andrews Hockey Program Graduate and Murray River, PE native Brandon Gormley was selected to Team Canada's final roster to compete in the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in Calgary/Edmonton, Alta.  The tournament begins Dec 26th 2011.  The 10 team tournament will be divided into two  5 team divisions based on the 2011 tournament rankings.  

Congratulations Brandon!

Andrews Hockey has announced it will be running a Christmas Break camp Dec 28th - 30th 2011 at the Evangeline Rec Centre.  All proceeds will go to the Evangeline Minor Hockey Association & Evangeline Rec Centre.  Registration is $150.  Group Schedules are below:

Group I 2003-2005 birth years

9:00-10:00AM Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating

10:15-11:15AM Skills and Drills

Group II 2001-2002 birth years

11:30-12:30PM Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating

12:45-1:45PM Skills and Drills

Group III 1998-2000 birth years

2:00-3:00PM Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating

3:15-4:15PM Skills and Drills

It was quite a summer for Valley Wildcats rookie forward Nic Blanchard as he cracked the roster for the U16 Team Canada Selects. The Selects travelled to Salzburg, Austria August 16th for the Red Bull Rookies U16 Hockey Championships. The 6 team tournament featured 5 National team programs and the Team Canada Selects competing for the gold medal. Team Canada was coached by former Montreal Canadiens Coach Clem Jodoin, former Pittsburgh Penguins GM Craig Patrick and Toronto Marlies Ken Strong. The group was a true national team with top minor midget players from Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and Western Canada.

Blanchard was evaluated at the Andrews Atlantic Hockey Showcase in PEI by Team Canada Scout Doug Shepherd and Pro Counsel Player Agent Thane Campbell. ‘Nick was the top forward that we targeted in Atlantic Canada. His size, offensive instincts, and quick deceptive speed were traits that we thought would fit well with this group” said Shepherd.

Nic and his Canadian teammates assembled in Toronto for practice sessions prior to departing for a 3 day mini camp in Pisek, Czech Republic followed by an exhibition game against the Czech National team. The Canadian squad had a very successful tournament and ended up facing off against Latvia for the Bronze medal. Although they lost a hard fought match, Blanchard enjoyed success with 3 goals and an assist en route to being named Player of the Game.

Please click here to register Online for Spring Hockey!

Congratulations to Kolby Melanson from Grand Digue, NB on being selected as the winner of the Andrews Hockey Growth Programs Nutrition Challenge.  Kolby wins a free summer hockey school! Great Job Kolby!

1 - Talent Is Never Enough -Maxwell
2 - Personality Plus -Florence Littauer
3 - The Talent Code -Coyle
4 - The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens -Covey
5 - Win -Dr Frank Luntz
6 - The Difference Maker -Maxwell
7 - How to Win Friends and Influence People- Carnegie
8 - The Magic of Thinking Big -Dr David Swartz
9 - Dream Making in A Dream Taking World -Dr Steve Price
10 -The Richest Man in Babylon-George S Clason

Online Registration available - Search Camp registration to view Spring Hockey Registration details.

If you already have an account with Andrews Hockey please login to register or contact the office at 1-877-936-6699.

The Annual Andrews Hockey Benefit Game will take place Sunday, August 14 at MacLauchlan Arena. Andrews is partnering with the Paul Jenkins to raise money for Camp Gencheff.

The game will feature local Pro Players including Stanley Cup Champion Adam McQuaid and Future Young Stars lead by Phoenix Coyotes 1^st Round Pick Brandon Gormley. McQuaid helped lead the Bruins to their first cup in 40 years this past season and has re-signed thru 2015 with the club. The game will also feature Summerside native Darryl Boyce who recently re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Boyce had 13 points for the Leafs this past season and is expected to play an even bigger role in 2011-2012. Stratford native Drew MacIntyre will be playing after just signing a contract with the Buffalo Sabres. MacIntyre has NHL experience with the Vancouver Canucks and the Atlanta Thrashers. Defensemen Nathan McIver and Mark Flood will be on the ice. McIver, a Kinkora native, has played for the Vancouver Canucks and the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL. Flood, who is from Charlottetown, signed with the Winnipeg Jets this summer after successful seasons with the Manitoba Moose and the New York Islanders.

Additional Professional players include Geoff Walker (Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins, AHL), David Ling (Providence Bruins, AHL), Brett Gallant (Bridgeport Sound Tigers, AHL) and others to be announced many High end University and Junior players will be playing including Nashville Predators Draft Pick Brent Andrews from Hunter River.

Coaches will be announced shortly and will feature some island flavour.

Tickets are $10 and are available at the Andrews Hockey Office in the CARI Complex, Source for Sports and The Friendly Pharmacy. In addition, spring hockey players from the PEI Riptide and Young Islanders will be selling tickets.

Andrews Hockey would like to congratulate Connor Murphy (1^st Round, Phoenix Coyotes), Zack Phillips (1^st Round, Minnesota Wild), Logan Shaw (3^rd Round, Florida Panthers), Sean Kuraly (5^th Round San Jose Sharks), Ryan Tesink (6^th Round, St. Louis Blues) and Brent Andrews (7^th Round, Nashville Predators) on their selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Murphy and Kuraly travelled to PEI in their younger years from Columbus, Ohio to hone their skills. Murphy is the second straight Andrews Graduate to be picked in the first round by the Phoenix Coyotes following in the foot steps of Brandon Gormley in 2010. Brent Andrews is the latest in a long line of Islanders to be picked in recent years joining Brad Richards, Nathan McIver, Mark Flood, Adam McQuaid, Drew MacIntyre, Darryl Boyce and many more.

Andrews Hockey has made two exciting new additions to their team with Wally Kozak and John Murphy.

Kozak, a former long-time scout, coach and researcher for Hockey Canada has joined Andrews Hockey as their new Director of Hockey Research. He will play a lead role in the newly launched Hockey Coaches Guide, www.hockeycoachesguide.com. Wally has an extensive background as both a player and a coach. Wally played Canadian University hockey with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, Team Canada, had a try out with Chicago Blackhawks, as well as playing Canadian Senior with the Allan Cup Finalists Calgary Stampeders.

Behind the bench, Wally has coached many high school sports, minor hockey teams of all ages and levels, Junior A, Major Junior, Provincial and Regional teams and Canadian University. He has also coached Internationally with the Canadian Men's and Women's National teams in the Olympics, World Championships and the Spenglar Cup, with the Japanese Men's and Women's National teams and the German National team. He is also a National Coaching Institute Master Coach and was also the Chief Scout for Hockey Canada's Female Program for many years.

John Murphy joins Andrews Hockey as their new Director of Hockey Operations and will be overseeing the Hockey Camps, Spring Hockey as well as Synthetic Ice training. John, a long-time Andrews Graduate and former Head Instructor, is excited to return to Andrews and pick up where he left off. 

John also brings with him extensive hockey experience as both a player and coach/instructor. John played Junior A with the Summerside Western Capital and was on the National Championship team in 1997. He also played 10 years professionally in the minor pro ranks. John has also coached in the Minor Hockey ranks, many spring hockey teams, at the Junior A level as well as at the Senior level.

Andrews Hockey has announced the first 2 guest coaches for the 13^th Annual Atlantic Female Prospect Camp to be held from June 26-30, 2011 at the MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown, PEI. This is an invitation only camp and top players will be assembled to participate in a series of practices and games to showcase their talents. During this week, representatives from Canadian Universities, US Colleges and US and Canadian Prep Schools will be in attendance to identify and recruit players.

Sara Simard, assistant coach for NCAA Division 1 Dartmouth College and Richard Reichenbach from the University of Maine will be guest coaches for the event. Simard previously was an assistant coach at the University of Maine and at Mercyherst College while attending the school to earn her master’s degree in organizational leadership. Her playing career began at Hebron Academy in Maine and then four years at St. Lawrence University where she was a four-time member of the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Squad. Reichenbach is an Assistant Coach for the Black Bears after serving as an assistant coach at Cortland State. Reichenbach is currently enrolled in the masters program in Sport Management at Cortland State. He is an alumnus of Millbrook School in New York. After graduating from Millbrook, Reichenbach spent one year as captain of the Helena Big Horns and playing for the Nepean Raiders Tier II Jr. A hockey teams in the NAHL and COJHL. Reichenbach, a 2006 graduate of Hamilton College, captained the Hamilton hockey team his senior season. After graduation, he played a year of professional hockey with the Richmond Renegades of the SPHL.

Over the past few years, the Prospect Camp has provided scholarships and opportunities to many players through their exposure to College and Prep school scouts. A few notables who have attended in the past include Mary McKinnon (Niagara University), Jessica Wong (University of Minnesota-Duluth), Brianne Jenner (Cornell University), Jill Saulnier (Cornell University), Sarah Davis (University of Minnesota) and Brittany Haverstock (University of Wisconsin). Visit www.hockeygrowth.com to view a complete list of Andrews Hockey Female Graduates.

Andrews Hockey is will be hosting a Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating & Puck Skills Camp from March 31 - May 17  in Riverview, NB. The 8 week program will take place every Tuesday at the Bryon Dobson Arena. Group 1 will be held from 5:00-6:15pm;  Group 2 will be held from 6:30-7:45pm, and Group 3 from 8:00-9:15pm.  Sessions will be run by the Andrews Hockey Staff.

Space is limited and registrations will be taken on a first come first serve basis. For more information contact us at 1-877-936-6699 or email info@hockeygrowth.com. Registration can also be completed right here on the Andrews Hockey website.

Andrews Hockey and the City of Charlottetown are excited to announce the 1^st Annual Andrews Pond Hockey Fest. Jack Frost Winterfest will play host to this exciting new event with divisions for Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget and Open (18+). Games will be played on the Outdoor Rink at Sherwood Greens and the tournament will be “Pond Hockey Style”!

-         Divisions for Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Midget & Open (18+)

-         Teams consist of 5 players (no goalies, pond hockey nets to be used)

-         Guaranteed 4 games (Games 20 mins. in length)

-         Teams Must supply their own jerseys

-         Mandatory Equipment: skates, gloves, helmet. Shin guards encouraged!

-         Cost is $80 per team

-         Games will be held on Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13

To register contact Andrews Hockey at 1-877-936-6699 or 894-9600 or email  amy@hockeygrowth.com.

 Harrison McIver- Summerside Western Capitals

Harrison McIver of Newton, Prince Edward Island is playing his fourth and final year of junior a hockey for the Summerside Western Capitals this season. McIver has had a very successful junior career with the Caps, putting up an astounding one hundred and seventy-nine points in only one hundred and eighty-two games so far. In 2009, this dynamic center-man played a key role in the Capitals winning not only the Kent Cup (MHL Championship) but the Fred Page Cup (Junior A Eastern Region Championship) as well, allowing Summerside to compete for a national title. These experiences have allowed McIver to excel on and off the ice and have made him an invaluable asset to the Capitals dressing room as he has been named the team’s captain for the past two seasons.

Harrison came up through the Gulf Storm minor hockey system and has been involved with Andrews Hockey Growth programs for as long as he can remember. “I would usually come to the hockey school at least two weeks a summer and sometimes more,” McIver explains. “When I got older I became a demonstrator and spent most of my summers there.” Now one of Andrews’ head instructors Harrison credits the hockey schools for a lot of his on and off ice success. “Andrews Hockey Growth Programs was instrumental in my development growing up, both on and off the ice,” says McIver. “As far as on ice development, I would definitely not be the player I am without the opportunities I was given. The instruction and teaching while attending the hockey schools helped me hone my individual skills. Being around such good role models helped me develop important off ice traits like leadership and the importance of academics.”

Being a focused individual in both athletics and academics it is no surprise that Harrison has set specific goals for himself in both areas. “This is my last year of junior eligibility so next year I would like to play university or college hockey somewhere,” outlines McIver. “As far as off ice I am currently in my third year at UPEI studying biology, so I hope to graduate and study physiotherapy with that as a career.”

When asked what advice he would give to any young athletes looking to take their games to the next level Harrison gave this advice, "I would tell them to make sure they enjoy what they do. The more fun they are having the harder you will be willing to work to improve."

Damon MacDonald scored 34 seconds into overtime to give the Charlottetown Islanders a 5 – 4 win over the visiting Miramichi Rivermen in a Sunday afternoon game at the MacLauchlan Arena in the NB-PEI Major Midget Hockey League. 

The Islanders are currently working with Kris MacPhee, Direct of Sport Conditioning Programs at the Andrews Sport Science Centre.  They have been training twice a week and have taken part in scheduled fitness tests to track progress over the course of the season.  The Islanders, who are hosting the NBPEI Major Midget Atlantics in March 31 – April 3^rd, are hoping all the extra work off the ice contributes to their success on it. 

With the win on Sunday the Islanders improved to 9 – 4- 1 good enough for second place in the extremely competitive NBPEI Major Midget Hockey League.

Rounding out the scoring for the Islanders in Sundays game were MacDonald 2 goals and an assist, Brandon Weir, Jordan McInnis a goal and an assist, and Craig MacLaughlan a goal and an assist.  Brad MacKenzie and Ross Johnston each contributed two assists.

The Islanders out shot the Rivermen 39 – 23.  Kody MacDonald took the win while David Roussell suffered the loss.

Both teams will be competing at the Cavendish Farms Monctonian AAA Challenge this coming weekend at the Red Ball Internet Centre in Moncton, NB.  Play gets underway Thursday and finishes up on Sunday afternoon.

All players mentioned in this article are Graduates of Andrews Hockey and we would like to congratulate them on their recent success!

Andrews Hockey will be running a High Performance Training Program for the top 98 and 97 born players in Norway the week of October 4-9. The camp will take place in the city of Moss, just south of Capital City Oslo. Andrews has had a long standing relationship with Norwegian Hockey as many players have attended the programs over the years including former NHLer Patrick Thoresen.

The camp will focus on Modern & Advanced Techniques of Hockey Skating as well as High Tempo Puck Skills including the Art of Scoring Goals. Many of the players in this camp will be returning to Andrews in 2011 to attend elite programs such as the Atlantic Hockey Showcase in order to gain exposure and move forward with their athletic and academic goals.

Andrews Hockey is excited to announce that they will be hosting a Modern Techniques of Skating / Smart Shooters camp this Fall in Riverview, NB.  The camp will run from Sept 7-24 and will focus on the modern techniques of Skating, modern techniques of offensive play, capped off with overspeed hockey.  This will be an intensive 3 week program offering 2 skating sessions, 1 shooting session and 1 game of overspeed hockey per week.  Sessions will be lead by Josh Andrews, Doug Shepherd, and the Andrews hockey staff.

The camp is open for kids aged 6-15 and registrations will be on a first come first serve basis.  We will be running three sessions of 30 skaters per session and players will be divided in groups based on skill development and age.  Sessions will run Monday - Thursday (with the exception of week one, it will run Tuesday-Friday).  To register online go to, http://www.hockeygrowth.com/new_registration.php

Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating

Considered by Hockey Experts to be the most Advanced Scientific Based Skating Program in Present Day Hockey; Our Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating Program has been researched, up-graded and developed for over thirty years; this program is modified to teach all levels from Beginner to Professional. The program goes in depth on the proper mechanics of stride length, frequency, edge control, glide turns, sharp turns, Mohawk turns, stops and transitional skating. Learn how to skate the Hockey Way!

Modern Techniques of Offensive Play

Our Smart Shooter’s Program is Cutting Edge, featuring concepts such as “How to Shoot to Score”, “Becoming Dangerous in Non-Dangerous Areas,” and “Developing a Killer Instinct.” This program is scientifically based and includes the some of the best and most fun drills for scoring, passing,  and  puck control development.  

Overspeed Hockey!

This scientific approach to skill development in games created by Andrews Hockey has been emulated in other sports and proven as one of the most effective ways to develop and hone game skills, such as reactive, small space skating, passing quickness and accuracy, reactive puck control in tight spaces, heads up play and goal scoring. Players will play 3 on 3 cross-ice in each zone, which is scattered with tires to reinforce heads up play, precision passing, smart play without the puck and increased puck control. Players may only score on one-time shots on mini nets and on penalties, players will receive a penalty shot from behind his own net and must score on the mini net. Following the shot, goal or save, play will resume.

To register or for more information please contact the Andrews Hockey Office at 18779366699 or email info@hockeygrowth.com

Andrews Hockey has announced its roster for the prestigious EJHL Showcase Tournament to be held in Marlborough, Massachusetts July 23-25. The team will be called East Coast Ice and is a Select Team from the recent Atlantic Hockey Showcase. The team features players from across North America and Europe and will be coached by Doug Shepherd and Paul Brown.

Shepherd is Executive Director of Andrews Hockey and also does work with the Manitoba Moose and UPEI Panthers. He is former NCAA Division 1 and Professional Player and is now a Skating Coach for many Pro, University and Junior players. Brown is a native of New Brunswick who has a phenomenal coaching resume. He has been an assistant coach at Yale University and Quinnipiac Collage and was the head coach of a very successful Prep School Program at Kent School in Connecticut. He is currently an assistant coach at Connecticut College.

The squad features Islanders Brett Beauvais (Ridley College), Stephen Anderson (Upper Canada College), Stephen MacInnis (Appleby College), Cameron Arsenault (Cornwall Thunder), Cody Coffin (Charlottetown Islanders) and Chase Gaudet (Ontario Hockey Academy) as well as players from Canadian and U.S. Prep programs and other Top Canadian Major Midget Programs and Europe. Beauvais was drafted by the Rouyn Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL and he, along with MacInnis, Anderson, Gaudet and Arsenault recently attended the Team Atlantic Under 17 Selection Camp in Wolfville, NS.

“This Tournament will give our players maximum exposure to NCAA Division 1 Programs. The opportunity to play at a high level against future U.S. College players will be a great experience for the boys and give them additional options as they move forward in their careers.”

Rounding out the roster are Mark Foley (Notre Dame Hounds), Tord Thoresen (Lillehamer IK), John Saunders (Kelowna Major Midget), Alexander Hallgren (Ontario Hockey Academy), Matt Pompei (King’s Edgehill School), Colby Lanceleve (Pictou Co. Major Midget), Americo Pino (King’s Edgehill School), Brandon Fewer (Marystown, NL), Sam Akins (Northwood Prep) and Morgan Mullen (Avon Old Farms Prep).

Andrews Hockey is very excited to announce the opening of the World Renowned Rapid Shot Hockey Training System! The Rapid Shot Shooting Lane is located upstairs at the Hockey Haven Training Centre at the CARI Complex and will be the only such system in PEI.

The RapidShot Hockey Training System is a patented system that will improve your hockey shooting. RapidShot measures reaction time, shot release, accuracy & velocity; requiring the shooter to receive passes and shoot over a series of 16 shots. It is not a simulator, but rather real training, with real pucks.

Standing at a distance from the net that measures just above the hash marks, you receive passes from the RapidShot passing machine. Just before you receive the puck on your stick, one of the four corners of the net lights up as your target. As soon as the puck hits the target, your reaction time, puck speed and accuracy are measured and immediately displayed on the overhead monitor. The pucks are automatically collected by the machine, allowing you to fire one puck after another, up to 800 per hour. Statistical values are analyzed by the RapidShot program to produce shooter profiles and rankings for all participants, which are uploaded to the Internet daily and incorporated into the World Rankings.

Contact us today to book your Rapid Shot sessions! Also visit www.rapidshot.com for more details.

PEI Native Adam McQuaid has received the exciting news that he has been called up by the Boston Bruins. McQuaid is having a great season with the AHL Providence Bruins where he is serving as team captain. In 29 games the 23 year old Defenceman has 3 goals and 7 assists to go along with 66 penalty minutes.

Adam is a Program Graduate and played for the PEI Riptide and has been a popular instructor over the years. He continues to train at Andrews along with his fellow pros in the High Performance Skating Programs each summer. Adam is best known for taking time after each and every training session to talk to the young kids who look up to him!

Murray River native and Andrews Graduate Brandon Gormley has been invited to Canada's World Junior Selection Camp. He is among 36 of Canada’s top junior-aged hockey players (born in 1990 or later) that have been invited. Seven players, including another Andrews Graduate, Patrice Cormier, are returning players – having won gold medals at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa.

Thirty-one of the players named to the selection camp roster were drafted in either the 2008 or 2009 NHL Entry Draft, including fourteen first-round selections and six second-round picks.

Gormley is turning heads in the hockey world with his outstanding two way play for the Moncton Wildcats and his strong skating and hockey sense should give him a legitimate shot to crack the roster. He is projected as a top ten pick in the upcoming 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Andrews Hockey is excited to embark on a new era in Female Elite Hockey! This year we will operate teams at the Under 13 (1998, 1999, 2000), Under 15 (1997, 1996) and Under 18 (1993, 1994, 1995) levels. This is a slight change from the Atom, Peewee and Bantam models previously used.

We are happy to announce the open tryout dates for the U-13 and U-15 NS Sting teams:

Tuesday, December 22 - Dalhousie Arena - Halifax, NS

10:00 - 11:30 am - Under 13
1:00 - 2:30 pm - Under 15
2:30 - 4:00 pm - Under 13
5:30 - 6:30 pm - Under 15

To pre-register contact Josh Andrews at josh@hockeygrowth.com or call toll free: 1-877-936-6699.

Seventeen Andrews Hockey Graduates were recently named to Team Atlantic  and will represent Atlantic Canada at the 2009 National Under 18 Hockey Championship, November 4th-8th, in Surrey, British Columbia.

Jillian Saulnier of Halifax, NS has been named as the captain of the team.  Former PEI Young Islanders players Kaitlyn Gallaway, Emily Van Deipen and Shannon MacAulay will also join the squad.

"We are pleased to name Jillian as the captain of our team," stated Al MacKay, Head Coach for Team Atlantic Under 18.  "Jillian’s experience, team first attitude and her leadership on and off the ice will be an important part of the success that we will have at the National Championship." 

Team Atlantic will have a pre-competition camp in Surrey, BC prior to playing their first tournament game against Saskatchewan at the South Surrey Arena on November 4th. Team Atlantic will also face off against Ontario Red and Ontario Blue in the round robin portion of the event.

Andrews Grads who will suit up for Team Atlantic include:

Goaltender
Ayla Frank, Labrador City, NL

Defence
Alexis Crossley, Cole Harbour, NS
Leanne Gallant, Newbridge, NB
Jessica McCann, Saint John, NB
Jenna Pitts, Antigonish, NS
Emily van Diepen, Morell, PEI

Forwards
Kristen Cooze, Kippens, NL
Sarah Davis, Paradise, NL
Moira Frier, Broad Cove, NS
Kaitlyn Gallaway, Stratford, PEI
Anissa Gamble, Fredericton, NB
Shelby Lyons, Fredericton, NB
Shannon MacAulay, Mt. Herbert, PEI
Alex Normore, Bedford, NS
Kara Power, New Glasgow, NS
Jillian Saulnier, Halifax, NS
Blayre Turnbull, Stellarton, NS

Andrews Hockey would like to congratulate all of the girls and wish them luck in the prestigeous event.

Andrews Hockey is hosting a Fall Classic Festival in Charlottetown Sept 5th - 7th. Teams will play 4 games over two days at MacLauchlan Arena B and the APM Centre in Cornwall. Levels will be 2001, 2000 & 1999. Below is the complete tournament schedule and rosters for the PEI based teams.

Three of the Andrews Hockey Riptide Elite teams enjoyed tremendous success at major tournaments recently. The 99 Riptide continued their winning ways by capturing the popular Quebec Bulldogs Challenge Cup. The team beat some of the best teams in Canada and remained undefeated on the season. The team now heads off to Ottawa for the Junior 67's tournament.

The 94 Riptide team competed in the prestigeous Skater's Edge tournament in Marlboro, MASS where they lost to the Connecticut Rangers in the final. It was the team's last tournament together as many players head off to Prep School and Major Midget in the Fall. The 96 Riptide also had a strong showing in the Skater's Edge tournament falling in the semi final game to the Dynamics.

Congratulations to all of our spring teams on a very successful season!

If you have not yet had the chance to visit the Brand New Andrews Sport Science & Training Centre check it out at the CARI Complex today. The newly renovated High Performance centre located above the Andrews Hockey Main Offices features a state of the art gym, a second Synthetic Ice surface, the Hockey Haven stick handling and slide board gym and an athlete's lounge.

Many teams have taken advantage of our Total Team Training Package which includes Position Specific Training on the Synthetic Ice, Off ice Training and Goalie Specific training. TTT is a great team building exercise as well!

Visit us today to set up your team training session or inquire about a summer training program to help you reach the next level. Train where NHLer's such as Joel Ward and future pros like Mark Flood and Randy Cameron work out.

For more information contact Kris at kris@hockeygrowth.com.

The Andrews Elite Spring Hockey League is proud to announce the dates for the 2009 Boys and Girls tournaments.

Boys Tournaments:

April 10-12 - Fundy Cup - Shediac, NB
May 1-3 - Oyster Cup - Charlottetown, PEI
May 16-18 - Bluenose Cup - Halifax, NS

Girls Tournaments:

May 1-3 - Shediac, NB
May 8-10 - Halifax, NS
May 22-24 - Charlottetown, PEI

The Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan has had a long standing tradition of developing high end athletes and they have always had a special bond with Andrews Graduates and Maritime hockey players. Kevin White is a Charlottetown native and former PEI Riptide coach who is now coaching and teaching at Notre Dame. Kevin recently spoke with Andrews Hockey about their program. You can read the complete interview here:

Interview with ND’s Kevin White

The schedule has been announced for the second round of tryouts for our 2009 Spring Hockey Teams. These are open tryouts for any Boys playing at the AAA, AA or A levels who want to play elite hockey for the PEI Riptide, PEI Young Islanders or to be identified for the A level Wolfpack Program. There are also tryouts sessions for the High Level Girls PEI Young Islander teams.

If you have already been chosen to play on one of our teams following the Fall tryouts, but have not yet registered, contact our office.

For more information regarding our Spring Tryouts and Program contact us at 902-894-9600 or email springhockey@hockeygrowth.com.

Click Here For Holiday Tryout Schedule

Andrews Hockey is excited to annouce the schedule for the up coming try out sessions for the Nova Scotia Sting Female Spring Hockey group. The Sting have been stong contenders at the Atom, Peewee and Bantam age levels over the past few years and coaches Pat Bradley (Atom), Kevin Willett (Peewee) and Dave Palmer (Bantam) expect this year`s crop to be as strong as ever.

The Sting compete in the highly competitive East Coast Spring Hockey League against top notch teams such as the PEI Young Islanders, NB Ice and Nova Scotia Fire.

To pre-register for these sessions call Andrews Hockey toll free at 1-877-936-6699 or email springhockey@hockeygrowth.com. (Registration will also be available prior to the first session)

NS Sting Tryout Schedule:

Tuesday, November 11 - Spryfield Lions Arena

8:30-10:00 am - Bantam
12:00-1:30 pm - Atom - Postponed to a later date!!
1:30-3:00 pm - Peewee

Friday, January 2, 2009 - Civic Arena, Halifax

9:00-10:30 am - Atom
10:30am-12:00 pm - Bantam

Saturday, January 3, 2009 - Halifax Forum

2:30-4:00 pm - Peewee

Andrews Hockey is proud to release our 2009 Summer Camp Schedule. On-line registration is now available and our new brochures will be completed soon. In addition to some of our popular favourites, a couple of new Elite Specialty Programs will be introduced. The Elite Shooters Camp and Elite Defenseman's Specialty Program are sure to be hit with young players looking to excel. With small group sizes and additional features, these programs will be one of a kind!

2009 is a special year in PEI as we host the Canada Games August 16-29. We encourage families to plan their vacation/hockey camp around this exciting event. See Canada's rising stars compete on the National Stage. Book your accomodations early and don't miss out on this premier sporting event.

Many young island hockey players and program graduates have embarked on a new journey by choosing to play at a top Prep School. Summerside's Brett Beauvais and Charlottetown's Jamie MacIntyre (a PEI Rocket draft choice) are new members of the Ridley College boys hockey team. Ridley is a school steeped in tradition and the program is led by former NHLer Bill Berg and Summerside native Bruce Mutch. PEI's Emily Van Deipen, one of the top players in Atlantic Canada for her age, will suit up for the girls team at Ridley.

Former Cornwall Thunder Defenceman Jordan Moore is playing soccer and hockey at Stanstead College in Quebec while Jessica Cameron and Shannon MacAulay have decided to join Warner Hockey School in Alberta. The Warner program is directed by former New York Islanders standout Mikko Makela and is a program that has also helped Andrews Graduates Stephanie Ramsay and Mary McKinnon obtain scholarships to top NCAA Division I schools.

Many of our graduates and current instructors are chasing their dreams of playing in the big leagues this month. PEI native Mark Flood recently suited up for the Carolina Hurricanes, Canucks Prospect Nathan McIver is stating his case to become a regular in Vancouver this season and Andrews Head Goalie Consultant Drew MacIntyre and Instructor Joel Ward have fared well with their new team, the Nashville Predators.

Others who have enjoyed success this Fall include Randy Cameron with the Detroit Red Wings, Logan MacMillan with the Anaheim Ducks, Eric Neilson and James Livingston are trying to impress the St. Louis Blues, while Patrice Cormier attends his first big camp with the New Jersey Devils.

Alberton's Colby Pridham is also looking to earn a pro contract as he suits up with the AHL's Manitoba Moose in Winnipeg.

Andrews Hockey will once again be hosting a series of Fall Camps at the MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown PEI. Our High Performance Preparation Camp takes place September 5-12 and the Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating and Skating & Puck Skills Camps go September 15-20.

  View Schedule

High Performance Preparation Camp

The High Performance Preparation Camp is for High Level Bantam and Midget players. Players will receive 1 hour of Elite Techniques of Hockey Skating and 1 hour of Off Ice Training at Hockey Haven Training Centre. All methods are hockey specific and this camp is the first of its kind in the region.

Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating

The Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating Fall Camps are modeled after of our very popular Foundational Program. The week consists of 6 sessions of 1.5 hours. The focus is on modern techniques of hockey skating, including stride length & frequency, body mechanics, Mohawk turns, backwards skating components different methods of stopping, quick starts and more!. A great camp for any young player looking to be in top shape when the hockey season begins!

Skating & Puck Skills

Modeled after of our very popular Foundational Program. The week consists of 6 sessions of 1.5 hours. The focus is on modern techniques of hockey skating, small area flow drills, individual puck skill development and more! A great camp for any young player looking to be in top shape when the hockey season begins!
 

For more information on these camps call 902-894-9600 or email info@hockeygrowth.com.  Registration is available online.

Andrews Hockey is proud to announce the return of the ‘Goalies Only’ Intermediate-Advanced Goaltending Program. This program is a comprehensive camp for goalies of all levels. It will run August 24-29 at the MacLauchlan Arena and will be open to players aged 10-17.

The Andrews Goaltending School is the longest running in North America and has helped develop and produce elite level goalies such as Drew MacIntyre (Nashville Predators), Joey MacDonald (New York Islanders), Todd MacDonald (former Florida Panther), Dan Lacosta (Columbus Blue Jackets) and many more!

The Camp will feature 3 daily ice sessions plus Synthetic Ice Training, Goalie Specific Off Ice Training, Reaction/Reflex/Movement Sessions, Specialized Goalie classroom sessions and Video Analysis. Goalies will be tested on the Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating, off ice fitness, as well as work towards their Bronze, Silver and Gold Goalie Awards.

For more information email info@hockeygrowth.com or call toll free 1-877-936-6699.

The SSHL Draft has taken place and the rosters and schedule are posted at the links below. All players are asked to register at the Andrews Hockey office at MacLauchlan Arena or Click the 'Register' icon above and sign up through 'Event Registration'

SSHL Rosters

SSHL Schedule

Showcase/Prospect Rosters

Showcase/Prospect Schedule

The 13^th Annual Atlantic Hockey Showcase/Atlantic Female Prospect Camp is set for June 28 – July 3 at the MacLauchlan Arena (UPEI) in Charlottetown PEI. Top end talent aged 14-19 will be on hand to showcase their skills in front of Prep School, University, Major Junior and Junior A scouts. This invite only camp will feature practice sessions beginning Saturday, June 28, with games slated to start Sunday afternoon, June 29. There will be a full slate of games each day with the event finishing up Thursday afternoon, July 3. All practices and games are open to the public and are free of charge.

Top NCAA Schools such as the University of Maine, RPI, Princeton University, Quinnipiac College, Bowdoin College, Bemidji State University, Manhattenville College as well as others will be in attendance. No other program in Atlantic Canada will see as many NCAA Schools as the Atlantic Hockey Showcase.

The Showcase has had an extraordinary list of players attend in the past including NHL Superstars Sidney Crosby and Brad Richards. Others that have used the event as a stepping stone to further their careers include Randy Jones (Philadelphia Flyers), Aaron Johnson (New York Islanders), Nathan McIver (Vancouver Canucks), Jason King (Anaheim Ducks) and Drew MacIntyre (Vancouver Canucks) An Andrews Hockey Graduate has also been the top pick in the QMJHL Draft over the past few years. Brandon Gormley, Alex Grant, James Sheppard (Minnesota Wild) and Crosby all earned that honor. The Female Prospect Camp has helped many players achieve their ultimate goals as well. This prestigious list includes Mary MacKinnon (Niagara University), Stephanie Ramsay (University of North Dakota), Brittany Haverstock (University of Wisconsin) and upcoming talents Jessica Wong (Stoney Creek Sabres), Jill Saulnier (Stoney Creek Sabres) and Alexis Crossley (Shattuck St. Mary’s).

If you are a Coach, Scout, Recruiter or Player looking for more information on the Atlantic Hockey Showcase call Andrews Hockey toll free at 1-877-936-6699 or e-mail: doug@hockeygrowth.com. 

Andrews Hockey Graduate and Camp Instructor Brandon Gormley was the First Overall Pick at the Annual QMJHL Draft this past weekend in Sydney, NS. The Murray River native was chosen by the Moncton Wildcats after starring at the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame this past season. Gormley is considered one of the top defence prospects to ever come out of the Maritimes and spent his youth honing his skills in the King's County Minor Hockey system as well as the PEI Riptide Program and many Andrews Camps. He has been a key instuctor over the past 2 summers as well.

Seven other Andrews Grads were taken in the first 5 rounds including Garrett Clarke, Logan Shaw, Morgan Ellis, Stephen MacAulay, Travis Moore, Jordan Moore and Devon Cudmore. Rounds Six thru Twelve saw 13 other Graduates taken. Congratulations to all of our Graduates as they open up a new chapter in their careers.

The Andrews Super Summer Hockey League will be taking place at the MacLauchlan Arena from early July to Mid August. This high caliber league is for athletes playing at the Junior A, Major Junior, University or Professional level. The league has seen many of the island's top hockey stars from the NHL, AHL, ECHL, CHL, NCAA, CIS, OHL, QMJHL and MJAHL over the past few years.

If you are looking to play in this elite league and would like to enter your name for this June's player draft, email Doug Shepherd at doug@hockeygrowth.com.

Each year Andrews Hockey sets out to invite top level elite players to the Annual Atlantic Hockey Showcase and Atlantic Female Prospect Camp. These events have helped many young players move on to successful hockey and educational ventures. There are still a few spots remaining in this prestigious event that takes place June 28-July 3. If you are an elite player in the 1995-1990 age bracket, and would like to inquire about our Showcase/Prospect week, contact Doug Shepherd at doug@hockeygrowth.com or toll free at 1-877-936-6699.

May 2-4 weekend featured 2 major tournaments in the East Coast Spring Hockey Circuit. At the Girls Lobster Cup in Shediac, NB the Atom Young Islanders won gold in a thrilling final that took a shootout to decide. The Peewee Young Islanders brought home a bronze medal while the Bantam Young Islanders put on a gold medal winning performance as well.

In Charlottetown PEI the biggest Boys Oyster Cup tournament ever featured 33 teams. The 2000 Riptide lost a thrilling championship game against the NS Selects to earn a silver medal. The 99 Riptide powered their way to a second straight gold medal, the 98's took home a silver after a hard fought game against a tough Selects squad, the 97's rebounded from an earlier loss to the T-Force to beat them in the Championship game for the gold while the 94 division featured some of the best Bantam hockey the island has ever seen. The Riptide, NS Selects, Jr. Cats, Mainland Selects and Andrew McKim's strong Newfoundland Xtreme battled it out all weekend. The Riptide and the NS Selects ended up in the final with the Selects prevailing in a shootout.

A big thank you to all of the teams and participants for making this event such a success!

The Annual Lobster Cup was held in Moncton April 11-13 and many of our teams tasted success. The '96 Riptide won gold in a shootout thriller over the Jr. Cats while the powerful '99 Riptide held off the V-Reds to win their division.

The '98 NS Fire captured a silver medal in a hard fought game against the NS Selects while the '97 Riptide, '96 Fire, '95 Fire and the '94 Riptide all brought home bronze medals.

Congratulations to all of our teams and best of luck in the up coming Oyster Cup!

Andrews Hockey has released their practice schedule for the upcoming 2008 season. All practices for the Riptide, AAA Young Islanders, Wolfpack and Female Young Islanders will take place at the MacLauchlan Arena.

View the complete schedule: Spring Hockey Schedule

For information on Young Islanders AAA and Wolfpack A game dates and locations visit www.nbice.com.

If you are a member of one of our NS Sting or NS Fire teams, please contact your coach or manager for practice schedule details.

Tournament dates and locations for the highly competitive Elite Spring Hockey Season have been confirmed.

The Boys PEI Riptide and Nova Scotia Fire will take part in the following Maritime tournaments:

Lobster Cup - Shediac, NB - April 11-13

Oyster Cup - Charlottetown, PE - May 2-4

Citadel Cup - Halifax, NS - May 17-19

The Female PEI Young Islanders, Nova Scotia Fire, Nova Scotia Sting and NB Ice will take part in the following tournaments:

Lobster Cup - Shediac, NB - May 2-4

Citadel Cup - Halifax, NS - May 9-11

Oyster Cup - Charlottetown, PE - May 23-25

Registration is well underway for our 2008 summer programs and many camps are filling up. The Summer kicks off with the Annual Atlantic Hockey Showcase/Female Prospect camp and is followed by an exciting list of programs. Over a 9 week period in July and August we offer Foundational, High Performance Elite, Magic Hands, Defenceman's Specialty, Young Guns, Mini Guns, Female Young Guns and Advanced Preparation Programs. Our highly regarded Goaltending Program is offered each and every week of the summer as well. The 3rd season of the Andrews Super Summer Hockey League will begin in early July featuring some of the top Junior, College and Professional Players in the region. Contact us anytime for details on any of our program registration and openings.

The 13th Annual Atlantic Hockey Showcase will be hosted by Andrews Hockey June 28 - July 3, 2008 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island at the MacLauchlan Arena. This is the premier showcase event in Eastern Canada and has boasted some of the region's top talent in recent years including NHLer's Sidney Crosby, Brad Richards, Drew MacIntyre, Nathan McIver, Randy Jones and James Sheppard to mention a few. Scouts, Coaches and Recruiters from U.S. Colleges and Prep Schools as well as Canadian Major Junior, Junior A and Prep School Programs are on hand for this invite only event. The event is also scouted by NHL, AHL and Canadian University recruiters. This year we will showcase players born in 1995-1989.The Showcase camp will run in conjunction with the Atlantic Female Prospect Camp which will showcase top end girls in the 1995-1990 age group. This is a popular venue for Prep School, University and National Team representatives to recruit. If you are an elite player or a team representative looking for more information on this exciting event, contact Doug Shepherd at doug@hockeygrowth.com or toll free at 1-877-936-6699.

Andrews Graduate and former PEI Riptide player Darryl Boyce made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. The Summerside native was called up from the Toronto Marlies where he has tallied 8 goals and 16 assists for 24 points in 41 games this season. Boyce along with another Andrews Graduate, Islander David Ling, have helped propel the Marlies into first place in the AHL's Northern Conference. Ling is the team's leading scorer with 9 goals and 28 assists for 37 points.

The Annual Oyster Cup will take place at MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown PEI this spring. The Male tournament is set for May 2-4 and will feature elite teams in the 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995 & 1994 age groups. The Female tournament will take place May 23-25 and will feature elite Atom, Peewee and Bantam Divisions.

The Oyster Cup has been an attractive event in the past for teams from Atlantic Canada as well as other regions. The PEI Riptide and PEI Young Islanders are proud to host this exciting tournament in beautiful Prince Edward Island. If you have questions regarding the Oyster Cup call us toll free at 1-877-936-6699 or e-mail springhockey@hockeygrowth.com.

Drew MacIntyre, an Andrews Graduate and the Program's Head Goaltending Consultant, was called up to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

In his second season with the Manitoba Moose, MacIntyre, 24, has appeared in 16 games this season, posting a record of 11-4-1 with a goals against average of 2.28, and a save percentage of .926. The Stratford, P.E.I. native is currently tied for second among all AHL goaltenders in wins (11) and holds the third-best save percentage in the league. In a season and a half with the Moose, MacIntyre has played in 57 games with a record of 35-16-3 and a goals against average of 2.21 and a save percentage of .923.

Summerside Native and Andrews Graduate Brad Smith has faced some adversity in his hockey career in the last few years. He was drafted in 2005 by the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. After just 10 games with the Cats in 2005-06, Smith was sent back to Midget. The next season he was determined to make the Moncton roster and he did out of camp, only to be sent back to the Summerside Capitals after 14 games. After an intense training regime this past summer, which included daily workouts at Hockey Haven, extra skating lessons and suiting up in the Super Summer Hockey League, Brad was ready to be an impact player in the Q. He had an impressive camp and turned the heads of some of Moncton's own scouts. However, at the end of training camp he got the news that he had been released. Smith cleared waivers in the QMJHL, no team wanted to pick him up. Then, 6 OHL teams passed up the chance to sign the big centreman. He finally landed a tryout with the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL and has been one of the team's most consistent players ever since. His numbers are not mind boggling, 8 assists in 25 games, but he has given the last place Spirit consistency down the middle. In the words of one scout, "There is something about this kid, he is a worker and is making good things happen on the ice. He has a chance to be a pro."Brad Smith is proving that when adversity comes knocking, you have to answer with perseverance.

Andrews Hockey would like to congratulate program graduates Andrew Bodnarchuk and Brad Marchand on their recent selection to Canada's World Junior Selection Camp. Bodnarchuk, a 19 year old defenceman, spent a year at St. Paul's Prep School in Concord, New Hampshire before joining the Halifax Mooseheads where he is now the team captain. The Boston Bruins draft pick has 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points thus far this season.Marchand, also a Halifax native and Bruins pick, is one of only 3 players returning to Team Canada from last year. He is in his second season with the Val D'Or Foreurs after 2 seasons with the Moncton Wildcats. The swift skating forward has tallied 17 goals and 12 assists in 2007-08. Good Luck to Andy and Brad!

Andrews Hockey Growth Programs is proud to announce its expansion to PEI's Prince County and the appointment of Darcy Harris as the Director of the Western Coyotes Spring Hockey Program. Harris is a former American Hockey League Player with the Fredericton Canadiens and Quebec Rafales and also is a former captain of the UPEI Panthers. His coaching resume includes stints as an assistant coach at UPEI and a head coach with the Charlottetown Major Midget AAA Islanders. He is a graduate of the Andrews program and has been a head instructor for many years. Harris will also be leading the Andrews Foundational and Elite Summer Programs slated for O'Leary in August 2008.Tryouts for the newly formed Western Coyotes Spring teams will be held at the O'Leary Sports Centre January 3 & 4. The Coyotes will hold open tryouts for Novice, Atom, Peewee and Bantam and teams will participate in the highly competitive NB/PEI East Coast Ice AAA Series. The Coyotes will also be icing Atom and Peewee teams in the NB/PEI Development AAA circuit.The Andrews East Coast Spring Hockey Program has a storied history of helping players move on to achieve their goals of playing Major Junior, University and Professional hockey. In fact many program graduates have been recent draft picks of teams in the National Hockey League. They include Randy Cameron (Detroit Red Wings), Nathan McIver (Vancouver Canucks), Adam McQuaid (Columbus Blue Jackets/now with Boston), Logan MacMillan (Anaheim Ducks) and Drew MacIntyre (Detroit Red Wings/now with Vancouver). Andrews has also announced the up coming Holiday Tryouts sessions for the PEI Riptide, PEI Young Islanders and Eastern Wolfpack teams that will take place December 31 - January 4 at the MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown. The Boys Riptide teams play in the highly competitive East Coast Spring Hockey League against formidable opponents like the NS Selects, NB Junior Cats, Halifax Shock Bolts, NS Fire and other top programs in Canada and the U.S. The girls Young Islanders play against top competition such as the NB Ice, NS Fire and NS Sting.The Boys Young Islanders compete in the NB/PEI AAA Series while the Wolfpack teams play in the Development circuit featuring AAA level teams from New Brunswick and PEI.Open tryouts for the Riptide teams will include sections for Novice, Atom Minor, Atom Major, Peewee Minor and Bantam Divisions. In the Girls Young Islanders Program there will be sections for Atom, Peewee and Bantam.

Andrews Hockey recently paid a visit to the state of Maine for a Skills Clinic and Coaches Seminar. Doug Shepherd ran an on ice skills clinic in Bangor, Maine that was a resounding success. Players aged 6-13 took part in the sessions that focused on the Modern Techniques of Hockey Skating & Puck Skills.

Shepherd was also the keynote speaker at the Second Annual Rockport Youth Hockey Coaches Seminar and Dinner. The enthusiasm shown by the Rockport coaches was excellent and the evening was enjoyable and informative for all who took part.

Earlier in November, Andrews held a Coaches Seminar/Skills Clinic in Richibucto, New Brunswick in which coaches and players alike from the area took part in an exciting weekend event.

Andrews Hockey would like to thank all involved in the recent clinics and seminars and look forward to returning in the near future. If your association would like to experience a weekend, evening or daytime instructional event, contact us at 1-877-936-6699 or email doug@hockeygrowth.com.

Andrews Hockey Growth Programs is committed to helping athletes move forward and gain opportunities in education and hockey. We offer year round, free of charge service to all of our clients and graduates in their quest to succeed. We are committed to helping players get exposure to Professional, University, Prep School, Major Junior, Junior A, National Team and Provincial programs. We will make phone calls, send e-mails and distribute resumes to our many contacts all over the hockey world to give players the support they need.

Team Atlantic Under 18 Girls are preparing for the upcoming Nationals in Kitchener ON and the roster is full of players who have attended Andrews Hockey Growth Programs. Baddeck's Jessi Wong (pictured)leads the charge as the Stoney Creek Forward looks to put Team Atlantic on the map. Wong is joined by speedsters Jill Saulinier, Erin Brophy and Nicole Hansom while the defence is anchored by Labrador native Chloe Tinkler. They are joined by alumni such as 15 year old Rothesay Netherwood Forward Ashlyn Somers, Ridley College's versatile Jamie Lynn Donaldson and up and coming Defenceman Kirsten Visser who are all from PEI. Other graduates include goaltenders Ashley Boutilier and Melissa Murphy, defencemen Brittany Haverstock, Jenna Pitts and Karine Meunier-Pelletier and forwards Kayla Blackmore, Erin Brophy, Alex Normore, Sarah Davis and Janie Leblanc.

As a new season begins many players will look to get an edge on the competition. At Hockey Haven Training Centre and Synthetic Ice Complex players receive the best in 1 on 1 and small group training. The Hockey Haven Program was built using the best hockey specific training methods. Players can train 1 on 1 with a personal trainer or in a small group setting. Team training is also available. Players can receive valuable 1 on 1 personalized lessons on our synthetic ice to give attention to all the details of their game that they may not get a chance to work on in practice. Many teams use our Centre for Shooting Clinics and 2 on 2 team building sessions. Get in on the action today, call us at 902-894-9604 or email ryan@hockeygrowth.com to book your session!

Program Graduate Atsushi Ohata, a Japanese player who attended the Andrews Hockey Advanced Preparation Camp and trained at Hockey Haven Training Centre in 2007 received a tryout with the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL. Ohata has played all of his hockey to date in his native country. This is big news in his homeland where he looks to join fellow countryman Yutaka Fukufuji in the ECHL. Fukufuji, a goaltender, will suit up for the Bakersfield Condors after playing for the Los Angeles Kings and Manchester Monarchs last season. Ohata also participated in the Andrews Super Summer Hockey League.