Waddell, Paluch, And Eliot Lead USA Hockey ADM Clinic And Educational Program For Local Players And Parents At Philips
On Sunday afternoon, USA Hockey’s Scott Paluch, Atlanta Thrashers Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell, Television Analyst and Youth Hockey Liaison Darren Eliot, and several key members of the local hockey community teamed up to help showcase and educate local players and parents about USA Hockey’s American Development Model. The result was a 90 minute on ice clinic for the kids, a 30 minute educational interaction with the parents, and what some local youth players have called “The greatest hockey day ever!”.
The Thrashers took on the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of a Sunday “Kids Day” at Philips Arena at 5:00pm, but local hockey families kicked off the action in Blueland when they arrived as early as 9:30am for the exclusive clinic. The Thrashers Hockey Development Team was also joined by the Cooler’s Steve Jacobs and Brian Yandle, and the Ice Forum’s Yan Kaminsky and Patrick Houlihan as they hosted the 90 minute “practice.” I use the term “practice” loosely as when Cooler Sabres Coach Paul Gwyn asked his team what their favorite part of the “practice” that afternoon was, several of the participants, who had players take part both the clinic and in the Atlanta Thrashers Future All Stars Intermission during the Thrashers game, responded, “Practice? We didn’t have practice today, Coach…We had FUN!”. Comments like these are a tribute to the work that Scott Paluch and the dedicated staff at USA Hockey have done to help provide greater overall experiences and opportunities for families in their programs across the Nation.
Waddell has a long-standing relationship with USA Hockey as a player and manager. He serves on the four-member National Team Management Advisory Group that assists in the selection of U.S. men’s national teams, including the team that will compete in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. His presence and involvement with the kids throughout the 90 minute on ice clinic certainly did not go unnoticed. “Seeing the General Manager, Don Waddell, on the ice for the full length of the program sends a clear sign of the personal, professional (NHL) and corporate support to the program,” Gwyn added.
To check out a full video recap of the day’s events including interviews with several of the players and coaches involved, click here! For a photo gallery highlighting all of the day’s action, click here!
USA Hockey Teaming Up With Thrashers And Local Rinks to Host ADM Clinic This Sunday
On Sunday, November 22nd, USA Hockey Regional Manager Scott Paluch will join Darren Eliot, the Atlanta Thrashers Hockey Development Team, and representatives from the Cooler and the Ice Forum for a 90 minute exclusive clinic highlighting the American Development Model at Philips Arena. The clinic will be open to all players 10 and under and will focus on 60 minutes of station training and 30 minutes of cross ice games
During the cross ice games, Paluch and Eliot will also host a parent session in the stands where they will answer questions and provide greater detail about USA Hockey’s groundbreaking American Development Model initiative. For more information about this clinic, click here. To learn more about USA Hockey’s ADM and the Thrashers involvement, click here.
Jokers Take Center Stage On Sunday At Philips
The Thrashers picked up there fourth straight win on Sunday afternoon in Blueland, but the pros weren’t the only ones enjoying the spotlight. The Cooler “Jokers” were also on hand as they took part in this season’s first Atlanta Thrashers Future All Stars event during the first intermission. Once the players were dressed they headed down to the glass for a front row seat to check out warm ups. After that it was back to the locker room where “Thrash” stopped by to wish the boys luck (and cover them with silly string) before they took the ice in front of the Blueland crowd. You can check out a portion of the exciting on ice action and a special interview with the “Jokers” Cole Bergman by clicking here.
While the core of our Hockey Development programs focus is on youth hockey initiatives, this past weekend we switched gears a bit to host an adult clinic. On Sunday afternoon at Philips Arena we were able conduct a clinic for close to 40 members of the AAHL, Ice Forum Adult League, and members of the Lady Thrashers. This 75 minute clinic was hosted by Thrashers Assistant Coach Randy Cunneyworth, Television Analyst Darren Eliot, and members of the Hockey Development Team. Eliot, a former NHL goaltender himself, actually put the pads on, giving each participant a shot to “beat the pro”.
In addition to the station training each player took part in, other highlights included a Thrashers game used equipment sale, an exciting elimination shootout, and all participants received a ticket to that afternoon’s thrilling Thrashers victory over the Blues!
The day was a fine example of how hockey is a lifelong game to be enjoyed by players of all ages. To check out some of the exciting video action from this past weekend’s clinic, click here. For additional photos from the clinic, click here.
Atlanta’s USA Hockey Youth Correspondent Enjoys Night In The Spotlight At Philips Arena
As part of USA Hockey’s American Development Model initiative, they have called on first time hockey families from throughout the country to take part in their “Come Play Youth Hockey” campaign. The campaign is designed to promote and educate young players and families about all of the benefits of being involved in youth hockey by having first time families document their experiences through weekly submissions of letters, photos and video.
In Atlanta, Liam “Woobie” Waugh, from the Atlanta Thrashers Cross Ice program in Duluth was chosen as his market’s representative and over the past two weeks his family has begun the process of documenting the energetic four year olds first full season on the ice. Each week they will work with USA Hockey to compile the images and memories from Liam’s trips to the rink which will serve as a great way for the family to document an exciting part of his childhood while showing other families just how great the experience can be.
While through the early stages of the Atlanta Thrashers Cross Ice Program many of Liam and his families experiences have been pretty typical for a first time player in the United States, last Thursday night Waugh took advantage of an opportunity that was anything but. Liam was invited down to Philips Arena to represent the Thrashers as their honorary “Youth Player of the Night” and was introduced along with the Thrashers as part of the starting line up where he stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Evander Kane and Pavel Kubina throughout the National Anthem. Liam enjoyed the experience so much that when the song was over, he wasnt quite ready to head off, taking one quick lap with his favorite pros before heading to his seats to enjoy the rest of the game with his family!
To check out all of the exciting action from Liam’s big night, click here. And be sure to check out USA Hockey’s “Come Play Youth Hockey” page all season long for updates on Liam and other first year players from across the country!
It was a special weekend for the Atlanta Thrashers Hockey Development Team and many of the Thrashers youth hockey program participants. This Weekend marked the final week of the first session of Cross Ice and hockey Initiation in Duluth, Kennesaw, and Marietta and as most of the program’s participants know, it was also Halloween!
The Hockey Development Coaches proved once again you are never too old to dress up and take part in the Halloween festivities as they donned some pretty impressive costumes of their own as you can see in the picture above.
The Thrashers would liek to thank all of the Session 1 Cross Ice and Hockey Initiation participants for a great first 8 weeks.
If you would like to learn more about these programs or register today, you can do so by visiting our local hockey page.
Girls’ and Women’s Hockey Weekend Video and Photo Recap Online At Atlantathrashers.com!
As promised last week, we have compiled all of the photos and videos documenting all of the exciting clinic and in game action from last week’s Girls’ and Women’s Hockey Weekend and you can check it all out here!
The official recap includes photos with Julie Chu from the clinic and great video from the Youth Player of the Night introductions, first intermission all girls scrimmage, and the 2nd intermission shootout featuring some great moves and a bit of a surprising and exciting finish!
The Atlanta Thrashers would like to thank all those who participated and contributed to making this weekend a huge success!
Two Time Olympic Medalist Julie Chu Poses With Peachtree City's Samantha O'Connell Following The Thrashers Girls' And Women's Hockey Clinic
This past weekend at Philips Arena, over 40 local female players of all ages took the ice for the annual Atlanta Thrashers Girls’ and Women’s Hockey Weekend. Later that evening, hundreds of newcomers were exposed to the game as they heard two time U.S. Olympian Julie Chu tell her story of becoming a decorated student athlete and representing her country on the sports biggest stage.
Julie took time out of her training schedule to take part in the festivities which in addition to the afternoon clinic and pre game speech, also featured female players throughout the in game festivities. Ladies from all over the Southeast were featured in the pre game “Youth Player of the Night” experience, a first intermission scrimmage, and a second intermission shootout with players of all ages. Photos and video capturing all of the exciting action will be posted on our Local Hockey page early next week!
On a more personal note, I was thrilled to welcome Julie to Atlanta as, believe it or not, we were teammates on the New York Rangers Pee Wee Hockey Club that competed in the annual Quebec International Pee Wee Hockey Tournament many years ago. Even at 13 while playing on an all boys team, Julie was already garnering the attention of the nation’s top schools and even being talked about as a prospect for future Olympic Games. Through her hard work and passion for the game, she has exceeded all expectations and accomplished so many of her goals, with one big mission left to conquer this February in Vancouver as she and her teammates go for the gold.
Of all of the excellent reasons to take part in the sport of ice hockey, friendship’s forged with teammates has to be the greatest and most important of all. The hockey world is a small one and if you stay in or around the game long enough, you will find that somewhere down the line, your path will somehow cross again with old teammates and friends. While my allegiance has certainly shifted from the Rangers to the Thrashers over the years, many of the friendships I was fortunate enough to make as a part of that Pee Wee team are still strong to this day. Last weekend in between Julie’s clinics, interviews, and appearances, we had a chance to catch up about some of those fond Pee Wee hockey memories, just like old times.
U.S. Olympian Julie Chu To Attend The Atlanta Thrashers Girls’ and Women’s Hockey Weekend
The Atlanta Thrashers will host their annual Girls’ and Women’s Weekend Hockey Showcase at Philip’s Arena on Saturday, October 24th. The event is designed to celebrate and promote the women’s game in the Southeast while also exposing new opportunities to female athletes of all ages who may not be currently involved in the sport.
This year’s featured guest will be two time NCAA player of the year and two time Olympic medalist, Julie Chu, who will work with the players on the ice and talk about her path to becoming a student athlete and getting her diploma from Harvard University and representing her country on the sports biggest stage. Chu is excited to take time from her busy schedule to help support this unique and exciting hockey weekend. She is currently gearing up for another run at Olympic glory this February in Vancouver.
This year, in addition to the on ice clinics at Philips Arena and pre and in game involvement for the clinic participants, the Thrashers have also teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to host “Hockey ‘N Heels” night to celebrate the participation, success, and accomplishments of women in sports while promoting Breast Cancer Awareness.
To check out the recap video from last year’s Girls’ and Women’s Hockey Weekend, click here.
Comments, Questions Or To Sign Up Today, Contact Chris Uber at 404-878-3251 or at chris.uber@atlantaspirit.com.
With several area school districts off this Monday in observance of Columbus Day, the Atlanta Thrashers coaching staff will join the Hockey Development team on the ice as they host a Columbus Day Skills Clinic at the Duluth Ice Forum.
Assistant coaches Randy Cunneyworth, Todd Nelson, and Steve Weeks will each host a station focusing on individual skill development and team tactics during the first hour of the clinic before the clinic attendees open things up for a second half scrimmage!
Prior to the clinic, the Thrashers will take the ice for a practice of their own at 11:00am and as always, that session will be open to the public and fans of all ages are encouraged to stop by the Ice Forum to check it out.
To learn more about the Atlanta Thrashers Weekend Clinic Series or to sign up for the Columbus Day Clinic this Monday, click here.
Armstrong,Hainsey, And Waddell Take Part In First Annual Puck Drop
With opening night just days away, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Don Waddell, forward Colby Armstrong, and Defenseman Ron Hainsey joined the Atlanta Thrashers Hockey Development Team and 150 excited hockey fans as they celebrated the start of the hockey season at the first annual Atlanta Thrashers Puck Drop at Philips Arena on Sunday.
The event kicked off Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm with a family public skate featuring raffle prizes and giveaways, as well as an appearance by Thrash. When the skates came off, the fun continued at Philips Arena as guests were treated to a carnival like atmosphere with interactive games, a Thrashers game used equipment sale, and lunch. Former Atlanta Flame and 1976-1977 Calder Trophy winner Willi Plett was also on hand signing autographs and participating in all of the action. Plett even took on Noah Henry of the Atlanta Fire Mite’s in a five shot drama filled shootout and the young Henry proved to be a formidable opponent as the two played to a draw.
The event wrapped up with a special Q&A with Don Waddell and an exclusive meet and greet with Armstrong and Hainsey. The two Thrashers fan favorites also answered the tough questions from some of the events junior reporters like “How many teeth have you lost playing hockey?” (the answers were two for Hainsey and 4 for Armstrong for those scoring at home). They also spoke about some of their own youth hockey experiences and paths to the NHL before signing autographs and posing for pictures with the energized crowd.
Following the event all attendees were invited to stick around for the Thrashers final pre season game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Puck Drop package also included a ticket to the Thrashers season opener on October 3rd, so while the outcome of Sunday’s game wasn’t what these young Thrashers fans had hoped for, they can look forward to coming back to Blueland this weekend for the rematch against the Lightning.
Click here to check out a slideshow from the first annual Atlanta Thrashers Puck Drop.
