Under 11 (U11) - U11 AA

Coaches Letter

My name is Martin Savard, and I am thrilled to be coaching the U11 AA Rangers for the upcoming 2022-2023. I have grown up playing high-level minor hockey up to college.  I have been a coach in various capacities from IP onwards and within the KGHA since 2016, including Head Coach and Assistant Coach at various levels and most recently with our provincials U13 BB champion squad.

My coaching philosophy

We will be looking for the girls to collaborate with their teammates, have the confidence to push themselves individually, and not be afraid to try things and learn from their mistakes. We want to ensure that the girls continue to develop and close the gap between their best attributes and their weaknesses. By developing their individual and collective skills, as well as how they apply to tactical gameplay, we will put each player in the best position to succeed.

As this is a Tier 1 (AA) level hockey program, we will ask a lot of the girls and hold them accountable to their personal and team goals. We will be consistent, and expectations will be well defined at the beginning of the season. We will be focusing on creating positive peer relationships in the context of a competitive environment. We want the girls to feel safe, motivated, and empowered beyond the rink.

The coaching staff will be built after tryouts.  The collection of coaches will complement me and bring different voices to ensure the girls stay motivated. The meaning of team is not only for players but for the coaching staff as well.

Commitment

Based on past seasons, you can expect 4 - 6 on-ice and off-ice activities per week.  Off-ice activities will focus on building positive growth mindsets incorporated into fun team activities.

The priority is family, school, and hockey. The commitment to the team should supersede other sports and activities. Black-outs dates are listed and are good opportunities for other activities.

The expectation is that every player and family is fully committed to bringing a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and a high level of compete.

Tournaments

We will be looking to participate in 5-6 tournaments. The number of tournaments will vary based on provincials and the ability to participate in them.

The committed tournament thus far:

Pink the Rink in Etobicoke                      October 14^th

Rochester, NY City Girls Fest              November 4^th  (USA)

Kanata Tournament, Kanata                   November 18^th

Nepean Paint-it-Purple                           January 27^th

We are still looking for a tournament in December and February.

Team fees

The expectation for team fees will be between $1,850 and $2,250 depending on tournaments and the possibility of making the Provincials. These fees are in addition to the KGHA registration fees. The team budget will be determined at the beginning of the season and discussed at the parent meeting.

Tryouts

For the tryouts, our evaluation process will start as soon as players get to the rink (pre-practice, bench, and post-practice sportsmanship). For ice performance, we are looking for hard-working players with speed and who can move the puck.
If interested, release feedback can be provided 24 hours after the last tryout session.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with your daughter.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out at any time.

Go Rangers!

Martin Savard
msavard@louddream.com