Dear Parents and Players,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 hockey season! My name is Brent Gould and I will be the head coach of the 2023/24 U12 Aces team.
I want to take this opportunity to invite new and returning Aces players to this year’s training camp. I am looking forward to the upcoming season and building upon the foundation that has been set in place for this team. I have been apart of the Aces organization for over 10 seasons in varying roles and the last 3 season as head coach of the 2010 group. With the 2010 group my coaching staff and I were able to improve the team each season. Within 2 seasons the team improved from a non-playoff team to a 4th place championship contending team. I am also involved with the Renfrew JrB Timberwolves organization as General Manager and associate coach.
My teams always follow one simple motto: WORK HARD & HAVE FUN. My teams will always be the hardest working team on the ice which will translate to success. My primary goal is to develop players to their maximum potential both on AND off ice. In addition to developing a player's technical skills to compete at the highest level, life skills of teamwork, responsibility, accountability, communication and leadership will be stressed. The combination of those attributes will lead to building self-confidence and having fun.
Practices will be well organized, focused and high tempo. Each practice will work on individual skills, individual tactics, group tactics and optional tactics. Skating, passing and shooting will be the foundation for our success.
My approach has always been to have every member of the team which includes coaches, players and parents on board to assist with the growth and development of each individual player and the team. We are all a team and will succeed together. The coaching staff will have 3-4 individual meetings with each player and their family to discuss the development path through the season.
I consider my approach firm but fair. Hard work will be expected. Mistakes will be made. The children will be expected to think on their own and experience different options that have been given to them. . That’s how we learn. The rewards of hard work and pushing beyond comfort zones will be evident as the season progresses.
Training Camp Evaluations
The training camp schedule is as follows:
Session #1 Sunday September 3 12:30 - 2:00pm Pembroke & Area Community Center
Session #2 Friday September 8 7:30 - 9:00pm Pembroke & Area Community Center
Session #3 Saturday September 9 1:00 - 2:30pm Pembroke & Area Community Center
Session #4 Sunday September 10 1:00 - 2:30pm Pembroke & Area Community Center
Session #5 Tuesday September 12 6:00 - 7:30pm Pembroke & Area Community Center
There will be at least 2 exhibition games, with at least one of those games being played out town, probably in Kinburn or Kanata. Not all players will play in all exhibition games. Exhibition game schedules and rosters will be determined during the training camp and emailed to all parents.
Player releases will happen on Tuesday September 12 immediately following the final training camp session. Each player will need to have a parent or guardian accompany them into the player meeting.
Commitment
As with all competitive hockey programs, a high level of commitment is expected from everyone involved with the team. There will be on 3-4 team sessions per week that will include practices, games and possibly off ice training. In addition, there will be power skating and skill sessions for the skaters and special goalie instruction for the goalies.
We play roughly 30 regular season games plus playoffs. 15 games will be on the road, with some games being played in Cornwall, Cardinal, Casselman and in Ottawa. Games are typically played on the weekends but there will be weeknight games.
We have entered 4 tournaments this season:
Mississauga Early Bird AA Tournament Mississauga, ON October 6-8, 2023
Capital Fall Classic Kanata, ON October 20-22, 2023
Whitby Regional Silver Stick Whitby, ON November 24-26, 2023
Oakville Winter Classic Oakville, ON January 19-21, 2023
The team has booked blocks of hotel rooms which will be released to parents once the team has been formed and a team manager assigned.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at
[email protected]
or call/text me at 613.433.2056.
I wish all players an enjoyable summer and looking forward to seeing everyone in September at the training camp.
Yours in Hockey,
Brent Gould
Coach
Upper Ottawa Valley Aces U12AA