Dear parents and players, my name is Gerry Leblanc and I am honoured to have been named Head Coach for the U14 Minor Bantam AA Aces for the upcoming 2023-2024 season.
With over 20 years of coaching experience and over 35 of playing the game mostly within the Canadian forces I am confident we can make this year a success. I've been fortunate to uphold a winning record over the years and will give this group of athletes all the tools needed to become a Championship Team.
Each player will be given a fair and equal opportunity to earn a spot on the team. There will be third-party, non-parent, highly qualified hockey people who will weigh heavily in the selection process.
The evaluation team will be looking for determined, hard-working, skilled, and coachable kids with positive attitudes who excel both with, and without the puck. I am dedicated to creating an environment that is fun and helps to grow each player’s passion for the game.
A head coach is only as strong as the rest of his team.
Over the course of the summer I will prepare an exceptional program. With that said, my first goal is to create an environment and instill a team culture that supports athletic and skill development without compromising all the team collaboration, lessons and fun that should be had throughout a hockey season. To achieve this goal, I will emphasize the following principles:
1. Team First attitude: I will expect all players on this team to support each other. We will see ourselves as one cohesive team with a singular mission as opposed to 17 players working towards individual goals. Players will be involved in team goal setting and issues that threaten our team first approach will be dealt with promptly. This doesn't mean we won't be working with players individually on their own unique development but that the team first mentality will be an over-riding principle.
2. Embrace the challenge: I will expect all players on the team to challenge themselves every time they hit the ice. The coaching staff will be present along the way to ensure your young athletes are not only exposed to these situations and able to accept feedback but learn to embrace the challenge in a fun and supportive environment.
3. Be accountable: Some succeed because they are destined to; most succeed because they are determined to: This speaks to my expectation of accountability and the culture I will instill on our team. Hard work, self-discipline and determination cannot be replaced by talent or skill alone. In order to reach our goals, we must have a team of hard working, committed and dedicated players and coaches.
I’d like to welcome all players born in 2010 to come and tryout for the team.
Tournaments 2023-2024
1. Sept 21-24 2023
Green Mountain Avalanche
Jay Peaks Resort
Vermont, USA
2.Nov 15-17 2023
Waterloo Memorial Hockey Tournament
Waterloo, On.
3. Dec 1-3 2023
International Silver Stick Qualifier
Northumberland
Northumberland County, On.
4.Jan 5-7 2024
10th annual Capital Winter Classic
Kanata, On.