Welcome To the 2nd Annual GMS High Performance Hockey Academy !!!

A huge welcome back to all returning athletes as well as new athletes in the program. Both Mr. Greer and myself are ecstatic to be back working at GMS with the best staff and students in the district. Please be sure to check this block at least weekly to keep up to date on news about the program as well as ice times and bussing for the upcoming week. I usually update the blog sometime between Friday and Sunday evening.

Parents who will be regularily dropping students off at the rink in the mornings or picking them up after the end of the day sessions are encouraged to e-mail me with a note stating that this will be the case. There will also be a permission form coming home for you to sign, giving permission for the year for students to ride the bus back and forth from the rink. ** PLEASE NOTE : FOR MANY AFTERNOON SESSION THE BUS WILL NOT RETUNR FROM THE RINK TO THE SCHOOL UNTIL AFTER 3:30PM, SO STUDENTS WILL NOT BE BACK EARLY ENOUGH TO CATCH THE SCHOOL BUS ALTHOUG PUBLIC TRANSIT RUNS EVERY 15 MINUTES ****

Course outlines have been sent home and most have been returned already (thank-you). Please e-mail if you have any questions reagrding changes to the program this year. Some changes of note are that we are having 2 on ice sessions per week this year as we found some students were a little overwhelmed last year although this change will only amount to about 15minutes less ice time over a 2 week period as we have moved to 1.5 hour ice slots. This major change will allow us to periodize the kids training alot better and do even more off ice programming than last year.

Other changes include more in depth work on mental preparation and skill building, more work on individual game tactics in addition to individual skills and more regular off ice training sessions. We are also very excited to be starting a HOUSE POINTS PROGRAM to encourage healthy competition in the program as rival teams get reward points for completing all sorts of tasks both within the program (i.e. getting assignments in, regular training at lunch) and outside the program (i.e. doing well in other classes and making a positive difference in the school environment).

There are always a few hiccups expected at the start of the year so parents and students are reminded to please be patient while we get things running in a more smooth and routine fashion both on the ice and off the ice. We continue to strive to create the best available middle school program in the district and are very proud of the opportunity these kids have to develope both as athletes and people.

Have a great year everyone !!!