SHOTS ON NET

TONY AMONTE
1996 World Cup Victory

Former Player Development Alumni Tony Amonte (Hingham , MA) Boston University and Thayer Academy alum had always possessed a scorers "knack". But he never scored a goal  as important as the one he netted for Team USA  in the deciding game of the 1996 World Cup.

Player Development consists of many facets, all of which promote the further development of skilled players.
Programs within Player Development:
Midget Tier I League
Selects/Player Development League
Spring Hockey Festival (Boy's & Girl's)
John Cunniff In-State Hockey Camps (Boy's & Girls)
Satellite Training Summer Camp
National Team Tryouts (Boy's & Girls)
Teams Massachusetts

Midget Tier I League
Although the Midget Tier I League falls under Player Development, it's day to day operations are managed by an Executive Board of Directors voted by the Midget Select Associations. Voting members consist of the a Director from each participating Association.

Spring Hockey Festival Tryouts:
The initial Spring Hockey Festival tryout process serves as an evaluation for invitation to participate in the Festival itself.
Spring Hockey Festival:
The Spring Hockey Festival serves as an evaluation for invitation to participate in the National Camp, Satellite Training Camp, and the Massachusetts Hockey John Cunniff In-State-Camp held during the summer at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts.

John Cunniff Boys In-State Camp:
This camp was first conducted and designed by US Olympic Coaches John Cunniff and Tim Taylor. The program incorporates a curriculum used at USA Hockey National Training Camps designed to enhance the overall development of highly skilled and motivated athletes seeking to excel. the Massachusetts Hockey In-State-Camp held during the summer at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts.
The training staff includes USA Hockey, college, prep, catholic/public coaches. The week long camp includes both on-ice and off-ice training as well as seminars, sports activities, a family cookout and leisure activities. Campers are urged to complete summer, school projects. Such as reading assignments etc.   
Massachusetts Hockey endorses the concept that both athletics and scholastics greatly enhance a participants dream of higher education.   

John Cunniff Girls In-State Camp:
The program incorporates a curriculum used at USA Hockey National Training Camps designed to enhance the overall development of highly skilled and motivated female athletes seeking to excel. the Massachusetts Hockey Girls In-State-Camp held during the summer at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts.

Mass/USA Hockey Satellite Training Program "STP"
The USA Hockey National Satellite Program first started in the late 1980's by Jack Blatherwick, one of the U.S. Olympic coaches in Minnesota. The purpose was to train players for higher levels of play, with the possibility that some of these players may be chosen to represent the United States in International Competition.
Massachusetts under the direction of Dan Esdale and coaching director Joe Mallen brought the program east and expanded the age groups from 18 yr olds down to 13 year olds. They decided to start with younger players reasoning that good training habits could be of greater benefit if they were practiced at a younger age. With the success of the program at the 13-year-old level the 12-year-old level was added in 1998 with 86 year-of births.
Since the expansion of this program Massachusetts has returned to its position at the pinnacle of player development in the U.S. The following are brief summaries by year of the program results on a national level.

Mass/USA Hockey Satellite Training Program "Mission"

To:
train players at the highest level…
maximize each individual's potential through well-founded physiological and psychological precepts…
bring together players of potential abilities with top coaches from USA Hockey, High School, Juniors, College and Professional hockey…
elevate knowledge of the sport and how to train...
instill a work ethic, how to sacrifice, demonstrate what it takes to
reach the next level...
educate players and parents as to the benefits of periodization training and those distracters that have been scientifically determined to be counter productive hockey related activities…
stress the importance of character, behavior, attitude,
self-discipline, and focus in success...
foster a passion for the game…
encourage creativity…

On-ice training and preparation modeled after US National, Olympic, and college hockey sessions.
Off-ice training program that focuses on specificity exercise.
Through intensity of work.
Through a positive atmosphere, one that employs encouragement and fun.
Through self-motivation.

"Our intent is to aspire to excellence"