2023–24 U15 AAA

Coach's Letter

Dear Players and Parents,

I would like to extend a formal invitation to all players interested in attending tryouts for the Ottawa Myers Automotive U15 AAA Team (2009s) for the 2023-24 hockey season. The following is information on coaching philosophy, coaching staff, tryouts, team activities, planned tournaments and the development program we intend on running this upcoming season.

Coaching Philosophy:

To create a challenging, competitive, safe environment within an enjoyable atmosphere. The balance can be tricky especially when dealing with seventeen different personalities, however in many cases, the proper balance is the key to a successful season.

Coaching Staff:

• Dave Galasso will be returning as co-coach with me again this year. We have coached the previous fourteen years together and we are looking forward to this upcoming season. While Dave’s primary function is working with our Defensemen, he will also assume many of the Head Coaching responsibilities as we are very much a “coaching team.”
• Dean Galasso will be responsible for the Forwards. Dean finished his playing career and has been with us for the last two years.
• Dean Dorsey will be responsible for in-game video analysis of our Goaltenders and will also be our strength and conditioning coach.

Tryouts:

Tryout Schedule is now on the Myers Website

• Day 1: Focus will be on skills, compete level and goaltender evaluation type drills
• Day 2: Full scrimmage sessions

We will then play three exhibition games with the aim of gradually reducing our tryout numbers to approximately 25 Players (13 Forwards, 9 Defencemen and 3 Goalies).

Finally, we will have four exhibition games in the HEO AAA Combine. As scheduled today, we have two games on Sunday August 20th then one on August 24th and 25th. The coaching staff along with our evaluation team will work as quickly as possible to finalize our team so that all players who are not successful will have an opportunity to play AAA with another team. We will be in constant communication with the other coaches in our league as well.

The final team composition will be 9 forwards, 6 defenseman and 2 goalies. There is one scenario that may have us carry eighteen players. We will see how the combine process plays out.

Development Program:

I have been involved in Minor Hockey circles for over 40 years. Everything from coaching top tier teams, skill instruction, Power skating, working with HEO as a technical instructor, Hockey Canada Initiatives (Program of Excellence) as well as mentorship roles with various Minor Hockey Associations. We are driven to provide the best possible development program for all players. We achieve this through team work; practices that focus on individual, tactical and team development and a bench management style that has been very successful for us in the past. As well, we will provide video evaluations, tracking of key stats, constant 1:1 feedback and quite simply...hard work. The players will also be given a Technical Package. It will outline our Team Play expectations along with useful information on Nutrition, Physical Preparation, Mental Training, etc. The coaching staff will give the players our best effort; we will expect that in return. Myers will again be supplementing our day-to-day operation with a skills program and off ice conditioning on Monday evenings.

Planned Tournaments

• September 22-24
  Toronto Red Wings Early Bird
  Toronto, ON
• October 5-8
  Wendy Dufton Memorial Tournament,
  London, ON
  
• November 10-12
  Ottawa Myers Automotive AAA Shootout
  Ottawa, ON
• December 7-10
  Vaughn Kings Classic
  Toronto, ON
  
• December 27-30
  Toronto Marlboros Holiday Classic
  Toronto, ON

In summary, the program we execute on this upcoming season will provide the athlete with a very complete hockey education. There are expectations when playing (and coaching) at this level. This program is not for everyone, hopefully it's one that you would like to be part of. See you in August. Please contact me at bdc27@bell.net if you require any additional information. Go Myers!...Yikes, I never thought I would EVER say that!

Brent Carty
Head Coach,
Ottawa Myers Automotive U15 AAA