OIC Manager Coaches at USA Hockey Western Regional Camp
Derek Donald, Hockey Manager for Oakland Ice Center Operated by Sharks Ice was invited to coach at the USA Hockey Western Regional High Performance Camp in Colorado Springs for the second year in a row and just returned from the five day camp. This is the only camp of its type in the United States and is in it's third year for 14 year old players that utilizes the concepts of the American Development Model (ADM) and Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD). The camp takes place on the Colorado College Campus with 10 teams comprised of the top 200 players from:
Rocky Mountain (AZ,CO,ID,NM,UT,OK,TX), Pacific (CA,OR,WA,NV.HW,AK) and Northern Plains (MT,ND,SD,WY) Districts of USA Hockey.
The coaching staff is comprised of coaches from across the US in all levels of professional, college, junior and prep school hockey programs. The focus of the camp is on player development and education. The coaches spend 5 days colloborating on practice plans and structure, team building, and coching philosophy and put it all into practical application on the ice with the players. In surveys from the players they say the number one thing they get from the camp is the practices are the best they have experienced in skill development and competition.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for the players and coaches where the focus is on proper hockey training and development and a great introduction to the junor and college hockey path for the players. As a coach it is an incredible week of working with some of the best coaches in the US on player development and coaching philosophy. All the coaches are on the cutting edge of new methods of player development and training. It provides new information that I can bring back to our Oakland coaching staff to develop and grow their knowledge and provide the best experience in the area for our our players." commented Derek Donald.
The Oakland Ice Center operated by Sharks Ice and Oakland Bears hockey programs teach and develop players based on the ADM and LTAD principles as they have been proven to be the most fun and effective way for players to develop and enjoy the great game of hockey.