The New England Wolves have operated Jr hockey teams since 2011-12, and 16U/ 18U teams since 2015-16. Tim Kunes and I purchased the Wolves and have been operating these programs together in Laconia, NH since 2018-19. In the Fall of 2023 we came to an agreement to acquire the youth (Learn to Play to 14U) teams under the Wolves name in Laconia, and just this past weekend completed our first season.
On the ice as a youth operator is the easy part… practices, games and coaching is the reason we are in the field. The off the ice stuff is always the most difficult. Here are some of my thoughts and reflections that hopefully can help operators and parents navigate the field.
- Parents and Coaches… please offer useful feedback, with potential suggestions and solutions. If you see something that needs to be addressed, address it with those in charge instead of creating drama or offering only problems with No Solutions. Criticizing just to criticize is not helpful or constructive.
- Remember that it is about the Kids and the Athletes first. Development both physically, mentally and socially needs to be paramount in all decisions. It needs to drive the bus. Create events and special opportunities that reward the right things. Create awards for your teams and players that value teamwork, effort and enthusiasm. Build passion. Remember in youth sports winning is great, but retention of your athletes really means your program is doing it right.
- Delegate and Empower the right people. Lots of people are willing to help, but make sure that those people are in it for the right reasons and aligned with your values and goals. It takes a village to build a youth hockey program and surround yourself with the coaches that share your vision and will coach in line with your organizational philosophy.
- Avoid unnecessary risk taking… Make sure that kids are supervised in the locker room, safe travelling from the rink to the gym or outside activities as well. Make sure drills and equipment are safe. Taking unnecessary risks with someone else’s child is never worth it.
- Be positive and take a long term vantage point of the operation. You will not be the Mighty Ducks and turn your team or program around with one practice with eggs…. it takes months and seasons to build a tradition of winning and excellence and small steady gains.
- Offer things for FREE.
- Do Video Sessions and Off Ice
- Build Athletes not just hockey players
- Integrate your Junior and Older players with your younger players to build heroes and healthy relationships
- Invite Santa around the Holidays
- Create your own vision… If you do everything that other programs are doing, you will always be chasing those other teams. Be creative, and separate your program by doing more, but in a way that fits your geography and your program specifically.
It was a wonderful and tremendous first year with our Wolves youth teams. From tournament championship wins, to playoff berths for EVERY team, to 12U winning the United Tier 1 Hockey League championship, to 30+ kids participating for FREE in our learn to play, to organizational awards and raising $62,000.00 for the Cure Starts Now, our Wolves program had a wonderful first season, and I can’t wait to build upon these seasons in the future.
By Andrew Trimble
Andrew is the GM/ Co- Owner of the New England Wolves- www.ne-wolveshockey.com
To Purchase Andrew’s new book, The Hockey Planner, follow this link- The Hockey Planner: A Year by Year Plan to Assist You on Your Hockey Coaching Journey: From Learn to Play to Junior Hockey: Trimble, Andrew: 9781963743388: Amazon.com: Books
