Atlanta Knights Youth Hockey and Junior Hockey Comprehensive Information

Includes Program summary, coaching staff for 2008-2009, tryout information and more

 

 

 

The MIC and the Atlanta Knights provide local players the only program in the region that provides each player in the organization  the complete player development package here at home.  With the success of the Atlanta Knights Junior Hockey team and its national prominence, local players associated with the Atlanta Knights program may now develop under the direction of excellent, qualified coaches with the objective of accelerated skill development to ascend to the ulitmate achievement of playing competitive Junior hockey here.  The MIC  hosts the only Junior hockey teams in the three state area and the only Junior B and Elite teams in the southeast under one roof.

Many programs have successful youth programs, but the facts are that without a method to raise players to the highest amateur level of hockey,  the development that is suggested in those programs leads many players to a dead end, with very limited if any options to advance their hockey careers as they approach the ages where they will be looked at, recruited or scouted by Collegiate programs.   For all the years of development, the commitment of hard earned season fees, and coaching, it seems odd if that progress cannot be completemented with a purpose or locally available pathway for players to reach their dreams.   It is enjoyable to hang banners, but if they do not benefit the player, they are only tokens. These player pathways are generally movement to preparatory schools, non-local junior programs, or the Atlanta Knights.  The preparatory school pathway has proven successful for many players, but involves moving away from home, with costly tuition associated with this, and hoping to advance to the next level which only a minority actually do.  For those players and families who wish to determine if this next step is for them, we provide these players the opportunity to experience the advanced level of hockey, junior hockey, here at home.

 

We provide our  youth players the only Junior hockey experience in the area and a local pathway to gain access to collegiate hockey opportunites.  Every aspect of our program is designed to develop the needed skills and ability at the Mite, Squirt, Peewee, Bantam and Midget 16U levels to prepare each player for the opportunity to compete at the Junior hockey level and play for the Atlanta Knights.  The Knights program also gives Midget hockey players the ability to taste the Junior hockey experience  while still competing as a Midget, and to pursue collegiate hockey opportunities without leaving home to attend prep schools or northern programs.  Our hockey development program, from coaching strategies, practice plans, game systems and team size, is consistent at all age groups to carefully prepare players for the next level of hockey. 

 

All local programs  in Atlanta offer excellent recreational and travel hockey experiences. Some are focused on locating, developing and collecting local talent  and others are designed to accomodate as many players on a team as possible. However, there is generally limited time to devote to complete player development.   Our Atlanta Knights program is designed to carefully build player skills, compentency, fundamentals, and knowledge so that they can use these skills to achieve a purpose, to be considered for a Junior hockey experience and to play at a national level that no other program offers in the local marketplace.

The Atlanta Knights Youth Travel Hockey Program and the Atlanta Knights Junior Hockey Clubs welcome you to experience a hockey development program that is unequalled, one that focuses on achievement on and off the ice, and one that will reward each player, parent and family with a program of excellence and purpose.

 

• Progressive player skill development, consisent practice plans at all ages, 2 to 3 practice sessions per week
• Professional coaching on ice for all teams in addition to assigned team coaches at least weekly
• On staff professional goalie coach provided to each team
• We will field two teams at all age groups listed below, designated as Major and Minor teams.  Birth year teams are preferred but they are in no way requirements because that designation does not insure the proper development of your player.  Unlike other programs, our goal is to place each player on teams that is reflective of their skill level and ability to compete
• Smaller team rosters to provide more ice time, practice time, shifts and individual attention, to accelerate player development.
  • Mites:        10 to 12 skaters maximum on all rosters
  • Squirts:     11 to 13 skaters maximum on all rosters
  • Peewees:  15 skaters maximum, 13 recommended
  • Bantam:     15 skaters maximum
  • Midget:      15 to 18 skaters, to accommodate players being moved up to the Junior team
• All head coaches must have coached 10 years minimum, coaching other than their own child, and must have particpated as a player at either the Junior or professional hockey level
• Coaches for higher age teams are non-parent coaches to insure player and team development
• Off-ice conditioning program provided
• All Academic team selected after each grading period to promote total player development on and off ice
• Teams will participate in selected leagues to challenge each player and team appropriate with their skill level
• Games for each team is designed to be limited to 45 games to insure the quality of each game, maximize the player experience, increase the practice to game ratio to maximize player development, and to limit travel costs to families.  All team game schedule isreviewed and approved by the Knights Hockey Director and Coach in Chief
• In season clinics provided for all travel players, including skill based clinics and player position clinics.

We do not design our program to compete with other local programs or to offer similar concepts.  The Atlanta Knights Hockey program is designed to instill the needed skills, technique and knowledge of systems so that our players are carefully and systematically prepared for collegiate hockey standards at the point where it matters.   By coordinating the fundamental on-ice development with the promotion of academic achievements, we will produce young men and women who will not just reflect on the success of their youth careers when they were an adolescent, but will actually be able to apply those experiences to a productive purpose as they reach for their dreams when it matters most.