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Delta Hockey Academy prospective student-athlete Package

focus on development

The Delta Hockey Academy is built on a fundamental belief in development. Our goal is to provide our student-athletes with a world-class facility equipped with the resources and industry experts required for scholastic achievement, excellence on the ice, growth in the gym and positive contributions in the community. Our student-athletes are driven individuals -- we pride ourselves as teachers and coaches in working together to guide student-athlete development while creating an environment for personal growth and self-improvement.

OUR DEVELOPMENT MODEL

THE FOUNDATION: OUR HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAINING FACILITY

Planet Ice Delta is the official home of the Delta Hockey Academy. Our four rink facility includes a high performance gym, a sports medicine clinic, a pro shop, a dedicated equipment room to store gear, a student study lounge, and two classrooms: the Collaboration Room and the Focus Room.

OUR ELITE TEAMS

HOW TO JOIN OUR PROGRAM

In order to join one of our eight elite teams for the 2023/2024 season, prospective student-athletes will need to attend our evaluation camp from March 31 - April 2 at Planet Ice Delta. Team selections will be finalized by approximately mid-April. International students that cannot travel to Delta for evaluations can contact info@deltawildhockeygroup.com prior to March 1 for alternative evaluation options.

FIRST PILLAR OF DEVELOPMENT: ACADEMICS

Our program works in partnership with North Delta Secondary School and the Delta School District to provide our students with a positive learning environment from which to develop their academic and athletic potential. As an accredited Hockey Canada Sports School, all our student-athletes are required to attend North Delta Secondary so that we can best support their academic development in a centralized learning environment.

OUR ROOTS

Ian Gallagher, the president of our academy, is a retired educator who emphasizes the importance of academics to our student-athletes. In 2012, he established an integrated school model at the Delta Hockey Academy alongside educators and administrators from the Delta School District. Each year we work to improve our academic offering to best support our students' academic development in collaboration with our partner school, North Delta Secondary.

INTEGRATED SCHOOL MODEL

Our integrated school model provides student-athletes with the tools to succeed both on the ice and in the classroom. Each grade has dedicated classroom time at the school and at the rink. For classes at the rink, we have teachers working on-site in our two classrooms: the Agnew Collaboration Room and the Focus Room. Private bus transportation is provided to shuttle students between North Delta Secondary School and Planet Ice Delta. The Student Lounge at the rink is a flexible space where students can study between practice, workout and class.

OUR ACADEMIC ADVISOR

Christine Niemar is a full-time educator from North Delta Secondary who works as our DHA Academic Advisor in a liaison role between the school and the academy. Ms. Niemar has an office and a classroom at the rink where she meets with students that may need extra support. Ms. Niemar also teaches our grade 8 courses at the rink.

ACADEMIC COURSE CREDITS

The following images outline the course credits that our student-athletes will work towards each year. Both "Hockey" and "Strength & Conditioning" are courses for which our student-athletes will receive credit and letter grades. Hockey is an elective course and Strength & Conditioning is a physical education course.

PREPARING FOR POST SECONDARY

Our academic model includes online course components similar to the structure of post-secondary. Our educators work to best prepare our student-athletes for the academic structure and time management skills required for the future of their educational pursuits. Over 75 of our alumni have moved on to compete as varsity student-athletes at the collegiate level and they attribute their ability to manage their busy schedules to their experience at DHA.

SECOND PILLAR OF DEVELOPMENT: HOCKEY

CANADIAN SPORT SCHOOL HOCKEY LEAGUE

All our teams participate in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. The schedules and statistics for each division can be found on the Canadian Sports School Hockey League website.

ELITE COACHES

The Delta Hockey Academy has an impressive roster of paid professional coaches from a variety of backgrounds. Our coaches' experiences include playing professional hockey, playing collegiate hockey, and/or playing for the Delta Hockey Academy themselves - and all have a multitude of experiences coaching everything from introductory minor hockey to elite levels. Our coaches are certified by Hockey Canada as High Performance and/or Development Coaches which are the two highest levels of certification issued by Hockey Canada. Check out our full lineup of coaches here.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Our teams have weekly skill development sessions with our lead skills instructor, Tim Preston, and weekly goalie sessions with our lead goalie coach, Lynden Sammartino. In addition, players have access to skating experts, shooting experts, skills experts and position-specific experts. Student-athletes will have the option to sign up for additional on-ice skills training in each of those areas. We also have access to the Shooting Centre in our facility during academy hours so that players can opt-in to practice shooting during open blocks in their schedule. There is no shortage of knowledge and mentorship for our student-athletes to access and learn from.

TEAM DEVELOPMENT

Our coaches guide student-athletes through team concepts on the ice to support the growth of their Hockey IQ and their understanding of the game. These concepts are discussed in practice, in team meetings and in video sessions at the rink. We want our student-athletes to complete each season with a stronger understanding of the game in order to build their overall package as a player.

MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACHING

Our student-athletes focus on mental performance in bi-weekly "Block D" sessions with Ian Gallagher which focus on leadership and mindfulness with practices that encourage self-aware athletes. Mental performance training supports and solidifies a resilient mindset, which is crucial to uncovering an athlete's consistent potential, well-being, and sport-life satisfaction. The benefits: build confidence by learning to focus on what's in your control & overcome fear of failing by ruthlessly staying focused in the present moment.

PARENT TESTIMONIAL

Living in Delta with two boys growing up playing hockey, the Delta Hockey Academy (DHA) was the absolute right choice for their high school years and the right fit for our family. We wanted them to have the opportunity to further their hockey career, but not at the expense of their academics. DHA meets that standard and much more. Playing the game they love every day combined with a top level training regime balanced with a high school curriculum was realized at DHA. The Academy kept the boys accountable on all fronts from day one as they navigated their way through this opportunity. Being surrounded by likeminded, goal orientated, and competitive peers has kept them on track with their academics and hockey. The coaching staff and their health performance support has been exceptional, and the academic advisors have provided valuable guidance. While we may not have always agreed with what teams that they were placed on, we trusted the process and that development was more important than status. Our youngest went from the varsity team to the second U15 prep team (now U15 Prep Black) to the E15 team (now U16/U17 Prep) then played as a 16yr old in the WHL. Our oldest was also on the varsity team, then the U15 Prep Green team, then the E15 team (now U16/U17 Prep) and is now playing Jr. A in the SJHL. DHA has helped prepare our boys for the next level of their hockey journey. - The Kovacs Family

THIRD PILLAR OF DEVELOPMENT: STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

DEVELOPING HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETES

Strength and conditioning is a crucial aspect of success in hockey. It helps players increase their speed, power, and endurance, which are essential for peak performance on the ice. At the Delta Hockey Academy, we understand this importance and have implemented a comprehensive off-ice training program to give our players an edge over their competition.

PERSONALIZED PROGRAMS

We recognize that each player has unique strengths and weaknesses and requires a personalized approach to training. Our strength and conditioning coaches build programs specific to each team, and then work with each player to develop a customized program within that team plan so that it fits their individual needs and goals. In addition, we have a physiotherapist who works in the gym with our injured student-athletes to tailor any exercises to their rehabilitation needs. Our strength and conditioning programs are designed to help players reach their full potential and achieve success at the post-secondary, junior or pro levels. With a focus on building a strong foundation of fitness, our players are able to perform at their best and reach their highest level of play.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Our comprehensive off-ice training program is lead by elite strength coaches who work with NHL, pro, junior and collegiate athletes. They have the expertise to guide young athletes to first build a strong foundation and then continue building to reach their peak fitness levels. We use the latest testing and fitness protocols to design personalized programs and track performance. This level of customization allows players to work on their specific areas of weakness, while also improving their overall fitness.

PREPARING ATHLETES FOR THE NEXT LEVEL

We aim to best prepare athletes for the demands of pro, junior and collegiate hockey. Programs at the next level have high expectations for player fitness and performance, and our off-ice program is designed to ensure that our players are ready for those demands. By building a strong foundation of strength, speed, and endurance, our players are better equipped to handle the physical demands of post-secondary hockey and reach their full potential as athletes.

MEDICAL COVERAGE AT THE RINK

Our sports medicine clinic staff work in collaboration with our strength and conditioning staff to provide priority availability to Delta Hockey Academy student-athletes. Our clinic offers physiotherapy, massage therapy, athletic therapy, chiropractic therapy and mental performance services. If you get injured in practice or in the gym, you can walk into the clinic and our team will help you through it. We have Athletic Therapists at all league games to help you through an injury in a game situation.

CONCUSSION BASELINE TESTING & RETURN TO PLAY SERVICES

All Delta Hockey Academy athletes complete a baseline concussion test with one of our physiotherapists or athletic therapists in September. Our medical practitioners keep baseline results on file in case they require it for reference should an athlete receive a concussion in the season.

If you do get a concussion in a game or practice, athletes report to the clinic for a concussion test with one of our medical practitioners. Once the practitioner determines the severity of a concussion, they provide instructions and information on next steps before an athlete will return to play. Our return-to-play guidelines include details on the extent that one can participate in class, gym and on-ice activities - all of which will be specific to one's concussion symptoms. All concussion services in our clinic are provided at no cost to our student-athletes.

FOURTH PILLAR OF DEVELOPMENT: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT INITIATIVES

CSSHL LIFE & CITIZENSHIP SERIES SEMINARS

The Canadian Sport School Hockey League works in partnership with Aimability to provide a series of educational seminars for student-athletes across our league. There are seven seminars total that focus on specific topics lead by experts in each of the respective fields of discussion: (1) Character Building and Respect in Sport, (2) Drugs, Alcohol and Vaping, (3) Racism and Diversity in Sport, (4) Sexual Misconduct and Harassment, (5) Mental Health and Performance, (6) Digital Ethics and Internet Safety, and (7) Gender Identity and Expression.

SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE PURPOSE SOCIETY

The Delta Hockey Academy has a tradition of running a holiday fundraiser across all of our teams each December. For the past few years we partnered with the Lower Mainland Purpose Society to support their Annual Holiday Hamper Program. After hearing great feedback from the families in our program, we have decided to make this initiative our annual holiday project.

Our academy supports eight families assigned to us by the Purpose Society. Each of our eight teams is assigned a family and each team works with their coaches and teammates to help create a memorable holiday experience for that family by providing food for the holidays and holiday gifts for all of the members of the assigned family. The packages are delivered to the Purpose Society and then distributed to the eight families we support each year.

DELTA ASSIST PROGRAMS

In addition to the initiative above, we also work with Delta Assist, a local non-profit that works to support children and families in our community. With Delta Assist we run toy and food drives with our academy or at our tournaments. Student-athletes and their families bring toys or non-perishable food items to support local families in our community.

COACH MENTORSHIP

Our coaching staff work with minor hockey associations to support with skill development sessions and coach mentorship. A selection of senior student-athletes also participate in coaching initiatives and serve as excellent role models for young hockey players in our community.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

We are so proud to celebrate the successes of our alumni beyond the Delta Hockey Academy. With achievements on the national stage, in the NHL, in collegiate hockey, and in various professional spheres, we work with our student-athletes to help them achieve their goals and continue to watch their growth as fans! Check out some of our notable alumni on our website:

ALUMNI VISITS

Past alumni return to the rink in the off season and continue to train with our coaches on the ice and in the gym. Our current student-athletes have the opportunity to witness the training routines of professional and national-level athletes to see what it takes to excel at the next level. A selection of our alumni also attend our annual year-end banquet and join us for our annual skills competition.

WHAT DO PROGRAM FEES INCLUDE?

We offer a full-service program from September through June. Tuition includes the following:

  • Paid professional coaches (7-month in-season league play plus 3-month post-season skill development)
  • Paid strength & conditioning coaches (10-month training program)
  • 3 on-ice 1hr 15min team practices per week (September – March)
  • 1 on-ice 1hr 15min skills practice per week for players (September – June)
  • 1 on-ice 1hr goalie practice per week for goalies (September – March)
  • 5 off-ice 45min – 1hr training sessions per week (September – June)
  • 1 class at the rink everyday instructed by NDSS teachers (September – June)
  • 2 classes at the school everyday instructed by NDSS teachers (September – June)
  • Access to our strength & conditioning app
  • Full hockey uniform including helmets, gloves, socks & pant shells
  • Full training uniform including training shorts, training shirt & hoodie
  • Daily bus transportation from Langley, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey, Ladner and Richmond to Planet Ice Delta
  • Daily transportation from Planet Ice Delta to North Delta Secondary
  • Tournament transportation fees (flights and buses)
  • Hotel fees
  • Meals on the road
  • Athletic Therapist at all league games
  • Concussion baseline testing & concussion return-to-play treatments guided by our Head Physiotherapist
  • Special discounts on Warrior sticks
  • Special discounts on hockey equipment from Cyclone Taylor Sports
  • Special discounts on all BioSteel products ordered online
  • Guidance & leadership coaching from our Professional Leadership Coach
  • Participate in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL)

Do you have questions about our program? Reach out to us at info@deltawildhockeygroup.com

For sample weekly schedules and bus schedules, continue scrolling!

SAMPLE WEEKLY SCHEDULES

The following images include sample schedules for U18 Prep, U18 Female Prep, U17 Female Prep and U15 Varsity. These schedules are followed from the beginning of September through to the end of March. When we shift into spring development season from April to June, there is more emphasis on Strength & Conditioning and less time spent on the ice. If you would like to see a schedule for specific team and grade, please visit the Current Students page on our website (you'll need to scroll down to find the appropriate team and grade).

BUS TRANSPORTATION

For the 2023/2024 season, our bus transportation service will pick up and drop off student-athletes from Langley, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey, Ladner and Richmond. The following schedule includes a sample of the bus schedule for the 2022/2023 school year (note: this schedule does not include the new stops in Burnaby and Coquitlam). Our bus service also includes midday shuttles from Planet Ice Delta to North Delta Secondary School.