Buffalo Stars Full Season Midget Program: Midget Players and Parents: I am writing this to all of you so you fully understand what our intentions are with our Midget Full Season Program. This is not your normal AA hockey. Outside of WNY League Play, we participate in AAA competition. We operate this like a Junior Program. The players stay together on the road. They are not with mom and dad. They travel on the bus together and house in the hotel together. There may be some close trips that will not involve the team traveling or staying together but those will be few and far between. The idea of our program is to provide exposure to our players as well as prepare them for Juniors. Mom and Dad will be pretty much out of the picture when we are on the road. The team will travel, house and eat together. That is what we have set up. Games that we participate in have the sole purpose of exposing our players to the highest level of competition available. It will not be about winning and losing but rather about development and exposure. Participation in both the NJPHL and the EJEPL provide a top level of competitive hockey for the serious hockey player. Players also need to understand that they WILL NOT be allowed to play High School. Their sole hockey commitment will be to the Buffalo Stars U16 or U18 team....PERIOD. The Staffs will be paid. This will be a job for them. There will not be volunteer staff on this. Everyone who helps will be paid including the home game scorekeepers and timekeepers. Everyone is ultimately accountable to ME. Head Coaches are NON PARENT. I need you all to understand the direction these teams are taking so you fully understand where we are headed. It is a HUGE financial commitment you are making and you need to make sure this is the direction your son wants to take. Once the plunge is taken, he is in the pool for the duration. Pete Preteroti Make sure to visit the Buffalo Stars for daily updates at: buffalostars Stars Full Season Midget 2014-15 Full Season Plan Spring & Summer U16 Players will skate twice per week in April, May and June (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:45pm). U18 Players will skate once per week in April, May and June (Wednesdays at 7:45pm). Sessions are at Holiday Twin Rinks. Players will also be involved in off-ice training and weight room sessions during this time. Training Camp Training Camp begins in August for all 5 of our Midget Teams. Players will be on ice 3 times per week the entire month of August and will participate in both on ice and off-ice activities as well as spend time in the weight room. Training Camp will conclude with participation in the Annual Buffalo Stars Labor Day Weekend Tournament. Regular Season Full Season teams will participate in the WNYAHL, the NJPHL (National Junior Prospects Hockey League) and the EJEPL (Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League). These teams will practice 3 times per week and will have off-ice and classroom activities twice per week through early March 2015. Both Full Season teams will participate in a 65+ game schedule. Typical Practice Week Day 1 On Ice and Off-ice. On ice focus is on Skills. Day 2 On Ice and Video Day. On ice focus is on Systems. Day 3 On Ice and Off-ice. On ice focus is on Special Teams. Open Weight Room hours are available most days of the week. Buffalo Stars Full Season 16 & 18 Midget Pricing Schedule for 2014-2015 Buffalo Stars Full Season Hockey Fee Schedule: Total Pre Season & Regular Season Fee: $5250.00 Payable at Registration: $2250.00 Payable on May 30th: $1000.00 Payable on June 30th: $500.00 Payable on July 30th: $1000.00 Payable on August 30th: $500.00 Players who pay in full by May 30th will be given a $100 discount. Players not paid in full on August 30th may be dropped from the team. Apparel Package is separate and can is to be purchased ala carte by the players. This package includes: Home and Away Jerseys & Socks; Warm up Suit; Shorts & Tee Shirt; Pant Shells. Other items are available for purchase and are optional. Pre Season and Regular season fees cover: Spring/Summer; Training Camp Ice; Practice Ice; Home Game Ice and Operations; Bus and hotel for 7 trips; Showcase Fees; Practice Jerseys; Trainer Fees; Coaches Fees: etc… Should we qualify for the State Tournament, there will be an extra charge. Players must register on line with USA Hockey before they can participate with the Stars in any activity. USA Hockey Registration period begins April 1st. Players will submit proof of registration to the Stars prior to beginning participation. Players & Parents will be required to attend a Mandatory Orientation Meeting which will be held in June. The team will compete in a regular WNYAHL Tournament Bound League Schedule as well as a Full Showcase Schedule in the National Junior Prospects Hockey League and the Eastern Junior Elite Prospects League. This will give us an approximate 65 game schedule. Payment Plans other than what is listed above can be worked out with players on an individual basis. Refund Policy is as follows: *An amount of $1500 is not refundable after 3 business days from signing of the contract. *Once Training Camp begins on August 1st there is to be no refund for any reason. Injury is not a reason for refund unless the player can be replaced. Ten Tips for Midget/Junior aged players: 10. Be realistic- MOST junior players WILL NOT have the opportunity to play NCAA D1 hockey, so be practical when it comes to setting goals. If you are a Tier III player already out of high school, odds are you should be focusing on NCAA D3 schools or competitive ACHA D1/D2 programs. At the end of the day its about your education, and sometimes the ACHA may be a better fit. 9. Plan for the future- At the beginning of the season do some research, and compile a list of 3-5 colleges you would like attend following your junior career. Make it your goal to contact these schools and their coaches about recruiting skates and campus visits. 8. Eat healthy- Be sure to balance your diet the best as you can. That means waking up in the morning for breakfast, keeping hydrated, and staying away from the junk food. The average team will have 3 to 4 practices per week, and 2 to 3 games per weekend. You will burn a massive amount of calories day in and day out. Eat your pre game meal 3 to 5 hours before game time, and try to stick with carbohydrates including pasta, rice, granola bars, and bagels. 7. Off season training- The summer is important for staying in shape and this is when a majority of tryout camps and showcases take place. Try to stay on the ice 2 to 3 times per week, and visit the gym 2 to 3 times per week as well. Always incorporate cardio into your workout, and dont be afraid to try circuit training. Nobody wants to be the guy sucking wind at tryout camps. 6. Junior tryout camps- Be selective when it comes to attending open camps and showcases during the summer months. If you plan on attending open tryout camps make sure the coaches know who you are, and try to figure out the number of open roster spots. Many players are overlooked simply because the coaches do not know who they are. 5. Obey your billets- Housing families are making a sacrifice by opening up their homes for you to live in. Often times they are only compensated enough to cover utilities and food, therefore no profit is made. Abide by the house rules and any other team rules that exist. Make an attempt to socialize with your family so that you can both feel comfortable and open. Its also not a good idea to fraternize with a billet sister. 4. Know your coach- Make sure you and your coach are always on the same page. Its a good idea to meet briefly once every few weeks to evaluate your overall standing on the team. This is also a time to speak about college opportunities and things to improve on. This is especially important for players who continually are in and out of the lineup. 3. Respect your coach- The key to moving onto higher levels starts with references, and having a good relationship with your coach can help you achieve your goals of moving up. Your coach is usually your best judge of ability and potential. If you respect your coach, he will usually respect you by becoming a reliable reference. College coaches want to hear about work ethic, character, and attitude. 2. Keep your head in the books- Aside from the high school aged players, its recommend for graduates to enroll part time in college level courses. 1 to 2 classes (3 to 6 SH) can benefit you in the long run. Players who age out create a gap of 1 to 3 years out of school, and adjusting to the college life after that long can be difficult. Online courses through area community colleges are becoming more popular among players. Knocking some general education course out of the way during juniors makes the transition easier. As long you dont enroll as a full time student (12 SH), and stay under 24 SH all together you will not lose eligibility for the NCAA. 1. Cherish the moment- You only get to live the dream for a short amount of time, so soak up the moment as much as you can. This is a time in your life where everything revolves around hockey, and you have little responsibility. Not everybody is blessed with the opportunity to play juniors. Visit the Buffalo Stars on line at: buffalostars SUCCESS IS A MARATHON: ONE SHIFT AT A TIME
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 20:46:10 +0000