MINNESOTA ELITE HOCKEY

2024 Season

2014, 2013, & 2012

PROGRAM GRID

Our unique training grid will provide athletes with the newest hockey training combined with today’s technology to compete at the highest level. Professional coaching, specialty-individualized training, dry-land training, and competitive tournaments are the pillars of our program. Athletes will have the opportunity to compete, be challenged, and be mentored by developing high-caliber athletes through age-appropriate and age-specific modern skill development and leadership training.

 Part of Minnesota Elite’s philosophy is that the best competition challenges players to be their best. The underlying principle in this belief is that highly skilled players in competition with others of similar skills can learn more about teamwork and the game of hockey as a result of their coaches developing players into a cohesive team that can all execute and understand at the same level. Minnesota Elite’s coaches stress individual skill sets, in-game drills, systems development, modern training, technology, and teamwork.

 BEGIN YOUR REIGN

 We are working to build a set of tools for each player that will strengthen their game and maximize their in-game effectiveness. This skill set will define a player as they progress in their career and will ultimately decide how far they will go in the game of hockey. They are building their “brand.” They are forming their own dynasty as a hockey player. This year is just the beginning of the quest to achieve their goals.

 AAA PROGRAM

We provide our athletes with professional coaching and training, expert instruction, specialty-individualized training, in-game positioning drills, on-ice real-time video analysis, and AAA elite tournaments. Our goal is to provide players with all the necessary tools and skills to make it to the next level.

BIRTH YEARS. Boys - 2014, 2013, & 2012. Girls - 12U (2012 & 2011)

ROSTER LIMIT. The rosters are limited to 17 players (15 skaters and 2 goalies) per team.

 DATES. The 2024 season will start in early April and through late August 2024. There will be a five-week break during the months of June and July.

• 1st half – Early April through mid-June 2024

• 2nd half – Late July through late August 2024

PRACTICE RINK LOCATIONS.

• Boys - 2014, 2013, 2012 at Champlin Ice Forum - 12165 Ensign Ave N, Champlin, MN 55316

• Girls - 12U at Super Rink, Fogerty, TCO, etc.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE. Teams will have 2 (1hr) practices twice during the weekday evenings. Each team will have a total of 30 practices. The 2024 practice schedule will be posted around Feb 1, 2024.

• 1st half – April through June 2024 (20 practices)

• 2nd half – July through August 2024 (10 practices)

TOURNAMENTS. Minnesota Elite Hockey's 2024 tournaments are listed below: All Boy’s/Girl’s tournaments are TBD.

• Independent Classic AAA - May 19-21, 2024.

• Summer Showdown - June 9-11, 2024.

• International Cup AAA - August 4-6, 2024.

• Easton AAA Cup - August 18-20, 2024.

• Summer Finale AAA - August 25-27, 2024.

PRACTICES. High tempo practices to continue to develop high-performance skating and skill sets and advanced team play strategies (job roles and positioning). We will aim to develop your athlete in all areas of the game. All athletes will be pushed and expected to perform on-ice drills at game speed with game intensity. On-ice goalie training will also be included during each session. Skills-specific techniques and reaction training will be the focus while situational and strategic conversations will be utilized during the in-game drills while receiving shots.

PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY STAFF. ELITE coaching will be provided. The focus will be on developing elite hockey players and providing a path to higher levels of hockey. We will be using the most up-to-date hockey training techniques and tools combined with technology teaching (real-time on-ice video break-down). Modern on-ice training to be led by Josh Kern and coaching staff.

ON-ICE INSTRUCTION. At the beginning of every practice, we will primarily focus on individual skill sets specifically designed for your skill level. Athletes will study and execute multiple techniques and then apply them to an in-game situational drill. We will teach your athlete techniques that will transfer over to their gameplay. Players must be allowed to work on the skills they are developing in a game situation. This is an area where video analysis makes a big difference in training athletes.

• Individual Skill Sets: Powerskating mechanics, stickhandling, dekes, puck protection, and shooting

 ON-ICE POSITIONING. We will focus on team position concepts. Players will study and execute team play strategies for their specific job roles.

• Team Positioning:

o   Breakouts – Right-Up, D to D, Reverse

o   Face-offs – D-Zone, N-Zone, O-Zone

o   D-Zone Coverage – Collapsing, Tight Point, Staggered

o   N-Zone Breakouts – Right-Up, D to D, Reverse

o   N-Zone Forechecks – 1-2-2 Red, 1-2-2 Blue, 1-3-1

o   O-Zone Forechecks – 1-2-2 Passive, 1-2-2 Aggressive, 2-3 Lock

o   O-zone Cycling – 1 Man Cycle, 2 Man Cycle, Scissors

o   Penalty Kill – Diamond, Passive Box, Aggressive Box

o   Power Play – Overload, Umbrella, Shooting

MINNESOTA ELITE COMMITMENT FOR 2024. The Minnesota Elite program expects a high level of commitment. Without this commitment level, we will not achieve our goals. All practices are mandatory unless you are out of town due to a holiday. Each player will have six excused practices. These excused practices can be used at any time except the two practices before a tournament. If a player misses additional practices, he will sit out one period for each practice missed in the next tournament. With the excused practices, there will be enough flexibility for families without compromising the team’s overall development process. Minnesota Elite players may not participate in any other local or out-of-town tournaments or games with any other AAA teams without the consent of their coach.

UNIFORMS/APPAREL. Uniforms are included in the program fee and will be provided. This includes game jerseys and socks and practice jerseys. Additional apparel items (gloves, bags, t-shirts, hats, helmet stickers, vehicle stickers, jackets, pants, etc.) may be purchased.

 CONTACT INFORMATION. Josh Kern 612.666.3930 / josh@kernhockey.com