Blog

STM Open House

February 9 by Kelvin Cech

Interested in joining the hockey academy at St. Thomas More? Looking for more information and a first-hand view of the school? Eager to meet the bright and talented instructors and teachers? Then the STM Open House has you covered. On February 16th beginning at 7pm we will be holding our annual Open House and information session at the school, 9610 165 street in Edmonton, Alberta. The evening will commence in the gymnasium; afterwards you’ll have a chance to not only check out your prospective student-athlete’s classrooms, but both of our state-of-the-art fitness centres and the famous skating treadmill. Feel free to call or email us with any questions, or just show up on the 16th! We look forward to meeting you!

Navy Player of the Month: Jake Gauthier

February 9 by Kelvin Cech

KC: What’s your favourite part of coming to STM?
JG: The hockey academy. I can improve and play in better tiers.

KC: What’s your traditional game day routine?
JG: I drink some kind of fruit juice, yogurt to get prepared. I eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, it keeps me awake.

KC: What do you like to do on off days?
JG: I would play my xbox, we have an outdoor skating rink to go to. I go play dodgeball every Friday too.

KC: What’s your favourite food? Read more »

Air Force Player of the Month: Ryan Hughes

February 8 by Kelvin Cech

KC: What’s your favourite part of coming to STM?
RH: That you only have to do a half-day of school and then you get to go play hockey.

KC: What’s your traditional game day routine?
RH: Have an hour, half-hour snooze, I eat spaghetti, and then I listen to music in the car on the way to the game. Just thinking about the game the whole day.

KC: What do you like to do on off days? Read more »

Army Player of the Month: Tyree Harriott

February 7 by Kelvin Cech

KC: What’s your favourite part of coming to STM?
TH: The academy.

KC: Would you mind elaborating on that a little bit?
TH: It’s just fun, I get to do something that I love everyday, I get to improve on my skills. I’m not in class, I get to be on the ice in the afternoon.

KC: What’s your traditional game day routine?
TH: It depends if it’s on a weekday, just wake up and go to school, do what I have to do at school, go on the ice at school. Then I’d go home after, watch TV for a little bit, eat something, go to sleep, wake up, get ready and drive to the game. Read more »

Branden Troock Scores GWG In CHL Top Prospects Game

February 2 by Kelvin Cech

Branden Troock celebrates with Team Orr

Everyone here at STM is extremely proud of former student-athlete Branden Troock after he scored with 25 seconds left in the third period of the CHL’s Top Prospects game to give Team Orr the victory over Team Cherry. For good measure, Branden added an assist on his team’s first goal. A neck injury kept Branden out of the line-up all season last year, although he was able to help coach the STM Jr Oil Kings to a gold medal in a Canmore spring hockey tournament. To work his way back to this point, receiving the Jim Gregory Award as Team Orr’s player of the game, is obviously an impressive feat of dedication and hard work, both mentally and physically. The Seattle Thunderbirds right winger is sure to climb higher in the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting List as a result of his admirable return to playing on top of his strong showing in the Prospects Game. Check out an interview with Branden on NHL.com.

Team Air Force: A Day In The Life

February 2 by Kelvin Cech

A typical day in our group would consist of a lot of things, but the most important? Fun! Most days start out with some sort of a game, such as 3-puck, puck pirates or my personal fave: Tip-In. It’s the best. All these games get the players warmed up and encompass a variety of skills, including skating all over the ice in 3-puck, handling the puck while in motion in puck pirates, and competing in two-on-two battles in front of the net in Tip-In. The next stage in the session would depend on where we’re at in our curriculum; though more often than not we’re working on combining a variety of skills at a high tempo in order to get the blood flowing in addition to warming up the goalies. The warm-up flow drills are challenging, and work on very specific aspects designed to simultaneously improve balance, coordination, speed and of course, confidence, both with the puck and without it. We do a lot of work on our edges while giving and receiving passes, so it takes a lot of focus to ensure our passing is in tip-top shape. Read more »

STM Alberta Cup Prep Camp

January 12 by Kelvin Cech

The 2012 Alberta Cup takes place April 25th-29th in Lethbridge, AB. Players born in 1997 compete for positions on eight teams across the province for the chance to represent their zone at the tournament. The Alberta Cup is the first step for many players before they compete for positions in the U-16 camp, Team Pacific, and for a very select few, the World Junior program with Hockey Canada. Cracking one of the Alberta Cup teams is a very impressive feat and a key step toward the 2012 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. STM is holding an AB Cup prep camp, delivered by actual coaches in the tournament, to help players understand the difficult challenge that awaits them during their zone tryouts. Contact Wade Burt at STM or check out more information here.

2012 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft

December 22 by Kelvin Cech

Cole Gammer

This is the second in a special series of interviews with players eligible for the 2012 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Players born in 1997 are able to be drafted by any team in the WHL. This is a big year for these players, competing in their second year of bantam hockey as well as looking forward to the exciting and nerve-wracking possibility of being selected. We have several student-athletes playing Bantam AAA this season looking forward to the selection process.
Cole Gammer plays centre and right wing for the CAC Bantam AAA team.

Kelvin C: The 2012 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft is approaching this spring, what are your thoughts on the possibility of being selected? Read more »

Updated! The STM Christmas Cup

December 15 by Kelvin Cech

Team Cech Wins! Honest!

Update! Both Team Cech Teams win! The junior and senior teams took gold! For real! The time of year has come for families to gather around the fire, turn on the television and take in the very best that the sport of hockey has to offer. Every holiday season one junior (high) hockey tournament brings nations together in an effort to crown a champion of the game. Our patriotic hearts are awoken the moment the puck drops and countries take notice of their brightly rising stars.Yes, it’s time for the ~~World Junior Championship~~ STM Christmas Cup. I was fortunate enough to catch up with the commissioner and visionary behind this annual event, though due to his apparent shyness, we’ll refer to him as K. Kringle. Ok that’s a bit too obvious, let’s call him S. Claus.

KC: Where did the idea for such an inspiring tournament originate?
SC: Well sir, I’ll answer your questions as soon as I finish building this batch of ginger bread houses (he meant eating, not building -ed.). Read more »

Player of the Month: Robbie Yamada

December 15 by Kelvin Cech

Robbie Yamada likes to talk. About himself, the weather, politics, it doesn’t matter, Robbie Y is probably talking. I heard he once carried on an entire conversation in his sleep, and he argued both sides of the debate. Robbie is so smart that he was actually able to win the argument.

KC: What’s your favourite part of coming to STM?
RY: The people in the academy and the friends you make. Playing hockey and doing fitness after all your classes. I also like just getting better and improving my skills.

KC: What’s your traditional game day routine?
RY: I usually relax for a bit and go outside and stickhandle and take some shots. And then eat a few hours before. At the rink, change into my warm up gear, and a light run and then stretch.

KC: What do you like to do on off days? Read more »