- Elite on-ice coaching and instruction
- Hockey specific off-ice training
- Hockey specific classroom instruction (nutrition, sports psychology, opportunities and paths for player advancement)
As the success and the reputation of the Spring and Summer programs grew, TPH attracted players from across the South. Many of the parents and players that participated in these programs asked the TPH staff and coaches to extend the TPH skill development approach to a year round program. These parents, along with the staff and coaches from TPH then contributed significant resources - both volunteer hours and financial contributions – to start Thunder Hockey.
Thunder Hockey was incorporated as an Alabama non-profit corporation in 2004 and was first approved by the Southern Affiliate of USA Hockey to field Tier I teams in the 2004-2005 season.
Three teams represented Thunder Hockey in the inaugural season, playing an independent schedule at the 11U (1993 birth year), 13U (1991 birth year), and 14U (1990 birth year) age classifications. In that first year of competition, the 1990 team (14U) captured the District Championship and qualified for Nationals where they advanced to the Quarter Finals.
The mission and goal of Thunder Hockey was solidified that inaugural season – to provide talented student-athletes from a non-traditional hockey market with unparalleled coaching and instruction, on-ice and off-ice training focused on skill development, a high practice to game ratio, and a schedule of elite competition. This formula was well received by players and parents – and most importantly it was a success: the level of play improved significantly in the course of the season. In the following summer, seven Thunder players were invited to participate in National Select Camps.
The commitment to provide excellent coaching was part of the program from day one. The inaugural coaching staff included Jayson More, Danny Geoffrion , Gus Saponari, Uwe Krupp, Brian Kelly, Steve Milosveski, Brian McGregor, Ryan McCormack, and Nathan Bowen. Three of the nine had NHL playing experience, three had NCAA Division I playing experience, and one had NCAA Division III playing experience. All had significant coaching experience and today, five of those original nine coaches remain active in the program.
In the 2006-2007 playing season, the Thunder 16U team – which included many of the 1990 birth year players from the inaugural season – won the District Championship and advanced to the National Tournament. Because Thunder Hockey did not field an 18U team the following year, 2006-2007 was the 1990 birth year players’ “senior” year, making them the first birth year to graduate from Thunder Hockey.
Many of those players are playing at advanced levels of hockey today. Most notably, Vinny Saponari played for the NTDP program in Ann Arbor, was drafted in the fourth round of the NHL draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, and is playing NCAA Division I hockey this season for Boston University. With such a young group of alumni, we look forward to seeing more and more of them in NCAA Division I and in the NHL Draft.
Organization
At the conclusion of the 2005-2006 playing season, SIHA Foundation, Inc. of Duluth, Georgia entered into an agreement to provide the finances for Thunder Hockey. The SIHA Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation established in 2000 and incorporated in Georgia. The SIHA Foundation’s mission is to promote and financially support youth development and recreational programs, specifically those associated with ice hockey. A copy of the 501(c)(3) designation letter from the IRS is provided.
This agreement extended federal 501(c)(3) non-profit status to the Thunder Hockey program. It also established independent financial controls for Thunder Hockey. All Thunder Hockey program receipts (fees, donations, contributions, and sponsorships) are deposited in the SIHA Foundation account. All Thunder Hockey expenses are disbursed from the SIHA Foundation account.
Originally based in Huntsville, today Thunder Hockey operates in Atlanta, Nashville, Huntsville and Knoxville as Tier I hockey division of the SIHA Foundation, Inc.
The Multi-City Model
Thunder Hockey continues to attract players from across the Southern Affiliate. Approximately 90% of players on 2008-2009 teams are from the Southern Affiliate. An additional 5% are from within the Southeast District.
One of the key principles in the start-up of Thunder Hockey was to minimize, even eliminate if possible, the need for children in their early teens to move away from home and billet in order to play hockey in the South. As an alternative to relocation and billeting, Thunder Hockey implemented a “Multi-City Model” from the very beginning. Starting with the inaugural season, Thunder Hockey built a strong presence in the three largest markets in the affiliate. Based on the 2007-2008 season (see the table on the following page), Atlanta, Nashville, and Huntsville combine to represent 59.6% of the boys youth registrations in the Southern Affiliate. In the 2008-2009 season, Knoxville – the 4th largest market in the affiliate – was added.
Currently, Thunder Hockey runs parallel weekday programs in each of these three four cities. The program includes on-ice and off-ice training led by Thunder’s most experienced coaches. Since much of the on-ice training is skill based development, age groups are combined. In Atlanta and Nashville for example, 11U, 12U, and 13U players train together while 14U and 16U players train together. CLICK HERE for information on Thunder's primary training facility's in each major market.
The key to the success of Thunder Hockey’s “Multi-City Model” is the same as for the overall program – provide excellent coaching and instruction and focus on skill development. In designing the weekday training, much attention is given to making sure the highest quality coaches are the most utilized. The table to the left indicates the assignment of coaches to the “Multi-City Model”.
During the competitive season, players are brought together on weekends for games or tournaments. During the training season and at least once each month during the competitive season, players are brought together in one of our principal cities for “High Performance Weekends” - a concentrated training camp style experience. High Performance Weekends average approximately 4-6 hours of on-ice practice plus additional off-ice training, video analysis, classroom style instruction and team building. In one of the lowest density hockey populations in the nation, the combination of the “Multi-City Model” and “High Performance Weekends” have allowed Thunder Hockey to maintain high practice to game ratios without mandatory billet or relocation policies for players in their early teens.
