Player Advancement

The goal of Thunder Hockey is to assist players in developing their skills necessary to advance to the next level. We make every effort to provide Thunder athletes with opportunities to achieve their academic and athletic goals throughout high school and college.

Click here for more information contained in this Player Advancement section. 





Valerie Krupp - Director of Player Advancement

Valerie provides education to parents and players about the continuing levels of hockey, including: college, junior, midget, prep school, USA Hockey Festivals and the National Team Development Program.  Since 2005, she built a network of contacts including top programs, coaches, scouts, NCAA Division I schools, Prep schools, Junior teams and leagues.  Educates families to best assist and allow their player to succeed with reasonable expectations for the player’s age and ability level. She will meet with families to provide individual counseling using a team approach to help parents make educated decisions about the next step and how to best prepare a player to reach that player’s full potential.

Phone: 404-354-2005 
Email: Valerie@TotalPackageHockey.com 
 

Brandon Walker - Consultant, Player Advancement

 

Originally from Duncan, British Columbia, Walker comes to the Thunder organization as an extension of his current job as Hockey Operations Manager with the Nashville Predators. In that position, Walker is responsible for the teams draft preparation and its annual conditioning camp. Walker also works closely with the teams scouting and coaching staffs as well as its general manager and assistant general manager with free agency, league transactions and salary cap. Prior to joining the Predators, Walker was with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs organization as Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting and was part of two Western Professional Hockey League championship teams. 

 

While in Canada, Walker played to the junior level in British Columbia and was an on-ice official in the Western Hockey League and the British Columbia Hockey League. His 15-years playing experience also led him to coaching at several hockey schools and development camp, including the world-renowned Okanagan Hockey School in Penticton, British Columbia. 

 

Currently, Walker is the coach of Ravenwood High School in Nashville, the 2006 GNASH champions. He is also the program director of Elite Edge Hockey Showcase, which has become the premier development camp for top high school age players in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama.

 

Some of Brandon’s responsibilities will include:

- Provide player evaluations and reviews for Thunder Hockey

- Conduct player/family interviews to determine family goals, needs and provide feedback

- Provide a player profile template and maintain player data on file for recruits, coaches and teams interested in Thunder Hockey Players

- Be a mentor and positive leader, while providing unbiased feedback for players and parents

- Work and meet with coaches, providing them with a copy of evaluations, feedback and notes

- Provide career path and brief info packet to each player and family

- Create network and build on existing relationships with NTDP, USHL, NAHL, Junior B and Prep School coaches, managers and team contacts