Re: A Message From Your Development Director – Michael Sonsogno
Members,
Thank you again for being a member of the NHGHA for the 2024-25 season. We have a lot of excitement in the rinks as the season begins and it has been a pleasure meeting some of you both on and off the ice. As we kick off the season, I wanted to provide some information related to our development plans for the year and how you and your athletes can get involved!
As an introduction to myself, I have played at the AAA/Jr.A and University level and more recently coached and developed athletes of all levels up to AAA. My coaching style is efficient, performance driven and organized which allows me to develop players, maximizing both team and individual goals. I have a deep level drive and passion for hockey that when paired with individuals who share the same passion, equates to a successful development model. I look forward to working with your athletes over the coming years.
In addition to myself, our organization has begun piecing together a lineup of development professionals that are thrilled to work with our athletes alongside our twisters’ coaches for the coming season. These instructors include: Marco Conte, Victoria Bach, Jared Lockhurst (G), Hannah Miller (G), Laurier Golden Hawks Goaltenders (G) and more. We are constantly looking at bringing more high-performance trainers throughout the year and will keep you updated as they come.
This season our organization has allocated over 50 hours of development specific ice that will be Sunday evenings at Sherwood Rec. Center in Milton. All sessions will take place from 6:30 – 8:30PM and information on specific dates and age groups will be posted and updated on the Player Development tab of our website. We are looking to provide sessions for all age groups and skill levels throughout the year, so stay up to date with the information so that you don’t miss the opportunity.
Our Development Objectives for the 2024/5 NHGHA season are as follows:
• To create a Safe and Positive Playing Environment for our athletes!
• To develop our athletes with a focus on high performance, and improvement of both individual and team skills.
• To have our athletes demonstrate personal growth and personal ownership for fun, fitness & skill development.
• To have our athletes acquire knowledge and acceptance of game and team rules.
• To help our athletes develop social skills and leadership qualities that will extend to other areas of their lives.
• To provide our members and athletes with a top level hockey experience for this season and future seasons with a continued focus on development.
In an effort to make this year’s development a success, we have released the sign up for development sessions out to October 13th currently and will be releasing these sessions moving forward 4-5 weeks in advance to give our members the best opportunity to secure a spot! Spaces are limited and vary with each clinic, so please do your best to proactively register to ensure your athlete has a spot in our upcoming sessions.
All of our sessions are available via RAMP and the link for registration can be found under the Player Development tab on our website. If you have any issues with registrations, you are welcome to reach out to me or a member of the NHGHA team to help find a solution.
Each session has a specific focus which follows an overall development plan which encompasses Hockey Canada’s model for development. There are sessions that cover all positions and skill sets, with specific focus and small group clinics for shooting, goalies, and defensive/offensive skills.
I am super excited to be around the rinks for another season and thank you in advance for trusting in me and our organization to provide the best opportunities for our athletes. If at any point you would like to provide feedback or have a question, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Have an amazing season and stay tuned to the website and our Instagram page for more exciting development updates!
Regards,
Michael Sonsogno
NHGHA Director Of Development