Programs

SUMMARY INFORMATION

An Overview

The final details for the 2009 Buffalo
Prospects Hockey Spring program
are being put together.

We are celebrating 10 successful
years as we enter our 11th season,
and a special anniversary logo will
be featured on the 2009 jerseys.

We will be adding a 2002 birth year
team to our Tournament Teams and
will continue to offer 4-5 Pure
Development groups to players of
various levels.

The program will retain its three
parts for all Tournament Teams and
Pure Development Groups:

(1) The very valuable individual &
specialized skills clinics. We continue
to believe that it is necessary to
devote part of these sessions to
power skating and edge work.

(2) The highly popular and
productive 3v3 (4v4) games. These
provide an opportunity for players to
compete against each other and
practice their individual skills.

(3) Team practices, which emphasize
development for all players and
enable tournament bound players to
compete even better at tournaments.

Initial evaluations for the Spring
2009 program will be held on
January 1, 2009, at The Amherst
Pepsi Center. The second and final
evaluations will be held on the
President's Day School Holiday:
February 16, 2009.

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Value

For what we are offering, there is not
a better value to be found anywhere
(the entire Prospects program costs
30-50% less than a week at hockey
school!).

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Growth

Our program has grown from 30 to
40 to 150 to 400+ players over the
last 10 years. We have positively
affected over 1,500 local players
Over the last three years, many of
our teams had between 40 and 60
players trying out for the 27
available tournament team slots. In
2008, we added the Pure
Development groups because of the
demand to provide more players of
various levels with the same quality
development program (but no
tournament competition).

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Evaluation Information

Cost is $10. Print off Form that can
be found under "Waiver" button at
home page. Wear a jersey with your
last name on it. Bring copy of your
birth certificate and be prepared to
leave it along with the program fee of
$450 ($225 minimum deposit
required to reserve your spot if you
are asked to be a core or alternate
player that day or if you sign up for
the Pure Development program.
The second and final payment
needs to be made by or at the
second evaluation.)

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"Release" Not Applicable

This summer program is designed to
supplement, not compete with or
conflict with, your winter team.

Hence, a "release" is not necessary.

FAQ's

What does the program
consist of?

About 12 weeks of twice-a-week
sessions devoted to team systems,
individual skills, and 3v3
competitive inter-squad games.
We typically skate once on the
weekend (Sat or Sun) and then
once during the week (Mon, Tue,
Wed, or Thu). We also take birth
year tournament teams to between
2 and 4 skill-appropriate
tournaments.

Who does the instruction?

The team sessions are done by
the coaching staff and the
individual skills are done by a set
of highly qualified guest instructors
including NCAA, NHL, OHL, and
Prep School Coaches. For Pure
Development groups, the team
sessions are done by various
Buffalo Prospects coaches and
instructors. Individual skills are
done by the same set of highly
qualified guest instructors.

What else do the birth year
coaches do?

They oversee the tournament
teams at the tournaments, conduct
the team practice sessions, and
assist at the individual skill
sessions.

When will the birth year
tournament team coaches be
announced?

Most of the tournament team
coaches will be announced before
the end of the calendar year. We
have many qualified candidates at
each year. Surely, all coaching
assignments will be completed
after the final evaluation in
February.

How many players will be asked
to commit to the tournament
team program at the first
evaluation?

For tournament teams, we will nail
down between 15 and 20 of the 27
slots at the first evaluation (24
skaters and 3 goalies). At the
conclusion of the evaluation, a list
of selected players will be posted.
The final slots will be filled at the
final evaluation. If you are not
selected, you will be strongly
encouraged to either come back to
the second/final evaluation OR to
sign up for the Pure Development
Program. Spots for the Pure
Development Program are limited
and will fill quickly.

When will the determination as
to who is a core tournament
player and who is an alternate
be made?

The core and alternate distinctions
will be made by the end of the
second team practice at the latest.

What do the tournaments cost?

Generally speaking, the per player
tournament fee for tournament
players is approximately $65 (for
4-5 games). Tournaments that
have premier pricing will require
higher per player costs.

Will the alternates play any
tournaments?

We cannot promise that any of the
alternates will be able to play in
the tournaments. Alternates will
benefit from all of the development
aspects of the program and the
opportunity to play with and
against the best local players.

When does the program start
and end?

First sessions are scheduled
around the third week of March,
and the program ends about the
third week in June.

What if I have the occasional
conflict with lacrosse, baseball,
etc?

Players are bound to miss some of
the sessions. We understand
many of these athletes excel in
other sports, too.

Are the evaluations
100% right on?

We have set everything up to do
our best (putting top flight
instructors on the ice, having
multiple knowledgeable evaluators
in the stands, etc.). When picking
such a large amount of players, we
are sure to make some mistakes. If
there was a magic wand to wave
over each kid, we would!

How will we know where we
stand at the end of the first
evaluation?

A list of names will be posted with
tournament team players who
should leave their registration
form, program payment, and birth
certificate. Those not on the list
are welcome to a) ask a staffer (in
Buffalo Prospects Jackets) where
they stand, b) come to the next
evaluation, c) sign up for the Pure
Development program.

DETAILED INFORMATION

The Purpose

The purpose of this program for our
Tournament Teams is to provide a
select group of committed, skilled
players (and their parents) with an
innovative set of development activities
right in our own backyard that cannot
be acquired anywhere else. The
purpose of this program for our Pure
Development Groups is to provide a
variety of skill level players (and their
parents) with this same set of
development activities, but without the
tournament competition.

It is also fueled by a deep desire on
the part of the instructors, coaches,
and managers to give back to the
sport that has provided them with
invaluable life lessons, lessons that
they are applying to their work - in and
out of the game of hockey - every day.

Perhaps the greatest of these lessons
is the creation of a dream and the
pursuit of it. Many of us who are
involved in this program were told we
were "too small" or "not smart enough"
or "not well enough connected" to
"make it".

Nevertheless, with the help of many,
we forged on. And, the results speak
for themselves. Now, our passion is to
help others pursue excellence in this
game and in their personal lives.

This passion must have been apparent
to groups of parents at a bunch of
birth years who, after seeing what we
were doing with 88' and 90' teams for
several summers, asked us to start
teams at different birth years so their
sons could benefit from the program.
We didn't (and still don't) feel pressure
to run teams at any given year, so we
said we'd give it a whirl - and, if there
was sufficient interest, we'd go forward.
Next thing we knew for the summer of
2002, we had 7 teams up and running.
We have added a few new ingredients
(people, programs) to the mixture for
the summer of 2003, and we are more
convinced than ever that we have the
best recipe for successful player
development.

Details

Teams Birth year tournament teams
will consist of a pool of 27 players per
birth year to draw from. For our 2009
teams, there will be 21 core players
(11F, 7D, 3G) and 6 alternates.
Having 27 players involved at each
birth year will insure a) that the clinic
ice will be up tempo and b) the 3 on 3
games will have 12 skaters and 1.5
goalies per side, and c) that the teams
going to the tournaments will not be
short handed. Pure Development
Groups may be a single birth year or
two combined birth years consisting of
27 skaters and 3 goalies.

Team Skills Clinics (8 sessions): will
focus on individual skating & skills and
some team concepts. They will be
jointly run by our staff instructors along
with your birth year coaches.

Individual Skills Clinics (5 sessions):
will focus on individual skating and
skills. They will be run by our guest
instructors. Many of these people
coach at the college or junior level.
The same concepts will be presented
across all birth years. Each clinic will
feature a power skating & edge work
component followed by a specialized
topic for the day. The specialized
topics may include:

Clinic - Checking & Physical Play
Clinic - Puck Handling
Clinic - Shooting & Scoring
Clinic - Shooting & Scoring
Clinic - Passing
Clinic - Other

3 v 3 games (7 sessions): will consist
of two 25 minute halves. Buffalo
Prospects teams and Pure
Development groups will be divided
into 2 teams (Team Black/Team Red).
Purpose is creativity and skill
development. Buzzer blows every 1
minute for automatic line changes.
Certified referee. No check for all
levels. Severe penalties for any
inappropriate behavior. Before each
3v3 game, we will run a high-tempo 20
minute instructional session focusing
on skating, individual skills, or team
systems.

Tournaments (2 or 3 per tournament
team) will be in Canada, Rochester,
and/or Buffalo. The tournaments will
probably require missing at least part
of a school day. Individual teams may
go to one additional tournament.

Coaches   Birth year coaches will be
selected by and serve at the discretion
of the Board. They will be on the ice
for all clinics, coach the 3 on 3 games,
and coach the tournament games.
Most of the coaches have advanced
USA Hockey certifications and are
screened by the Board. They will be
provided with a set of recommended
operating guidelines and principles. If
it is in the interest of a given team,
funds may be used to secure the
services of a paid coach or staff.

Insurance   Players must have
personal, family insurance that is in
effect for the US and Canada to cover
injuries. Due to insurance issues, "pay
as you go" players will not be permitted.

Absences With other sports and
family activities in the summer,
absences are inevitable. The schedule
has been designed with the
expectation that everyone will not be
able to make every event. And that's
ok. However, we are unable to provide
make-up sessions or allow players to
skate with other groups.

Cost The cost for the development
program (20 sessions) is $450. This
includes ice, instruction, jerseys,
socks, and other accessories. The
tournament fee will be approximately
$65 per tournament. Keep in mind that
these costs can be offset through a
variety of fundraising activities.