The Formula
For Their
Now entering their 12th season, the Tampa Bay Juniors Hockey Club
remains one of Florida’s top Junior hockey programs. Throughout the
seasons, the Tampa Bay coaching staff has been devoted to developing
talented players to one day take positions on collegiate rosters, and – for
the few fortunate ones – the opportunity to play in the NHL.
An Appetite for Success
Looking back, the Tampa Bay Juniors have a lot to be proud of this season.
All year long, both on and off the ice, the Elite and Premier teams worked
hard, and showed tremendous improvement.
The Elite team closed out the 2018-19 regular season in February with a
first place victory in the Florida division. Then in March, they went on to
the USPHL National Championship Game. Additionally, the Premier team
finished third in the Florida division.
Although they made great efforts this season, the Tampa Bay Juniors are
hungry for more, and are shooting to move up even higher in the USPHL
rankings next year – maybe even taking it all the way. The program’s
coaching staff will condition their teams for success with a special formula
on which the entire program is based upon.
The Pursuit of Greatness
Over the years, the Tampa Bay training and coaching staff has created a
philosophy that combines all aspects of a player: who they are on the ice,
who they are as a member of the team, and who they are as a member of
their community to represent “one self, one team, and one community.”
They know that in order to achieve the pursuit of something great, you must
first build the individual from within.
For the Tampa Bay Juniors, there is so much more to hockey than simply
being a hockey player. The coaches use an inside-out approach to player
development that implements a set of core values and beliefs in their
training system. One of the main goals of which is for players to pursue
greatness in something larger than themselves.
It is with this philosophy that club owner Brett Strot and Head Coach Garrett
Strot, aims to unlock each players’ potential and challenge the status quo.
Aside from breaking records and playing impressive seasons, Strot says
the Tampa Bay Juniors ultimately strive to develop “PRIDE on the ICE”,
which consists of:
“Our goal is to develop players’ natural instincts of the game, rather than
relying totally on a certain system. Although structure is needed, our belief
is that the best players are able to play creatively within a system, positively
impacting the team,” according to the program’s mission statement.
For 12 years, those involved with the program have pursued this mission
to develop strong, talented hockey players and well-rounded individuals.
Since their establishment, the Tampa Bay Juniors have sent numerous
players on to compete with Division I teams across the country, including
Harvard, Cornell, Lake Superior State, Providence and Air Force. Of those
players, two have made it all the way up the ranks to the NHL.
The first of which is Jacksonville-native Brian Ferlin who was drafted by the
Boston Bruins in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft in 2011. Ferlin was
part of the team from 2008-09 before attending Cornell and moving on to
the NHL. He currently plays for the Bakersfield Condors, an AHL affiliate of
the Edmonton Oilers, as a right wing.
Following Ferlin is current Dallas Stars left winger Roope Hintz, who played
for the Tampa Bay Juniors during the 2012-13 season. 22-year-old Hintz
was among the Stars competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year.
Tampa Bay Juniors Story
By Reba LaRose
Positive Attitude- Finding the “Good” in all that they do
Responsibility- Knowing & doing what is expected of them
Integrity- Being authentic & consistent in their core values
Desire- A willingness to learn & become greater
Excellence- Paying attention to detail & doing it to the best
of their ability
Imagination- Intelligence having fun through creativity
Cooperation- Working together to achieve a common goal
Emotion- Energy in motion
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