Florida Alliance Teams
The Florida Alliance will offer the following teams
for the 2008-09 Season:
|
Team
|
Head
Coach
|
Asst.
Coach
|
|
Jr. / U18 AAA
(Midget U18 Tier 1)
|
Tim Kyrkostas
|
Vlad Cheremeta
|
|
U16 AAA
(Midget U16 Tier 1)
|
Steve Lynch
|
Rick Gardella
|
|
Bantam Major AAA
(Bantam U14 Tier 1)
|
Rob Tallas
|
Carlos Assayag
|
|
Peewee Major AAA
(Peewee U12 Tier 1)
|
Kameron Brothers
|
Chris Hurton
|
|
97 AAA
(Tournament Only)
|
Vlad Cheremeta
|
|
Tier 1 Hockey in Our State
Tier 1 Hockey in Florida has
been an ongoing challenge for SAHOF and a few of the stronger
Florida Organizations. This season, SAHOF has made the
decision to adopt a new policy regarding tier 1 Hockey
in our State. The main factors affecting both FJP and
SFGW programs are: SAHOF desires Tier 1 Hockey be more
geographically based, limited to only three teams at any
one level. SAHOF has also mandated that any interested
program apply in writing for approval for tier 1 status
and cannot publically announce a tier 1 program or conduct
tryouts until the SAHOF Tier 1 Committee has reviewed
all applications for Tier 1 and has granted tier 1 status
to a program. Currently only 2 programs in State have
been granted Tier 1 status these are: Florida Alliance
and Everblades AAA.
Purpose of the Alliance
For years the Florida Jr. Panthers
(FJP) and the South Florida Golden Wolves (SFGW) have
been two of the premium organizations in the state, consistently
winning States and sending teams to Districts and Nationals
at Tier I & II. Both organizations have also helped
send nearly 80 Florida raised hockey players onto various
NCAA, OHL, USHL, NAHL, EJHL, AJHL and Prep teams.
In the past 5 years we’ve seen the FJP and SFGW field
Tier I teams and have had limited success being that neither
organization has truly been deep enough to compete and
win against the top Tier I talent in the country. In doing
so, both organizations have had healthy competition between
each other raising the bar in the state and doing an excellent
job developing the upper level Tier II players and the
lower level Tier I players. However, we have seen both
programs lose some of the top level Tier I talent to teams
up north due to different reasons.
One of the big reasons the top level Tier I players are
leaving the state is that they don’t feel adequately
challenged playing in an over diluted Tier I state. It
is now time to take the next step. With the FJP and the
SFGW joining forces, we enable the top talent from both
organizations to play together and develop to a higher
level.
Impact on Jr Panthers
and Golden Wolves Programs
Both the Florida JR. Panthers and the South Florida Golden
Wolves will continue to operate as independent organizations.
Each program will remain as a Tier 2 organization and
will only field Tier 2 level teams for 2008-09 season.
Either program may field “minor” tournament
teams to compete in selected Tier 1 events. These teams
must consist of all first year players and may not be
National Tier 1 bound but may operate as National Tier
2 bound teams (pending approval by State League and SAHOF).
No Mite or Squirt team shall be classified as a tier 1
team as per SAHOF guidelines. Both organizations and arenas
have agreed to not allow independent Tier 1 teams to operate
in its program or facility.
Practices
The Panthers Alliance being a Tier I program would practice
3 times a week. This would include one hour of on-ice
practice 3 days a week. In addition Coaches may incorporate
a dryland regiment as needed. Practices will be either
@ Incredible Ice in Coral Springs and Pines Ice Arena
in Pembroke Pines. Actual practice times and logistics
would be coordinated with enough advanced notice to give
amply time for families to adjust their schedules.
Game/Schedules
All practice, game and tournament schedules will be determined
by Directorship along with the Head Coach of each team.
97AAA Tournament Team
– The budget will be set to include 2-3 out of state
showcase tournaments. These tournaments should not conflict
with the Tier 2 Programs existing commitments.
PEEWEE – The
budget is currently set for the team to make a total of
6 out of state trips. This could consist of tournaments
and/or scheduling multiple games in a weekend. The team
could also participate in the local Tier I tournaments
held in state. The team would also have a total of 10
home ice scrimmage slots (5 at Incredible Ice and 5 at
Pines Ice Arena), this can be used to bring teams in from
out of state, or used to scrimmage any possible teams
that would be competitive
locally.
BANTAM - The budget is currently set for the team
to make a total of 7 out of state trips. This could consist
of tournaments and/or scheduling multiple games in a weekend.
The team could also participate in the local Tier I tournaments
held in state. The team would also have a total of 10
home ice scrimmage slots (5 at Incredible Ice and 5 at
Pines Ice Arena), this can be used to bring teams in from
out of state, or used to scrimmage any possible teams
that would be competitive locally.
MIDGET U-16 – The budget is currently set
for the team to make a total of 8 out of state trips.
This could consist of Tournaments, Showcases, Jr B. teams,
and/or scheduling multiple games in a weekend. The team
would also have a total of 10 home ice scrimmage slots
(5 at Incredible Ice and 5 at Pines Ice Arena), this can
be used to bring teams in from out of state, or used to
scrimmage any possible teams that would be competitive
locally.
JR/MIDGET U-18 – This team could go a couple
different directions. We could have the team play strictly
a Junior schedule or play an independent Junior schedule
and still qualify to compete at U-18. The budget is currently
set for the team to make a total of 8 out of state trips.
The team would also have a total of 10 home ice scrimmage
slots (5 at Incredible Ice and 5 at Pines Ice Arena),
this can be used to bring teams in from out of state,
or used to scrimmage any possible teams that would be
competitive locally.
Jerseys and Apparel
The Panthers Alliance will wear the Official “NHL”
Panthers Style Jersey utilizing
the “Alliance” logo. Players are required following
“mandatory” equipment: Home/Away Jerseys, socks
and a team warm up suit. Other official “Alliance”
gear shall be offered for sale like bags, hockey pant
shells, shirts, caps, fleeces through the Incredible Ice
pro-shop.
Player Selection or Release
The Panthers Alliance is committed to establishing the
most competitive teams. This means we will select the
players that we feel will accomplish the goals of the
program through team chemistry, hard work, dedication
and talent. Players chosen to alliance teams must commit
in a timely manner by completing necessary player information
sheet and contract as well as making payment to program.
Players being released from the Alliance tryouts are encouraged
to try out for Tier 2 team with either the Florida JR.
Panthers or Golden Wolves. Players choosing to tryout
for Tier 2 teams in either organization must pay for that
tryout process.
