Hello Richmond Hill Jaguars Hockey Parents,
My name is Darren Desrosiers, and I am the Head Coach of the 2023-24 U9 Tier 1 hockey team. I hope you are all enjoying your summer! I am writing to give you a brief update on our program and let you know that I am available to answer any questions you may have.
Why U9 Tier 1 Hockey?
My daughter was a member of the U8 Tier 1 hockey team last year, and in short, she loved it! She was on the ice several times per week, was part of a team, made friends, got lots of exercise, and really had a ton of fun. U9 is our kids’ last year of hockey before they start playing Rep hockey (A, AA, AAA), and as such, it is a critical development year. If your child wants to play Rep hockey next year or in future years, this would be an optimal place to start or continue his/her development! We are also very excited to let you know that we have secured an excellent Development/Skills coach. He is a former NCAA and professional hockey player and has successfully developed and coached children at the highest levels for many years.
Time Commitment
The time and cost commitments of U9 Tier 1 hockey are greater than those of house league hockey, but its rewards are significantly greater. We have been working hard to create a fun program that will prepare your child for future success on and off the ice. In terms of time commitment, we anticipate having practices on Wednesdays and Fridays each week at one of the nearby Town of Richmond Hill arenas and playing one or two games a week on weekends (unlike house league, our games will be in the early afternoons so you can sleep in!). The time I got to spend with my daughter, going to and from games was priceless for me. Everyone is busy, but time spend together talking about the game, listening to music together and time just enjoying each other's company are memories that I cherish.
The season will start around the end of September and end around the end of March. Additionally, we will be playing in 3 tournaments (two local and one away), which should be a lot of fun for the children (and parents)!
Summer Development Skates
We have hosted three successful development skates this summer already and have one more scheduled on Friday, August 4 at 6 p.m. at Tom Graham Arena (we still a few spots left). We may host another one in late August as well so stay tuned! We encourage you to bring your child out for a skate - even if you are unsure about his/her skill level. We welcome all 2015 born Richmond Hill residents, and besides, your child may have a friend there!
Tryouts
We are awaiting confirmation of dates and locations of tryouts. At this point, we believe that they will take place around mid-September at one of the nearby Town of Richmond Hill arenas. We will keep you posted. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Hope to see you soon,
Darren Desrosiers