News
Briere and Nichol Drafted to USHL
The United States Hockey League (USHL) Draft took place in two phases, the Phase I of which took place Wednesday evening and Phase II on Thursday. The Nashville Jr. Predators would like to congratulate Cameron Briere (16U AAA) and Hayden Nichol (18U AAA) for being selected in the draft.
Briere was invited to try out for the U.S. National Team Development Program this spring, and on Wednesday, he was taken in the first round of the USHL’s Phase I Draft, which is 10-rounds featuring players born in 2005. Briere went No. 24 overall to the Tri-City Storm. Try-City paid a hefty price, trading away three draft picks (2021 3rd, 2021 5th and 2022 7th) to the Chicago Steel to move up to select Briere.
Coming of a point-per-game season with a team leading 39 points, Nichol saw his name on the draft board during Phase II, which featured players born from 2001-05 whose rights are not currently held by any USHL teams. Nichol was sleeted No. 155 to the Waterloo Blackhawks. Last summer Nichol was selected in the North American Hockey League Draft by the Shreveport Mudbugs.
The Jr. Predators organization is proud of this accomplishment and wish these to young men the best of luck as they take the next step forward in their careers.
Briere Invited to USNTDP Evaluation Camp
This has been a unique season for everyone, but for Cameron Briere, 16U AAA, it has been a whirlwind of challenges, opportunities, and success. On Friday, forty-nine of the top American hockey players born in 2005 were invited to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (USNTDP) Evaluation Camp including Cameron Briere.
Briere joined the Jr. Predators this season after the start of the season coming from Toronto with his mother and sister. His father Steve, Toronto Maple Leafs’ Goaltending Coach, had to remain in Canada for his position but is no stranger to hockey in the southeast as a University of Alabama-Huntsville alumnus. “Cameron learned how to skate in Huntsville” Steve shared. “Obviously being familiar with the program, the people, the area and with the lack of options to play in Canada this season, I was confident that this was a great opportunity.”
New teammates, a new environment and being one of the youngest players on the team, Briere had to adapt, and it did not take long. “I think my teammates played a huge role in my commitment this year.” said Briere. “Being able to come in and bond with these guys right from the start made a huge difference, they all became like brothers to me, and to see that each person on the team was trying to make it in hockey helped because we were all able to push each other and encourage each other even when times were the toughest.”
As the season advanced, Briere’s confidence grew, and it showed on the ice. With 19 goals and 16 assists in 44 games, Briere’s impact was not just felt on the scoresheet according to Scott Nichol, 16U AAA Coach, General Manager of the Milwaukee Admirals, and Director of Player Development for the Nashville Predators. “Cam wants to be coached and wants to grow his craft” said Nichol. “Cam is a very competitive player that blends his skill along with his ability to win loose puck battles.”
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Briere’s confidence increased “Cameron has always just found ways to score. Seeing his ability making plays happen when the team needs it, like his overtime winner in the Tier I Elite League (T1EHL) playoffs, has been incredible to see.” said Steve.
The team reached the semi-finals of the T1EHL playoffs following that overtime winner. Later in the season, the stage got even bigger when the team qualified for the USA Hockey National Championship. The opening game of the event was vs the #1 ranked team in the nation and Briere scored a spectacular breakaway goal to pad the lead halfway through a game that ended in a 4-3 victory.
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Last year, Briere was supposed to attend the USA Hockey Festival which was unfortunately canceled. Briere’s desire for the opportunity to play for USNTDP did not waiver. “It’s a dream come true because this was my goal at the start of the year,” said Briere. Being invited to such a selective opportunity is an incredible hockey accomplishment, but to his father, it is more. “He set his mind to it and committed to it. This is a life lesson that when you are dedicated and put in the work, you can achieve your goals.
Dedication to his development and the team has presented Briere the opportunity to attend the National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp over May 9-13, at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. This camp will help select the 2021-22 U.S. National Under-17 Team.
“It’s a huge honor to be able to have the chance to represent my country if I make the team.” said Briere. “I want to start by thanking my family for their sacrifice to come down and play for the Jr. Predators because it was a life-changing opportunity. I was able to play with older kids and develop and I think I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it weren’t for this.”
The Jr. Predators are very proud of and excited for Cameron’s opportunity. We wish him the best at camp and look forward to him representing our country.
Nashville Native Dorfman Excelling in NAHL
A Nashville native, Dartmouth commit and Jr. Predators alumnus, Braiden Dorfman is having a career year for the Shreveport Mudbugs. In his third and final season in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), he has made his presence known on the ice as he leads the Mudbugs in scoring and is fourth in the NAHL.
“Any form of hockey will prepare you in different ways, but TPH and the Jr. Predators have done a great job as they have always focused on skill development throughout the weeks and during high-performance weekends with your team, you get down to systematics and structure. Because of that I have had a pretty good experience with all sides of the hockey game and learning from those skills,” noted Dorfman.
The Mudbugs, based in Shreveport, Louisiana are ranked number one in their division standings and number two overall in the league. Dorfman has been a key reason, as he leads the team with 53 points (21 goals, 32 assists) in 52 games played, and he isn’t close to stopping just yet.
“I have always thought of him as a very smart player and has understood the game well. He was someone that played with confidence and a high level to compete. Just the kind of kid that you like to have with you who had a bit of an edge which was helpful,” said Steve Jennings, Tier 1 Director of Hockey Operations for the Nashville Jr. Predators and 18U AAA Head Coach.
Since then, Dorfman has remained successful and continues to play with that same sort of intensity on the ice. When asked what has led to his success Dorfman answered opportunities.
“Honestly, opportunities. I have had a lot more opportunities being able to play a bigger role this year and I have been able to play with some high-level guys and get some good minutes in every night. The more you play in this league the more confident and comfortable you get,” shared Dorfman.
“He has had a phenomenal season. I am so happy for him as I can see he has matured after being traded to the Shreveport Mudbugs and it has been a difference-maker. Sometimes you need to go to a different program where you fit better and where the opportunities can be stronger. He is blossoming down there,” stated Jennings.
Dorfman and the Mudbugs look to continue their success into the NAHL playoffs which will start on May 18th. We wish the best for him the remainder of the season and look forward to his hard work continuing to pay off at Dartmouth.
Steffen Named 14U Girls Coach
NASHVILLE, TN, April, 27, 2020 – Mekenzie Steffen, a Minnesota native, joins the Nashville Jr. Predators following a successful hockey career with the University of Wisconsin Badgers. While at Wisconsin, Steffen won a National Championship and was named team captain her senior season. When talking about the stresses of not only competing at one of the highest levels of women’s hockey but being a leader too, Steffen said, “Playing NCAA DI hockey challenged me to be my best with balancing hockey, school work and social life. At Wisconsin, I was fortunate to have a great support system that included my teammates and the athletic staff. It was one of the best experiences and I would not change it for anything.” She added, “Being a part of a National Championship team was truly a dream come true. It meant a lot to be able to share the amazing experience of winning the National championship with some of my closest friends after working so hard, for so long, to achieve it. It’s an experience you remember for a lifetime.”
She also has experience with USA Hockey as she won a gold medal with the US Under-18 National Team in 2015 and was involved in the Under-22 program before graduating from Wisconsin. We asked Mekenzie what experiences she thought helped propel her to the next level; “My playing experiences as a kid inspired and motivated me to get to the DI level. The culture was filled with structure and coaches who wanted the best for us girls and the team. It allowed me to develop into the player and person I am.”
When talking about this position, Steffen shared the same passion to develop a culture within Girls Hockey here in Nashville and to work alongside the Nashville Predators and fellow coaches to do so. “I’ve been playing hockey for over 15 years with different teams and environments and I have learned a lot from each one. From starting in a state crazy about hockey to one of, if not the top D1 women’s program. I hope to bring my knowledge and experience to these girls and help them succeed and grow.”
Steffen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences and Communication with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Business Management. She looks forward to focusing on expanding the game of girl’s hockey in her new city, Nashville, Tennessee along with coaching our 14U Girls. “I’m beyond excited to get started — to meet the girls, see where the program is at, and jump right into it. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience and knowledge to strategize and increase participation and expand girls hockey.”
NJP Coach Profile: Murray & Johns
Patrick Murray – 10U Gold
We are excited to have Coach Murray take his skill-oriented coaching style to our 10U Gold team this upcoming year. Patrick grew up playing hockey in his hometown, Rochester NY, where he spent 13 seasons playing in the Webster Cyclones Youth Hockey Program. ”My most memorable moments playing hockey in NY were all the winters getting to play out on the pond. That’s where I learned to love the game. The lifelong friendships I’ve made from different teammates over the years and having the opportunity to work on my skills every day whether it was at home shooting pucks or the rink playing. I loved being able to do whatever it took to get better and it continues to this day.”
He then went on to play for his high school’s inaugural varsity hockey team where he earned first-team all-state and finished top 10 in scoring for New York State. He was then recruited to play Junior A hockey for the Syracuse Stampede. “I was the first in my family to play hockey so no one had had that experience,” Murray stated as he was reflecting on his experience playing Junior A hockey. “I moved away from home for the first time which was very different, but I billeted with my coaches family and 4 other players on the team which was a lot of fun. It was an intense new schedule, practicing and working out every day, sometimes twice a day, and the competition and talent level was better than anything I experienced to that point. When you play at that level, you’re essentially competing with everyone for college offers so there are no days off.”
Following the Stampede, Patrick jumped right into coaching. “I did an internship with the Nashville Predators Amateur Hockey department back in 2017 and started helping on-ice with the youth league. I quickly realized how enjoyable it was and I haven’t looked back since.” We all want to give back to the game and pass on the experiences and lessons we learned as players growing up. To Pat, this is especially relevant. “The most rewarding aspect of coaching for me is watching these kids get the same experiences I got from the game and being able to use my experience to help them become better players and better people. I want to help as many players as I can and do my best to guide them in the best direction so hopefully, they can play at a higher level than I did. At the end of the day, if my players get better and they’ve grasped the lessons the game teaches them while having a blast doing it, then I’ve done my job.”
Pat coached with the Nashville Predators Youth Hockey Organization and Preds Select for three years before being the Head Coach of our 2020-2021 Jr. Predators 10U Blue team. He makes the jump to our 10U Gold team this year and is excited to see what our 10U Gold team can bring this year! “The game speeds up a lot for these kids over the next couple of years so it’s crucial to teach them the proper way hockey is played, especially at the AA and AAA level. The game is fast-paced and quick decision-making at full speed is vital for development. I’m excited to get started.”
Ty Johns – 11U AAA
Originally from British Columbia, Canada, Tyler joins the Jr. Predators family as an exciting addition to our Tier 1 coaching staff. Ty comes from a unique hockey background that has helped form his solid reputation on and off the ice. “Growing up and playing hockey on Vancouver Island had a lot of perks. We had a lot of good teams that could compete within a few-hour drive. The part of my youth hockey experience that helped me in coaching was understanding what it means to compete every night.” After playing for clubs in Vancouver growing up, Ty played three years of Junior hockey in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).
After his Junior career, Tyler played four years at Utah State University (ACHA DII) while going to nationals all 4 years. “Club Hockey has the benefit of allowing athletes to focus more on academics. Our schedule was much lighter than a NCAA player, for example. I was able to find my passion for the game and had a chance to play a major role in developing our younger players on the team.” Ty’s path is a common route for a lot of players that don’t go the Junior or NCAA route, but provides a memorable experience while having good competition and more of a focus towards academics.
This path has helped shape and mold his coaching style which speaks for itself with his reputation and results. Last season Coach Johns led his Squirt AA Flyers team to a SYTHL championship. “My approach to coaching comes from a teaching perspective that has resonated with parents. My aim is always to develop well-rounded athletes first. When it comes to on-ice I like to run high tempo practices with drills and small area games that directly translate to games. I’m offensively minded and preach attacking and defending as a 5 man unit. I believe in putting kids in game-like situations in practice to better prepare them for competition. A big key to my method is I want our players handling pucks and making plays. Being in as many different situations as possible will only help further develop the player.”
In addition to his coaching style, his openness and communication with parents are what Jr. Predators wants to help build and sustain to develop a better positive hockey culture. “I am willing to have an open-door policy for both parents and players to come and talk,” he says and then with a smirk, “I keep this policy as long as that doesn’t get abused.” Ty’s attitude towards the game, his players, and the families is just another reason we are excited to have Coach Johns on our Jr. Predators Tier I staff.
Jr Predators Teams Overcome Challenging Year to Make Nationals
After a challenging year for so many student-athletes, three Nashville Jr. Predators teams have qualified for the USA Hockey National Championships to compete against the best the rest of the country has to offer. The 18U AAA boys, 16U AAA boys and 19U AA girls will all head to their respective national tournaments at the end of April. Each squad faced their own sets of challenges and obstacles to overcome on their journey to compete for a national championship.
Adaptation was a key theme for the entire Jr. Predators organization throughout the season. From not being able to spend quality team-building time together, to facing unique ways of playing their games, each team in the entire organization overcame obstacles to compete in the sport they love.
“The adaptation wasn’t just a once and done thing,” said Steve Jennings, Tier I Director of Hockey Operations and 18U AAA boys head coach. “It’s been a continual evolution as the season went on. We’ve had to deal with a whole bunch of different challenges. We were fortunate enough to get to the rink and have tryouts last summer. Even finding billets families was a little more challenging this year, which was totally understandable. Once we got everyone into town, then it was getting to the rink and that process of practicing and team building and bonding. All of those things are critical at this age to make the group become a family. Early on, we met via Zoom with the players and their families to get acquainted and let them know we were able to play. This group of kids has been phenomenal. They have responded to the challenges in the most positive way they can. No matter the obstacle, they come in ready to go and compete for each other. They’ve come together really well. We’ve just had to find a way to roll with it through the challenges.”
18U AAA Boys Take Winning Streak into Nationals
As the 2020-21 season progressed for the 18U AAA boys, they found a way to continue to drive each other no matter what roadblock was put in their way. Early on in the season, the team was set to play a showcase at a rink in Michigan where one of the requirements was that they wear masks while playing. Knowing that it would be a challenge, the coaching staff asked the team if they still wanted to play and each member voted to play the weekend. They adapted and even held multiple practices while wearing masks so they could get used to something a little bit different from normal for them. Since then, the team has put together quite a run. The team went on a 20-game winning streak including a sweep of the Tier I Elite League tournament.
In a year of adapting and evolving, bringing a team together as a unit can be difficult when not able to be in-person spending time together. Each time, they’ve stepped up to the challenge knowing the end goal of overcoming the challenges was worth it.
“At the beginning of the year, we wanted to have team gatherings, but couldn’t,” said Hudson Nadasdi. “We stay connected with our phones with a group chat. Whenever we’re able to come for practice or workout together, we don’t take it for granted at all and just give our best. This year has been different than any other year of hockey. It’s been difficult in some areas, but with how close our team is, it’s helped us accomplish more than we ever thought we could. The coaching staff has kept us focused on our goals, and even with all of the pandemic precautions, we’ve done well.”
The trust the players have from the coaching staff has been incredible. Steve Jennings and Lubos Bartecko have done a fantastic job of mentoring the players and guiding them in their responsibilities to the team.
“To have that trust from the coaching staff even when we’re down by one or two, we’ve strung a couple wins together and good teams find a way to win when you’re not playing well,” said Jr. Predators forward Hayden Nichol. “When we’re struggling a little bit, we can rely on other parts of our game. We have a solid team, so you can rely on your teammates to do their jobs so all you have to worry about is your own.”
Bartecko’s influence on the team’s success cannot be understated.
“Lubos Bartecko has done a great job with our defense corps with the 18s and is a huge part of why this team has been successful,” said Steve Jennings. “He has a ton of experience on the international and NHL level. He’s been a huge addition to our culture here and it’s tremendous to see how he’s helped our players.”
From the addition of Bartecko to the overall makeup of the team, this year felt different in a good way according to Nadasdi. There has been a different demeanor on the bench compared to previous seasons. Now, there is a special type of confidence that the team exudes even when down in a game.
“In past years, when we would get scored on, it felt different,” said Nadasdi. “This year, whenever we’ve gone down, we know that we can do it. We don’t necessarily need the coaches saying anything to us because we know what to do. We came back from a two-goal deficit against Maryland. It’s huge that we can do it through our own will and know we’re going to be okay and come through.”
Head coach Steve Jennings confirmed what both Nichol and Nadasdi expressed. For him, there’s just something special about this year’s team. In the Tier I championship game, Belle Tire scored to tie the match with about three minutes left, but the Jr. Predators quickly came back and sealed it.
“That’s when you start to see the character in the team,” said Jennings. “The bench was calm and you could hear the confidence in the players. About a minute and a half later, we scored the go-ahead goal. We didn’t have to take a timeout and rally the troops. There wasn’t a lapse. This group learned to be consistent. They give up a goal and then go get it back. They just get it.”
Something similar happened in the district championship game as well, except this time, the team was down by two in the first period. All it took was some encouragement and they flipped the switch.
“In the District championship game, we gave up two early goals and we hadn’t done that in a while,” said Jennings. “The bench got really tight and a little spooked. We got them to the locker room in between periods. They settled down and then in the second period, they took control of the game and the ice started to tilt.”
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While going through the challenges of the season and trusting in each other, they’ve built a family that only wants the best for each other. They know they have a difficult road ahead in facing the best the country has to offer, but they’re prepared to do it together and seek redemption after last year’s event was canceled.
“This is my third time going to nationals, so I’m looking for a huge outcome,” said Nichol. “Every year it gets harder and harder to go to nationals. Especially for those kids last year that won districts and weren’t able to go, it’s the redemption that finally they’re going to get to go after back-to-back champs at the district tournament.”
“I’m excited just to be able to go because last year was crushing when we qualified but it got canceled,” said Nadasdi. “It’s going to be awesome to see how we compete against the best teams in the nation. I know that we can play with any team. If we play our game, we can do amazing things there.”
One of the themes for this season has been about playing with a chip on the shoulder and a feeling of unfinished business. After rattling off twenty straight wins, the team has certainly responded.
“We returned eight players from last year’s team that won the district championship,” said Jennings. “They had a real strong finish to the year and it was surreal. We won on a Sunday, then a team meal on a Tuesday and then that night is when nationals got canceled. Those kids had a burn. I did try to use that concept of ‘unfinished business’ early. That became an early rallying point for us. We’ve been able to leverage that with this group. This group responded to our coaching but then really started to push each other. This group has set the bar for the expectations on a high compete, hard work practice.”
It has paid off tremendously, and it’s showing that those who stay will be champions.
“If we can keep our kids home, we can build teams that can compete with anyone,” said Jennings. “Every birth year is not always the same in terms of depth. Our player pool is more challenging, but it also proves that if people will work through the process and be patient, it will pay off. We have kids with commitments to junior hockey next year, so they’re getting seen. You look at what we’re doing and now we’re going to the national tournament and we’re going to continue to give that chance to people.”
Learn more about the 18U AAA national championships.
16U AAA Boys Joining 18U in Missouri for National Championship
Along with the 18U AAA Jr. Predators, the 16U AAA boys team qualified for the USA Hockey National Championships. The 16U squad with head coach Keith Rowe, assistant coach Scott Nichol and goalie coach Austin Keiser won their district championship match against Florida Alliance to qualify for nationals. For many players on the team, it’s new and exciting territory for them. Kal Essenmacher is extremely grateful that they were even able to play due to the pandemic.
“I’m really glad that we’ve come together and been able to play all of our games thanks to the Jr. Predators organization,” said Essenmacher. “This season has been a bit of an adjustment. Last year, I was on a different team, but I’m loving everything here, and glad we’ve accomplished so much. It’s a huge deal to this organization and for many other people to qualify for nationals. A lot of my teammates have never made nationals or been there before. I’m proud of our group and glad we made it there. I feel like we have a good chance to go out and do well at that tournament.”
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For Essenmacher, he knows winning is important, but he’s looking forward to the overall experience and proving that the Jr. Predators can compete with anyone in the country.
“I’m looking forward to having a good time there,” said Essenmacher. “Obviously winning is a great time, but I just want to go out there and show that the Jr Predators are a force to be reckoned with. Tell me a couple of years ago that you’d have all these great players from the south with great experiences and I wouldn’t have imagined it. I’m proud of this team and organization and all the players that has been able to come from all over the southeast that have come together to compete.”
They will have their chance to prove themselves soon enough. Learn more about the 16U AAA national championships.
19U AA Girls Prepared to Make a Run
In addition to the two boys’ teams qualifying for nationals, the Nashville Jr. Predators 19U girls squad will be traveling to Denver to compete for a national championship. Like most teams across the country, the 19U girls have faced challenges throughout the season due to the pandemic. From last year’s district-winning team that advanced to nationals, they lost eight seniors on top of battling through four COVID shutdowns causing key weekends to be missed. With those challenges, which included having to get dressed for games in parking lots, the team’s leadership made it a point for the environment and culture to be welcoming to everyone. They credit their culture and their coaching staff, of course, for what helped them find success this season.
“We worked on making sure everyone felt comfortable and excited to be a part of the team,” said team captain Cami Salaski. “Trying to get everyone to hang out outside of practice was difficult, but we made it work. We had some socially distanced breakfasts and spent time at the rink before practices as well. We have a great development program here. All the coaches are incredible and give us 100% on the ice. All the girls have improved so much thanks to the coaching staff.”
Assistant captain Sydney Russell also included that social media played a big part in the team being able to keep in touch throughout a season when they couldn’t always spend time together outside of the rink.
“Being on social media helped in keeping everyone in contact with each other,” said Russell. “We would have team breakfasts and dinner while socially distant and that helped too. I think having some of these challenges during the season and that experience with this group of girls, helped us to stay strong and encouraged. Being able to push each other through those challenges helped everyone get stronger throughout the season.”
The time away from the rink during the spring and early summer opened up an even greater appreciation for the game they love. It also opened even more pride on being players representing the southeast at a national level.
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“It made me step back and think how much I really love the sport and how much I missed it when I didn’t have it,” said Russell. “It’s made me work harder and enjoy every moment on the ice or in training. It made me enjoy the time that I had and love the sport. Coming from the south and being able to go and represent, shows how much we put into the work done here. You can play hockey anywhere, and as long as you put in the work, you can succeed.”
For some of the players on the team, it will be their last games played with the group as a whole. Players like Cami Salaski will be graduating and moving on, so she plans to enjoy every minute of the experience at nationals.
“It’s just one last ride with the girls,” said Salaski. “My last games will be played at nationals. I’m looking forward to remembering the experience and everything about it.”
The Jr. Predators 19U girls team will compete at the USA Hockey National Championships from April 29 to May 3. Learn more.
NJP Coaching Feature: Justin Mercier
This week’s coaching spotlight is on the new 13U (2008) AA coach, Justin Mercier. Originally from Erie, Pa, Justin started junior hockey when he was 16 years old playing in the USHL for the St. Louis Heartland Eagles. He then went on to play for the US National Team Development Program where his team took Gold in the U18 World Championships. “Playing for my country was an unbelievable experience,” Justin said. “Not only did I get to play with and against the best players in the world, but I got to visit a ton of really cool places and soak in a lot of different cultures. Representing the Red, White, and Blue is an honor I’ll never forget.”
From there, he played 4 seasons at Miami University, making the NCAA Tournament each year and playing in the National Championship his senior season. Upon graduation, Justin went on to play professionally for 7 seasons. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche and saw time in the NHL during the 2009-2010 season. A majority of his career was spent in the American Hockey League playing for the Lake Erie Monsters, as well as the Iowa Wild, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and Rochester Americans.
He rounded out his pro career with two seasons in Europe, playing in the Deutsche Elite League (DEL – Germany) and Italy. When asked about playing overseas he states, “I think a common misconception about European hockey vs American hockey is that it isn’t physical in Europe. I disagree with that completely. It’s physical in a different way. The contact is calculated so you have to think a little more.” As the game changes from grit and tough battles to speed and skills, knowledge of the new direction of the game is all that more important.
He now resides in Nashville with his wife, Chelsea, daughter Lila, and son Nolan and is looking forward to his opportunity to coach with the NJP program, “I’m most excited to be at the rink after a strange year away, which also included a relo from Ohio” he states. “I can’t wait to be back around the game that has given me so much and to help the players of this organization by sharing what so many have taught me throughout the years.”
NJP Coaching Feature: Teddy Rotenberger
Our coaching spotlight for the week is Teddy Rotenberger, the Tier I 12U Head Coach for the 2021-22 season. During the 2020-21 season, Teddy served as the head coach for both the Tier II 14U and 16U teams. He is one of four Nashville Jr. Predators alumni actively coaching within the program along with Carter Penzien – Tier II 11U , Austin Keiser – Director of Goaltending & Jesse Kessler – Tier II 10U Blue.
As a recent player, Teddy brings youthful energy and passion to the program. Jay Jackson, father of Luke Jackson Tier II 14U, described his coaching philosophy by stating “he (Teddy) provides an optimal balance of hockey instruction along with life skills such as responsibility, camaraderie and the will to be a competitor”. Zach Jackson, Tier 2 Director, added that, “Teddy consistently displays character, work ethic, and fun with his coaching on and off the ice.”
Coach Teddy is a native of Huntsville, Alabama where he grew up playing for the Huntsville Jr. Chargers before advancing to play five seasons within the Nashville Jr. Predators program. In 2013, Teddy captained the Tier I 16U team (Nathan Krusko-Harvard University / Connor Wood –UAH / Mitch Fossier – University of Maine / Austin Beaulieu – UAH / Aaron O’Neil – Lake Forest College / Andrew Kluge – Lake Forest College / Jordan Haney – Tufts University / Logan Orem – Johnson and Wales University / Cole Crawford – Plymouth State University / Ben Lau – Trine University / Hayden Winch – Adrian College) to the USA Hockey Nationals semifinals before losing to the Connecticut Wolfpack. To date, the 1996 team is the only NJP team to qualify for a national semifinal.
Following his first 18U season with NJP, Teddy advanced to play three seasons in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) before earning a scholarship to attend the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). While at UAH, he was a 3x recipient of the WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award for maintaining a high level of excellence in academics while competing at the highest level of NCAA hockey. Teddy graduated in April of 2020 with an undergraduate degree in Supply Chain Management and will graduate this coming May with a master’s degree in Supply Chain and Logistics Management.
Teddy currently resides in Nashville with his dog, Ragnar. Additionally, he serves as a Player Development Mentor/Coach at the Nashville Center of Excellence.