2025-2026 U17AA program outline

Team Level: GTHL U17 AA, birth year 2009

Coach Name:
Felix Cherniavskii, Head Coach ( cherniavskiifelix00@mail.ru )

Coaching Background:
After close to 10 years of AAA and Junior A playing experience, Felix found his new talent for coaching. Since then he has become a prominent GTHL coach – training numerous AA and AAA teams including the Willowdale Hawks 2009 AA team, while developing the iCan Hockey program. Felix’s passion is helping other dedicated, young athletes succeed and achieve their goals through hard work, motivation, and self-discipline. 

Adam Buchholz is a Trainer, an AC, and also a D1 trained coach.  Carlo Nijmeh is the Team Manager and is the catalyst that makes our season/team a success each season!  As well, Daniel Vella is our head goalie coach supporting goalie development in-practice (1x weekly) and for additional training.  

Coaching Philosophy:
We are committed to helping our players develop a passion for hockey, while supporting them to reach their full potential, and to become the best player and team-mate possible.   We also believe that hockey also teaches important life skills.  The three key tenets of our Coaching Philosophy are:

• Development 
• Love the Game
• Leadership on and off the ice

Vision, Values and Focus of the Team for the Season:
Our vision is to be a competitive team that fosters our coaching philosophy through a holistic development program:

• Skills/Systems/Tactics:  Professional coaching staff
• Athleticism: Strength, Conditioning, overall Fitness
• Social Engagement:  Team building on/off the ice

Team Values:  

• Always be positive
• Support your teammates
• Come with a winning attitude
• Work hard
• Discipline

Team Rules:
Team policies and expectations for players and parents will be signed off on shortly after tryouts.

Schedule and Commitment

Number of Practices per Week / When / Where:

Pre-Season Camp (August end):  1 week of Athletic development (90 minutes/day) + 1 week of On-ice/Off-ice development(4 hrs/day) 

Regular Season:  2 practices weekly x 2.5 hrs – includes 90 minutes on-ice + 1 hr Video Review or Dryland; Thursday evenings Bayview Arena + Sunday afternoons Cummer Arena

Number of Games per Week / Home Game / Other Games:
1 Home game (Tuesdays) and 1 Away game (TBD) weekly

Exhibition Games, Tournaments:

• 1-2 exhibition games
• 1-2 pre-season tournaments
• 3-4 in-season tournaments (1 away – typically an NHL city where we can also see a game)

Extra Training:
Development and extra training opportunities will be identified for players and goalies during the pre-season period, and throughout the season where appropriate.    

Fun Team, Community, and Club Events:
Team building events will occur throughout the season including player/parent socials.  In addition to team events that may be part of an away tournament (e.g. NHL game, golf simulator, tours), examples of prior year events include going to see a AHL game and/or Blue Jay game, hockey pool, team lunches/dinners, fundraising events, and paintball.

Cost Range:
Total estimated team fees are $5,500.  We have ‘typically’ had a surplus every season through effective cost-management as well as targeted sponsorship and fundraising activities.