Dear parents and players, my name is Gerry Leblanc and I am honoured to have been named Head Coach for the U10 Aces for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
With over 20 years of coaching experience, over 35 of playing the game mostly within the Canadian Forces and as I transition from the Forces I’ve been with the Aces for 2 years now and 1 year with the Junior A Lumber Kings. I am confident we can make this year a success. I've been fortunate to uphold a winning record over the years and will give this group of athletes all the tools needed to become a Championship Team.
Each player will be given a fair and equal opportunity to earn a spot on the team. There will be third-party, non-parent, highly qualified hockey people who will weigh heavily in the selection process.
The evaluation team will be looking for determined, hard-working, skilled, and coachable kids with positive attitudes who excel both with, and without the puck. I am dedicated to creating an environment that is fun and helps to grow each player’s passion for the game.
A head coach is only as strong as the rest of his team.
Over the course of the summer I will prepare an exceptional program. With that said, my first goal is to create an environment and instill a team culture that supports athletic and skill development without compromising all the team collaboration, lessons and fun that should be had throughout a hockey season. To achieve this goal, I will emphasize the following principles:
1. Team First attitude: I will expect all players on this team to support each other. We will see ourselves as one cohesive team with a singular mission as opposed to 17 players working towards individual goals. Players will be involved in team goal setting and issues that threaten our team first approach will be dealt with promptly. This doesn't mean we won't be working with players individually on their own unique development but that the team first mentality will be an over-riding principle.
2. Embrace the challenge: I will expect all players on the team to challenge themselves every time they hit the ice. The coaching staff will be present along the way to ensure your young athletes are not only exposed to these situations and able to accept feedback but learn to embrace the challenge in a fun and supportive environment.
3. Be accountable: Some succeed because they are destined to; most succeed because they are determined to: This speaks to my expectation of accountability and the culture I will instill on our team. Hard work, self-discipline and determination cannot be replaced by talent or skill alone. In order to reach our goals, we must have a team of hard working, committed and dedicated players and coaches.
I’d like to welcome all players born in 2015 to come and tryout for the upcoming season.
Tournaments 2024-2025
Here are all the dates below:
Oktoberfest Kitchener AA
Oct 18-20th
Utica Comet Cup AA
Nov 8-10th
Northumberland Silver Stick AA
Nov 29-Dec 1st
Barrie Colts AAA Challenge AAA
Jan 31st - Feb 2nd
Tryout Schedule
Sept 14th 3:30pm-5:00pm-PMC (Session #1 - Skills / Skating)
Sept 15th 12:30pm-2:00pm-PACC (Session #2 - Blue vs White Intrasquad Game)
Sept 17th 6:00pm-7:30pm PACC (Session #3 - Blue vs White Intrasquad Game)
**First round of releases, players invited to return will be posted on U10 Aces page**
Sept 19th 6:00pm- 7:30pm PMC (Session # 4 - Exhibition Game vs OV Silver Seven)
** Final releases and Roster will be announced on U10 Aces Page**
GO ACES GO!!!
Head Coach U10A
Upper Ottawa Valley Aces
Gerry Leblanc
email: [email protected]