Colorado Thunderbirds
Fredrick helping Pee Wees reach their goals T
By Matt Mackinder
his year’s Colorado Thun- derbirds 12U roster may
get a couple double-takes at first glance. After all, with a Sakic and a Foote in the lineup, one may think it’s the Colorado Avalanche’s
1996 Stanley Cup run all over again. Almost, but not quite. Thunderbirds 12U coach Kevin Fredrick said it’s
just another day at the rink, but in this case with a few well-known hockey dads in the stands watching Chase Sakic, Nolan Foote and Nikita Krivokrasov, the son of former NHL forward Sergei Krivokrasov. “I’ve had the privilege of coaching the sons of sev-
eral NHL players and this year we happen to have three on our team,” said Fredrick. “As a student of the game, I’m honored to be surrounded by such knowledgeable people with such impressive hockey backgrounds. “One thing’s for sure: The passion these guys have
for hockey didn’t go away the day they retired, and the youth hockey community in Colorado is fortunate to have these people giving back to the game we all love.” Both former Avalanche standouts, Joe Sakic is
an assistant coach with Fredrick, while Adam Foote serves as head coach of the program’s 14U team.
Thunderbirds 12U coach Kevin Fredrick takes great pride in devel- oping his players for higher levels of hockey.
Krivokrasov is the T-Birds’ 11U head coach. Fredrick said that while his team’s players may
just be on the brink of becoming teenagers, some feel the 12U level is as competitive as ever with players showing the potential to advance up the ranks. “I believe it’s the job of a youth hockey coach to
create an environment where his or her players have the opportunity to be successful at the next level,” said Fredrick, who grew up playing in the Littleton Hockey Association and also skated in the United States Hockey League. “For me, that means my players should be ready
for competitive Bantam hockey by the end of our time together; I’d like to think we create an environment where all players have that opportunity.”
TBirdHockey.com As a coach, Fredrick’s first gig was with Littleton’s
Pee Wee AA team in 2004 as an assistant under Kent Murphy, who was also Fredrick’s coach when he was a Pee Wee. The club went on to win a national cham- pionship in 2005. While winning is obviously always welcomed
in the Thunderbirds organization, Fredrick knows that’s just a small part of the process, especially at the Pee Wee level. “Having coached Pee Wee hockey in Colorado for
nine years, I’ve found there’s an incredible develop- mental opportunity at this age,” Fredrick said. “I enjoy exposing these players to the nuances and subtleties that make hockey so special. I expect that our team will learn to see the game differently this year and, by doing so, their love for hockey will grow stronger. “Amazing things happen when you bring together
a group of hard-working players that have fun and choose to love each other.” Fredrick also says there’s no secret to the Thunder-
birds’ yearly success as wins stack up and the junior, college and professional alumni lists continue to grow. “It’s because of the people involved,” explained
Fredrick. “Like any organization, that’s the most im- portant thing and we have some of the best players, parents, volunteers, supporting associations, coaches and administrators around. “There’s a real sense of pride that comes with be- ing part of the Thunderbird family.”
FALL CLASSIC
Nov. 21 - 25 Mite A
Squirt A, B
Pee Wee AA, A, B Bantam AA, A, B Midget 16 A
WINTER HOLIDAY SHOOTOUT
Dec. 26 - 31 Mite B
Squirt A, B
Pee Wee AA, A, B Bantam AA, A, B Midget 16 AA, 16 A
PRESIDENTS’ DAY OPEN
Feb. 15 - 18 Mite A, B Squirt A, B
Pee Wee AAA, AA, A, B Bantam AAA, AA, A, B Midget 16 AA
SPRING FACEOFF
March 28 - 31 Mite A, B Squirt A, B
Pee Wee AAA, AA
Bantam AAA, AA, A, B Midget 16 A
MEMORIAL DAY SHOWDOWN
May 24 - 27 Mite A, B Squirt A, B
Pee Wee AA, A, B Bantam AA, A, B Midget 16 AA
Register at
WildcatsHockey.com FOR MORE DETAILS, E-MAIL
TOURNAMENTS@WILDCATSHOCKEY.COM 8
INDEPENDENCE CUP
July 5 - 7 Mite Elite Squirt Elite
Pee Wee AAA, AA Bantam AAA, AA Midget 16 AAA, AA
STATS, STANDINGS & AWARDS! CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZES & BANNERS!
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20