The Ducks Midget program has become an overnight powerhouse, and will now serve as the premier development path for Junior Ducks who play in the EHL. In the last seven years the EHL has produced over 1100 NCAA hockey commitments, making it the #1 junior league in the USA at the Junior tier 3 level.

Barry Dreger: U16 Jr Ducks Head Coach

John Zdunkiewicz: Jr Ducks Goalie Coach

Terry Watt: Jr Ducks Skills Coach

In addition, we officially announce that the JR Ducks program will be the proud affiliate of the (NAHL) Minnesota Magicians - creating additional opportunities and paths to college hockey for all our U16 and EHL Jr. Ducks players.

 

Effective Immediately:

In addition to our new brand and vision, the U16 team will be officially affiliated with our new (EHL) Jr. Ducks team. The midget programs will now be on the direct development path to our Jr. team.  This partnership comes with many great opportunities for the players selected to play on these teams.

The U15 & U16 Jr. Ducks teams will now be coached by experienced (professional) hockey players, who will develop and train our athletes in elevated methods commonly used in traditional hockey – in the states, as well as in Canada. This ensures our players are prepared and properly developed for the next level in their hockey career.

 

Our Mission:

• To create a balanced approach to academic and athletic success
• To provide professional coaching, instruction, proper nutrition, top-level fitness, strength, and mental conditioning
• To advise and assist in the college admissions process
• To increase our players’ exposure by showcasing their hockey skills for college coaches
• To develop the players’ work ethic via comprehensive fitness training and practices
• To mold our players’ skills by providing the opportunity to play in a highly competitive environment everyday

“It’s our job to make sure we are developing our players the right way, it’s our job to make sure we are preparing these young men to make the jump to the junior level to achieve their goals of playing college hockey. It’s now time we get to work and start pushing these kids in the right direction to optimize their potential, on the ice and in the gym. Our new Elite Jr Ducks U16 team will be pushed to the max and with the best coaches in the area showing them the right way. We have brought in top-notch professional coaches to help round out our development staff. Our coaching staff combined has juniors, college and pro hockey experience at every level; more importantly we’ve played in today’s style of game giving us an advantage over any other program in the area. We know what it’s like to be in our players skates, we lived it and did everything these players are trying to accomplish. We get today’s players and today’s game because we ourselves our fresh out of playing.”

- Terry Watt (EHL Head Coach)

 

The Jr Ducks U16 team will be a 10-month program focusing on skill and strength development. We have chosen to list our teams as independent to ensure close competitive games and to ensure our teams are playing in the highest scouted tournaments, for exposure. This model is commonly used in traditional hockey markets where the prime focus is having more high-end practices and skill development sessions; ensuring we are getting the very best potential out of our players and their development.

 

U16 Head Coach Barry Dreger:

Barry Dreger, most recently served as the Assistant Coach at TRC Academy in Brantford Ontario. Prior to joining TRC, Barry served as GM of Junior Hockey and Head Coach for the NCDC New Jersey Rockets of the USPHL.

In addition, Dreger led the Los Angeles Jr. Kings’ 18U AAA Teams as Head Coach. Barry was also a successful coach in the American Collegiate Hockey Association with Kennesaw State University where he led the team to a national tournament appearance in 2012 and the Loyola Marymount University.

Barry coached professional hockey in the East Coast Hockey League as an assistant coach for the Columbus Cottonmouths. Barry played three seasons of Major Junior in the Western Hockey League (WHL) before embarking on an 11-year professional career in the American Hockey League (AHL), International Hockey League (IHL) and ECHL. A Winnipeg native, Barry splits his time between Canada and The United States. 

Professional Career Highlights:

• Chicago Wolves Calder Cup Winner, 2003
• Scored first goal in Atlanta Thrasher history (NHL), 1999
• Signed with Stanley Cup Champions Detroit Red Wings,1998

 

Team workouts will be 1hour with professional Hockey trainer in our brand new gym!!! 

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Jerseys and Apparel will all be the same as the JR EHL team:

Team Jerseys (JR Ducks)

Practice Jersey (JR Ducks)

Team Track Suits (JR Ducks)

Team Hockey Bag (JR Ducks)