News

Press Release: Program Updates for 2021-22 Season

 

May 4, 2021

 

The Wenatchee Wild Tier 1 Development Teams have lots of exciting news and updates for the upcoming season! The program will be entering our eight year of operation, and look to continue as the premier development program in the Pacific Northwest. This past season saw all three of our Tier 1 teams finish the year as the highest rated Tier 1 teams in the Pacific Northwest according to the MyHockey National rankings at each age group, with all three teams earning births to the Tier 1 Pacific District Tournament. Over the past two seasons, the Wenatchee Tier 1 teams have a combined 33-6-3 (.821) record in Washington State, and have had a team make it to the Tier 1 Pacific District championship game in each of the last three seasons. The teams have competed, and will continue to compete, against many of the top Tier 1 programs from around the US and Canada.

 

Weekend Teams Structure

 

For the 2021-22 season, the Wenatchee Development Teams will be offering two U14 teams. The U14-Wolverines will continue to operate as a Tier 1 National Tournament Bound team for the top 2007-08 players. The Wolverines will look to build off of last year’s Tier 1 state title and perfect 7-0-0 record in Tier 1 state games.

 

The U14-Showcase team will be offered for high-level 2008-born players who are entering their first year of U14 hockey. This new 2008-born showcase/tournament team will take the place of the Warriors U16AA team, which will not operate this coming season.

 

In addition to the two U14 teams, we are currently exploring and moving forward with U12-youth and U14-girls showcase teams. More information, including tryout dates, will be released on these two teams soon.

 

New Coaches Hired: Azevedo Brothers to Coach Weekend Teams

 

The Wenatchee Wild Development Teams would like to announce the hiring of Tysen and Aaron Azevedo as the Head Coaches of the U14 weekend development teams for the 2021-22 season. The Azevedo brothers are both Power Edge Pro (PEP) Professional Hockey Instructors that own and operate On Top Hockey out of the Spokane/CDA area. They will continue to run their business while coaching the weekend teams in Wenatchee. Tysen Azevedo will be the Head Coach of the 2008 team, while Aaron will be the Head Coach of the 2007-08 team. Both coaches will work as an Assistant Coach of the team they are not a Head Coach. In addition to the Azevedo brothers, Hockey Director Ryan McKelvie will be heavily involved in player development on the ice for the majority of practices, while coaches Jordan McTaggart and Kyle Brodie will also be out throughout the season.

 

McKelvie commented, “We are very excited to add Tysen and Aaron Azevedo to our staff. In going through the hiring process with them, it is clear that their commitment to prioritizing player development aligns with our program philosophy. They have a very good following of high-level players and families who resoundingly praise their practices and ability to develop players. I believe we have developed a high-quality program in Wenatchee, and the addition of the Azevedo brothers to our coaching staff will help to continue to elevate our program.”

 

Tysen Azevedo Bio

With over 15 years of coaching experience, Tysen has an extensive background in individual development as a professional skills coach specializing with NHL, NCAA, and Junior level players throughout the off season. Prior to coaching, Tysen played his youth hockey in Spokane before moving away to continue playing Canadian Junior Hockey in the KIJHL, BCHL and MJHL. Following his playing career, Tysen began traveling the country working for some of the industry’s leading skating/skills companies before moving back to Spokane to start On Top Hockey (OT Hockey) with his brother Aaron. Tysen spent three years at the Jr. A- Tier III level, working with the Granite City Lumberjacks (2012 NA3HL/National Champions), and as Head Coach for the Cheney Icehawks during the 2014/15 season in the NPHL. For the past four seasons, Tysen has been in the Spokane/CDA area coaching youth hockey at various age divisions.

 

Aaron Azevedo Bio

Aaron graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Entrepreneurship from Iowa State University while playing for the ACHA D1 hockey team. Today, Aaron is one of Power Edge Pro's leading Professional Instructors working with NHL players on through youth hockey associations on individual skill development. With nine years of coaching experience, Aaron is already a leading skills coach for game application and drill innovation. Behind the bench Aaron has coached six spring seasons in addition to two winter seasons at various youth levels. In the off-season, Aaron and his brother Tysen provide On Top Hockey (OT Hockey), a player development platform integrated with invitational opportunities for players from the Northwest to compete in exposure showcases throughout the spring and summer.  

 

Power Edge Pro (PEP) for All Teams

 

The Wenatchee Wild Development Teams will be utilizing Power Edge Pro (PEP) for the upcoming 2021-22 season. Players on the weekend and billet development teams will benefit from the addition of PEP to the program for the upcoming season. According to the PEP website, “Power Edge Pro utilizes Reactive Countering Training™ (R.C.T.) to engage multiple motor skills simultaneously and develop a player’s small area game performance. All patterns are completed while maintaining puck control and are designed to provide 5x as many repetitions as standard drill-based practices, leading to faster development of elite skills.” The Development Teams will implement PEP training into the regular curriculum as an added development tool to maximize player development. For more information about Power Edge Pro, you can visit their website at  https://poweredgepro.com/.

 

 

U16 and U18 Billet Team Information for 2021-22

 

The U16-Wilderness and U18-Wolves will continue to operate as hockey academy style teams, where players live and train in Wenatchee full-time during the season. The teams will continue to integrate the training and school schedules. Both teams have a regular 75-minute practice slot in the morning Monday-Friday, with off-ice training every day as well. The teams have 3 full-time professional coaches on the ice for practices, with 2 strength coaches in the weight room for all strength workouts. The Wilderness and Wolves teams have their own locker rooms at the rink, where players are treated similar to a junior hockey team with skate sharpening and laundry done for them. The coaching and training staff for the Wilderness and Wolves are all slated to return again for the 2021-22 season.

 

For the 2021-22 season, the U16-Wilderness and U18-Wolves will play an independent tournament/showcase schedule, traveling to the Midwest and East Coast approximately 1 time per month to play against the top Tier 1 teams across the country. Showcases will included events like CCM World Invite, USHL Frosty Cup, Super Series AAA events, and more to be announced soon. The U16-Wilderness and U18-Wolves have been the top-rated teams in the Pacific Northwest the past two seasons, with one team qualifying for the Tier 1 Pacific District tournament Championship each year for the past three seasons. In the program’s short history, 19 players have advanced on to the NCAA level and numerous players to Junior A hockey. The program had 7 players listed and play in BCHL games as Affiliate Players for our parent club, the Wenatchee Wild, during their past two seasons of Wild operations.

 

Tryouts – June 4-6

 

Tryouts for the two U14 weekend teams, as well as for the U16 and U18 academy teams, will be held June 4-6 in Wenatchee.

 

Tryouts, along with more information for the teams, for the U12-youth and U14-girls teams will be announced soon.

 

To register for tryouts, please click on the “Tryout” tab on our program website: www.wenatcheewolves.pointstreaksites.com.