Coach Vallieres has been a student of the game of hockey for over 30 years as a player and coach.

As a player, Coach Vallieres played his junior hockey in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints where he was a team captain and helped lead the Saints to a national championship.

Following his junior hockey experience, Coach Vallieres moved on to play Division I hockey in the WCHA for UAA (University of Alaska Anchorage) where he was an All-American, team captain and leading scorer.  During his college career, he also did several tours with Team USA.

After college he signed with the St. Louis Blues organization and played his first professional season for their minor league affiliate The Peoria Rivermen.  While playing for The Rivermen he scored 75 points in 50 games and was name the team’s Rookie of the Year.  In total, Coach Vallieres played 250 professional games throughout North America and Europe before retiring to Naples, Florida.

In 2012, Coach Vallieres helped lead the FGCU Eagles (Florida Gulf Coast University) to their first ever Division 2 ACHA National Championship.

Coach Vallieres understands the challenges that come with balancing school and playing junior hockey and he is uniquely prepared to help these student athletes take their game and education to the next level.

Matthew Spiller grew up in the small farming town of Daysland Alberta Canada. He played minor hockey in his hometown of Daysland Alberta until PeeWee. He moved onto Bantam AAA the next 2 years and then played 4 years of Major Junior Hockey for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. He was invited to the Team Canada World Junior Deve15:09:15lopment Camp. Later he was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2001 in the 2nd Round, signing with them after the 2003 WHL season. He played in the Phoenix Coyotes organization the next 4 seasons with 59 games played in the NHL and 249 games played in their AHL farm system.

He later signed with the New York Islanders for the 2007-08 season, playing in 9 NHL games and 75 games for their AHL team Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He signed with the New Jersey Devils for the 2008-09 season and played 71 games with their AHL team Lowell Devils. The following season he played in the Czech Republic and than came back to finish the season with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the IHL. Spiller also played with the Florida Everblades. He now lives in Estero FL with his wife, Megan, and his children, Julia and Jacob.

Mike Shields is a goalie instructor with 25 years of coaching experience and over 40 years of personal experience in the crease. Mike utilizes a fundamental approach to goalie instruction while tailoring a style based upon the individual. Shields has coached for the Florida Junior Blades since 2010. He is a USA Hockey Level 4 Coach who has been coaching the Junior Everblades tier 2 hockey program since 1999. Mike attended and played net for Westfield State College in Westfield, MA and led his team to an undefeated season and an ECAC Division III Championship in 1978. He played Emergency Backup Goalie (EBUG) in the ECHL for the Florida Everblades, Columbus Cottonmouths, Pee Dee Pride, Gwinnett Gladiators & South Carolina Sting Rays.

Dr. Harmon graduated from John Carroll University obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree
prior to attending medical school at LECOM in Erie, Pennsylvania, graduating from each with honors. Following medical school, Dr. Harmon went on to complete his five year orthopedic
surgery internship and residency at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation/South Pointe Hospital inCleveland, Ohio. During residency he was granted and served as an Assistant Clinical Professor for Ohio University College of Medicine. Following residency he completed a one yearfellowship in Adult Reconstruction of the Hip and Knee at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.

Dr. Harmon is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, The American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and The International Congress for Joint Reconstruction. He is an experienced instructor of the Anterior Total Hip Replacement procedure, teaching this technique to other surgeons both locally and nationally, and is a contributor to developing research in this field.

Dr. Ellis obtained a degree in Psychology from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and was a captain on the University lacrosse team. Dr. Ellis then became a personal trainer and a Pilates trainer.
After years of strengthening and conditioning his patients, he decided to complete his Doctorate in Physical therapy at Florida Gulf Coast University and developed a passion for manual therapy. Dr. Ellis is a hands-on therapist who thrives at educating his patients. He has worked with military personnel and collegiate athletes, and strives to help his patients reach higher levels of performance.

Being through physical trauma, Dr. Ellis understands what it takes to rehabilitate not only physically, but mentally. His relaxed and warm personality create a positive environment to achieve your goals.

Email Tad OHad">click here to email Tad

The Vice-President of Hockey for Athletic Republic, Tad oversees the hockey development of 164 facilities across the US, Canada and Russia. Tad currently is the Senior Advisor of Hockey for BlueStreak Sports Training in the Northeast. Tad has overseen and trained athletes at the three BlueStreak facilities in Stamford, CT, Hauppauge, NY and Chelsea Piers, NY for the past five years.

In 2006 Tad co-founded Hybrid Hockey an interactive recruiting & exposure service for hockey players looking to advance their on-ice skills and expose themselves at the college/university level. Tad has had extensive hockey experiences leading him to be invited to Yekaterinburg, Russia in 2009 to work with their professional program and Olympic development academies.

 In 2008 Tad was asked to take over the role of Vice-President of Hockey with Athletic Republic to help oversee their hockey network globally. His primary focus is on skill advancement, strength and conditioning and overall speed and technique training. His knowledge of hockey comes from the vast array of teams he has played with, scouted for and coached including, New England Prep School, BCHL, EJHL, Jr. “A“ in Canada and the NAHL. Tad has trained over 200 Prep School players, 97 Jr. “A“ players, 51 collegiate players and over 14 professional players. Tad played collegiately at Connecticut College where he was named captain for 2 seasons. He has trained and directed teams and hockey schools in Ontario, Alberta, Michigan, Minnesota, Long Island and Connecticut. Tad has worked tirelessly with his students many of whom have gone on play in the CCHA, Hockey East, ECAC, WHL, AHL, and the NHL.

In the past three years Tad has seen 11 of his students drafted in the National Hockey League. Tad has also worked with numerous players from the US Women's Olympic Team and the US National Team Development Program. Tad works closely with the USA hockey selection committee for the Select Festivals. He is a certified Athletic Republic Level III trainer, Sports Potential, Sport-Quest and SPARQ trainer. Tad was instrumental in the development of SPARQ Hockey as an advisor and sits on the development board for Chelsea Piers BlueStreak.

In 2007 Tad was awarded the “Dick Vraa Award“ for his impact in the Athletic Republic Network. Tad is a graduate of Connecticut College with a concentration in Sociology. Tad's primary focus is helping to educate and advance young hockey players. Tad currently resides in Estero, FL and last year coached with the Florida Jr. Blades & Florida Alliance “AAA”.

Email Todd Pococke

Todd Pococke- The facilities director for Athletic Republic-Germain Arena, Todd Pococke joined the Jr. Blades staff in 2012.

Pococke completed a four year collegiate career at Ferris State in the CCHA before joining the Jr. Blades in Florida. Additionally, Pococke played professional hockey for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. 

Todd brings a thorough background in what it takes to be successful in hockey, having played with Honeybaked AAA and helped the St. Louis Bandits of the NAHL claim a USA Hockey National Championship (under coach Jon Cooper of the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning).

A level I/II/III certified trainer and facilities director with Athletic Republic, Pococke brings knowledge and experience on and off the ice.

Email Tyler Carlston

Tyler Carlston- A native of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Tyler Carlston grew up playing hockey. Carlston competed with the Apple Valley High School team and transitioned that experience into playing with the Mankato Club and Mankato State University. Carlston is a Level I/II Athletic Republic sports performance coordinator. He brings professional level experience from his time with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. With a developmental focus, Carlston has been with the Jr. Blades since thier inception in 2010, helping to develop players for Tier I/II and NCAA programs across North America.

A native of Beamsville, Ontario, Tia Preece enters her third season as the Communications/Media Director for the Florida Junior Blades of the USPHL. Tia has served in media relations with the Florida Everblades (ECHL) and was named Media Team Of The Year for the 2016-17 season by the USPHL. Her work has been featured on Yahoo Sports, the Naples Daily News, BeyondTheBenches.com and Fox Sports.

Tia has graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Florida Gulf Coast University and is currently working towards the completion of her Master’s Degree in Mass Communications at South Dakota State University.  

Danny Allen- A native of Coral Springs, Florida, Allen moved to Houston, Texas where his love of hockey began at an early age. Allen competed at the midget AAA level as well as his varsity high school team and earned the title of Captain. His playing career continued at the University of Texas at San Antonio State for an additional 4 years where he completed a degree in Kinesiology specializing in Exercise Science. In addition, Allen also has worked as an instructor for Northern Edge Hockey Academy traveling the country as an on and off ice instructor. Allen started with the organization as an intern who has now advanced to become part of the staff as both a Strength and Conditioning Coach and Equipment Assistant.

Sports coverage specialist on and off the field, court or rink. 

STEVE JENSEN  

Midwest Scout

click here to email

Owner and DirectorSteven Allan Jensen (born April 14, 1955 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a former professional ice hockey player. Steve was a clever offensive player who appeared in 438 games in the National Hockey League from 1976-82. For the past 27 years, Steve has served as founding owner & director of the prestigious Heartland Hockey Camp http://www.heartlandhockey.com located in Deerwood, Minnesota. Steve is now a full time teaching professional with over 30 years of instruction experience, including 12 years of experience playing International and NHL hockey, 5 U.S. National Teams, and the 1976 Canada Cup. As a hockey player, at Armstrong High School, in Plymouth, Minnesota, Steve was an All-State performer. At the college level, he was a participant in 2 NCAA championship games, helping win the National Championship, in 1975, while playing at Michigan Tech University. For two consecutive years, Steve was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. As a freshman at MTU, Steve was honored with the Matovich Top Student/Athlete Award.

www.drjamesbynum.com

www.millenniumphysician.com/doctor/fred-burford-do

www.trathendentist.com

www.kinexischiropractic.com