Texas Amateur Hockey Association

Click on tab on the left to see current information on the 2008 TxPDP.  Updated hotel information 4/25/08.

TAHA continued to excel at the competitive level in the 06-07 season.  The Girls' & Women's Rocky Mountain District Tier I Regionals was successfully held in Houston last March.  Texas was well represented by 2 U14 teams, 1 U19 team and 1 Women's team.  In addition, out of the twenty-three (23) girls selected to represent the Rocky Mountain District at a National Camp this summer, ten (10) or forty three percent (43%) are TAHA residents.  Seven (7) out of ten (10) selected played on a TAHA- based team this year.  To continue this trend, the following TAHA programs were once again offered this year.

Texas Player Development Program (TXPDP)

For the fourth consecutive year, TAHA has focused on the development of our talent base through this spring-summer training program.  The best 11-19 year old girls were selected at the Texas Affiliate Camp (TAC).  Thirty-four (34) players from across the state have attended five intensive weekend camps held in both Dallas and Houston.  Once again our players have gained exposure to some of the best coaches and players on the national scene including:

                Michele Amidon, USA Hockey Director of Women’s Hockey Operations

                Shannon Bryant, Assistant Coach U-22 Women’s National Team, Head Coach

                       Williams College

                Shawna Davidson, Head Coach Community Olympic Develop. Program, Former Nat.

                        Team Def.

                Molly Engstrom, ’06 Olympic Team Def., Awarded ’07 World Championship Top

                         Defenseman

                Chanda Gunn, ’06 Olympic Team goalie, Assistant Coach Northeastern University

                Katie King, ’98, ’02, ’06 U.S. Olympic Team forward, Head Coach Boston College

                Kristin King, ’06 Olympic Team forward

                Shelley Lonney, ’98 & ’02 U.S. Olympic Team forward, Former NTDP Coach

                Christian Yngve, former Head Coach Swedish Women’s Olympic Team

The program was expanded this year from 4 to 5 weekends.  In addition we added a designated goalie coach to the staff for 4 out of the 5 weekends.

TAHA Community Olympic Development Program (CODP) Team

After making a successful showing last year, TAHA was again invited to send a team of our best high school age players to the CODP Festival in Minneapolis.  The core of players was selected at TAC, while the remaining players have been picked up through their hard work in TXPDP.  All TAHA CODP Team members are required to participate in TXPDP, which is utilized as preparation for the Festival.  The team will travel to Minneapolis from July 27-29.

Developing the Base

Despite our success at the elite levels, there is still a great need to develop the base number of girls playing in TAHA.  Dallas and Houston both have recreational level girls’ teams, but we need such programs in every city throughout the Affiliate.  The hope is to ultimately have recreational and Tier II programs in every city.  The District implemented a championship for recreational level teams this year, which was attended by the Houston team.  We hope to be represented by more Texas teams in the future.  In order to get to a healthy base for girls’ & women’s hockey, we need everyone to encourage and invite girls into the sport through Learn to Skate, Learn to Play and Initiation programs.  USA Hockey will provide free posters aimed at marking girls.  Please contact me for further information or any ideas you may have to help improve participation.

Respectfully,

Shelly Pottorf

TAHA Girls’ & Women’s Section President

Spottorf@jacksonryan.com