AP RAIDERS U14 A (25/26) - COACH PROFILE & TEAM INFORMATION
HEAD COACH - BRIAN CRAWFORD
My name is Brian Crawford and I am excited to have the opportunity to coach the U14A team this upcoming season.
With 10 years of experience coaching minor hockey with the Ajax Pickering Hockey Association, as well as Durham West Lightning, I have a passion for developing young athletes. I believe my skill set and leadership experience make me ideal to help elevate the performance of your player both on and off the ice.
I was the Head Coach of the AP Raiders U13A team during the 2024-2025 season and I have held the Head Coach role for the past three years (U11A and U12A). During this time, I have successfully led my teams to develop their technical skills, enhance their teamwork, and build their confidence. My Development 1 certification has further strengthened my ability to create structured, high-impact training sessions that are tailored to the needs of young athletes.
In addition to my coaching experience, I have played competitive hockey at a high level in the GTHL and continue to play today. My experience on the ice gives me a unique perspective on player development; my ability to relate to, and motivate, athletes is something I take great pride in.
Beyond hockey, I currently lead a team of 18 sales professionals at Johnson Controls, where I have honed my leadership, communication and organizational skills. Leading a successful team in a corporate environment has strengthened my ability to motivate individuals toward a shared goal, something I find equally rewarding when coaching young athletes. Whether in a business or athletic context, I am driven by the opportunity to help others succeed and achieve their full potential.
Hockey is my passion and I find immense fulfillment in seeing young players grow both on and off the ice. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my knowledge, experience, and leadership to the U14A Team.
MY PROGRAM & COACHING PHILOSOPHY
My coaching philosophy revolves around the belief that player development is paramount at this age level. I adhere to the Hockey Canada development model, focusing on a balanced approach: 40% on technical skills, 15% on individual tactics, 20% on team tactics, 15% on team play, and 10% on strategy. I design practice plans that incorporate these elements, ensuring players receive a well-rounded and comprehensive development experience. I will also be engaging the weekly services of outside development groups to focus specifically on skating enhancement, individual skill tactics and dedicated Goaltender development. Furthermore, I strongly believe in the value of off-ice team-building and will regularly organize events to foster camaraderie and teamwork, such as off ice fitness training, video review sessions, training camp activities, team parties and community volunteer work. Throughout this program, the goal is to help players develop not just as athletes, but as individuals.
Tournaments play a large part in not only player development but building team cohesiveness and an opportunity for all players to have fun. I will be looking to enter our team in 4-5 Tournaments for the upcoming season, with 1-2 being out of town. Over the past few seasons, my teams have competed in the Gene Harrington Classic Tournament in Buffalo and The CANAM Lake Placid Tournament, both have been incredibly successful on and off the ice and have become a favorite memory during the players hockey season.
PAST COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS
One of the greatest rewards of coaching for me, is seeing players improve throughout the season. I pride myself on creating an environment where players feel challenged and supported, enabling them to reach their full potential. Notable achievements from my past seasons include advancing in the Lakeshore playoffs, medaling in multiple tournaments, including the Gene Harrington Classic in Buffalo and most recently in the CANAM Lake Placid tournament. These successes are a direct reflection of the hard work, dedication, and teamwork instilled in our players throughout the season.
ICE TIME
There is no shortage of ice with the APMHA; teams are always given prime-time ice times, with plenty of ice for our practices, games and development. Practices and games are scheduled at the beginning of the season and are typically set on a weekly basis, providing consistency to families and their schedule. As in previous seasons, I will be putting the U14A team forward for extra weekly ice and often pick up extra ice provided by the association. Last season, my program was approximately 130 hours of ice, excluding tournaments and away games, and I will aim for a similar ice allotment for the 2025-2026 season.
AP RAIDERS ASSOCIATION
Ajax Pickering Raiders is the place to play.
The Ajax Pickering Minor Hockey Association has a dedicated Board of Directors and Executive that are all non-parent members, eliminating any perceived conflict of interest or favoritism; their dedication to our Minor Hockey Association is limitless, with no personal gain other than the success of our Association and its players/teams. We have a full administrative staff to support parents and players through all aspects of the season. The Ajax Pickering Minor Hockey Association has a solid foundation of continuous and unwavering support for our Coaches, Players and AP Raiders families.