AP RAIDERS U16BB (25/26) - COACH PROFILE & TEAM INFORMATION
HEAD COACH - DEAN EASTMAN
I am extremely excited to be afforded the opportunity to both mentor and coach your athlete this season. I am a parent coach and I have been coaching minor hockey since 2006, at many different levels of play (AA, A, MD, HL). I have vast experience in various capacities (head coach, assistant coach, trainer), coaching different age groups (2009 and 2011 birth years), in various minor hockey associations around Durham Region (Clarington, Whitby, and Oshawa).
What type of coach am I?
“Passionate” would be the best word to define what I bring to this season’s team. One of my key strengths is fostering and building long-lasting relationships. I am honest and accountable in all that I do and always lead by example.
ABOUT MY LEADERSHIP GROUP ("COACHING TEAM")
In all my years of coaching, I have had much success by surrounding my teams with hockey-rich mentors whose sole objective is making your athlete the best that he/she can be, both on-and-off the ice. My immediate goal is to hire a full-time goalie coach as one of my two, assistant coaches for this season’s U16BB team.
I am currently recruiting non-parent bench staff. My leadership group will consist of both non-parent and parent bench staff and I have an extensive process for selecting my team staff.
A successful team is a collaborative one and that will be my primary objective in building our team culture, which includes both our players and our leadership group.
MY PROGRAM
The teams that I have lead previously, have been successful both on-and-off the ice and have had tons of fun. I will focus on three main pillars that will form the foundation for our team: building identity, comradery and authenticity. These are the pillars that our team culture will be built upon.
We will be entering four tournaments this season. Of these four tournaments, I aim to register our team for at least one out-of-province tournament, most likely in the Province of Quebec.
ICE TIMES
Last year’s team (U15BB) observed in excess of 100 hours of ice and the ice times were all prime time and easy for families. With three facilities and nine ice pads, our team will have as much ice as needed to run my program. Our team’s ice time will generally be fixed to specific days and time so there is no guessing, week-to-week, when we will be on the ice.
THE ASSOCIATION
What sets us ‘AP’art' is that APR is definitely the place to play for your athlete. This will be my second consecutive season as ‘AP’art' of this association and by far, the only place to play that will bring enjoyment, success and long-lasting, good memories for your athlete and family.
The APMHA 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 MHA 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 APMHA has a solid foundation of continuous and unwavering support for our Coaches, Players and AP Raiders’ families.