Whaler Nation’s 2016/17 Season Introduction
It’s with great excitement, all of us at Whaler Nation anticipate the upcoming hockey season. The tremendous success and player development within the Chilled Ponds Hockey League (CPHL) programming has led to the new Chilled Ponds High Performance (CPHP) segment which is designed to offer players and families an intermediate experience of the Whaler’s travel hockey experience and lifestyle. Our Families have come to recognize the successful pathway of many Whalers who are now playing in the USPHL, NAHL, USHL, and NCAA and wish the same for our future Junior aged players. The High Performance program allows families another pathway to the Hampton Roads Whalers Travel Hockey teams.
The Whalers will field a U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 teams for the upcoming season. As per our mission statement, the Whalers continue developing local players for successful play at our Junior Hockey segment. We have great pride to announce that 6 players have advanced to the Junior Whalers USP3HL this season from the Whalers U16 Futures team, Charles Dubose, Jason Horn, Noah Kramer, Adam Campbell, Nolan Cavanagh, and Tyler Dienna. Additionally, 3 players advanced to the USPHL Elite team this season, Brandon Osmundson, Zach Alvarado, and John Moncovich.
There is plenty to look forward to with Whaler Nation’s USP3HL and Elite teams this season, who have been training since early July to get into shape for the 2016-17 season with great new talent and expectations to bring another Championship to Hampton Roads. This season will feature the 2nd consecutive USPHL South Showcase at the Chilled Ponds from September 30th-October 3rd. This year’s event will showcase 24 USPHL teams competing in 47 games over 4 days.
We had a chance to catch up with Whalers Nation Executive Chairman Patrick Cavanagh about his thoughts on hockey, Whaler Nation youth, Junior, and the Chilled Ponds this upcoming season.
Tell us about Whaler Nation’s history to its current day?
"Whaler Nation is a result of many great people who put forth tremendous effort and sacrifice to establish the gift of playing and enjoying the sport of hockey. It has been a life’s mission of mine to provide players the same high level training methods and opportunities as those in traditional geographic hockey regions across the globe. This is a daily challenge in Chesapeake, VA where hockey as a sport has few multi-generation enthusiasts. Therefore we remain committed to establishing a successful hockey culture that shares the benefits of the great sport of hockey with many and produces our most dedicated players to athletic and scholastic goals reserved for the elite players in the world. Successes are measured on multiple levels from learn to play hockey through to our Junior Hockey teams at the top of our regions developmental pyramid.”
What traits do you look for in Junior players?
“We place great emphasis on attracting good young people to our program first and foremost. As the top players in our region, they carry a responsibility to our hockey community, one which places a premium on hard work, commitment to achieve, and pride in the Whalers Program and the opportunities it offers. This certainly ties into the culture items mentioned prior and is a topic constantly referred to at Whaler Nation’s leadership and planning meetings.”
Tell us about the USPHL Elite Championship? What does it mean to you and Whaler Nation? And those incredible Championship Rings…?
"It is a tremendous accomplishment for the Whalers to have won the USPHL Championship and also to come runner up in the USP3HL finals. Our Elite team was a committed and determined group who will forever be remembered in this community for the 48-6-2 season record. The Championship rings represent the pride we have in the Players and Coaching staff that were able to secure such a prestigious Championship. Much thought went into the design of the rings and each aspect of the ring directly represents the history of Whalers Junior Hockey."
Many Junior programs have not survived or been as successful as Whaler Nation, what has been its path to success?
"Whaler Nation’s Junior hockey path has been one of breaking barriers and restrictions placed on our geographic location and relatively small participation base vs more traditional and established programs in the north. I can spend all day talking about the series of challenges, leagues succeeding, leagues failing and related politics that prevented, hindered, and/or jeopardized the Whalers growth. There have been a select few of our peers that shared our passion and commitment for Junior hockey and have shouldered the early obstacles. Specifically talking about the Whalers, I would say that our consistent Junior program success was an item that has paved the way to our acceptance the USPHL, which has been a fantastic league to be a part of.”
What has made Whaler Nation so successful and a nationally recognized Junior program?
"Whaler Nation’s player development and subsequent advancement has exceeded most expectations when measured on any level of Junior Hockey. A by- product of those player advancements has resulted in our USPHL Championship season at the Elite level and the Runner up at the USP3HL which has been proceeded by consecutive winning seasons. This type of success has established a trust and respect factor from University hockey coaches, the USHL, NAHL and Premier league Coaches who have come to expect quality players and attributes that also lead to next level success. The Whalers objective is to move players to the next level. Our Coaching staff understands the hierarchy of the leagues. The highest compliment we can receive is a player that excels at the next level of play and represents the next team with pride and greatness.”
What trends in the Junior levels and landscape do you recognize?
“We are entering our 11th year in Junior Hockey and have got to know and work with some many great hockey people who have also made player development and advancement their life’s work. While we are all in a competitive environment, the respect factor and common trait that joins us is always evident. So many of the leaders also played high level University or Professional hockey, so it is refreshing to renew the comradery with hockey people who I have known for many years in different stages of our life. There are changes each and every year in USA Junior hockey, especially at the tier 3 level which encompasses several leagues and levels of play that are understood by those involved but at times are purposely confused by some within that broad USAH classification. Most recognize the USHL as the country’s highest level of play which is the only league classified as Tier 1. There is currently only one Tier 2 program within USAH, the NAHL, which like the USHL is also a no-pay developmental league with great success. The USPHL Premier and Elite leagues are next in the player developmental depth chart with tremendous success on the East Coast, boasting many player advancements year after year. In my experience, the NAHL and Premier league are comparable in talent, competition levels, and also player advancement. Many of the best players on the East Coast tend to stay with programs that are nearby because of the incredible amount of D1 and D3 players who advance from the USPHL, so the hierarchy of leagues can be debated several different ways, especially when you compare specific programs to the different leagues. The USPHL coaching staffs are excellent as a whole which also fuels the level of play and player development.”