Dear U14,
My name is Matthew Boucher, and it is with great pride, humility and excitement that I accept the head coaching position for the U14 Romans this year. For those of you that don’t know me, I have been involved with coaching for the past 7-years. I have been the assistant coach for the Romans for the past 2-years, prior to that I have been a trainer and assistant coach for house A, B and C, and head coach for house level hockey as well as head coach for my Spring Chickens.
The 2024-2025 season will be one like no other with introducing physical contact into the game and reintroducing pathways for this level. If you are unaware of pathways for hockey, I would strongly recommend following this link and reading through it: HEO-Pathways
As we embark on a new season, I want to take a moment to share with you the expectations and values that will guide us as a team. Hockey is a sport of skill, grit, speed, and strategy, but above all, it’s a team sport. Our success this season will depend not just on individual talent, but on our collective commitment to each other, to our goals, and to the values that define our team.
Team Comes First
Every decision we make, every action we take, should be guided by one principle: the team comes first. This means putting the needs of the team above your own, whether it’s on the ice during a game, in practice, or in how you conduct yourself off the ice. When we all commit to this mindset, we create a culture of trust, respect, and unity that will propel us forward.
Accountability
Accountability is not just a word; it’s a standard we must all uphold. You are accountable to your teammates, to your coaches, and to yourself. This means being prepared for every practice, every game, and every challenge. It means accepting responsibility for your actions and decisions, both on and off the ice. If you make a mistake, own it, learn from it, and move on. If you see a teammate struggling, step up and help them. We rise and fall together, and accountability is what keeps us moving in the right direction.
Physical and Mental Preparation
To compete at the highest level, you must be in peak physical and mental condition. This means coming to training camp in hockey shape and maintaining that condition throughout the season. Your body and your mind are your most important tools, so take care of them—be focused, be resilient, and be ready to push through challenges. Preparation is not just about the physical; it’s about being mentally tough and ready to compete every single shift of every single game on every single day. At this age and level, effort and a desire to win is mandatory. This is required by every player on the ice, and it is something that will be observed and marked on during the tryouts.
Academic Excellence
As much as I expect you to be champions on the ice, I also expect you to be champions in the classroom. Maintaining good grades is not just a requirement; it’s a reflection of your discipline, work ethic, and commitment to excellence in all areas of your life. Hockey can open doors, but education will give you the foundation to succeed long after your playing days are over.
Leadership in the Community
Each of you is a representative of this team, your school, and this community. I expect you to be a positive force in the community, to carry yourselves with pride and professionalism, and to set an example for others to follow. With that I would like to instigate a mandatory 10-hour volunteer plan for each player and team over the duration of the season. I will be pushing for each Romans player to connect with the U10 and younger hockey teams to volunteer their time and give back to our community.
Tryouts
For tryouts I will be doing something a little different this year and to stay in line with my philosophy. For every tryout session I expect the players to show up 1-hour prior to the allotted ice-time. I will be conducting an off-ice physical fitness assessment. The assessment will be broken down into three groups:
1. Beep Test
2. Max Push-up, max sit-up and max squat
3. 1-mile run.
I’m looking for a minimum level of overall physical fitness from players. During the season we will be conducting a lot of workout sessions off the ice. A strong body creates a strong mind!
Team Fees and Tournaments
Team Fees will be maxed out at $700 per player this season.
This year with pathways being followed, we are allowed up to 4-tournaments. I intend to have the team play in all four tournaments.
1. Bluesfest Ottawa – Local - September 27th
2. Peter Mancuso – Niagara Falls – November 1st
3. Smith Falls – November 24th
4. We are currently on two waitlists; the plan is to have 1 tournament in the new year; between the last two weeks of January to the first two weeks of February.
The first game of the season starts October 18th. and the final games are on February 9th. February 15th is when the round robin to the playoff tournament kicks off.
Fundraisers and sponsors
I would like to do 1 fundraiser during the season. Ideally a golf tournament or a bowling tournament around September/October. I am open to suggestions for any other ideas which we can cover in the coaches/parents meeting. Also, we will try to gather additional funding from sponsors.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone that comes out and gives it their all. Hockey in my opinion is the greatest sport on the planet and I’m thrilled to see what we can accomplish this year. The Romans organization has truly been blessed with great kids, fun parents and an amazing community. It’s my intention to give back to the association by having our best season yet!
Sincerely,
Matthew Boucher
Head Coach, Romans U14
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