skip navigation

With the ADM, Wildcats Hockey Gives Players Tools to Learn

05/01/2015, 2:45pm MDT
By Mike Scandura - Special to USAHockey.com

California association thriving as an USA Hockey Model Association

Hockey is not a full-time commitment for the kids who participate in Wildcats Hockey in Riverside, California.

“The younger ages that play baseball, soccer and football, we encourage that,” said Ben Frank, the association president. “We have options in the spring but specifically make it a point to encourage athletes to play other sports.

“Some kids play on other teams and miss a hockey practice. We’re supportive of that. We want them to play other sports. We know that’s going to create fewer chances of burnout and enable them to become better hockey players.”

That approach, supported by USA Hockey’s American Development Model, has worked for the Wildcats.

Frank and his wife, Joyce, started the Wildcats in 2011, after having moved to the area from Canada. Frank, who had been a Junior A and college player in Canada, began working at a roller hockey rink and eventually transitioned to an ice hockey coaching role with the team known then as the Anaheim Wildcats.

“Hockey was an extreme passion in our lives,” he said. “We shared the passion for youth sports and the role they played in our lives. In 2011, we made the decision to go from running clinics to starting the Wildcats.

“We started offering tournaments. From 2011-14 we started to develop what kind of organization we wanted to be.”

A big part of that vision involved embracing the ADM. The Wildcats have since become a USA Hockey Model Association and are affiliated with the Positive Coaching Alliance. Model Associations are those that have fully committed to implementing the ADM’s age-appropriate, age-specific skill development throughout the 8U, 10U and 12U ranks.

Embracing these guidelines was easy for the Wildcats, who were determined to give kids a chance to develop to their full potential and to give them every possible resource to do so.

“Rather than wins or losses, with age-appropriate development we wanted to focus on families,” Frank said. “We thought the PCA evolved the off-ice things regarding what we wanted to stand for in terms of the culture of the organization. We wanted it to be a breeding ground for kids to develop life skills.

“Hockey was such an important part of our lives. We wanted to make sure we had the same effect on kids. We want to give every kid the opportunity to be successful not only as a hockey player but also as a person.”

For the Wildcats to be successful, the association emphasized skill development, not a win-at-all-costs mentality, to its coaches.

“For the leadership group, it hasn’t been difficult at all,” Frank said of the Wildcats philosophy. “It took a re-focusing on what was important. I took a step back and decided what type or organization we wanted to be. Once that was clear, we realized what the purpose of the organization is.

“From the leadership perspective, we don’t have any internal battles. As for communicating that to parents, it’s an ongoing process. It’s our job to communicate the message regarding what’s best for their kids.” 

Frank said the ADM has lined up perfectly with what the Wildcats have been trying to accomplish.

“As for the players, it’s been 100 percent positive,” Frank said. “The younger kids have had more fun than ever playing hockey. Our practice attendance has gone up. We have three practices per week, and the boys seem to be enjoying the sport a lot more. We believe in keeping kids engaged, moving and smiling.”

The Wildcats received the Model Association designation before this past season. It’s a decision Frank does not regret one bit.

“It’s great for us to have the backing of USA Hockey along with the resources that our regional manager sends us,” Frank said. “That support has accelerated the process of education for parents in terms of communicating well with them. … I knew it was going to take some time to get everybody on board. But it’s happened so quickly. We do surveys with parents regarding satisfaction and this year it’s been off the charts.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

Recent News

Michigan Womens's Ice Hockey Team - by Nolan Bona
  • The Game Lives On

  • 03/13/2024, 10:15am MDT , By Clara Boudette
  • The University of Michigan Women’s Ice Hockey Team Embraces Domestic & Global Opportunities American College Hockey Association Provides
  • Read More
The Lady Duck "We Play Her Way" program smiles for a photograph on the ice.
Group Picture of the adaptive hockey on-ice event. They are wearing Victory Green Dallas Stars jerseys and black and orange jerseys as they pose for a picture on the ice.
A young boy, in a black Bauer helmet and a navy USA Hockey/NHL jersey sits on the ice and smiles during Try Hockey For Free Day
The Grow Colorado Goalies clinic takes a group photo, with coaches and young goaltenders on the ice.
The Irish Youth Hockey League hosting a Try Hockey For Free Event. Young girls on the ice pose for a photograph after the event.
The Over-80 USA Hockey Team, comprised of players from eight different states (New Hampshire, Minnesota, Alaska, Massachusetts, Colorado, Illinois, Florida and California), came together in the Fall of 2023 to compete in the Canada 150 Cup tournament in B
Four officials stand together on the ice for the Chitpole All-American Game
The gold medal men’s ice hockey game at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

Most Popular Articles

10U: Hockey Sense Before Systems

01/17/2024, 1:15pm MST
By Michael Rand

Problem Solving and Playing with Pressure at 10U

24 Tips for Raising Young Hockey Players

07/22/2017, 7:30am MDT
By USA Hockey

14U/16: Train Like the NTDP

01/10/2024, 4:30pm MST
By Michael Rand

The Science of Strength Training with NTDP’s Brian Galivan

Tag(s): Home  News & Multimedia