The Langley Rivermen Junior Hockey Team is a member of the British Columbia Hockey League (“BCHL”). The Henderson family acquired the team three years ago and have successfully recruited hockey players to play in the BCHL over that time. The team has been very successful in that during the past season they finished first overall in the league which comprises sixteen teams.
The Langley Rivermen now wishes to start developing young hockey players who have a desire to play hockey at an elite level and continue on to playing in the BCHL with the hope of obtaining a scholarship to a NCAA University. The Langley Rivermen have been extremely successful in their recruiting on over the three year period having obtained 23 such scholarships for their players.
The Langley Rivermen will start a Development Program in late September 2014 with players that are born between 2001-2008. The players taking part in the Development Program will be the base for an elite spring team to be formed to play in the Lower Mainland scheduled tournaments. They may also attend tournaments in the United States. The teams will be called the Langley Junior Rivermen. Their jerseys (home, away and practice) will be exact replicas of the Langley Rivermen Junior Hockey Team.
Our mission for the Langley Junior Rivermen Spring Team will not be all about winning at all costs rather, it will be devoted to providing a fun and positive atmosphere for all players regardless of their skill level. We will strive to increase individual self-esteem, confidence and positive habits such as self-discipline and internal drive and motivation. This will assist each player to become the best they can be which will lead towards long-term success and development in any future endeavour. They will also learn to respect and support their fellow teammates and coaching staff which will provide them life skills for their bright futures. We hope to develop a mindset that guides them towards specific goals for self improvement and to develop an unwavering spirit to overcome some of life’s obstacles and to become a successful achiever. They will be taught to live by a set of principles and standards that can be applied to daily living. Our ultimate goal is to develop each player to reach their highest potential as a hockey player as well high individual personal standards to demonstrate respect for all.
The Langley Rivermen Junior Hockey Team will provide the following:
- Top quality coaches with professional, Junior and NCAA experience. The teams will be coached by Bobby Henderson, the head coach and general manager with the Rivermen and Burt Henderson, the Skill Development coach for the Rivermen. There will also be guest instructors with Junior “A” experience and we will attempt to have some NCAA coaches/scouts run some practices and development.
- The team will hold various seminars on nutrtion and provide our own Langley Rivermen educational advisor Ross Bebee to assist players and parents on making informed decisions on present and future schooling. This may involve the recommendation of specific tutoring for players to achieve a grade point average. Sometimes parents have no problem paying money for private hockey development and possibly should be mixing this with specific subject tutoring.
- The players will also receive power skating instruction from top quality instructors who are specifically trained to instruct power skating.
