KVHA Announces Tryouts for U-16 & U-18 Teams
Kent, WA. May 28, 2008 – Kent Valley Hockey Association (KVHA) has scheduled July 12th & 13th, 2008, for tryouts for their Kent Valley Selects U-16 and U-18 teams. The tryouts will be held at KVHA’s home ice at the Kent Valley Ice Centre in Kent, Washington. Kent Valley Ice Centre is located 10 minutes from Sea-Tac Airport.
Registration for the two day tryout is only $40. KVHA will accept registrations through July 3rd, 2008. All participants must be pre-registered with USA Hockey for the 2008/2009 season. USA Hockey registration is available on-line at www.USAHockey.com.
The primary purpose of KVHA’s U-16 & U-18 program is to provide an exciting opportunity for players 17 and under to develop their hockey skills and participate with KVHA in the development of a nationally recognized hockey-skill development program. A secondary benefit of the program is to provide an elite hockey program that will allow local players to pursue an elite level of hockey skill development and competition without having to leave the area.
KVHA’s inaugural 2007/2008 U-16 “AAA” team had a successful season achieving their primary goal of skill development and exposure for all of their players. Seven players were invited to Western Hockey League (WHL) tryout camps this summer. Three players are currently on protected lists of WHL teams. In addition, Select players received numerous other invitations to BCHL, USHL and other Jr. “A” tryout camps. At the conclusion of the season, two players were selected to represent the Pacific District at the USA Hockey Select 16 camp and three were listed and ranked by USHL Central Scouting.
The U-16 & U-18 programs will emphasize skill development with 3 to 4 weekly on-ice practices and 3 to 4 dry-land sessions through Kent Physical Therapy and Sports Performance Center. The team will also bring in credentialed guest instructors to supplement their coaching staff. Both teams will play an all-tournament schedule which will include key tournaments in B.C. and throughout the United States.
Les Grauer will serve as Head Coach for the U-16 and U-18 programs. Grauer has extensive coaching and playing experience and is eminently qualified to lead these teams. Specifically:
- 16 year youth level coach (Europe and USA) 80-84, 96-07
- 3 time nominee, 2 time winner Rep. Division Coach of the Year
- 3 years Assist. Coach semi-pro (Europe) 80-83
- Assist. Coach Spanish National Team Group C World Championships Budapest Hungary 83
- 1 year Head Coach semi-pro (Europe) 83-84
- 1 year Head Coach University of Wisconsin Junior Varsity, 79-80
- 1 year Graduate Assistant Coach University of Wisconsin under “Badger” Bob Johnson, 79-80
Les Grauer’s playing experience includes:
- 4 years semi-pro, 80-84
- 4 years Division I University of Wisconsin 75-79
- Member University of Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame
- Member All-Time top 100 scorers University of Wisconsin
- 2 Time MVP University of Wisconsin, 77 & 79
- NCAA Division I National Champion 77
- NCAA Division I National Competitor 78
- Captain Senior Year
- 1 year Tier I Junior A Regina Pats, 74-75
- 2 years Tier II Junior A Regina Pat Blues, 72-74
- 2 Time Saskatchewan Junior League All Star, 73 & 74
- Saskatchewan Junior League All Star Game MVP, 74
While at Wisconsin, he met and married wife Jill. Les and Jill have three children, all playing hockey. Les is Director of Operations for Kent Valley Ice Centre.
Lexi Doner will be General Manager for the teams. Lexi grew up in Kent playing hockey at the Burien Ice Chalet. He played for Sno-King Amateur Hockey Association through Midgets. As a second year Midget he captained the Sno-King Midgets to the Tier-1 National Championships finishing second to Massachusetts 2-0. He played one year of Juniors for the Northwest Americans Hockey Club where he was an league All-Star, Rookie of the Year, and Runner-up in League scoring. Lexi played at Phillips Andover Academy near Boston as a high-school senior. While at Andover, he was accepted to Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Princeton and Brown, but chose the University of Wisconsin based on their top-ranked Division I hockey program and their Real Estate program, his intended major course of study.
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