Welcome to Something New and Exciting!
Minnesota Hook AAA Hockey Development.
We believe hockey should be a fun and enjoyable experience for the entire family and extended family. Our goal is to create an environment that the players enjoy coming to the rink and working on their game through practice. Our practices will be planned and organized with a mixture of skill development, skating and game situations at a high tempo. We feel our MN Hook players should be well rounded and are encouraged to play other sports in May, June and July.
Coach Des will oversee the entire program (all teams) and will use Coach’s Discretion on Player Personnel, Team Placement, Positions and Operations.
By design, we are not your typical AAA program. We are something totally different.
We are for players that love hockey, love to train, love to skate, and love to learn. We are for families that just want their child to play hockey first and foremost. We are not solely based on skill level and do not have players participate in an evaluation process.
The Minnesota Hook’s focus is for players and families to come together for the best hockey and family experience. We look for players to continue to grow as hockey players, teammates, leaders, and sons and daughters. We will help build hockey skills, character, and leadership. We will participate in open level AAA tournaments.
Our experience has been positive with the players and families coming together from a variety of hockey backgrounds and associations. Our inaugural team had a variation of players from advanced Mites to Squirt A players, but more importantly, we have a family dynamic that supports the players and coaches. We are excited to continue this through the years with Minnesota Hook.
Hockey players that love to play hockey at the A, B, and occasionally C level, any position, any gender. If you are respectful, committed to working on your game and enjoy your teammates the Minnesota Hook is right for you. We will have a Code of Conduct on how we operate.
For 2019, we are hosting teams for 2007 and 2008 players.
2007 Team Pacific
Forward ($850) – FULL
Defense ($850) – FULL
Goaltender ($650) – FULL
Practice Player** ($450) – Limited Space
2007 Team Atlantic
Forward ($850) – 1 Spot Left
Defense ($850) – 1 Spot Left
Goaltender ($650) – FULL
Practice Player** ($450) – Limited Space
Both 2007 teams will host 2007 and 2008 birth years. 2009 players will be accepted on a limited basis.
Missed out on one of our teams? Get on the waitlist by emailing us today.
*Tuition will be split into two installments with half upon registration and the balance due in February 2019.
**Practice Players attend all team practices and team events (excluding Tournament weekends) but do not participate in tournament games. Limited to just 4 players per team.
***All tuition is non-refundable.
April 12-14 (Border Battle AAA Tournament)
May 2-5 (Shock Doctor Shootout)
May (Play other sports)
June (Go Fishing!)
July (Family Time)
August 2-4 (Blaze Cup AAA Tournament)
3 tournaments (April, May, and August)
20 hours of practice with a professional coach
9 forwards per team
6 defenseman per team
2 goaltenders per team
4 practice players (3F/1D) per team
All practices at All Seasons Arena (Mankato, MN)
Home and away game jerseys
Home and away game socks
Des Christopher
Head Coach & Director
Education
Master Degree in Education Administration
Playing Experience
Collegiate: Minnesota State University NCAA Division 1 – Team MVP and Senior Male Athlete of the year at MNSU.
Professional: Adendorfer EC – Germany and WPHL
Entrepreneur
The Goalie Club- 2002-to Current
Coaching
Coach Des has Coach and trained over 100 players reach NCAA and Professional Ranks. He has 5 USA National Championship titles as Assistant Coach and 21 USA Hockey Championship Titles as Shattuck St. Mary’s Director of Goaltending. He was named Head Coach of the U16 Prep team at Shattuck St. Mary's in November 2017.
Biography
Coach Des is a native of Calgary, AB, where he played youth and Junior Hockey. Des attended and played for Minnesota State University (MSUM) from 1995-1998 where he earned team MVP his senior year as well as the Senior Male athlete of the year award. Coach Des played Professional hockey from 1998-2000 in Germany and United States before volunteering as goaltending coach at MSUM from 2000-2009. Together with former goaltending partner, Craig Lindsey, Des formed TGC in 2002. In April 2005 TGC was selected as, and continues to be, the goaltending choice of National Champion Shattuck St. Mary’s (SSM) Prep School in Faribault, MN (TGC provides goaltending consultants to SSM). Over the years, Coach Des has helped numerous goaltending prospects move on to the college and pro ranks, such as: Oscar Dansk (Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL), Kevin Murdock (Lake Superior State University, WCHA), Nick Kossoff (Lake Superior State University, WCHA), Brady Hjelle (Tulsa Oilers, ECHL), Eric Schierhorn (University of Minnestoa, B1G), Austin Lee (Minnesota State University, WCHA), Cole Huggins (Minnesota State University, WCHA), Peter Traber (Harvard University, ECAC), Taylor Crosby (Northeastern University, Hockey East), Tyler Bruggeman (St. Scholastica Saints, NCHA), Anthony Brodeur (Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL).
SSM has captured 21 National Championship's since joining forces with The Goalie Club. The following teams brought home Championship titles over the years:
Girls Prep: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2017
Girls U16: 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Bantam Boys U14: 2014, 2016
Boys Prep U18: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014
Boys U16: 2015, 2016
Coach Des owns a Masters Degree in Education Administration and has coached goaltenders for over 25 years. Coach, his wife Liz, and twins Claire and Liam, reside in Mankato, MN with dog Kipper.
Ryan Schwalbe
First Mate - Pacific
Coach Ryan Schwalbe is currently a senior forward for the Minnesota State University Mavericks and pursuing a degree in Finance. Coach Ryan is born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and began playing outdoor hockey at the age of three. Growing up Coach Ryan wore an Anchorage NorthStar and AllStar’s jersey until the age of 13. In those years he learned the fundamentals and fell in love with the game.
Between U14 – U17 he attended four USA Hockey Development camps in Rochester, NY. In 2008 he began attending school at Shuttuck St. Mary’s in Faribault, MN. Coach Ryan was an honor roll student and played for the Bantam Tier I, U16 and Prep teams. Coach Ryan won USA Hockey National Championships his Junior and Senior year in high school. Behind the bench were Coach Des Christopher and Coach Tom Ward, now Assistant Coach of the Buffalo Sabres.
Following high school graduation, Coach Ryan spent one season in the British Columbia Hockey League and two seasons in the United States Hockey League. In his final season of Junior Hockey, he was fortunate enough to be captain of the Sioux Falls Stampede. Coach Ryan led the team to winning a Clark Cup Championship before attending Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Over the past five years, Coach Ryan has spent the summers coaching young hockey players in Mankato. In addition, he returns to Stattuck St. Mary’s High School to coach youth hockey schools. Coach Ryan is a great role model to youth hockey and his teammates. He loves sharing his knowledge and the love of hockey.
Teddy Doherty
Head Coach - Atlantic
Coach Teddy Doherty is currently the Assistant Coach for the Shattuck – St. Mary’s U18 Prep Team and Skill Development Coach. Originally from Hopkinton, MA, Coach Teddy played hockey at Shattuck his freshman – junior years of high school. He won a National Championship at the U18 level before playing his senior year in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Following high school Coach Teddy played hockey at Boston College.
Teddy DohertyCoach Teddy captained the Boston College Eagles his senior season, which included a Beanpot Championship and a Frozen Four berth. Throughout his college career, he played both forward and defense, registering a total of 80 points. Coach Teddy was a John A. "Snooks" Kelly Memorial Award recipient in both his junior and senior seasons,that is an award given to a Boston College hockey player who best exemplifies Boston College Hockey. Graduating in May 2016, he received his degree in English. After his college career, Coach Teddy attended the Predators Development Camp and played one year of professional hockey in the ECHL and the AHL.
Coach Des is pleased to have Coach Teddy and Reid join the Hook. They are ready to share their experiences, passion and knowledge to the Hook Players.
Reid Brown
First Mate - Atlantic
Coach Reid Brown is currently a junior forward at Gustavus Adolphus College, majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Management. Coach Reid is originally from Superior, Colorado and grew up playing youth hockey. While growing up he looked forward to going to the rink to spend time with his teammates and playing the game he loves. This has carried on throughout high school and college.
Reid BrownHe ventured to Minnesota to play high school hockey at Shattuck–St. Mary’s. After playing four years at Shattuck, Coach Reid played Junior Hockey in British Columbia, Maine, New York and Wisconsin before joining Gustavus Adolphus College.
Coach Reid has coached U16 hockey players the past three summers at Shattuck in addition to assisting with Shattuck St. Mary’s Hockey School. Coach Des was Reid’s first hockey coach at Shattuck and have remained in contact ever since. Coach Reid is another example of how hard work and perseverance has paid off. Coach Des is proud to have Reid aboard the Minnesota Hook coaching staff.
1 Reviews
What a wonderful season! Unsure what to expect with AAA hockey as our family is new, yet all expectations were met. Great team, great coaches, great families. Our player is excited for 2019!
1 Reviews
Great coaching staff, very positive experience. Ice time was well utilized but not overwhelming. True team experience with family involvement.
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