DEVELOPMENT
Our coaches are designed to cultivate player growth, enhance skills and drive success for all our players. Our staff has a wide variety of skills and specializations that are pivotal to our players’ development. Since 1968, 224 players have been drafted into the OHL, with 23 in the past two seasons.
Vice President of Hockey Operations Kurtis Foster believes a winning culture is built on strong principles, high standards, and a commitment to player development. Foster has extensive experience in professional hockey as a player and coach across all levels. He ensures that players receive the tools and mentorship needed to excel from all the staff on and off the ice. This includes a video room at the Healthy Planet Arena for all teams to use.
Sports Performance Coach Mike Temple of Temple Coaching Solutions is pivotal in helping young hockey players elevate their development on and off the ice as needed. By focusing on mental resilience, confidence-building and stress management, he equips athletes with the psychological tools to perform at their best in high-pressure situations. His expertise ensures that athletes enhance their physical skills and develop the mental toughness required for long-term success in hockey and beyond.
Players develop power skating through specialist Ashlea Jones of Ashlea Jones Athletes, who also serves as the technical skating coach for the OHL’s Peterborough Petes. Jones has competed at nearly the highest levels of skating competitions and is a five-time Olympic qualifier in figure skating. With over 17 years of experience in training, Jones helps train and mentor anyone who goes through her program to succeed in all aspects of skating.
Andrew Verner is the current Goaltending Consultant for the Jr. AAA Petes. He has had a 17-year professional career that included time in the AHL, the Canadian National Team and 14 seasons in Europe. He currently serves as the goaltender coach for the Petes. The former Pete played with the team from 1989 to 1992. He transitioned into coaching, first serving as Assistant Coach from August 2014 before stepping in as Interim Head Coach from January to April 2018. In June 2018, he was officially named Associate Coach. Andrew has served as a Goaltending Consultant for Hockey Canada, contributing to the success of the U17 team (2014) and the 2015 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Cup champions. He has also worked with the Austrian National Team and OHL/OHF U16 programs, further solidifying his reputation as a leader in goaltender development