Dear Redwings Parents and Players:

My name is Gino Cavallini and I am the new Hockey Director for the Redwings Hockey Organization. I have accepted this position with the ultimate goal of building the Redwings program to one of the top programs in the State of Illinois. I understand the challenges we face, but I am quite confident that together, we will be successful next year and in years to come.

What I bring to the RHO is a lifetime of playing, teaching and coaching experience. My playing dates back to the 60’s growing up in Toronto, Canada until my retirement in June 2001 after 17 years of professional hockey. Along the way I have played at virtually every level of hockey in over 15 countries. I began coaching in the early 80’s while still playing Junior hockey in Ontario. It was in the mid 80’s that I along with my brother, started teaching and instructing our own hockey schools in the Toronto area. I have coached youth hockey in Toronto (Canada), Landshut (Germany), Villach (Austria) and Biel (Switzerland). Since my retirement I have also had experience directing AAA hockey in Wisconsin and Chicago.

I pride myself in being able to teach the game of hockey and the life lessons that complement the game to players of all ages and abilities. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than working with young aspiring hockey players that have a similar love and desire for the game. I firmly believe that all players can handle a level of playing sophistication well beyond what they trust their limits to be. By raising the standard of training and of performance expectations, players can reach formerly unattainable levels of success.

This process will be one that will require a tremendous amount of dedication on my part and the part of my staff to raise the bar of play of each and every player in the organization, new or old, to a higher level of performance. It will also require dedication on the part of each player to push themselves beyond what they believe their limits are: to listen, to learn, to practice and to study the game. This will be a challenging and exciting time for them. I think all players committing the time to improve will find great personal pride, fun and satisfaction in being able to achieve goals individually and as part of a team. In wearing the Redwings jersey, these players will represent dedication, discipline, and commitment that will be part of the new Redwings spirit.

The methods that we will utilize will be designed only with the end result in mind. Not only will your sons and daughters become better players, but in a system with dedication, discipline and commitment, they will become better individuals. My program accepts nothing less. My expectations are not high, they are very high.

On a program development point, my goal is to field teams during the 2006-2007 NIHL season that will be able to compete with the top five teams at each metallic level in which they participate. My methods of accomplishing this will be quite different and in some cases unique. The Spring Program, Back to Basics, that I have designed and will release shortly, is about player development and teaching the fundamentals. In addition there will be an extensive clinic program designed to strengthen our players. I will evaluate all players during the spring sessions and make recommendations as to what additional on ice training programs they will need. I have blocked out ice time to work in as small as groups necessary to assure that all players have the skills they need to compete at their age level.

Your expectations should be very high of the program. Demand nothing less of my staff and I. Hockey requires tremendous dedication on the part of families and players from time, emotional and financial perspectives. I respect each and every family and player for making that commitment; I promise to make the same commitment back to you in preparing the players and teams.

Hockey is a great game and a great opportunity for young people to develop personally within and outside the sport. There are many life lessons learned on the ice and in practice that have nothing to do with hockey. It is a wonderful time for the players and for the families, and I will do everything in my power to make that experience as good as it can be.

With all this said, everyone should understand the process of amelioration takes time with the objective to improve as an organization together. We will accomplish that goal. We need each and every parent to support this effort. Again, betterment does not happen over night, and changes often are not welcomed. I respect your patience and response. The RHO board has given me great latitude in improving the club and I honor my new responsibility. With 40 years in and around hockey I will bring the best of my knowledge and experiences to the program. The Redwings are here to stay, and I am dedicated to make it the place to play hockey in Illinois.

Please come introduce yourself to me if you see me anytime at the rinks. I am at the rink often with the high school team through March and will be there regularly once the spring program begins.

Sincerely,


Gino Cavallini

lol

Sign me up, Coach! I'm ready to play.

he did the same letter in st louis - how long will he be here?

*

2:14

wow your so tight you can post a comment that just says "*"

Still priceless!

so they are attempting to form a U-16 team, also?

Gino,

Why don't you start off with getting a haircut...you look like you should be working at an art studio on Euclid or the midnight shift manager at a north county pizza joint.

HAHAHAHAHAH YOUR FUCKING HILARIOUS!!!