Falcons Hockey Association

The Falcons Travel Program is one of the most respected and successful hockey programs in Illinois. Our Travel Program focuses on competitive success while developing the skills of all players.  We actively practice USA Hockey’s ADM program (American Development Model).

Professional hockey coaches, selected for their teaching and coaching abilities, leadership qualities, and dedication to youth hockey, coach the Falcons Travel teams. The quality of our professional coaching staff is what sets us above all other youth hockey organizations.  See below for this season's coaching line up.

Players selected to participate on a Falcons Travel hockey team are expected to attend all scheduled practices and games. This time commitment is critical to the growth of the player and success of the team. Each Falcons Travel hockey player can plan on skating approximately 3-5 times per week. In addition, each Falcons Travel team competes in 2 out-of-town tournaments per season.

The hockey season starts in mid-August and ends in early March. Pre-season clinics take place at the end of August and Travel Team tryouts begin September 1. In addition to the regularly scheduled practices/games, Travel hockey players are expected to attend an on-ice skills training session that will focus on power skating and individual skill development.

The Falcons Travel Program fields teams in the Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL) at the Bronze, Silver and Gold/Elite levels. Our top AA teams in will compete at the Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, and Midget levels in the Central States Developmental Hockey League (CSDHL), (an elite Tier II league of teams).

For the 2011-2012 Falcons Travel Program, it is anticipated that the following teams will be formed based upon participant turnout and tryout results:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Highland Park – September 2, 2011 - Hockey Directors Tom Miller and Ryan Taylor proudly announce that the Falcons Hockey Association has made significant additions to the coaching staff for the upcoming 2011-2012 Hockey Season. 

“We are continuing to build our staff so we can offer more depth at the coaching level and ensure to the FHA membership their child is getting the best opportunity to develop at the sport they love.  It is also our association’s goal to inspire players to play for the Falcons through all levels. We strive to offer the best coaching and player curriculum in Illinois. Our thoughts are simple.  If we can train and have exceptional player development no matter what level or what team, we will continue to grow organically and put a strong product on the ice at all levels.“ said Ryan Taylor.  See below to learn more about the coaches.

The Falcons are excited for the season to begin; tryouts begin September 1, 2011 and run through September 10, 2011.  

Contact: Ryan Taylor
ryantaylor@falconshockey.org
Phone: 312-925-5656

Bryce Anderson joined the Falcons organization in 2011 as Assistant Coach of Midget Minors.  After participating in the youth program in his hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. Anderson began his Junior A career in 2000 with the Minot Muskies of the AWHL.  He spent the following two seasons playing for the Rochester Mustangs and Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL.  The forward played all 64 games for the Buccaneers during the 2002-03 campaign recording 30 points (13g, 17a).  In 2003, Anderson was recruited as a walk-on to play for The Ohio State University and later earned a full athletic scholarship.  As a four year letterman, Anderson skated in 141 contests for the Buckeyes recording 46 points (19g, 27a) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Finance.  Notable highlights of his Buckeye career include winning the 2004 CCHA Championship and participating in two NCAA Tournaments (2004 / 2005).  Anderson was also voted Most Improved Player as a freshman by his teammates and was an Academic All - Big Ten honoree all four years.  After his collegiate career came to a close in spring of 2007, Anderson spent 23 games professionally with the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL where he contributed 10 points (2g, 8a) during their closing regular season and playoff run to the Kelly Cup Finals.  Bryce resides with his wife Lindsey in Chicago, working for financial consulting firm DiMeo Schneider & Associates LLC.

Jeff DeFrancesca – Assistant Coach, Squirt CSDHL

Jeff DeFrancesca will be joining the Squirt the CS staff and comes to the Falcons with a wealth of hockey knowledge.  Jeff will focus on working with the defense and running power skills for the Squirt level.  Jeff brings a high energy level to the rink every day with a positive teaching attitude.  “There are not too many young coaches in the Chicago land area with the experience, patience and ability to teach like Jeff, the Squirt CS and Falcons are very fortunate to have landed Jeff” said director Ryan Taylor.  Jeff DeFrancesca grew up playing hockey in the Chicagoland area and collected six state championships, three regional championships and appeared in three national tournaments. Jeff was a captain on the Stars 1998 national championship team and went on to play junior hockey in the Eastern Junior Hockey League for the Lowell Junior Lock Monsters. After Juniors, Jeff played for the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where he was a four-time Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) All-Academic team member and helped lead the team to first place in the NCHA, resulting in an appearance in the NCAA national tournament. Jeff was a 2008 finalist for the NCAA’s Hockey Humanitarian Award, awarded annually to college hockey’s finest citizens who give back to their community in true humanitarian spirit.

Bill Pinel – Assistant Coach, Defense Development, Bantam Minor CSDHL

Bill Pinel grew up playing hockey in Southern California where he played AAA hockey for the Los Angeles Junior Kings and the California Wave. He later came to Lake Forest Academy where he finished out his Midget Major years playing on the Prep Team and serving as their Captain. Also during this time, Bill played Midget AAA 17u for the Russell Stovers Stars in Kansas City. Bill has received numerous awards including the Steward Award for Senior MVP at Lake Forest Academy, Mid West Prep All Star Team honors for 2 years and attended the USA Hockey Select 14s, 15s, 16s and 17s National Festivals. Bill played 4 years of NCAA College hockey at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and University of Wisconsin River Falls. He obtained his Bachelors Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Pre Medicine. He went on after college to play professionally in the CHL for the Bloomington Prairie Thunder. Bill brings numerous years of playing and coaching experience with a strong focus on the defensive position.

Anthony has been coaching and training players on and off the ice for the last 6 years.  Anthony graduated on May 7, 2011 from Lake Forest College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a minor in Communications.  In addition to his degree, he was a four-year varsity letter winner, Assistant Captain, and an Academic All Conference member for the men’s ice hockey team. Prior to playing at Lake Forest College, Anthony played two years in the Central Junior A Hockey League (CJHL) for the Cornwall Colts and the Pembroke Lumber Kings in Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada.  Anthony was named Assistant Captain in Cornwall before being traded to Pembroke later in his second season.  While playing for the Lumber Kings, Anthony’s team was ranked in the top 10 in the nation, winning both the CJHL Championship and the Eastern Canadian Championship (Fred Page Cup); later playing in the semi-finals in the Canadian National Tournament (RBC Cup). Before Juniors, Anthony captained the Chicago Young Americans AAA Hockey Team in his senior year of high school and played for the nationally ranked Gilmour Academy Lancers Prep team his sophomore and junior years of high school. Other accomplishments include playing on three US tournament teams overseas in Europe.  

Wess has been a personal hockey coach for 7 years and spent the last three years as the Head Coach. Wess’ passion for hockey has allowed given him the opportunity to lead the development of camps, clinics and adaptations of new skills training programs. Wess began playing hockey at the age of three and at the age of 10, advanced to play for the highly competitive Team Wisconsin AAA Travel Team. At the age of 12, Wess played for the Lake County Atoms Midget Major team. Wess learned a great deal from fellow teammates who were older and more experienced and he welcomed the challenge to push him and contribute to a team that consisted of players up to 4 years older. While playing for the Atoms, the team won 6 championships in 6 years.  During his junior year of high school, Wess was voted Assistant Captain and went on to Captain the team his senior year.  Wess started training with local hockey training center after graduating and found his calling to be coaching. Wess is looking forward to coaching at the Falcons Hockey Association and looks forward to great success.

Click here to read about FHA Directors.

The following sets forth the level each player is eligible to participate in based upon such participant’s birthdate.