U18AA Staff
The U18AA Competitive Team
Coaching Staff:
Coach: Scott Jones
We are pleased to announce Scott Jones as the Head Coach for our U18AA team for the 2024-2025 season. Scott has over 30 years of experience coaching at all levels in both men’s and women’s hockey.
As a player, Scott played many years for a variety of teams including but limited to the Toronto Marlboros and York Simcoe Express. After playing junior hockey in Aurora, he went on to receive a scholarship to play NCAA Hockey for Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Scott finished his competitive playing career with the Whitby Dunlops at the Senior AAA level. Over the last 15 years, Scott has kept his competitive edge by being a member of Team Canada and Team Ontario’s inline hockey roster which has given him the opportunity to represent all around the world.
Scott has coached all levels of hockey from boys A/E to Junior C and BB to Junior in the women’s game. Over the past several years, he has coached at the AA level for Durham West Junior Lightning, King Royals and New Tecumseh Royals. Scott has had the opportunity to coach and develop players who have attended OUA and NCAA schools and has developed players who have played for Team Ontario and Team Canada.
As an elementary school teacher, Scott has a busy schedule but is very lucky to have a supportive family at home. His wife Michelle and 3 children help to keep Scott hopping. His oldest daughter Jalyn has finished her career at the U18AA level and will be attending Stevenson University to play NCAA D3 Hockey in the fall. Addison is a competitive soccer player and his son Hudson loves hockey and is working toward following in his dad’s footsteps.
Scott’s Philosophy
John Wooden, one of the greatest NCAA coaches, once said “ A good coach can change a game, but a great coach can change a life!” I believe strongly in that quote as it reflects accurately on my coaching philosophy which incorporates strategy, team play, team tactics, individual tactics, and technical skills in the long-term development of a high performing athlete.
At the bottom of the pyramid is the technical skills necessary to compete at a given level. My staff and I evaluate every player and goaltender under our leadership to improve their skating, passing, shooting, and defensive positioning. Following our assessment, we encourage each individual to improve upon a particular element in order to progress them towards their individual tactics. Employing a thorough assessment and encompassing practice time in drills to work on personal development instills the confidence required to graduate these athletes to be able to apply the skills necessary to shoot when open in the slot, or a goalie stopping play behind the net and/or shooting a long inside power play pass to an open winger as examples. Finally, as a coaching staff, using these skills at both the Technical and Individual tactics, we will then help apply them to our Team systems and ultimately our Strategies. Off ice players will be encouraged and engage with physical instructors in cardio, strength and stretching to support the player and our program to be the best it can be every night.
As I continue to develop as a coach, my goal is to provide the players with the best opportunities to move forward in their game and development to whatever level they are seeking. I help to provide a caring and supportive culture where players can learn and support each other while improving individual skills and game.
As a teacher in life and of the game of hockey, my philosophy is as follows: I feel that every person and player should have fun at what they are doing, the opportunity to be successful and develop their skills and knowledge at whatever level they are working at. I will ensure that I execute faithfully the mission that the organization brings to the community and to the players by adhering to the values that promote growth, determination, respect for oneself and others, diversity, inclusion and finally ….. “The team that gives it their all every shift regardless of the final score”.
