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Colorado Hockey Hub

HUGE STICK TAPS FOR ANGELO RICCI

02/06/2019, 12:00pm MST
By TBIRDS

ANGELO RICCI
COACHES 1000TH GAME
AND
DROPS CEREMONIAL PUCK
AT OMAHA LANCERS GAME!

Colorado Thunderbirds count ourselves as one of the lucky ones as we have such a huge asset in our Executive Director and 16U Head Coach, Angelo Ricci.  Angelo is one of the rare ones as he can play the game as well as coach it!  At the beginning of this 2018-2019 season, Angelo reached a big milestone that few coaches reach, and with his humble nature, it came and went quietly.  The big milestone was Angelo coached his 1000th game!  But instead of focusing on this milestone of coaching his 1000th game, Angelo was focused on his players.  He might have also thought about the hundreds of former players that he has mentored during his 2 decades of coaching that he has led to Championships as well as helped to achieve their goals of moving up to the next level.  In his 16 years of coaching at the Tier 1 level, Angelo has a record of 801-187-54 which could arguably be the best as he has compiled a winning attitude and long list of impressive achievements including 28 Tournament Championships, 4 Tier 1 Elite League Championships, 13 State Championships, 7 District Championships, 1 At-Large bid to Nationals, 8 National Tournament Appearances including being the 1st Colorado Tier 1 team to win the Nationals in the 2009-2010 season, plus helped promote, develop, and advance over 150 players to the next level to compete in the Junior, College, and Professional Hockey Ranks.  And it doesn't stop there as Angelo also continues to be there for the players to guide and mentor them, plus is a NHL Skills Coach to help them continue to always work on and improve their skills.  
 
Angelo plays down his crucial role in moving players on, but it isn't an easy workload as Angelo's 16U team plays in excess of 50-80 games per season against other elite AAA teams.  For Angelo though, it isn't just about the players on the ice, as he works equally hard, if not harder, to develop his players to be great young men off the ice.  Angelo stresses the on and off-ice values of time management, discipline, accountability and responsibility, work ethic and maximum effort, not being selfish, and working as a team.
 
Angelo understands the process as he not only coaches, but he also played the game extremely well.  Angelo dropped the ceremonial puck at his alma mater, Omaha Lancers, at their January 26 game, and his Colorado Thunderbirds 16U team was there to cheer him on!  
 
Congratulations to Angelo Ricci on coaching his 1000th game and dropping the ceremonial puck at the Omaha Lancers game.  We are very happy and proud to have such an outstanding individual leading our hockey program!

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