Coach Introduction

Welcome Letter from Coach Jason (Jay)

I would like to extend an invitation to all U16 Players to attend the 2023/2024 tryouts for the U16 Rideau St. Lawrence Kings.


Hello my name is Jason Rice and I would like to introduce myself as the Head Coach of the Rideau St. Lawrence Kings U16 team for the upcoming 2023/2024 season.  I am privileged and excited to coach this team and thank the Kings organization for giving me this opportunity once again. 

I have coached the last few years with the Kings organization with many successes along the way.  The U13 covid year, the focus was on skill development, conditioning and preparing the young athletes for their following season at the U14 level.  Our U14 season was a special year.  Our team was the #1 ranked team in Ontario at the U14AA level.  We won 2 of our 3 tournaments, and were crowned regular season and playoff champions.  Last season our team worked hard all season long and played some of our best hockey at season’s end, only to lose to the eventual playoff champions in the semifinals in a hard fought series.  What this past season taught me as a coach is to trust in the process and to keep our team goals in sight all season long.  In each season I learned something new as a coach and I plan on using all of this into running a very successful U16 program.  This U16 season is a very important year for many hockey players in their hockey journey and I am honoured to be a part of their development.  I know that our team has always been a team that no team in the league ever likes to play, or wants to play.  We run a system of relentless pressure all over the ice in all three zones and this will not change as I believe that is what gives us our best chance of success.  I need players who will work hard in every drill of every practice, and on every shift of every game, from Day 1 to the last game of the season.  I need players to be good people on and off the ice who represent themselves, their families, and the Kings organization to the fullest and highest standard.  This creates a cohesive group that is respected and will show respect to all.  This U16 season will be a commitment players, not only to your individual goals, but to team goals.  This season will take a lot, and if you as a player are willing to put team goals ahead of individual goals, to work hard throughout the entire season, and be an excellent teammate, then please come tryout for my team. The season starts now.  Do everything you can to be fully prepared for tryouts.  I can’t wait to see what each of you will bring this upcoming season to my team. 
 
If this sounds like a team your child and family want to be a part of, then please come out to our tryouts.  Please refer to the Kings website for information about conditioning dates, tryout dates, and you can go to the U16 page for anything specific items related to my team. 

Below are the tentative tournaments that I have registered our team for this upcoming season.
1) Halton Hills Best of the Best Halton Hills Oct 6-8, 2023
2) AA Classic  Ajax/Pickering Nov 2-5, 2023
3) Oshawa Challenge  Oshawa, Nov 16-19, 2023
4) Capital Winter Classic  Kanata January 5-7, 2024
***5) Oakville Rangers Winter Classic Oakville,   Jan 18-21, 2024*** I am on a waitlist for this tournament and if we get accepted then we will likely be entering this tournament in place of one of the above tournaments. 
 
Player development this year will be either through Perfect Skating, Amped Sports, or Ashley Holmes. 

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at (613) 802-0816 or                         e-mail: njdrice@hotmail.com

Have a safe and enjoyable rest of your summer and come ready for tryouts.

Yours in hockey,

Jason Rice