Colorado Ski Country Selects Tour
March 24-April 1, 2012
Engelberg, Switzerland


Presented in coordination with Colorado Amateur Hockey Association, this tour is intended to provide current CAHA members the opportunity to compete internationally against teams from Switzerland and central Europe.
 
The Selects will be made up of current Colorado High School or Midget aged players from participating states (birth years 1993-96). The team will have two (2), 1-hour practices prior to playing 5 full length games in the Sporting Park Engelberg.


Game Formats

The CSC Selects will play 5 games against local Swiss Junior Elite and Junior Top teams. Each game will consist of 3, 20-minute stop time periods, a 15-minute warm-up and a zamboni break between periods. All games will be played in the Sporting Park Engelberg.

Coaching Staff

The 2012 Colorado Ski Country Selects Tour will be directed and coached by:
 
Mike Gempeler: 
  • USJDP Founder/Director
  • Founder/Director of the Under Armour Hockey Showcase
  • Regional Scout: Carlton Place Canadians, CCHL
 
Bryan Smith:
  • Owner/President, Rocky Mountain Hockey Schools
  • Rocky Mountain Roughriders Mid AAA Assistant Coach
  • Regional Scout, Victoria Royals, WHL

Game Formats

The CSC Selects will play 5 games against local Swiss Junior Elite and Junior Top teams. Each game will consist of 3, 20-minute stop time periods, a 15-minute warm-up and a zamboni break between periods. All games will be played in the Sporting Park Engelberg.
 

Transportation

All in-country transportation is provided for all players and parents alike. Transportation to and from the airport, as well as to and from the Jungfraujoch will be provided by private motor coach and cog wheel train. Transportation for the Lucerne sightseeing trip will be done via in-country transit train.

Accommodations

All players will housed in the Engelberg Youth Hostel, while the family members will be staying in the Hotel Regina Titlis, both minutes from the rink and downtown Engelberg. All games and practices will take place in the Sporting Park Engelberg.
 

Skiing

Engelberg is a world-class ski resort with two distinct resorts on opposite sides on the valley that offer the best of European style skiing. Optional ski days are scheduled whenever a team sightseeing trip is not previously scheduled (see below for details on days and sightseeing activities) and participants will be on there own to decide if they want to ski or not. Those players who chose not to ski will have the day off and be free to sightsee in town. There will be a coach responsible for all players not skiing and will accompany them in town each day.

Sightseeing

Day Trip #1:
Both teams will travel from Engelberg to old-town Lucerne to visit this beautiful city. We will travel both directions by train.
 
Day Trip #2:
In addition, based on final game schedules, we may schedule a full-day trip up the Jungfraujoch, the "Top Of Europe". The Jungfraujoch is the highest railway and weather station in the world. The cost of the Jungfraujoch ticket is covered for the players only as it is an optional sightseeing day for the parents. In the past many parents have chosen to have the day off that day, while it is mandatory for the players to attend with the entire coaching and management staff.

Swiss Elite League Game

It is possible the team might be able to attend a Swiss Elite League play-off game. The EV Zug A Division Team General manager is a friend, and former coach of, the USJDP. If EV Zug is still in the play-offs, we will be ale to get tickets to a game. The play-offs end mid April, so EV Zug would have to be deep into the play-offs for this to occur. We will likely not know until right before we leave whether or not this is possible.
 

Selection Process

To be eligible, a player must be playing midget or high school hockey in the state of Colorado, and must be enrolled in a Colorado high school. Each interested player must send a complete player report to Bryan Smith. Included in this email must be current year player team and stats, player size, position, shot direction, family contact info, and coach name and contact number. Upon receipt of completed player report, we will contact each players' coach for an in-depth player recommendation and evaluation.

Itinerary
The itinerary shown below is a tentative itinerary based on previous tours. Once our final itinerary is confirmed it will be posted online and noted as such:

  • Sat, March 24 - Depart US
  • Sun, March 25 - Arrive Zurich, transfer to Engelberg, PM Practice
  • Monday, March 26 - AM practice, Optional Ski Day, PM Game
  • Tuesday, March 27 - Lucerne sightseeing trip, PM Game
  • Wednesday, March 28 - Optional Ski Day, PM Game
  • Thursday, March 29 - Jungfraujoch Trip, full day 
  • Friday, March 30 - Optional Ski Day, PM Game
  • Saturday, March 31 - Optional Ski Day, PM Game
  • Sunday, April 1 - Depart Zurich International Airport for US

Tour Fees
Players:                     $1,950

Parents (single):         $1,595
Parents (double):        $1,395
Parents (Triple):          $1,195
 
 
PLAYERS: This ALL-INCLUSIVE package includes transportation to and from airport, two (2) 1-hour practices and 5 games, all in-country transportation, accommodations, breakfast and 3-course dinner daily, stated off day tours, transfer fees, and CSC Selects custom team jersey, socks, bag, and hoodie/jacket. Players and parents traveling with the team are responsible for their own flights to and from Switzerland and must meet the Team Bus at the Zurich International Airport by 10:00 am on Sunday, March 25, 2012. Please schedule a return flight anytime after 12 noon on Sunday, April 1, 2012. Flights are NOT included.

PARENTS: This package includes transportation to and from airport, all in-country transportation, accommodations, daily breakfast, and transfer fees. Flights are NOT included.
US Junior Development Program
USJDP Master Grey.jpg

For the past 12 years, the USJDP has run the top elite player development camp in the U.S., the USJDP Junior Prep Camp. Over that time, the USJDP has worked with over 3,000 elite Bantam, Midget and Junior A players from over 12 countries across the globe and has had over 100 different coaches from the top NCAA D1 and Junior A teams working with its players. Since its inception, the Prep Camp has become the "must attend" development and placement camp for 14-20 year olds in the U.S.