Brian Rawbone
[email protected]
(647) 465-7034
I have always appreciated three things about the Oakville Rangers Hockey Club: the high caliber of hockey from AAA through house league, the incredible kids who are not only skilled but also hardworking and respectful, and the supportive parents who play a key role in their children's development. It is these qualities that make Oakville Rangers such a great hockey community.
A little background about me - I am a husband and father of three children. My two daughters are 13 and 17, and my son Jacob, who is 15, is a defenceman on this team. Hockey has been a lifelong passion of mine. I grew up playing AAA and Junior B hockey and was fortunate to compete in varsity athletics at the university level in football, track & field, and soccer. I have been coaching hockey and other sports for over 25 years with a consistent philosophy: work hard, respect your coaches, officials, opponents, teammates, and yourself, and most importantly - have fun!
I strongly believe that an active lifestyle is essential to overall physical, emotional, and mental health. Team sports provide an opportunity to not only improve skills but also develop life lessons:
- Physical Fitness: by committing to practices and games and working hard every time you hit the ice
- Dedication and Organization: by showing up prepared, on time, and with a positive mindset
- Teamwork: by learning how to support each other and work towards a common goal
- Competitive Spirit: by pushing yourself and your teammates to be better every day
A mindset I live by - and one I will instill in this team - is “Better, Better, Never Best”. This means we will constantly strive to improve, celebrate our successes, and then push to reach the next level. Growth never stops, and I look forward to helping this team reach its full potential.
What Are We Looking For?
As a coach, I value players who are technically proficient, tactically aware, physically athletic, and mentally confident. While talent is important, players who are coachable, work hard, and are dedicated to improvement will thrive in our program. Our practices will be high-tempo, competitive, and structured to challenge players to grow.
Season Outlook
I strongly believe that consistent, high-quality practice is the foundation of player development. Our team will be on the ice two to three times a week for structured, high-intensity practices, along with one off-ice training session focused on strength, conditioning, or skill development (such as shooting). The type of off-ice training will be adjusted based on our game schedule to ensure we maximize development while managing workload. It’s essential that players attend every practice on time, fully prepared, and ready to work hard, as our success as a team depends on commitment, effort, and continuous improvement.
We will begin the season with weekly dry-land training starting once the team is formed. This will continue throughout the spring and resume leading up to our on ice sessions that will begin in early September. It is highly encouraged that players also take it upon themselves to physically prepare themselves for the upcoming through diet and nutrition, fitness, endurance and strength training.
Our tournament schedule will include:
- Pre/Early-Season Tournament: Golden Horseshoe
- Overnight Tournament: TBD (Montreal, Lake Placid, etc)
- Winter Classic: Oakville, ON
- OMHA Championship Tournament: TBD