Athletic Mentors’ own Ronald (Scooter) Brickey will be 1 of 22 Americans representing the USA in the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, August 8-13, 2016 in the Czech Republic. As a member of Team USA, Scooter will be a part of the eight best U18 national teams in the world, which includes Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and USA. Team USA has finished in the top three 12 times since the tournament began on 1991.
“I’m nervous and excited at the same time to play with the BEST talent in hockey from around the world!” said the 6’3″ defenseman from Burtchville, Michigan, who first began training with Coach Mark Olson and Athletic Mentors in June 2015.
After Brickey completed his season with the U18 Little Caesars organization, he went on to play in 10 games with the USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks in 2015-16. Scooter was the 84th overall draft pick for Muskegon in 2015. Additionally, he is set to be a part of the Western Michigan University Division l Hockey Team 2017-2018.
He credits the intense, high paced workouts of Coach Olson with helping him become a more powerful player, stronger and faster on the ice.
“Scooter is driven and deserves the spot he’s earned on Team USA. We’re proud of his dedication and work ethic. He’s set a fine example to our young amateurs to show where hard work will take you,” said Coach Olson.
To prepare for the Ivan Hlnka, Brickey is also receiving nutritional counselling for caloric intake and is doing extra sets to gain more weight. He has three solid meals prepared for him daily at his Gull Lake billet house, which makes it easier for him to focus on his training and recovery at Athletic Mentors. Coach Olson keeps him focused and on task to prepare him to be the best he can be on Team USA.
The Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup is an annual event held each August for national under-18 teams from around the world. Named for one of the first Czech hockey stars, the tournament began in 1991 as a three-team showcase. Between 1997 and 2002, the format shifted to the current eight-team tournament. It was then named after Hlinka in 2007, three years after his passing.
While Coach Olson helps Scooter focus on his training, his advisor Eddie Ward keeps him on task and on the right path in terms of preparing for the ins and outs of Ivan Hlinka and what to expect while he is there.
Upon Brickey’s return from the Czech Republic, he plans to continue to train with Coach Olson and Athletic Mentors until he starts his rookie season with the USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks for the 2016-17 season.
“Athletic Mentors is the best of the best place to train if you want to be at the top of your game. The athletes that workout there are all so driven to take it to the next level — this drive helps push me to be even better,” Brickey said.