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Our Team

Our top priority is your hockey family.

The Puck Budget Promise
The Puck Budget Promise is a commitment to providing hockey parents with transparent, ethical and continuous expertise; with the goal of helping as many minor hockey players in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and surrounding areas, achieve their hockey dreams.

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I created Puck Budget because I love hockey, strategic planning and genuinely want to see hockey families succeed. The market is littered with options; but few take into consideration the effect on the entire hockey family. Hockey is an extremely expensive sport, so much so, it is putting a large percentage of hockey families in debt. The hockey services market is profiting from the perpetual fear that most hockey parents possess; the fear of their child falling behind.


Having a very comprehensive skill set in the sport, I wanted to utilize my knowledge in a way that gave minor hockey players a legitimate chance at success; while being mindful of the financial restrictions that some families encounter. I consider myself a business man, with a unique hockey background; just like in business, in order to succeed in hockey, you need a plan.
Thus, I created Puck Budget on the premise that I could utilize my overall player development experience, and business acumen, to create long-term, cost-effective strategic plans for minor hockey families. I’ve played with, developed, and trained many NHL draft picks, and players; I have a very good understanding of the commitment it takes, from not only the player, but the entire hockey family as a whole.


The Total Family Development Model I created is the most in-depth performance improvement plan you will see in the Waterloo Region; and it’s affordable. My customized approach gives me the flexibility to tweak our model in a way that can work with any family budget; big or small.
 

If you are a hockey family in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge or surrounding area, our Free Consultation is something you simply can’t afford to miss. Regardless if you use my model or not, I love talking hockey and may be able to give you some advice that can add to your child’s player development!

John Thiel

Credentials 

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Playing:

  • Played first junior game at 14 years old

  • Drafted North Bay Centennials - OHL

  • Waterloo Siskins

    • 3-Time GOJHL All-Star and Top 10 Scorer

    • 221 Career Pts in 3.5 seasons.

    • Team Captain

  • NCAA Scholarship – Union College (ECAC)

    • One of the best packages given out to that point

  • CIS – Wilfrid Laurier University

  • Professional Playing Opportunities in Europe & North America


Skill Development and Coaching:

  • 10 years elite skill development experience – One on One Hockey

    • Helped hundreds of boys and girls minor hockey players reach new levels of

success; including junior, major junior, college/university and Professional.

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  • 3 years Head Instructor/Director of Elite Development – One on One Hockey

    • Dealt with all elite players; aspiring to play junior, college and professional

    • Developed many OHL & NHL draft picks and players

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  • Assistant Coach – University of Oklahoma Men’s Hockey

    • Made it to 2nd round of National Tournament

    • Took team that wasn’t ranked and finished ranked 15th in the nation

      • Highest ranking of the season was 9th

      •  2nd best Penalty Kill in the country

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Strength and Conditioning:

  • 12 years experience as a certified personal trainer specializing in hockey specific training.

  • Trained, and worked with, many Junior, Major Junior, Professional and NHL players.


Business Career:

  • 6 years experience as a professional business consultant for multiple 50+ Million dollar

organizations, specializing in strategic planning.

  • Record breaking growth for both employers

    • Sales, attendance, sponsorship acquisition, operations

management/productivity

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