HEAD COACH - MARK DICKIE
Background
It is both a pleasure and a challenge to be the head coach of the U9MD Stouffville Clippers for 2025-26 season. I am a parent coach with over 10 years combined experience between the Stouffville Clippers and the Markham-Stouffville Stars associations. I was born and raised in New Brunswick and played hockey from a young age and continue to play today. I graduated from the University of New Brunswick (BBA) before receiving a Graduate Diploma in Sports Administration from Concordia University in Montreal. My professional career has also been vastly in hockey. Starting initially with the Ottawa 67s hockey club, I moved on and spent five years at the Ontario Minor Hockey Association before a ten-year run with the Canadian Hockey League leading all things digital technology. I continue to work in the digital space for a physical activity based not-for-profit. I live in Stouffville with my wife Laura and my two children (Abigail 2014 and Luke 2017).
MY PROGRAM
My program focuses on not only hockey skill development but development of skills that reflect off the ice as well such as teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. We’ll instill the values of hard work and discipline while still keeping the game fun and atmosphere positive as the players continue to develop. I look for two specific qualities in players, those are willingness to battle and ability to be a good teammate.
Beyond roughly 100 hours of home ice time, the program will include three tournaments (usually one away requiring a hotel stay) and an end of year league jamboree. We play in the York-Simcoe Minor Hockey League and expect a league schedule of roughly 20-24 regular season games with a few exhibition games particularly early in the season.
Beyond that structured programming we’ll also have third party on-ice coaches both from ATN Hockey and other specialized groups to emphasize specific skill development and power skating aspects. Off-ice and smaller skill sessions along with consistent regular dryland training sessions will round out the development program. Programming aspects will also include team-building and social/community involvement.