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Graeme Townshend Born in Kingston, Jamaica, the 41 year old Townshend moved to Toronto at the age of 3. Played one year of Junior hockey for the Mimico Monarchs of the O.H.A Central Jr. B.As the #2 recruited player in North America, Townshend turned down offers from 14 schools, including Michigan, Michigan State and Cornell, to accept a full scholarship from #1 ranked and defending NCAA Division 1 Frozen Four Champion, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).As captain at RPI, Townshend, recruited as a forward, led all RPI defensemen in scoring and was one of the top scoring defensemen in the ECACHL as a Junior. After scoring 22 points in his senior year, Townshend signed with the Boston Bruins in the NHL then went on to play parts of 5 seasons with the Bruins, N.Y. Islanders and Ottawa Senators. Townshend played 686 professional games, scoring 227 goals and 208 assists for 435 points while playing in the NHL, AHL, IHL and WPHL. Townshend went on to coach 3 years professionally in Macon, GA and Greensboro, NC. During his 13 professional experience, Townshend also owned and operated the nationally acclaimed GTP Hockey Schools, with specialty camps in N.Y., Maine, Texas, Alaska, Colorado and Alberta. Many of Townshends students went onto play NCAA Hockey. Some of Townshends former students include former University of Maine and NHLer’s Peter and Chris Ferraro, Boston Bruins Defensemen Matt Lashoff and Paul Mara to name a few. Townshend is currently the Player Development Coordinator for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks (one of only 3 in the NHL). His main responsibility is to prepare all sharks players and prospects for the skills required for the “new” NHL, with the primary focus being skating skills. Every player in the Sharks organization is trained under Townshend’s watchful eye, including the NHL’s reigning MVP and Maurice Rocket Richard (NHL’s leading goal scorer) Trophy winner, Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo respectively. Graeme is currently the only skating and skills coach in the world who has played, coached and taught at every level of hockey there is. From youth hockey to the Canadian Junior Hockey ranks to NCAA Div. 1 College to Europe to the NHL, Mr. Townshend has the experience to know what truly works and what does not work. "One of my most frustrating experiences was being taught in college by a guy with a figure skating background who had no idea of the challenges I was facing on the ice. I've seen some things being taught (that really do not work) by other nationally known instructors who have absolutely no practical playing experience." says Mr. Townshend. Townshend was recently inducted into the Canadian Black Hockey Hall of Fame in August of 2006, along with the likes of Anson Carter and Herb Carnegie and Willie O’Ree.
Townshend’s former students: NY Rangers Boston Bruins Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals NJ Devils Philadelphia Flyers St. Louis Blues Ottawa Senators Detroit Red Wings Los Angeles Kings Colorado Avalanche Montreal Canadians
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