Today we’d like to introduce you to Philip McRae.
Hi Philip, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in St. Louis, MO. At 15, I moved away from home to play hockey and continue my education with the National Team Development Program in Michigan. I continued my junior hockey career in Canada with the London Knights Organization from ages 16-20. I was fortunate during this time to also win a Bronze medal with the USA U-18 team and a Gold Medal with Team USA at the World Junior Championships. I was drafted in the National Hockey League back to my hometown St. Louis Blues, in the 2nd round. I am grateful for a 10-year pro hockey career that included time in the NHL, AHL, Finland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. I retired from playing the game of hockey at the age of 30 to return home to begin what I believe is my calling in mentoring the next generation of young hockey players. I started running TPH St. Louis Academy in 2020 with 30 students in our first academic year. In year 4, we grew to an Academy with 68 full-time student hockey players from grades 6 – 12. TPH St. Louis Academy is a holistic Academy that focuses on developing well-rounded student-athletes and tying together academics, hockey, life skills, & character traits. In an environment with a driven culture. Like-minded students and necessary support and resources in place. I am grateful to jump out of bed every morning and excited for the day ahead at TPH St. Louis.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The sport of ice hockey has become extremely expensive, especially when you are in travel hockey at a high youth level. Ice time and costly costs and traveling around the country for events and games are expensive. I recognized early on that many good young kids would be a positive contributor at the Academy. Still, the reality is that it is only financially feasible for some families who would be a great addition to TPH St. Louis. This is why a top priority of mine became a fundraising initiative through the TPH Impact Player Foundation (501c3). This past year, we held our first annual Trivia Night (led by TPH staff member Molly Porfidio) to benefit the scholarship foundation. This was our biggest success regarding a scholarship fundraising event, and we plan to build on the event next year. My goal is to have our scholarship program in a place where any student and family who is the right fit and wants to be a part of the TPH St. Louis family can.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about TPH St. Louis Academy?
TPH St. Louis Academy is a structured program for grade 6-12 student hockey players. They come to the Academy, Monday – Friday, 8 am – 3:30 pm, where they do their academics, hockey on-ice training, hockey off-ice training, as well as extracurriculars such as our Big Brother program, cooking class, Life After TPH workshops, community service, and more.
The Academy has three pillars. The first is a person (being a good classmate, making choices, and demonstrating good character). The second is academics (making sure students’ grades and pacing are where they need to be to be eligible to participate in their on and off-ice hockey training). And the third is hockey development (we believe that if the first two are going well, success in sport will follow).
The biggest compliment we get from parents of students is that their child is excited and can not wait to get to school every morning. Many of our students are more passionate about hockey than academics, but we have found a way to tie the two together and use one another to bring out the best in both areas for students. Convivence is another common value item for our families in TPH St. Louis Academy. Getting their students to sport-specific individual on and off-ice training during school hours under one roof is a benefit for our busy families. In addition, the flexible academic structure allows students to stay caught up with their hectic travel hockey schedule. They can get on-site support and assistance at the Academy but also utilize many resources available to them, on-demand, when they are not on-site at the Academy. The academic piece of TPH St. Louis is a “blended learning environment.” Students use an online platform with their teachers on the other end of their courses and classes. They are coming to a structured and focused environment with certified and trained on-site in-person academic staff to oversee, assist, and ensure their educational development is thriving.
What matters most to you? Why?
When discussing TPH St. Louis Academy, all our students have goals and dreams to advance in hockey. And we want to give them and provide them with every opportunity and resource to do that and reach their full potential as an athlete, wherever that is for them. However, the reality is that most of our students will not make a career out of hockey, and many will not get scholarships to university through the sport. We hope we can assist and help as many as possible make that happen, but statistically, that will only be a reality for some of our students. When I talk with families and recruit them to the Academy, if that is a reason they want to attend, there are better reasons. What matters most at TPH St. Louis is that they leave better prepared for their next chapter, whatever that is for them, better prepared as well-rounded people. Learning about time management, respect, forward-thinking, planning and preparation, physical health, mindset, nutrition, proper sleep, being a great teammate, commitment, dedication, priorities, and the importance of who you surround yourself with. These are all above and beyond the actual hockey development piece of the Academy. Hockey is the driver, but what students learn along the way as they work towards their goals and dreams is what I am most proud of about TPH St. Louis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tphacademy.com/st-louis/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tphstlouis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TPHStLouis/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-mcrae-7001bb102
- Other: https://www.tphacademy.com/tph-impact-player-foundation/
