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fter 10 years and countless small victories along the way, the ADM has become part of this country's DNA when it comes to hockey. Thanks to the efforts of a small group of regional managers and a countless army of dedicated volunteers, the way we look at h o c k e y d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h i s country has done an about face and is staring at a brighter future. Now the question is, what's next? For all the strides that have been made, there's still a long way to go. Those who have spent years on the frontlines of this battle to change the hockey culture know that there's no turning back. "If you believe in something that is as important as this, I don't think that it could ever go away. In fact, that would be a com- plete and utter disaster," said Roger Grillo, one of the original ADM regional managers. "Our work is never done. It's just con- stantly getting people to realize that there's a process and that the process works." Proof of that has taken on many forms, from increased recruitment and retention numbers to dazzling skills being displayed at all levels of the game. And while there's much to be proud of, this is no time to rest on our laurels. "One of the most dangerous phrases in the English language is 'we've always done it this way,'" said Kenny Rausch, the director of youth hockey who also covers Alaska as part of the ADM team. "We've done a pretty good job over the last 10 years. We're still trying to stay ahead of the game and figure out what's best and what's next." Knowing that the best is yet to come has become a source of national pride, which ries very nervous. " I 'm v e r y s c a r e d w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n i f y o u g et e v e r y o n e t o f o l l o w t h i s [American Development Model]. I can't see how we could beat you in any tour- naments in the future," said Tommy Boustedt, development chief for the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. "You outnumber us by tenfold, and if you do things better than we do how can we beat you? I can only hope that you do not succeed, but I think that you will." So what does success look like in the future? Is it measured by the number of gold medals the U.S. wins in international com- petition? Is it the continued growth in the number of Americans playing in the NHL? Or the number of youngsters who carry a passion for the game into adult leagues around the country? T h e a n sw e r, a c c o r d i n g t o t h o s e w h o eat, breathe and sleep the ADM 24/7, is a resounding yes to all of the above. "I really believe we're scratching the sur- face," said Joe Bonnett, who joined the ADM staff after 19 years as a college hockey coach. " We've got the structure r i g h t . N ow w e c a n r e a l l y start building on the foun- dation that's been created." One thing that will hap- pen in the not too distant future is youngsters who grew up with the ADM will apply what they learned when they turn the page on their own hockey careers and become coaches and parents for the next generation. It is these people who will carry the ball into the future. "Every year a new set of players come in and a new set of parents come in at what- ever age, and we can never take our eye off the ball of making sure those parents and players are introduced to hockey develop- ment in the right manner and put them on the right path," said Bob Mancini, another original architect of the program. "That's why it's so important that we train and develop our players not for the game as we know it right now, but that we must train and develop our players with an eye toward what is the game going to look like in the future." P PHOTOS FROM USA Hockey Magazine Archives 34 // SEPTEMBER 2019 A Special ADM Round Up FUTURE WATCH FUTURE WATCH FUTURE WATCH Young hockey players who grew up with the ADM will one day pass what they learned along to the next generation of players. With A Firm Foundation In Place, ADM Managers Poised To Charge Ahead By HARRY THOMPSON