Austin Hepburn
U12 AA/A Alliance Seeded
St. Thomas Jr. Stars
I was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, and raised in a little village named New Sarum. I am a nonparent coach who has played most of my hockey in Aylmer, Ontario. I started off my hockey journey by taking figure skating lessons. These lessons turned me into a pretty good skater at a young age. Which allowed me the opportunity to play at many different levels of hockey (AAA - B (Rep)). All these different levels of hockey and many different coaches along the way helped develop me into the person I am today. I am committed to helping improve the game of hockey and players by passing along all the great lessons and experiences my past coaches and players have given me.
Coaching Experience
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2018-2019 U13 LL Assistant Coach Port Stanley Sailors
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2019-2020 U11 LL Head Coach Port Stanley Sailors
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2021-2022 U13 Rep Head Coach Port Stanley Sailors
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2021 – 2022 BK Hockey Instructor / Spring Hockey Head Coach
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2022-2023 U15 AA Head Coach St. Thomas Stars
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2023-2024 U11 BB Head Coach St. Thomas Stars
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2023 – Present Vision Hockey Spring Hockey Head Coach
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2023 – Present Battle Hockey Inc. Instructor
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2024-2025 U13 B2 Head Coach St. Thomas Stars
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2024 – Present Owner and Lead Instructor, Frostbite Hockey
Motivation
My motivation to coach hockey came from my desire to make a difference in kids’ lives, just like my coaches have done for me. I want to see players grow into great people from our teaching. As a coach, we can play a major role in kids’ development on and off the ice. I strive every year to help my team to surpass their limits as people and athletes. Watching kids grow into amazing individuals on and off the ice truly inspires me to keep trying to make a difference in their lives.
Philosophy
My coaching philosophy is based around 3 key factors
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Being Respectful—I aim to teach kids to be respectful through my own actions on and off the ice. I will set an example by emphasizing the importance of adhering to the rules, respecting officials and opponents, and maintaining the integrity of the game.
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Effort—I cannot teach this. However, by joining players in drills and other exercises, I hope to demonstrate the level of effort I expect. I will emphasize recovering from a mistake rather than focusing on it.
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Listening—I will encourage players to be actively involved and listen during all team activities and events. I will ask players and parents to engage with coaches, as this engagement allows us to grow and work through any matter that could arise throughout the season.
2025-2026 Season Goals and Expectations
The goals this season will start from the ice up. The core foundation of hockey is skating, and we will always be looking to improve on our skating. Along with the skating development, we will teach all kids breakout, defensive zone coverage, offensive zone entry and cycling, powerplay, and penalty kill. We will be looking to strengthen our kid’s awareness on the ice through on-ice demonstrations and video replay. I aim to cultivate not only skilled hockey players but also well-rounded individuals who embody sportsmanship and teamwork. These values will guide their growth on and off the ice, preparing them for success in all aspects of life.
The expectations will be for all players to listen, work hard, be respectful and stay positive.
What to Expect This Season
The upcoming season will run from September through April, providing a competitive and exciting opportunity for all players. Practices will be held 1-2 times a week, with games scheduled similarly at 1-2 times a week. To participate, a registration fee is required upfront, and there will also be team fees that must be paid throughout the season (on top of the registration fee). These team fees will cover various expenses, including jerseys, extra ice time, and tournament costs. Players can expect to compete in approximately four tournaments throughout the season, with travel required for some, which will involve overnight hotel stays.
Tryouts are open to all players, with the understanding that St. Thomas' borders are not restrictive — players from outside the city limits are welcome to join.
During tryouts, each player will have a fair opportunity to make the team. Evaluations will be based on various criteria, including individual skill assessment, gameplay performance, competitive level, and coachability. Evaluators will also assess players' ability to listen and take direction. To ensure an unbiased selection process, non-parent evaluators will be present at each session to help with team decisions, ensuring a fair and transparent process.