We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Philip Mcrae a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Philip thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

Before co-owning and Directing TPH St. Louis Academy, I had three jobs. From ages 14 to 16, I worked as a dishwasher. During the same period, I also worked a short time as a garbage man for my grandfather’s trash company. However, my most impactful experience came when I signed my first NHL contract at age 19 and became a professional hockey player.

I did not attend university or college, but my time in sports—specifically hockey—instilled in me the life skills and character traits that I believe contribute to my success today. These include work ethic, commitment, dedication to my dreams, passion, teamwork, the ability to overcome adversity, emotional resilience, and effective communication skills.

I didn’t open a laptop until I was 30, when I transitioned from being a professional athlete to becoming a director and business owner. I truly believe that the skills, traits, and habits I developed during my athletic career have played a crucial role in my success in my passion and new career path.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

TPH St. Louis Academy is St. Louis’s premier student hockey academy. Since its opening in 2020, TPH St. Louis Academy has been home to over 130 students, focusing on their academic, hockey, and holistic individual development. Currently, we are housing over 70 student hockey players who aspire to reach their full potential as both students and athletes. Our students range from grades 5 to 12, are are all dedicated youth hockey players, with dreams and goals in the sport. Students are with us from 8:00am – 3:30pm, Monday – Friday, where they complete their academic course work, on ice training, off ice training, nutrition, mentorship program, and strive to be the best they can be.

What I am most proud of about the Academy is the culture and environment we have created—a place where students are eager and excited to come each morning, where they feel additional motivation and pride in their academics while training for the sport they love. The program is not solely geared towards advancing within the sport but emphasizes what students learn along the way as they strive for their athletic and academic goals. TPH St. Louis is built on quality and detail, maintained with standards and structure.

In addition to the Academy, TPH St. Louis has been the trusted hockey development option for over 200 local players during the off-season, from NHL professionals down to minor hockey youth players.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing our Academy from 25 students to 70 students in our first four years has simply been making a positive impact on our students’ lives. We are fortunate to have a staff that cares deeply about each student within the Academy. Our greatest asset in creating a strong and positive reputation comes from the current students and families within our walls. We are constantly looking for ways to better assist our students and provide them with valuable resources, all while holding them to the high standards and expectations we have in place.

Our students have achieved advancement within the sport, with Academy alumni committing to play NCAA Division I hockey, as well as finding academic success and excelling in the classroom. However, our greatest accomplishment is the impact we have had on our students as young people. The life skills, habits, and character traits they learn through the program take priority over their GPA and academic success, and academic success takes precedence over their level of play in sports.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

There is no doubt in my mind that I am doing exactly what I was meant to do, and I am right where I should be. Hockey has been a part of my life since childhood. My father, Basil, had a long career in the NHL, and I grew up in the rink. I have always had a love and passion for the sport of hockey, but what I discovered about myself later in life is that I also have a passion for mentoring, teaching, and helping youth and the next generation. What I get to do every day allows me to combine my passions. It is my dream job, and I have never considered a day at TPH St. Louis to be “work”; rather, it is a privilege.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tphacademy.com/st-louis/
• Instagram: Philip_McRae9
• Linkedin: Philip McRae
• Twitter: Philip_McRae90