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ELITE SKATING & EDGES:

 U18/Jr/OHL/NCAA 

DESCRIPTION:

The Hockey Department's Elite Skating & Edge Development Program is designed for motivated hockey players looking to maximize their off-season skating development. This program is balanced with both European and North American influences designed to breakdown bad habits, develop a solid foundation which ultimately builds a fast, smooth, powerful and strong confident skater. Mike Knight, with his professional playing and teaching experience, as well as having worked with NHL skating coaches, has perfected a skating program that will provide the player's with guaranteed results. 

 

This weekly off-season program has the player in mind and is also a progressive program where each week, new skills are learned and/or built upon. Every drill will challenge the players to get out of their comfort zone, keep their mind and body in sync and strive for perfection every rep. All the players will learn how, why and when to use all the skills being taught in great detail with a high correction rate. For those of you who are new to The Hockey Department's Programs, we like to use a number of different types of obstacles and decoys on the ice. We are always developing unique drills and have a lot of fun creating new ways to develop our players. 

MAIN AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT:

  • Stride - All players will learn the proper mechanics, form, posture and fundamentals to develop a long, powerful and smooth stride. 

  • Edges - All players will be continually tested with challenging edge development drills to get them out of their comfort zone every rep. Inside & outside edge development is the foundation for all the players skill sets. 

  • Speed, Zero - Go - Open ice and tight area speed will be developed. "Zero-Go" speed has a lot of teaching points but is extremely important, so getting it perfect is a must before advancing. 

  • Evasive skating - All players will learn how to evade opponents in a number of patterned game situations and learn how to dictate the play.

  • Cross overs - All players will learn the proper mechanics, form, posture and fundamentals to develop a long, low, powerful and smooth cross over. 

  • Balance, agility, athleticism - All will be continuously challenged and developed. 

  • Transitions & pivots - All players will learn a consistent method to change any direction at any time while controlling their speed,  approach angle and body position. 

  • Tight area mobility - This area of development will be focused on a lot, applying and combining a number of skills mainly because every player is challenged in tight area's every shift in a game.

  • Hover - This skill alone is a skill that separates. Once the "Hover" is learned and the power needed is developed, this skill creates a lot of time and space for the player and works in countless game situations.

  • Game situational techniques - All players will learn a number of skating skills and techniques that are game situational and transferable. 

     

    ​We will be working on a number of other skating and edge development skills as well, while we  continuously develop the players hockey IQ every opportunity. Like all of our programs, we pride ourselves in having small class sizes, attention to detail, high correction rate and our dedication to every players ongoing development. Please register below!

LOCATION

MINTO SKATING CENTRE

2571 Lancaster rd.

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DATES & TIMES

Please email info@thehockeydept.ca for updated scheduling and program information.

 

You can now Pre-Register to reserve your spot in the weekly development sessions between April - August.

PRICING

April - August:

  • Please contact for details

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NOTES:

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  • Jerseys: Most Spring packages include a jersey. 

  • Minimum 2-3 instructors each class.

  • All players must bring their own water bottle.

  • CANCELLATION POLICY: A minimum of 7 days notice is required if a player is going to be absent from a confirmed class to receive a class credit. There will be no refunds or class credits if the 7 days notice isn't met. If there is an association team conflict that arises (eg. try-outs, camps) please provide as much notice as possible.

  • If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mike Knight anytime @ 613-899-7820 

"I had the opportunity of working with Mike this past summer to prepare me for my OHL debut. Mike's on-ice drills are diverse and result oriented, he knows the importance of having drills that are demanding with a good rest ratio, so that you are trained to execute at a high and fast tempo. He played at the professional level thus he knows which skills are needed to excel. I really enjoyed his edge work, having attended multiple other hockey camps, I can say that his unique edge work drills are totally innovative and pushed me to my limits and out of my comfort zone. Looking forward to working with him again this off-season."

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Alex Robert

OHL, CCHL

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