MISSION

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Our team of professionals are committed to setting the standard of excellence and innovation in hockey in an environment where exceptional performance has no limit.

VALUES

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To be the complete hockey resource for personal and professional development.

DETAILS

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It’s the little things that make the difference as players climb the ladder in their development. Our team of professionals focuses on the details that allow our athletes to succeed within the team systems. We provide the framework and progressions that allow team members to understand the details of their game, and lead to overall team success.

HABITS

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Our team of professionals focuses on instilling habits in our athletes that will lead them to the next level. Individual skill development happens with a focus on small, incremental, and focused practice daily. Through individual skill plans provided for pre- and post-practice, we instill the habits for our players to take the lead on their individual development as they move forward in their career.

PROGRESSION

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As team members’ careers progress and advance, the individual skill demands vary as they progress both from a team standpoint and individually. We take on a progressive approach from a team standpoint working with team coaches to develop seasonal skill plans based on the systematic framework and character of their team.

POWER SKATING

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Never underestimate the importance and effectiveness of sheer, controlled speed. Anyone who has played at a high level will tell you that the difference between the good players and the best players lies in their skating ability. Effective edge work is the bedrock for all skating techniques. With this foundation, we build to improve a player’s quickness, acceleration, and efficiency in their skating capabilities. Our Power Skating and High-Performance Power Skating programs are just another way the RINK Player Development helps players make a dynamic impact on the ice. 

SHOOTING

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The art of shooting has dramatically evolved in the last decade. Part of this change is due to the new technology and development of stick and hockey equipment manufacturing. We take a focused approach on improving a player’s shot and release and offer proper shooting techniques for all situations of the game. Our advanced segments include topics such as changing the angle on the shot, shooting in stride, in-tight scoring, and much more. With proper practice and repetition, you’ll be a dominant threat in all areas of the offensive zone.

PUCK CONTROL

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Puck possession is strongly correlated to the winning percentage of any team. The more you have control of the puck, the better your position is to succeed. It’s important that our players can handle the puck in all zones around their body. Our effective puck control sequences have players learn dynamic fakes and dekes and understand the situations in which to apply them. The best puck handlers know when not to over-handle the puck, which is why puck control is a key approach to our teachings.

BATTLE & COMPETE

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The RINK Player Development offers the best competitive and spirited environment for hockey training. Each one of our groups is classified by age and caliber, ensuring an appropriate training atmosphere, no matter who you are. Battling and competing in hockey incorporates body contact, puck protection, effective stick work, and proper angling. These vital teaching concepts are only a few reasons why the RINK Player Development sets itself apart from the rest.

POSITION
SPECIFIC

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Throughout the course of a hockey season, position-specific skill development is seldom included or is completely avoided in most coaching plans for young hockey players. At the next level, whether it be junior, college, or the NHL, breaking down groups and working on position specific topics takes up a large majority of the practice times. At The Rink Player Development, we understand the value in position-specific training, and our professionals break down and stress its importance in our programming. A guaranteed 6:1 player-to-coach ratio allows for constant feedback and communication with players and allows our professionals to focus on the details of each individual’s game.

SMALL AREA GAMES

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On a full sheet of ice, having a size and speed advantage makes it quite difficult to lose the puck. With an isolated ice surface, “keep away” is more difficult because the size and speed advantage is reduced; this puts the emphasis on skill. Integrating small area drills and games is a crucial part of the development of our programs. Our 120 x 60 ice surface is about 2/3 the size of a professional rink. This creates fast and action-packed scenarios which is any player’s dream.

MOVEMENT &
POSITIONING

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Skating is the foundation of every hockey player’s game, and the goaltending position is no different. We build on this foundation for goaltenders through position-specific movement including edgework, power-skating drills, and PSM crease patterns. This gives goaltenders a good mix of building on athletic movement skills, while also working in the familiarity of the crease. 

REACTION
ABILITY

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With all the techniques being taught in the goaltending position now, sometimes the ability to simply react to pucks and make saves gets overlooked. This is still the bottom line for goalies. A goalie’s reaction ability encompasses their puck tracking, reflexes, rebound control, and overall save-making ability.  

BATTLE &
COMPETE

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To build upon a goaltender’s reaction ability, Battle & Compete is also vital for success. The habits and ability to compete to make saves and follow up on rebounds and scrambles are built into our curriculum at every level.

HOCKEY
IQ

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Goalies are often classified on their own, but they are hockey players just like any other position on the ice. Their ability to understand the threats on the ice, read the play, and understand what their team and opponents are trying to achieve will help them become more effective goalies.

NET
PLAY

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Offence continues to be generated often from below the goal line. We put a high level of focus on net play techniques and tactics. Understanding how to position yourself on your post technically and when to use each different technique will make a big difference in stopping these offensive chances.  

PUCK
HANDLING

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A goalie’s game is more than just about making saves. It is about the overall prevention of goals and helping the team win. The ability to handle and play the puck is a big part of that. We make sure to build puck handling into our training for goalies at a young age.