Hockey Learn-to-Skate

Rocky Saganiuk and his staff have a great deal of experience with helping young players to develop the basic foundation skills that every hockey player needs to skate confidently and safely. You’ll witness your child’s rapid metamorphosis from a reluctant novice to one of Rocky’s ‘speeding scooters.’ And, you’ll notice ‘the smile.’

The goal of the Learn-to-Skate Program is to develop your child’s skating abilities to a level that enables him or her to take the next step – learning the game of hockey. Rocky and his staff have designed and proven their techniques and teaching aids to truly enhance the development of your inexperienced, young skater.

Classes are structured to provide a natural progression of skating and hockey fundamentals through competitive drills designed with your young student in mind. Early emphasis is purely on skating. But as your child gains confidence, hockey fundamentals are quickly woven into the instructional sessions. Puck handling, shooting, passing, scoring and checking are all taught to Little Huskies in true Rocky Hockey fashion – good fundamentals, good fun.

The mission of the Little Huskies is to develop young boys and girls, giving them the ability to participate at the club level and enter league play. There are three different levels of instruction, developing your child’s ability to enable him or her to play ‘Scooter Pond Hockey’ or in our In-House league.

All students new to our program are thoroughly evaluated to ensure they are started at the level appropriate to their abilities.

Little Huskies Pre-Hockey Level 1: Novice

To enter the program at this level does not require strong skating abilities. But students do have to be to get across the rink without help and can quickly get back on their skates after the inevitable fall. They must be able to Push & Glide across the ice at a consistent rate. Remember, falling is okay. It is more important that your skater gets up and can regain his or her balance and skate again.

Class Instruction

Developing a sense of balance and a sense of confidence are the two key s to your young skater’s growth. Your child will develop a good sense of balance and learn the proper skating stride form to obtain consistent forward movement, perform sharp turns left and right, correctly stop and the basics of skating backwards. Hockey skills will start with the introduction of puck handling basics.

The development of competitive skills is also started at this level. Your skater will participate in a number of competitive drills against other students to sharpen their hockey instincts.

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Little Huskies Pre-Hockey Level 2: Intermediate

To enter this level of the Little Huskies Program students must have the skating ability to confidently perform accurate right and left turns, perform snowplow stops and almost have the ability to transition from a forward to a backward skating stride. This transition takes some time to master. At this level it is important to understand what is required and be able to successfully complete the maneuver at least part of the time.

Class Instruction

Hockey skills are given more emphasis. In addition to the further development of puck handling skills, Little Huskies start to work on passing, shooting and scoring.

Skating skills are also more challenging at this level. The transition or pivot from forward to backward skating is given emphasis along with lateral crossovers. All of these skills are drilled at hockey speeds to ensure that they become second nature in game situations.

Checking techniques are introduced at this level. The emphasis is on the safe and controlled execution of our fundamental techniques. Rocky Hockey stresses sportsmanship in all facets of the game.

At this level students are invited to participate in ‘Scooter Pond Hockey’. This introduces a whole new level of fun for Little Huskies. It is hockey in its purest form – just fun with your friends.

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Little Huskies Pre-Hockey Level 3: Advanced

Students at this level are confident in their skating ability. Their skills are evident in their ability to perform Power Turns both left and right, precise forward and backwards crossovers, quick 2-foot hockey stops and fluid forward-to-backward-to-forward pivots.

Their hockey skills are also evident. Students will further build upon their good stick handling skills. They shoot well and are eager to go into a crowd of players and retrieve the puck. There confidence in their skating ability and hockey skills will make them strong competitors.

Class Instruction

Emphasis is placed on the further development of all hockey skills. Our goal is to prepare your child for Club-level and league-level play. All aspects of the game are continually reinforced in a positive manner. Little Huskies work hard at this level, but fun will always be part of the program.

Competition drills are employed for all facets of the game: skating, shooting, puck control and checking. Our drills are designed to maximize each student’s playing abilities.

Level 3 Little Huskies also start their participation in the In-House League, where they get a chance to sharpen and test their skills in game situations. Our In-House league offers the right level of competition and fun for Advanced Pre-Hockey Little Huskies.

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