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Wheelhouse Hockey Academy

Learn to Train | Train to Train | Train to compete

The Registration "Summer Academy" is not currently available.

2024 Summer Academy Training

The Summer Academy Training Program is a 5-week program beginning July 8 and ending August 7.  Each program will feature our Curriculum Based Training Model focusing on foundation of movement leading to physical literacy.  

The Academy is designed for players who are serious about their development.  Each day is devoted to different styles of training and each player can design their own curriculum within the Academy.  Mix and match training sessions to create your personal summer training program.

We offer clinics that focus on positional and game skills, skating technique, puck control.  We offer semi-private and small group training, and our Skill Factory sessions work to combine all of these skills to create a smooth and powerful player.  Girls only options are available, and we limit the number of players on the ice to maximize player development.  

Our camps offer each player the opportunity to maximize his or her development by creating a positive, challenging, and fun learning environment designed to stretch the abilities of the athlete.  

All clinics will be held at North Buffalo Rink on Tacoma Ave. in Buffalo, NY.  


2024 Summer Academy Schedule

July 8 - July 11

Register before July 1, 2024 to receive $5 off per session 

TIME Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
10:00-11:00am Skill Factory (2006-2015) | Private Training Defense First | Offensive Skills (2006-2015) Mite Development (2016-2019) Elite Girls Skills (2006-2015) | Private Training
11:00-12:00pm Shoot 2 Score (2006-2015) Advanced Puck Control (2006-2015) | Private Training Skate 4 Performance (2006-2015)
12:00-1:00pm Private Team Training

Private sessions are $60 per session.  Save $5 per session if you book 5 or more.  Private sessions are for 1-4 (max) skaters.

July 15 - July 18

Register before July 1, 2024 to receive $5 off per session 

TIME Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
9:00-10:00am Skill Factory (2006-2015) | Private Training Defense First | Offensive Skills (2006-2015) Mite Development (2016-2019) Elite Girls Skills (2006-2015) | Private Training
10:00-11:00am Shoot 2 Score (2006-2015) Advanced Puck Control (2006-2015) | Private Training Skate 4 Performance (2006-2015)
11:00-12:00pm Private Team Training

Private sessions are $60 per session.  Save $5 per session if you book 5 or more.  Private sessions are for 1-4 (max) skaters.

July 22 - July 25

Register before July 1, 2024 to receive $5 off per session 

TIME Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
9:00-10:00am Skill Factory (2006-2015) | Private Training Defense First | Offensive Skills (2006-2015) Mite Development (2016-2019) Elite Girls Skills (2006-2015) | Private Training
10:00-11:00am Shoot 2 Score (2006-2015) Advanced Puck Control (2006-2015) | Private Training Skate 4 Performance (2006-2015)
11:00-12:00pm Private Team Training Private Team Training

Private sessions are $60 per session.  Save $5 per session if you book 5 or more.  Private sessions are for 1-4 (max) skaters.

July 29 - July 31

Register before July 22, 2024 to receive $5 off per session 

TIME Monday Tuesday Wednesday
9:00-10:00am Skill Factory (2006-2015) | Private Training Defense First | Offensive Skills (2006-2015) Elite Skills (2006-2015) | Mite Development (2016-2019)
10:00-11:00am Shoot 2 Score (2006-2015) Advanced Puck Control (2006-2015) | Private Training Skate 4 Performance (2006-2015)

Private sessions are $50 per session.  Private sessions are for 1-4 (max) skaters.

Aug 5 - Aug 7

Register before July 22, 2024 to receive $5 off per session 

TIME Monday Tuesday Wednesday
9:00-10:00am Skill Factory (2006-2015) | Private Training Defense First | Offensive Skills (2006-2015) Elite Skills (2006-2015) | Mite Development (2016-2019)
10:00-11:00am Shoot 2 Score (2006-2015) Advanced Puck Control (2006-2015) | Private Training Skate 4 Performance (2006-2015)

Private sessions are $50 per session.  Private sessions are for 1-4 (max) skaters.

To learn more about our Private Training opportunities, visit our Player Mentorship page


Academy Course Descriptions

Elite Skill Development

Small group training

 

Our Elite Skill Development features creative and progressive drills that stress proper skating, puck handling, passing, shooting, and hockey techniques.  We take an innovative and wholistic approach to skill development using multi-component training exercises through a variety of challenging drills.  

We will work on creating a more fluid player by focusing on posture, glide, balance and footwork.  We will combine puck movement to drive specific skating movements and layer skills.  These session are designed for experienced players only. 

Sessions are designed to work in semi private groups of 5-6 based on age to maximize skill development.


Skill Factory Training

This intense Elite camp is strictly for players who strive to be challenged each day by complex drills, fellow elite players and the high expectations of our experienced coaching staff. Drills are designed for athletes who have already mastered the fundamentals. We utilize advanced training techniques, including on-ice over speed resistance training, and off-ice accelerated conditioning geared toward building speed, strength and endurance, to push players to their full potential.   

Skating and Edges: Including proper body position, correct use of inside and outside edges, balance and agility so players can get the most power out of each stride. 

Puck Handling, Passing and Shooting: Stick handling and passing technique, including proper hand placement, head position and location of puck on the stick.

Game Situation Confrontational Drills: We teach the game of hockey. Our “Game Situation” drills will focus on the offensive and defensive aspects of real game play. These drills will help each player understand the game and teach reaction with confidence.


Mite Development Program

Limit: 32 skaters

Skating and Edges: Including proper body position, correct use of inside and outside edges, balance and agility so players can get the most power out of each stride. 

Puck Handling, Passing and Shooting: Stick handling and passing technique, including proper hand placement, head position and location of puck on the stick.

Game Situation Confrontational Drills: We teach the game of hockey. Our “Game Situation” drills will focus on the offensive and defensive aspects of real game play. These drills will help each player understand the game and teach reaction with confidence.

 

Shoot 2 Score

Limit: 25 Shooters

The Shoot to Score camp will focus on the specific techniques required by forwards and defensemen in order to be effective at these positions. We systematically break down the fundamentals of shooting and progress to high-speed stickhandling, dekeing and shooting. Throughout the camp, players are closely monitored by our experienced instructors who give direction on improving play in each situation. 

Defense First

Limit: 8 Skaters

At Defense First you will learn critical position-specific skills and tactics, including defensive and offensive skills to gain the extra edge in game situations.  The modern defenseman is a hybrid who can play both ends of the rink with and without the puck.  Players participate in confrontational drills against players in their age group, making the drills more game-like and reactionary. We'll cover things such as defensive tactics, Layering, reversing puck, angling, gap control, net play and puck protection.

Offensive Skills and Tactics

Limit: 12 skaters

At Offensive Skills and Tactics you will learn critical position-specific skills and tactics, focusing on offensive skills to gain the extra edge in game situations.  The modern skater plays a 200-foot game, is dynamic with the puck and has a nose for the net.  Players participate in confrontational drills against players in their age group, making the drills more game-like and reactionary. We'll cover things such as offensive tactics, angling, net play, puck protection, cycling, and zone entries.

Skate 4 Performance

Limit 20 skaters per session

The focus of this camp will be power skating with and without pucks. The areas to be covered will be forward/backwards skating, balance, advanced edge control, crossovers, power turns and take-offs, explosive acceleration, agility maneuvers, speed training, resistance drills, and lateral mobility. 

Skating and Edges: Including proper body position, correct use of inside and outside edges, balance and agility so players can get the most power out of each stride.

Crossovers:  We also cover crossover technique, demonstrating the most efficient use of edges to generate maximum speed and power. 

Power Turns: Proper body position and edge control while executing power turns so players can quickly and efficiently change direction.

Transition:  Instruction on transitions so players can smoothly move from skating forwards to backwards or backwards to forwards without losing speed.

Advanced Puck Control

Limit 24 skaters

This clinic will focus on aspects of puck handling, puck protection, passing and receiving.  Our focus is to give players more puck confidence which will allow them to focus more on what is going on around them.

Puck Handling: puck agility with a focus on quick smooth hands as well as the concept of under-handling.

Puck Placement: placing the puck in the right position to evade defenders and generate power from the stride and power in evasive maneuvers. 

Puck Protection: using placement and edge agility to keep pucks away from defenders.  We spend time working on the concept of using "the hip pocket" to attack defenders with confidence.

Passing and Receiving: Fundamental passing techniques leading to passing and receiving passes at high rates of speed.