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They begin the recruiting process when players are 6 and 7 years old. It's actually comical. You have these Coaches calling, texting and emailing parents and telling them how great their little superstar is.

I would agree with the assement on Max, He was more worried about looking good and running drills that look good and the language barrier did not help with instructions. As far as new technique vs old, it really has not changed much, some instructors can use video and new technology to help show a player what they can do to improve, but the drills and technique is pretty much the same. My 2 cents, most kids lack the strength and or control of their body to perform most drills or refine their stride. Your son being a 2006 14/15 you may find it better to spend some of your budget on a good strength and conditioning coach as well as lessons as he progresses. If you really want a good skating coach, I would say go the figure skating route, then have spent their entire lives working on balance and edge work, it is all broken down and taught at the different levels of learn to skate and then on as they get older. With any players, they need to learn to munipulate their balance and learn to trust their edges. Proper recovery and learning to use their full stride is key, then being able to apply that while changing direction and rotation. Once they have that then you can add stick and puck work to complete the skill set. I give a few recomendations and plus and minus. Do you own homework and see what fits. Mary ann Watkins - RMU/Island sports - She is a figure skater that has a world renowned resume of teaching kids to pros, she knows skating from head to toe - I don't know if she offers private lessons, but it will most likley be expensive, In my opionon she I think she has lost her hunger and is often going through the motions with lessons and instruction. Brad Michalski - Alpha Ice/ Baierl Ice rink - Brad was a skill instructor for PPE, but had a falling out, he did skills and power skating when Max was there and is probaly more the reason those kids became good skaters than Max, he does do some drills that is more for show, you will often see his students touching a knee or glove to get low and use their edges, while it does get them low, I think it is more of one of his drills he likes. He does a decent job at skills, most of his practice are thought out and he loves putting toys out on the ice, his students are the best at skating, passing and stick handaling around non moving object. But overall he is one of the better and seems to care about his students. Mark Voit - Baierl - I don't know how you get on Mark list, but he is a very good skating and skills coach, I have been told he does not do it for money an will turn away anyone that is not serious or works hard. He works the kids hard and pushes them beyond what they think they can do. Grant Springer - Frozen Pond - Grant is more of a skills coach, but is also very good with power skating, he works kids hard, and holds them accountable. very engaging with the kids and would work well with a 2006 player. Cliff Loya - Baierl / MT.Lebo - Cliff has a good following and his lessons are always packed. I find him very robotic and just running the kids though same drills with very little correction when they do it wrong. Tyler Kennedy - Baierl - I see Tyler and he seems to be focused on kids younger than 2006, he does lots of station based drills, simular to Brad M and loves his toys and props as well. CJ Stelabot - Alpha and PIA - CJ comes off as being younger and more energy than most and is very engaging in his lessons. He is a good skater and does engage the kids, not sure it gets though to most, but he does a good job and also does skills, he will be boostful about his resume and playing history, but he is trying to build his brand. Yuri ??? - PIA - Yuri is a good defensive coach and runs some camps in the summer, but I would not waste my time, as he will tell you what you want to here and drain your pocket book, once you are out of money, your out of luck. Tyler Murovich - Ice Castle - Tyler is one of the top skill coaches in the area, he played a number of year in minor hockey and was very skilled forward, he relates well to kids and often runs very engaging drills and practice, he has his hands full as his family own the rink and he is doing a lot with the teams. I'm not sure how much he does with just power skating, but is a good young coach. Sean Berkstresser - Alpha - Sean is a very n o non sense kind of guy, he tells you the truth and will stop kids in drills and correct them, sometimes being honest, but blunt. He also runs the Gym at the rink, he is one of the top coaches and skill guys in the area and might be a good pick as he is listed to coach a local 2006 team this season. His practice are fast and the drills are meant to get the players to think on their own. While he may not break down the stride mechanics, most of his drills combine transtions, passing and shooting, he also offers work out and additional programing. Sean also had a long monor league career. John Zieler - Alpha- John played in the NHL and AHL for a number of years, he coaches and works with mostly younger kids, while skating may not be his best skill set he teaches, his kids and teams all seem to play at a very high level and show excellent skill sets over all. High compete, puck support and passing are top notch. He is an excellent overall skills coach Cody Black - Baierl - Cody is a young skills coach that has a great attitude and the kids love him, I think he has been mostly working with younger kids and concentrating on the mutiple programs that baierl offers, but does a good job with instructions. Take this for what it is worth, I'm sure everyone has their own oppinions, I have been around to watch all of these instructor practice and refine their trade craft, I still say if you are just looking at improved edgework the figure skater insturctor would be best bang for your buck, if not my top 3 in no order for a 2006 would be Brad M, Berkie or Tyler M. I'm sure the PPE, UPMC guys are good also, but with the restrictions that rink has and seems like they have better things than private lessons on their plate. I'm sure I missed many skill guys around the area, but I know the ones above.