WMHA
is continuing this year with power skating and goaltender development
initiatives. We
have made significant changes to power skating in an attempt to improve the
program and reduce the cost. This year, all AA, A and AE teams between
Novice and Minor Bantam will have six professionally-led power skating/skills
sessions over a six week period.
Skating Development
These sessions will be instructed by Tony Code and/or his WHA staff and will cover fundamental as well as more advanced skating and puck control elements. The program is shortened and intensified and targets the early part of the season – and we've made more ice time available later in the season to be used by coaches and teams at their discretion. Four of the six sessions will be split sessions meaning your team will be taught jointly with another team, allowing WMHA to increase the number of WHA staff per ice session and at the same time reduce the overall cost. Please check your team schedules for the times of all sessions.
The development fee this year will be $80 per skater. Please check with your team manager to determine if this amount has already been accounted for within your team budget.
Goaltending Development
Goaltending clinics will remain the same as last year and will be held Saturday mornings and led by Steve Sumka of Angles goalie training. Each AA, A, and AE goaltender from Tyke Select/Novice through Major Bantam will have 8 one hour sessions over 16 weeks.
It is imperative that your team’s goaltending coach attend these sessions with their goaltenders. This will maximize the impact of this initiative by having an adult reinforce newly acquired skills or techniques during regular team practice in each 2 week cycle following each session.
Development fee for goaltenders will remain at last year’s cost of $135 per goaltender. Please check with your team manager to determine if this amount has already been accounted for within your team budget. Jeff Weber will be the WMHA contact/convenor for this goaltender development initiative. Please check your team schedules for your sessions.
If you have any questions, please contact
Fred Hale, VP Development.