Hockey development programs

Programming for all tiers

Service-based programing for AA, tier 1 and tier 2

U-13

Tier 1 teams will be provided with team-based development programming by external service providers and additional practice ice for coach-led development.
Tier 2 will have an additional practice. A mandatory cash call will apply to cover costs.

U-11

AA and tier 1 teams will be provided with team-based development programming by external service providers and additional practice ice for coach-led development.
Tier 2 will have an additional practice. A mandatory cash call will apply to cover costs.

U-9

Tier 1 and tier 2 teams will be provided with additional ice for team-based development programming by external service providers. A mandatory cash call will apply to cover costs.

SWAT will also provide goaltending instruction for U-9, U-11 and U-13.

2024/2025 development programs

SWAT Hockey is pleased to partner with several skill providers to offer our players and goalies the opportunity to support their progress with the following development camps. All camps will begin the week of Sept. 30.

Please note these camps are only open to the following ages and tiers; this is because some teams have service-based programming as part of their teams' development (noted above).

U-7 (open to all U-7 players including discovery, junior and senior Timbits; however, all players must know how to skate)
U-9 tiers 3 to 6
U-11 tiers 3 to 6
U-13 tiers 2 to 6

Please note: registration opened on Friday, Sept. 20 at noon through Spordle.

If you register for any of the below camps, you will receive an invitation to join TeamSnap for your selected camp. This will take place after your registration is reviewed and confirmed. Please note, the use of TeamSnap is or scheduling only. SWAT Hockey does not monitor messages in the group chat for development camp TeamSnap accounts.

S2 Super Skills

With Serdachny Powerskating & Hockey, we are excited to announce S2 Super Skills will be available this season. This unique and highly effective developmental program is specifically designed for hockey players who want to elevate their skating and skill levels.

The program, which takes place in the fall and winter, focuses on progressive skating and hockey skill development. The program teaches and emphasizes individualized high performance skating and skill development.

Topics covered include:

proper technique
form
speed
skill

Too many times drills and skills are taught by demonstrating the end result, and when students fall short of achieving that result they don't understand why. With better understanding and clear instructions, players are able to accelerate their learning and develop their skills to a new level.

All on-ice sessions will be taught by professionals, lead by Serdachny Powerskating & Hockey’s professional skating and hockey skill development coaches.

This program is not a learn-to-skate program. Players must have basic hockey and skating skills to participate.

Hockey Fundamentals with Paul Manning

Hockey Fundamentals with Paul Manning is a progressive full season program that allows young players to be engaged within a development structure based on the following philosophy:

Emphasizes FUN! Skills and skating development should be fun but it should also emphasize the importance of focus and hard work. Improvement is more important than ability.
Utilizes multiple training aids and development approaches. Use of attack triangles, bank boards, target nets and sweet hands devices give kids different outlets to improve their abilities.
Focus on dynamic hockey development. All players benefit from time spent on completing two skills simultaneously. Whether it is making plays in traffic or puck handling at high speeds, young players must have an opportunity to work through drills dedicated to these dynamics to improve.
Maximizes use of ice time and efficiently incorporates all areas of the ice for skill development. Small group circuit work ensures that players are getting maximum repetitions and constantly engaged.

The focus of the program will begin with stride fundamentals. Each session will cover and revisit core skating principles (edge work, stopping, acceleration, tight turns, balance, power generation, etc.) As the season progresses, players will execute more dynamic drills, incorporating puck skills with skating. Near the end of the season, players will be tasked with performing the drills at higher speeds and intensity to develop decision making abilities at pace.

As players move through each session, they will have the opportunity to work in small groups with kids of similar ability. Generally, players will power skate as a group and then break into smaller groups to focus on skills work. Each week will focus on different skills so that at the end of the year, players have had a chance to execute all of the core skills in a variety of ways.

Select your child's age category from the list below to register for development programs

U-7 Hockey Fundamentals with Paul Manning (tiers 3 to 6)

U-9 Hockey Fundamentals with Paul Manning (tiers 3 to 6)

U-11 Hockey Fundamentals with Paul Manning (tiers 3 to 6)

U-9 and U-11 S2 Super Skills with Serdachny (tiers 3 to 6)

U-11 (tiers 3 to 6) and U-13 (tiers 2 to 6) S2 Super Skills with Serdachny

Goalie skill development

Ian Gordon Goaltending and Level Up Goaltending will be providing development training to our SWAT U-11 and U-13 goaltenders. Both programs are subsidized by SWAT Hockey to ensure that there are opportunities for all players who wish to develop their hockey skills.

Both Ian Gordon and Level Up provide an excellent training opportunity for goalies who want to improve the fundamentals of their game.

Ian Gordon Goaltending

Level Up Goaltending

Level Up sessions are progressive in nature with each week building upon the previous week's training. Examples: power skating to refinement of cross-crease movements, the puck machine and shooting sessions focus on reading the play, proper positioning, save selection, rebound control and recovery.

The Level Up training sessions will be at the Level Up “Real Ice” training facility located in St. Albert, just off the Anthony Henday on Campbell Road.

More information on upcoming camps will be available in September 2024.

Select your child's age category from the list below to register for goalie development programs

U-11 (tiers 2 to 6) and U-13 (tiers 2 to 6) Goaltending with Ian Gordon

U-11 (tiers 2 to 6) Goaltending with Level Up

U-13 (tiers 2 to 6) Goaltending with Level Up