Elite Academy

Elite Academy Program

Intensive Summer Training for Elite Hockey Players with NHL-Experienced Coaches in Muskoka

The Muskoka Hockey Elite Academy is an advanced summer program designed for high performance athletes aged 14–20 competing at AA, AAA, Junior, or NCAA levels. The academy offers two, three-week intensive sessions, each focused on high-performance training at the Bracebridge Muskoka Lumber Community Centre. With five days of structured on-ice and off-ice conditioning per week, the program emphasizes skill refinement, power skating, and physical conditioning led by expert coaches with NHL experience.

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STRUCTURE Summer 2025

Session 1:
Week 2 July 7-11
Week 3 July 14-18
Week 4 July 21-25

Session 2: 
Week 5 July 28-Aug 1
Week 6 Aug 4-8
Week 7 Aug 11-15

Time: 11:00am – 3:00pm
11:00am View professional practice
11:30am Strength & Conditioning Training
1:30pm On Ice Training

Location: Muskoka Lumber Community Centre Bracebridge, Ontario

Weekly Training Sample

  • On-Ice:
    • Skill Refinement: Stickhandling drills and controlled shooting.
    • Passing Precision: Short, quick passes and saucer drills.
    • Agility Edge Work: Fast-footwork drills around cones and obstacles to improve edge control.
  • Off-Ice:
    • Explosive Power Workout: Plyometrics, box jumps, and med ball slams.
    • Recovery and Mobility: Foam rolling, stretching, and mobility exercises focusing on hip flexors and shoulders.
  • On-Ice:
    • High-Intensity Interval Skating: Timed sprints and interval training.
    • Reaction Drills: Quick reactions to whistles or signals, engaging defensive maneuvers.
    • Game Simulation: 3v3 drills emphasizing speed and decision-making under pressure.
  • Off-Ice:
    • Speed Training: Ladder drills, agility hurdles, and short sprints.
    • Core Stability: Core circuits focusing on anti-rotation and dynamic stability exercises.
    • Hydration & Nutrition Talk: Emphasis on fueling for performance and recovery.
  • On-Ice:
    • Battle Drills: One-on-one puck protection and body positioning.
    • Endurance Conditioning: Longer laps with minimal rest intervals.
    • Shooting Under Fatigue: Conditioning shooting drills at the end of the session.
  • Off-Ice:
    • Functional Strength Circuit: Full-body exercises with kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands.
    • Endurance Training: Treadmill or rowing intervals.
    • Team Building Activity: Bonding exercises to build team cohesion and mental resilience.
  • On-Ice:
    • Positional Drills: Defensemen focus on gap control, forwards on forechecking techniques.
    • Small Area Games: 2v2 in tight spaces to improve quick decision-making.
    • Face-off Drills: Emphasis on technique and reaction speed.
  • Off-Ice:
    • Agility Workout: Cone drills, shuffle drills, and quick lateral movements.
    • Reaction and Coordination Drills: Ball drops, partner reaction training.
    • Sports Psychology Session: Visualization techniques and focus-building exercises.
  • On-Ice:
    • Power Skating: Intense stride work to improve balance and acceleration.
    • Full-Ice Drills: Focusing on speed and positional awareness in various game situations.
    • Scrimmage: Controlled game to test skills learned over the week.
  • Off-Ice:
    • Active Recovery Session: Light stretching, yoga, and foam rolling.
    • Breathwork and Recovery Techniques: Emphasis on breathing exercises for stress management.
    • Goal Setting & Reflection: Group discussion on weekly progress and setting next week’s goals.

The Muskoka Lumber Community Centre is the premier destination for high-performance hockey development, featuring a top-tier NHL-sized ice rink, a state-of-the-art gym, and specialized training tools for skill enhancement. This combination of on-ice and off-ice training develops players’ technical, physical, and mental skills for peak competition.

KEY FEATURES:

Green Space & Recovery Areas: Outdoor spaces for active recovery, stretching, and team bonding, promoting balance and mental rejuvenation for athletes.

Ice Rink: An NHL-sized, professional-grade rink designed for intense drills, game simulations, and team training, with seating for 1,000 spectators, ideal for competitive games and community events.

Fieldhouse (Gym): A fully equipped gym for off-ice elite hockey training, emphasizing strength, agility, endurance, and injury prevention with specialized equipment tailored for hockey athletes.

Hockey-Specific Tools: Includes shooting targets, passing aids, and agility tools to improve technique, speed, and precision, supporting high-level skill development.

Brady Leavold, a former pro hockey player, is a prominent figure in hockey development and mental wellness advocacy. Leveraging his experience, he focuses on the mental resilience needed for high-level competition, offering athletes tools to improve focus, confidence, and emotional regulation. His methods address both the physical and mental demands of elite hockey, guiding players on handling stress, adversity, and a growth mindset.

Adding Leavold’s mental performance strategies to your child’s hockey program provides essential mindset training, complementing physical development to create well-rounded athletes prepared for AA, AAA, Junior, and NCAA levels.

Adam Nicholas, an expert hockey skills trainer, works with players to sharpen individual skills, puck control, and decision-making, fostering a competitive edge. His methods, emphasizing hockey IQ and quick thinking, focus on puck handling, skating power, passing accuracy, and shooting—core skills for success in AA, AAA, Junior, and NCAA hockey. Nicholas’ training aligns seamlessly with your program, providing personalized development alongside your facility’s elite on-ice and off-ice resources.