Coaching Experience
I have been instructing skating for over 30 years and coaching kids for over 35. While hockey is my specialty, I have enjoyed great success teaching beginning and general skating skills as well as the US Figure Skating Basic Skills curriculum and have coached several skaters through their first USFS Moves in the Field test.
I began my career in counseling and coaching at my father’s Training Center Baseball School (in Maine and later in the Hudson Valley area of New York) when I was 13 and continued until I left for college. While at Stanford University I started teaching skating as the head hockey instructor at the Golden Gate Ice Arena in Redwood City, CA. I also served as the president of Club Sports at Stanford where I coordinated budgeting and funding for the 19 Club Sports teams. During the summers I was an instructor at the Stanford All-Sports camp for kids ages 6-12.
Following graduation from college I became the assistant director as well as the hockey director of the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY and then the director of the Family Ice Center in Falmouth, ME before moving to New York 20 years ago to teach skating full time. At that time the move was temporary, but I have enjoyed working with the kids here so much that it has become both my passion and my profession.
Several years ago I began teaching rollerblading (in-line skating) both as a training tool for my ice skaters as well as for simple recreation. It has quickly become one of my most popular and enjoyable activities as well as a great comfort to parents who want their children to maneuver around the park safely.
In 2007 I started Central Park Sports with my good friend and fellow alumnus Matt Karsevar. While Matt has moved on to start his own track and field programs in California, CPSports has been a huge success here and I have thoroughly enjoyed putting all of my athletic, as well as organizational skills to use while introducing kids to various sports and games. Through my work with the kids and talented coaches on our staff I have broadened my teaching knowledge to include the fundamentals of most organized sports.
Athletic Experience
So I guess this is where I get to relive a few of the glory days! I have no choice but to be brief...
I began my skating career long before I can remember on the frozen pond behind our house outside of Chicago. We then moved to northern Minnesota and on to Maine so ice has been a constant in my life. In Maine I played High School hockey at North Yarmouth Academy where we won a State Championship. I also played and was captain of the baseball (State Champions) and soccer teams and earned All-State honors in both sports. Following graduation I played Junior “A” hockey in Avesta, Sweden before heading west to Stanford University in California. My dream of playing baseball for the defending National Champions was short lived so I turned back to hockey and became the captain of the ACHA Div. II Stanford Cardinal ice hockey team. I was a three time Pacific Association All-Star and earned ACHA All Tournament Team honors my senior year when the Cardinal finished 5th at the National Tournament. I spent a couple of years after college training and trying out for professional teams both here and in Europe but to no avail. Now I am at the full mercy of skating children!
Affiliations / Accreditations
USA Hockey Level IV Coach
US Figure Skating Learn to Skate USA Member
PSA Member
Riverbank Hockey 2015 - 2022 Head of Coaches, 8U Head Coach, 12U Head Coach
Kurt Nichols Power Skating Lead Instructor