Meet The Coach

GABERAL GIFFORD

GABERAL is a 20-year old high-level hockey player who has spent the last four years playing for 18AAA Ontario Jr. Reign, NA3HL Missoula Jr. Bruins, and the USPHL Premier Long Beach Shredders. During that time he coached his younger brother and sister into AAA hockey divisions, and gained a great passion for teaching the younger generation. He hopes to use his twelve years of hockey experience and influences from excellent coaches such as ex-Slovakian National Team player Pavel Sisak, current NAHL Oklahoma Warriors coach, and ex-NHL player Emerson Etem to educate and mentor young hockey players so they may maximize their potential.

Gabe's Coaching Philosophy

In my hockey career, I have had the honor of being taught by many talented playersand skilled coaches. All of them have influenced the way I teach my students.

  • Effectively teach and develop skills through progression and practice.

  • Use ice time to efficiently work on weak points while fine-tuning strengths to best suit the player.

  • No player is the same and while developing weak points is a must to become a top level athlete.

  • Develop Players strengths as well as weaknesses to create top level hockey players rather than moderate all around players

  • Lessons should be planned, focused and progressive with the players skills as players develop drill difficulty should increase and push players to their limits.

  • Each lesson I coach has a focus and is put together to develop the specific skills highlighted by parents or players beforehand. This allows for the most efficient and productive use of ice time

  • I Believe coaches are tools for players. They should be teaching new skills, developing efficient drills and developing players in aspects of hockey they don't recognize on their own. Coaches should be like a toolbox for players.