Skills Coach Profiles

Eric Calder, Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Business Administration at Wilfrid Laurier University, NCCP High Performance II with Hockey Canada, NCCP Hockey Canada Certified Skills Coach, Can-Fit-Pro Certified Personal Trainer, First Aid (Trainer 2)

Coaching experience: Eric is a Certified NCCP High Performance 2 Coach with NCCP Level 3 Theory and a Certified Skills Coach from Hockey Canada. As well a Can-Fit-Pro Certified Personal Trainer with First Aid (Trainer 2 certification). He has been one of the most sought-after instructors in the area for many years. His professional coaching includes Canadian University, Junior B, Elite Professional and Junior hockey in Europe, and 21 years with Skills Plus Hockey, along with many years of Minor Hockey Coaching and Training. Eric lectured in the Kinesiology Department on the Theory of Hockey at Wilfrid Laurier University from 2004 – 2015.

Scouting Experience: Eric has worked as an OHL scout with the Kitchener Rangers and as an evaluator at many selection camps.

Playing Experience: 11 years of professional hockey including NHL / AHL and elite professional hockey in Europe. Awards and championships include two-time Club European
Cup Finalist, CIAU All-Canadian, Memorial Cup Champion, and Canadian MVP of World Junior Championships, Cherry Cup Champion 1080, Completed the Canadian Cross Country Ski Marathon Five Times since 2009 (2 Gold Level, 1 Silver Level and 2 Bronze Level)

Experienced Staff

Skills Plus instructors are highly trained athletes with a wealth of experience. Our staff has a high level of proficiency and is able to demonstrate each skill at an elite level. We use correct technique, giving our students a good visual image of the different skills being taught. To maintain a successful teaching environment, Skills Plus utilizes a balanced player-to-instructor ratio (approximately 4:1).

Group Leaders and On-Ice Skill Coaches

 

Roy Russell

Mike McIIveen

Jamie Robertson

• Instructor with Skills Plus since 2005
• Group leader and on-ice
• Physical and Health Education Teacher with the Waterloo Region District School Board since 1996
• Waterloo Minor Hockey Coach from MD to AA since 2004

Kaitie Phelan

• Skills Plus Hockey Skills Coach / Group Leader since summer 2010
• Played minor hockey with the Kitchener Lady Rangers
• Player with the K-W Rangers PWHL team
• Played four seasons with the Women’s Brock Badgers OUA
• Graduated with a psychology degree
• Bachelor of Education from Nippissing University
• Spent two years teaching primary school in London, England
• Worked the past two winters travelling across Canada on tour with Rogers Hometown Hockey festival
• Currently an occasional teacher on the Waterloo Regional District School Board

Keegan Calder

• Skills Plus Hockey Skills Coach since 2008….and a participant from the age of 5
• Former Player with Waterloo MHA, Kitchener Dutchmen (GOJHL) and Guelph Storm (OHL)
• Group Leader since 2016
• NCCP Development 1
   

Adam Robertson

• Skills Plus On Ice Coach (age 15-19)
• Skills Plus Hockey Participant (ages 6-15
• Group Leader
• Waterloo Minor Hockey Graduate
• Waterloo Minor Hockey AA/AAA Hockey Coach
• Bluevale Collegiate Athlete of the Year, 2x WCSSAA All-Star in Hockey 
• BKin Wilfrid Laurier University (Varsity Baseball Player) 21’
• BEd Brock University in Health & Physical Education, Biology 23’
• Occasional Teacher for WRDSB
• Kitchener Panthers IBL member
• OHA Junior Hockey Official & Minor Hockey 

Kathleen Smith

•  Currently is the editor at the Goderich Signal Star Newspaper
• Former player in Memmingen, Bavaria, Germany, playing in the DFEL women’s ice hockey leagueGrew up playing AA boy’s hockey in Waterloo
• Played for Cambridge Fury girl’s hockey team
• Played for Team Ontario and won gold at Canada Games
• Attended Providence College for 4 years scholarship to play women’s ice hockey in
• NCAA Division I league, a part of the league champions in freshman year
• All-Rookie Team All-Stars, League All-Star Team 2 times,
• Providence College Women’s Ice hockey team MVP 2008
• Working at Skills Plus Hockey since summer 2003

Ursula Benesch

• Worked at Skills Plus Hockey as a Group Leader since summer 2001
• Mother of two boys and a girl who went on to play Junior B Hockey, University Varsity Hockey and Professional Lacrosse
• Grew-up playing ringette
   

Erin Normore

• Skills Plus Hockey Skills Coach / Group Leader since summer 2004
• Graduated with Masters degree in guidance and counseling.
• Spent a season as assistant coach at Hamilton College, a division 3 school in upstate New York
• Played in Memmingen Germany in the professional womens league, won league scoring title
• Player with the Providence Friar Normore finished her career atop the all-time games played list with 143 appearances, having played in every game during her stellar four-year career.
• Broke the 20 point plateau all four seasons and finished her career with 91 points on 66 assists and 25 goals.
• Team MVP in 2009, Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2006
• Participated in the U-22 Camp for Team Canada in 2007
• Played in the CWHL for the Boston Blades
  

  Goalie Coaches

  Robin Cumming

  • Instructor with Skills Plus since 2007
  • Goalie Instructor and on-ice assistance
  • WMHA Coaching Mentor For Goalies
  • AAA/AA/MD Coach since 2009 with Waterloo Minor Hockey
  • Player for 35 years (goalie)

  Zac Prattis

  • Worked at Skills Plus hockey since 2012
  • 19 years experience as a goaltender
  • Played in Waterloo and Stratford
  • Studied French and communications at Wilfred Laurier University…BA and BE
  • High School Teacher

On-ice Skill Coaches

Tye Calder

• Head Ice Skills Plus Hockey Skills Coach and Associate Group Leader since 2007
• Former Assistant Coach of the Waterloo Atom AAA and Midget AAA Hockey Team
• Currently an Electrician Appretice
• Former Waterloo Minor Hockey Rep Player, Waterloo Siskin and Paris Mounties
• NCCP Development 1

Tyler Micher

• An active Skills Coach with Skills Plus Hockey since 2017
• Active Rep Coach with the 2011 age group
• Grew up playing Rep Hockey in Kitchener Minor Hockey
• NCCP Development 1 Coaching Certification

Klara Heinisch

•  Skills Coach at Skills Plus Hockey since summer 2012
• Volunteer coach for The First Shift program by Bauer and Hockey Canada
• Played BB girl’s hockey for the Waterloo Ravens growing up with a total of 14 years experience as an ice hockey played
• Grew up participating in a variety of other sports including baseball, soccer, field hockey, boy’s ball hockey and high school swim team
• Assistant coach of Waterloo Wolves boy’s Major Peewee house league team in the 2014/15 season
• Earned Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and currently working on her Gold level
• this award is given to students between the ages of 15 to 25 who exemplify high level leadership qualities through a certain number of volunteer hours, physical activity, chosen skills and adventurous journey
• Earned Schulich Scholarship which is awarded to university students who maintain an average above 80%.
• Currently completing the Concurrent education program at Brock University in St. Catharines and will be qualified to teach grades 4 to 10 upon graduation with her teachable subjects being
• English, Music and Phys-Ed.
• Currently employed by Waterloo Infant Toddler Daycare Association

Alistair Viegas

• Training at skills plus since I was 8
• Coaching since I was 14
• NCCP Hockey Canada Skills 1 certified
• Respect in sport certified
• HCOP Level 3 Referee (Linesman for u18 provincial championships in 2022)
• Laurier Varsity Soccer goalkeeper and captain