Competitive Edge

Hockey is generally under a large group format training paradigm. Private / small group lessons are relatively rare compared to other activities, sports, and school subjects that kids pursue. Examples include taking music lessons, getting tutored in a school subject, or taking private lessons in say baseball. And this is largely due to the large resource requirement to maintain the training venue (a refrigerated ice sheet). Competitive Edge is here to fill that void and provide high quality private lessons for individuals and small groups of hockey players.

• Fees can be split among participants with groups ranging from one to four. This means if four skaters take a one-hour lesson together and are in the Package rate, each would pay $24.
• Sessions can be of durations other than an hour (they can be as short as a half hour).

• First time only trial session: $40 for an hour
• Base Rate: Commit to less than 5 hours of lessons - $110 per hour
• Package: Commit to 5+ hours of training lessons - $96 per hour

Email Andy to set up a trial or subsequent lessons.

Announcing a special deal for Orono players to get extra development in this season!

Background: In the past, Competitive Edge has supplemented the icetime that our traveling level teams have received. But, within that, there has been a tendency to get less skill development value per player as compared with the usual small-group-type Comp Edge lessons that we do year round where the activity can be more purposeful to each player's needs and repetitions are more concentrated.

In addition, there has been a variety of levels of engagement by players with the team sessions we've done. Some players are really into it and really strive to get the most out of it. Others less so. This mix means those that are very into it aren't in an environment that is conducive to getting the most out of it. So, we are rolling out a new plan for 2024-25.

Value of Competitive Edge training: Competitive Edge's reason for existing is to provide individualized coaching. This is hard to get in hockey because hockey is mostly done on-ice which is a scheduling challenge and creates a huge cost increase. So we've created a unique venue that facilitates quality repetitions without having to add the cost of ice. This cuts out about 2/3 of the typical cost compared to on ice lessons. So, whether its group of 1, 2, or 3, Comp Edge creates new opportunities for individualized training that is just hard to come by in Hockey.

We work hard to ensure our coaches know how to use our venue to provide that quality in the training. We do this by selecting people who are good communicators with kids and training them in on how to use our training center to teach hockey while also filling any key holes in their knowledge about the skills of the game. As a result, we have a reputation for high-detail technique development within our lessons. This level of detail is not limited to skating coaching on our skating treadmill. We do the same with respect to puckhandling and shooting coaching in the synthetic ice area as well.

Winter 24 / 25 Training Packages: The following training packages will be made available to Orono travel-level players. They will be group-of-two or group-of-three depending on sign ups for each slot.

- 5-PACK - $210

- 10-PACK - $400

- Want more? Communicate with Andy if 10 is not enough.

We are only selling the equivalent of thirty two 10-packs. Once we sell out, we will be full.

We will allocate time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays to traveling level Orono players to opt in for sessions. The amount of time set aside will depend on the number of players who purchase packages. To start with, 6:30 to 7:30 PM and 7:30 to 8:30 PM Tuesday and Thursday will be set up throughout the season and we'll adjust to ensure this is working for everybody. With enough need, we may allocate some weekend times as well.

Again, these sessions will be minimum group-of-two and maximum group-of-three. Players are encouraged to pair up with buddies and to schedule together. We'll make the times for upcoming weeks public by emailing the group that has purchased sessions the Friday before regarding what days and times are available coming up. Folks can then opt in by just replying to that email.

We look forward to getting a bit more personalized and intensive for our Orono skaters with our Comp Edge training this winter!

Competitive Edge Hockey has been serving the Twin Cities area of Minnesota for more than fifteen years doing both dedicated-facility and on-ice hockey skill development. Eventually it became obvious that we needed a dynamic and adaptable puckhandling training system that could be brought into and out from all the rinks to which a hockey skills coach travels.

That idea was the seed. However it has been heavily refined in prepration for seeing the light of day and it has evolved into The FÉNIX.