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INSTRUCTORS

Brad Burns, Instructor

Brad grew up in the Penticton, BC minor hockey system where he played AAA as a goalie and player. At age 16 years old he left home and played for teams in the RMJHL, BCHL, and the AJHL Jr. A hockey leagues. He moved onto Red Deer College to play and focus on his educational studies where he received a diploma in Kinesiology (Honours). In 2004, he graduated from the University of Alberta earning a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education and Social Studies Secondary. He played senior hockey for the Innisfail Eagles in the Chinook Hockey League and the Daysland Northstars in the Battle River Hockey League. 

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During Jr. and Sr. High School, Brad worked for the Okanagan Hockey School in Penticton, BC, running Summer Hockey Leagues. In 2005 he worked his first Black Elk Hockey Camp in Ponoka as a dry-land instructor and has been hooked ever since. In subsequent years he has moved from the off-ice role to an on-ice instructor leading the specialty hockey clinics and on-ice skill sessions. Brad loves working hockey camps because over his hockey career he received a lot of help from some gifted hockey players, coaches and instructors.

Scott Harding, Instructor

Scott Harding has been a teacher for the past 14 years and is currently an elementary teacher in Okotoks. His hockey career spans 30+ years. Scott played at all levels including 4 years in the AJHL, 2 years in the ACAC and a short time in the WHL. For the past 5 years he has coached his children in the Okotoks Minor Hockey program. He has been teaching hockey schools for the past 12 years with various companies throughout Alberta. This will be his 5th year with Black Elk and he truly enjoys helping out with players of the future.

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Danika Holt, Power Skating Instructor

Danika played Alberta Major Midget Female AAA, Tier 1 in the Southern Alberta Women's Hockey League, and two years in the City of Saskatoon in the ASHL. She has been instructing all ages and levels for nine years with K2 Hockey Clinics and Black Elk Hockey School. Her areas of expertise include power skating, puck skills, checking, shooting, off ice instruction, and dry land physical training. In 2011 and 2012 she scheduled, organized and instructed her own Power Skating clinics for ages ranging from 5-16. In 2009 she was an assistant coach with the Bantam Sydney Ice Bears in Sydney, Australia. She is an alumni of the University of Saskatchewan and is now teaching in southern Alberta.

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"I love seeing players grow and develop. When something clicks, as a young player is working to learn a new skill or technique, and you see the pride light up their face, it is so exciting. In fact, coaching is what sparked my interest to become a teacher. To provide a player with the tools, guidance and instruction they need in order to develop their skills is very rewarding."

Tim Stewart, Instructor

​Tim is a former instructor of Chinook's Edge Hockey Academy and has worked with Black Elk Hockey School as an instructor, supervisor and led elite level conditioning camps since 2000. He played Senior A hockey and has coached male and female teams. He has instructed a great range of student ages and abilities from beginner preschool in the morning to professional, NCAA players and prospects the same evening. He presently teaches physical education at Hugh Sutherland School in Carstairs AB. "Although I find working with elite level players extremely rewarding, I find it equally or more rewarding to instill basic fundamentals while encouraging and empowering beginners."

Jeff Smyth, Instructor

Jeff is a recent graduate of University of Alberta and Red Deer College Middle Years Collaborative Program with a Bachelor of Education degree. He is raising a family and teaching in central Alberta. Jeff has a true coaching passion for the game of hockey. He was fortunate enough to coach at a young age while also playing for the AJHL's Olds Grizzly's hockey club. Jeff loves the game of hockey and obviously has a passion to teach and coach it. With his background in teaching and coaching he has the necessary skills and experience in instructing kids on and off the ice.

Tanya Chomyc, Power Skating Instructor

Tanya started playing hockey when she was seven years old in her hometown of Wembley, Alberta. She participated in the Alberta Winter Games when she was 13 and played for the Northern Alberta All Stars in Edmonton for three years and traveled with this team to Europe. Tanya played four seasons with the Midget AAA women's hockey team in Grande Prairie. In Tanya's 4th year with the University of Calgary Dinos, as captain, she led the team to a Canada West Championship and a CIS National Championship. Tanya is now owner of Power Plus Hockey Skating in Grande Prairie and continues to provide power skating instruction at Black Elk camps.

Kevin Knibbs, Instructor

Is the Director of K2 Hockey Clinics, that have provided skills clinics to minor hockey organizations and hockey schools in Canada, United States, Czech Republic and Australia. Kevin has directed or instructed hockey schools for the past 35 years. He has also been a director/instructor for the Calgary Flames Hockey School, Canadian Professional Hockey School and Can-Pro Hockey Academy. He played professional hockey in the Premiere Division in Germany, Varsity hockey at the University of Manitoba & Senior A and Junior A. He has also coached male and female hockey teams at the AAA level in Calgary as well as an Assistant Player/Coach at the University of Manitoba. He has an Education Degree and has been a School Division Specialist, an Assistant Principal and has taught at Junior & Senior High Schools. He has been awarded an Excellence in Teaching award three times in three different school divisions. He loves doing hockey schools because coaching is teaching.

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