Welcome to Hockey Player Development!

You can now register for HPD Clinics directly on www.playsylvania.com
Follow the link above to sign up for all our Hockey Clinics or for more HPD information!

2013 HPD Pro-Am League this summer at Sylvania Tam-O'-Shanter

Start Date: June 4th 2013   End Date: August 8th 2013

Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Eligibility Category ***Junior, College or Professional experience required***
18 Skates $250.00 ($12 per. skate)

Visit our Registration page to sign up!

2013 HPD **Registration must be paid in full by June 6th 2013**

Check out the lastest post in Notes from Nick: Cold Hard Truth when it comes to Skating Stride

2013 Hockey Player Development - Summer Clinic Series
Clinic space is limited early registration is recommended!

Hockey Player Development Clinic Registration Form 

IRON CROSS: Hockey Player Development version of the iron cross demonstrated here by Nick Parillo. This drill can be done using the same pattern with or without the puck. Also forward to backward and just backward with or without a puck can be administered using this same pattern. This drill is a great drill to quicken feet as well as concentrate on form. Staying low around turns with your stick always in front of you is essential in acceleration out of these turns. More bend with inside leg or (leg closes to pylon) translates into better extension out of turn and equals more acceleration throughout this drill.

Iain Duncan & Nick Parillo 8 Cone Warmup

"I trust Hockey Player Development training techniques with my son Adam."

Nicklas Lidstrom # 5 Captain Detroit Red Wings

"Nick and his staff at Hockey Player Development do a very good job training and working with the kids. They are committed hockey professionals who possess a solid grasp of the important teaching principles and develop a great rapport with their students. I like the environnment they create of hardwork, learning, competition and fun on and off the ice."

Dan MacKinnon
Director of Player Personnel
Pittsburgh Penguins

HPD Featured Clinic of the month: Overspeed Clinic runs eight consecutive weeks total throughout June and July. One hour of dryland precedes every practice. The Overspeed clinic is designed for elite players wanting to get an edge for the upcoming season. Proven NHL training methods will be used on ice. Mandatory workout program will be implemented for off clinic days.

Coaches have Hockey Player Development come and run your teams practice!! If your team is looking to get an edge this season we can help. The plan is simple....... Just Contact us with some ideas on what your team has been lacking this season, give us a day and time of your desired practice session. Hockey Player Developments experienced staff will set up and run a team practice on that day and time.

2/5/2013

Cold Hard Truth when it comes to Skating Stride: by Nick Parillo

I have been working with youth hockey, junior, college and pro skaters for the last fifteen years, I have played alongside players in Division 1 college and then in the Pros with very awkward strides that are in fact great hockey players. Most were very strong and had unbelievable leg and core strength. Some body types cannot be fluent when skating, while others are more equipped to produce a great fluent stride. Believe it or not most young players will improve their stride with simply logging more ice time, attending specialized power skating sessions that preach fixing your stride is somewhat of a myth. My power skating sessions involve balancing using our core strength with lots of 1 legged skating exercises that strengthen the muscles involved with pushing and extending.  This makes lots of sense considering the fact while skating a player is only using 1 leg at a time. Off ice exercises involving plyometrics and other leg and core strengthening exercises can really help give you that stronger stride and also keep you stronger on the puck.  The Accelerated I & II summer programs are ideal for off and on ice training with a concentration on edges, puck handling and constructive game play.  While the Overspeed I & II provide more of a concentration on acceleration, strengthening and conditioning.  

Still after hours of your favorite power skating instructor and hours of off ice activity you still don't look like Sydney Crosby well there is a cold hard truth.... "your not”. His body type along with his athletic ability "genes" come into major play with his success in hockey. Sorry to tell you it was not a coach or power skating instructor that made "Sydney - Sydney". However the good news is there are players at the Division 1 and Pro levels that do not have those great skating genetics and with hard work and dedication off and on the ice you can reach your potential in this game.  Most players fail to realize what type of work ethic and commitment reaching their potential in hockey takes. At HPD we are here to help provide you with these hockey fundamentals that will help establish a strong foundation to build from.  In the end it will be up to you the player to decide whether or not this is something you wish to build your life around. 

Nick Parillo

Any questions on this subject please feel free to email  Nick Parillo at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A Note From HPD (10/10/2011):

Shooting Tips by Player Development's former NHL player Iain Duncan

- Quickness of a shot's release plays a huge factor in goal scoring, and the 1 time shot is the epitome of quick release
- To take a 1 time shot, the player must first move feet to position the body for the shot
- This is done by opening up when on the off-wing side. Position the body so that puck approach is between the shooter's skates, ideally just inside the front foot
- Slide the bottom hand down the stick shaft and firm up the grip
- The player brings the stick blade back 12 to 24 inches
- Timing is the key to this shot: at the appropriate moment, the stick blade is brought down and forward making contact with the ice 3 to 6 inches behind the puck
- Rotate the hips and shoulder toward the target
- Use a push/pull action with the arms as you strike the puck and snap the wrists forward on contact
- Follow through with stick pointing at the intended target

A Note From Nick Parillo (3/12/2012):

OVER THE YEARS I HAVE OFTEN PONDERED WHY HOCKEY PLAYERS & GOALTENDERS IN PARTICULAR RISE ABOVE & MAKE IT TO THE NHL. WHY SO MANY END UP DRIVING THE ZAMBONI, SELLING VALUE MEALS AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, OR ETERNALLYREMINDING THE CUSTOMER,”YOU MUST PAY BEFORE YOU PUMP AFTER 11:00 PM, SIR.” (NOT THAT THOSE ARE BAD CAREER CHOICES!). FROM THE HOME OFFICE IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA HERE ARE THE TOP 10 REASONS FOR SUCCESS:

 1. Want it more than your parents – You know who you are. Daddy hacks & whacks in the beer league. “I could’ve, should’ve, would’ve but…”

2. Ability to recognize & study successful peers

3. Willing to experiment

4. Able to handle praise & attention properly & with perspective

5. Hockey is a healthy full-time obsession

6. Able to work longer & harder than real or imagined peers. If you already work harder than anyone else you know does, you must recognize that there is probably someone you don’t know doing more than you. This is a powerful motivator.

7. Able to internalize confidence. Ask Brian Burke of the Vancouver Canucks if I was adept at this! Oh, you said internalize, not externalize. Show people how good you are don't tell them.             

8. Able to handle constructive criticism. If you are already that perfect why aren’t you in the NHL?

9. Continued practice on weaknesses. You must assess, recognize & accept weakness in certain areas. Develop & perfect weaknesses. Challenge weakness, don’t ignore It!.

10. Continued practice on skills already mastered. I always run into goalies that don’t need to work on a certain element of the game because they already have it down. All goaltenders in the NHL continue to work on basics like movement, rebound control & recoveries.

 99% OF CURRENT NHL PLAYERS NEVER MADE IT SOLELY ON THE TALENT THAT THEY WERE BORN WITH. THEY EXPERIENCED BENCHING, POLITICAL TEAM CUTS, LOST PARENTAL POPULARITY CONTESTS, BAD INJURIES, BAD TIMING, BAD TEAMMATES, BAD COACHES, LOSING SEASONS,AND A LITANY OF OTHER POTENTIAL CAREER STOPPERS. THEY ROSE ABOVE ALL DOUBTERS, THEY ROSE ABOVE JEALOUSY, AND THEY ROSE ABOVE COMMON & UNCOMMON EXCUSES FOR FAILURE. SIMPLY PUT, THEY SINGLE-HANDEDLY DID IT.

 “STRIVE TO DETERMINE EVERY POTENTIAL EXCUSE FOR FAILURE IN YOUR CURRENT SITUATION. SYSTEMATICALLY, AND WITH VIGOR, REFUSE & REFUTE EACH INSTANCE, DETERMINING THAT YOUR UPWARD PATH IS ENTIRELY SELF-DIRECTED NOT EXTERNALLY DETERMINED.”