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Over the quarter of the century that CISI Inc. and the Hockey School
of Excellence have operated, generations of young hockey players have passed
through our programs and experienced Smushkin's Hockey Agility Training System
first-hand.
We are proud of our students' hockey accomplishments: some
have made the USA Olympic Team, Canadian and US National teams, many play Junior
A hockey in the OHL, others have earned college scholarships through hockey.
Particularly, we are proud of our students who have played and currently play
professional hockey in the NHL:
| Jim Dory | Toronto | Tiger Williams | Toronto | ||
| Brian Glennie | Toronto | Jack Valiquette | Toronto | ||
| Curt Walker | Toronto | Matthew Schneider | Detroit | ||
| Paul Cavalini | Dallas | Peter Ferraro | Boston | ||
| Mike Peca | Toronto | Chris Ferraro | Pittsburgh | ||
| Keith Primeau | Flyers | Adam Foote | Colorado | ||
| Chris Wells | Florida | David Nemirovsky | Florida | ||
| Richard Park | Minnesota | Jim Campbell | Florida | ||
| Ian Moran | Boston | Ed Campbell | N.Y. Rangers | ||
| Daniel Tkaczuk | St. Louis | Mark Popovic | Anaheim | ||
| Matthew Stajan | Toronto | Ryan O'Marra | NY Islanders | ||
| Kyle Wellwood | Toronto | Jason Spezza | Ottawa |
We are also proud that many of our students have opened their own hockey schools in North America, incorporating Smushkin's unique training equipment.
"His objectives concerning the teaching of hockey are two-fold: to instill a competitive spirit in the player, and to prepare the physical condition of the player as best as possible."
"Just a short note to express my sincere thanks to you.
I am sure as I
look back, the many skills and techniques you exposed me to will prove to
be an invaluable help to me as I continue my hockey career. Your unique
camp and commitment to perfection made you a pleasure to learn from and
work with. I was particularly pleased with the variety of drills and
their practical application to Livež hockey. Best of luck for your
continued success, as well as your continued development of young skating
talent"
Tony Hejna - 1985 NCAA Championships, Troy, New York
"Determined to improve in preparation for prep school and college hockey,
I first became attracted to Dr. Yasha Smushkin's Hockey Camp while reading
its advertisement in a hockey publication. The words "seven hours ice time
daily for serious and competitive hockey player" made me feel that Dr.
Smushkin's Camp and I were a perfect match. "Push, cross, together," -
while I leaned into each crossover, I realized this was the first of seven
hours of on ice instruction.
Dr. Smushkin's own invention of the carousel represented just one of the
many challenges I faced this summer for one week at his hockey camp in
Toronto.
Each hour concentrated on a different aspect of the hockey game. Using Dr.
Smushkin's Gym-on-Ice invention, I found myself jumping off spring boards
for balance control, skating under monkey bars, practicing crossovers on
the carousel - although these educational drills could not be used in game
situations, they drastically improved my skating ability.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Camp was Dr. Yasha Smushkin
himself. When a player did not pay attention to his explanation of a
drill, he would whack his stick on the ice and emphasize in a deep Russian
accent: "I come here to educate, not to entertain."
During the last day of camp, many players wanted extra time to scrimmage.
Admittedly, many other hockey schools follow this tradition allowing extra
scrimmage time on the last day. Clearly, Dr. Smushkin does not follow the
methods of other camps. Instead, Dr. Smushkin helps aspiring players
follow the path of their hockey dreams."
The Unique Hockey School - By Tracy Burns
"Smushkin's excellent hockey techniques and methods helped my skating and
over-all hockey abilities tremendously. Keep up the great work, Dr.
Smushkin!"
Eddie Choi - Received 4 yr. Hockey scholarship to the
Ohio State University
"I hope you will be pleased to know that yet another one of your students
has received a full scholarship to a Division One Hockey School. I am
proud to say that I will be playing hockey for the University of New
Hampshire this October.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have taught
me. I know I would not have accomplished this without you guidance."
Brenna Rockburn
"Some time before training camp, Red Kelly (coach of Toronto Maple Leafs),
called me to say that there was a Russian guy in Toronto, Dr. Yasha
Smushkin, who had some interesting ideas about skating and balance, and he
was running a course. Kelly thought Smushkin could help me. So, of course,
I went to Toronto early. Jack Valiquette was also asked to attend, along
with Brian Glennie, who was a poor skater.
Dr. Smushkin had some pretty weird ideas, but deep down I thought he was
on to something. He had this big black band of elastic stretched across
the ice, and we had to charge down the ice and slam into it. It would whip
you back like a slingshot. The idea was to always keep your balance
whatever the situation.
Dr. Smushkin worked only on situations that took away your balance, and
you had to fight back to win back some control."
Tiger Williams
"Over the last seven years I have had the honour and privilege of being a
student of Dr. Yasha Smushkin. Many of the hockey skills I possess are a
direct result of his knowledge and wisdom."
Mark Popovic - First Round Draft to OHL - St. Michael's
"This weekend have I learn more what skating and stickhandling are,
than I learned in hole my 9 years old life!! You can learn to skate
& stickhandling in many ways, but I think - Do it in Dr Smushkin?s way and you to it right from the beginning!
"
Jesper Lundqvist - Hanvikens SK, Sweden
Doctor!
It is your most difficult student Jeffrey Reppucci! I really hope that you are doing very well! I know that now you are in Sweden training and I hope that it is going well for you. I wanted to write to you to give you an update on myself. I am right now preparing to start my second season of Div. 1 College Hockey at Holy Cross. I had a very successful season last year leading all defensemen on my team in scoring and being named the All-Rookie Defensemen of the year in my league. I was named league rookie player of the week twice and helped my team to a very successful season. I must thank you Doctor, because I can say that if it were not for you I would not have had the success and fortune that I have had in my hockey career. The skills you gave me in my puck handling and skating have allowed me as a smaller player for my level to excel. Most of all the vision and mental skills you developed for me have really proven to be my strength in hockey. Again Doctor, thank you for your program and interest in me throughout my time training with you.
On a non hockey related note I also must thank you for sparking an interest in my academic studies that has become an obsession. I am studying Russian Language and Culture extensively at University and actually spent six weeks in Moscow this summer studying language, culture, and the beautiful women of Moscow. It was you who introduced me to Russian culture and its beauty and fullness through staying at your house, training with you, and most of all listening to your music! Now I am a Russian studies major at University and I am planning on returning to Moscow next summer for more studying of both Russian history and Russian women... the best in the world! I hope to see you soon where we can catch up by speaking Russian!
Again Doctor, thank you for the ten years that I spent training with you. Your program doesn't just make Hockey players but also men and it was through my summers with you that I developed the toughness and passion to hopefully make something of myself. I wish you the very best and I hope that I will get to see you again soon. I consider you a part of my family and I will never forget your teachings and your legacy.
Sincerely, your grateful student
Jeffrey Reppucci
"Joey has gone from a bench sitter three years ago to
No. 1 on his team.
He has won MVP Awards in every tournament entered, he has over 82 goals to
date and still going strong. You have taught him well, his skating, speed
and puck control is something you would be proud of. Thanks to your
training, Joey has had the most successful year ever. Thank you Dr.
Smushkin."
Art Linton - Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaLinda and Mike Pedulla - Milton, Ontario, Canada
"My son enjoyed your camp at Mennen arena this summer, he says all the
other camps he attended were for wimps. Thanks!"
Len Vico - Yardville, N.J., USA
"Thank you for the superb month of training which Bonnie enjoyed in
Toronto. In all our years of national and international ski competition,
we have never seen a training program that approaches your level in
developing competitors.
We are tremendously impressed by your philosophy, the analysis and careful
planning that goes into the program, your creativity and your skill in
pacing the entire clinic to maximize the training while keeping it "FUN".
You have a wonderful talent for leading the skaters to constantly
challenge themselves. You have a truly unique talent for determining the
precise physical and mental point that the athletes need to work on, and
then a way of designing a session to address those precise points.
Your students will never forget the sessions that they spend with you. The
lessons that they learn by challenging themselves will be important to
them throughout life, even if they never do any other serious skating.
It is a pleasure to watch you at work, I would happily sit and watch the
entire month - if I could arrange it. Thank you for your help."
William B. Peirce - Forstdale, Mass, USA
"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! What more can be said? The week of July 23 was the
most fantastic week of training I have seen, regardless of the sport.
My wife and I had no intention of being present at the ice rink nearly as
much as we were. To be quite frank, we were so fascinated with the drills,
and our son's efforts, that we had difficulty pulling ourselves away to do
more than eat lunch.
Your program is excellent and your disciplined approach is needed,
appreciated and exactly what my son needs. Asked on Friday evening, after
the last day of camp, whether he would like to return he responded
unhesitatingly with a resounding 'Yes'."
G. Philip Rossman - Fort Wayne, Indiana
"I would like to take this opportunity to convey my sincere appreciation
for giving my son and I the opportunity to train under your care and
expertise. Our understanding of the art of skating has been greatly
enhanced with the comprehensive explanations and demonstrations you
provided during our week with you. Jon's performance in power and dynamic
skating significantly improved. The techniques of inside and outside
edges; one dimensional and two dimensional arm motions, as well as one
speed and two speed coordination between upper and lower body is knowledge
that Jon and I continue to put to use in his training.
You have equipped me, as Jon's father and primary trainer, with the
knowledge to bring his performance to the next level. I am no longer at
the mercy of well-intentioned coaches and trainers when it comes to
understanding what is right or wrong in these skill sets. I see Jon
progressing as a performer rather than a participant as his
self-confidence in these acquired techniques advances. I would recommend
this combination of parent/child training to anyone that wants to
understand the skill requirements, conditioning, and training required to
help their child move forward in the sport of hockey."
Jon K. Peterson - Somerset, N.J. US
"From you Matthew has learned the value of hard work and the pride that
comes from succeeding at a difficult task. This attitude shows up in his
approach to work at home and at school as well. He expects a great deal
from himself and is prepared to put in the effort to obtain his desired
result."
"...I hear comments like, 'what did you do with Zach, he looks great!' or,
more importantly, 'Your son is a pleasure to have on the team, he conducts
himself like a real leader and like one who can set an example for others
to follow.' Doctor, I can't tell you how happy these comments make me, especially
those concerning him as a person, beyond hockey. You were right, your training
system teaches not only hockey but more importantly LIFE LESSONS."
Jerry
I am an instructor within the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and
let my son (-95) practice for a week with Dr. Smushkin this spring.
This was our first experience with him and I was impressed by how he took
the concept of body and mind agility to a whole new level.
I always believed my son to be very developed in these areas,
but now we have new and higher goals. Thank you Doctor for the inspiration
and knowledge You so passionately share.
Merten Wetterstrand -Sweden
Dr. Smushkin
Thank You for a very inspiring weekend.
My sons eyes sparked with enthusiasm and happines back home.
He is already longing for next time!
Madeleine, mother to Marcus Evholt (-95) - Sweden
Hello Dr. Smushkin,
I am very pleased with the improvements in Diane's skating in such a very short time.
She is seeing - and feeling - the difference. She went to a team practice just before her session with you on Sunday and said she felt much more secure and confidant in her skating.
Thanks for your concern and commitment as well as your expertise.
Thanks,
Mary
Mary Snobelen, Professor, Toronto, Ontario
"Dr. Yasha Smushkin's first book is titled From Zero to
Hockey
Hero - How to avoid being misled in Kids' Hockey. By now it was quite
clear to me that almost all
hockey parents were either being misled or were actually doing the
misleading.
Since the title was so brazen, I purchased the book and began reading.
Smushkin's book helped crystallize my thinking, and turned me into a bit
of an evangelist.
The more I thought about it, the more I agreed with Dr. Smushkin that the
goal should be to
appropriately balance coaching (team skills), teaching (individual skills)
and fun.
Ensuring this happens is the parent's job. So I evangelized and found some
other parents
who upon reflection agreed with me. Together, we try to balance the
activities,
Smushkin's triad of fun, individual skills and game skills, for the
betterment of all of the players.
That's why the Fraser Valley Flyers were formed."
From Newsletter of Fraser Valley Flyers Hockey Organization.
British Columbia, Canada
"Wayne Gagne has been instructing at various hockey schools in North
America and Europe for the past 15 years. He has been able to effectively
combine many of his own experiences along with the teachings of Dr. Yasha
Smushkin's European Powerskating and Skills techniques to build a
resourceful teaching background."
From Draft Choice Hockey Program Web Site
"Our Summer Program has been developed by World Famous Dr.
Yasha Smushkin. Dr. Smushkin is a former National Soviet Coach and guru to numerous
NHL stars. He has prepared each lesson plan specifically for Winter Garden. Dr.
Smushkin's system is a proven progression method that leads to skill mastery.
Winter Garden Professionals will present these methods which are being directly
taught to them by Dr. Smushkin. Smushkin's amazing Gym on Ice will be at Winter
Garden, including skating carousels, springboards and parallel bars - all invented
by the Dr. This will be a unique hockey experience."
From www.wintergardenarena.com
Dr. Smushkin
42 Preston Hill Cresent, Concord,
Ontario L4K 5L4 Canada
Phone: (416) 663-1052 Cel: (647) 271-6075, +3 (161) 748-4313
E-mail: ysmush2560@rogers.com