The Hockey Department

It is with absolute pleasure to write a review for Mike Knight and The Hockey Department. Being relatively new to the Ottawa area, we were in search of a high performance hockey skills session. We were not disappointed when Mike Knight was referred to us. His sessions, both skating and skills, are high end development which allow the player to push their comfort zone. The improvement and feedback from the sessions make the player only want to return for more instruction. It is the first time we, both player and parent, received personal feedback and it was greatly appreciated. Thank you Mike Knight and your team who work tirelessly on the ice demonstrating excellent skill and instruction. Highly recommend this elite training if you are looking to improve!!!

Mike Knight has been an excellent skating coach for my son. He will challenge his athletes outside of their comfort level performing creative edge work drills enhancing their overall on-ice mobility and stability. I also like how his sessions are composed of athletes with similar skill set which keeps my son motivated to train at a higher intensity.

Mike at The Hockey Department has been a game changer for my Son, who is playing in Top Tier events thoughought North America. I have 3 boys who have been playing competitve hockey for almost a decade, and I can honestly say that the skill development training provided through The Hockey Deparment is second to none in the Ottawa Region.The drills are unique and challenging. Players are tought how to really use inside/outside edges, puck skills, puck protection, shooting in stride, and much more, including amazing battle drills, where players get to apply what they've learned throughout the training.Mike shows great leadership and mentoring skills on the ice with his players. He takes the time to explain, demonstrate drills, and most imortantly correct during the ice time. If your Son/Daughter is serious about developing hockey skills and taking their game to the next level, I would highly recommend The Hockey Department!

From the start Mike was very professional, helpful, and knowledgeable. His teaching style was one that demanded the the kids be at their best on the ice, give 100% effort, and listen. Mike's methods led to improvement overall in my son in many aspects of his skill set. It was a noticeable difference from the start of the sessions to the end. There was constant feedback, suggestions, and Mike went over and above to ensure my son understood and followed the drills well in order to capture the most of out of them. My son looked forward to each week!

I cannot say enough good things about Mike and The Hockey Department. We have used The Hockey Department to elevate our U15 AAA son's game for the last 6 years. Not only does Mike provide a unique skills set for the players (one that is often times overlooked) but he also takes a personal interest in the development of his athletes. Our son developed an injury this summer and Mike took it very seriously, was instrumental in identifying the cause and used his contacts within the hockey community to help us get Rory healed and back in game shape. We have worked with Mike in both team and private sessions and he is demanding of the players attention, focus and effort, but at the same time the boys know that he is hard because he wants what is best for them. Rory loves his time on the ice with Mike and never turns down an opportunity to skate with him.

Having been a teammate and roommate of Mike’s for two professional seasons, I can personally attest to a guy with amazing character and work ethic. Knighter continually put in the effort to make him and his teammates better on a daily basis. One of the better guys I know and someone I will forever call family. Following his leadership and work ethic helped me achieve my goal of making and staying in the AHL. His creative mind and adaptability will keep people ahead of the game. Mike will develop you into the player you need to be by tailoring a program to you. He knows what it takes to get to the next level and focuses on getting you there. Mike invests in your goals and helps you achieve them. Highly recommended to anyone serious about improving their game.

The Hockey Department offers some of the very best skill development in the region. My son enjoys every session and is excited every time we manage to find time to attend. Practices are well run and follow development plan established for an entire season. High quality on ice programming is supported by top tier kids who push themselves and their peers. Sessions are low player-to-coach ratio and instructors on the ice frequently give good feedback to the kids. I highly recommend Hockey Department for any player looking to advance their skills and to improve their skating.

My 12 year old has attended several sessions with Mike, he has enjoyed every time and his game has improved dramatically. Mike's drills are designed to get the most out of the player by pushing them to their limits. Mike's knowledge of not only the game itself but the fundamentals makes him an excellent teacher. We have another camp coming up and my son can't wait to go. You won't be disappointed.

Both of my boys have attended sessions with Mike and their skating and hockey performance have improved as a result. Mike's approach is innovative, non-conventional, and challenging and the kids have fun in the process. We look forward to future sessions with the Hockey Department.

Extremely beneficial! I have two sons, aged 14 and 8, who both love Mike for his on ice coaching personality and creativity. He models exactly what he is looking for with a high level of skill so the players can see exactly what to do. The 8 year old has gained both confidence and development in agility training and balance, puck handling, and edge work all of which have complemented his league practices. The 14 year old improved the above mentioned as well as notably his acceleration (quick starts), game play simulated experiences, and conditioning. From a parent perspective, Mike builds up the boys with his individualized attention and instruction as well as plans progressive drills so improvements in the boys’ ability is evident every time they hit the ice with him. These sessions are worth the investment!