| Wayne Gagné B.Ed.,
Owner, Program Director and Head Instructor
Wayne
brings to Draft Choice a wide variety of professional skills. Being
a Physical Education teacher and a former N.H.L. and European Professional
player, Wayne
has acquired and developed an excellent approach for teaching today's
youth. His teaching and motivational methods, as well as his ability
to demonstrate and model proper techniques have been the key to his
success as a program Director and Head Instructor at Draft Choice.
Wayne has been instructing at various hockey schools
in North America and Europe for the
past 20 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.
Wayne has earned his Hockey Trainers Level II Certificate,
coaching CBET I level as well as Body Contact Development I.
He also has participated in the Canadian Child Abuse Prevention
Program. Upon finishing his playing career Wayne coached Junior “A” hockey (Caledon Canadians) in
Ontario for 2 years.
He has been coaching minor hockey for the past 11years and has guided
his teams to many tournament championship medals, as well as 3
Provincial Gold Medals with his girls teams and his 97 Toronto Marlboros
team. Recently the 97 Team won its 4th GTHL Championship, and an Ontario
Winter Games Gold medal, and won and went undefeated winning the All
Ontario Championship. Currently Wayne
is also a coach mentor and hockey development coach for the Etobicoke
Dolphins Girls Organization that is run out of the Mastercard Center
in Toronto.
Wayne played for the Henry Carr Crusaders undefeated
Jr. B team in “83” and lead the league in scoring
and was the MVP in the playoffs as they won the All Ontario Championship.
He represented Ontario
in the Canada Winter Games that same year and won a Gold Medal. Following
this Wayne earned a four year Scholarship
playing for Western Michigan. In his Senior year he led the CCHA league
in scoring as a defenceman and was a Two Time
Div. I, 1st Team All American. He also was the Runner-Up
to the Hobey Baker award, and Hockey News
Runner Up for the Top
U.S College
Player of the Year.
In the year 2001 Wayne was voted to the
Western Michigan University Hall of Fame and in the year 2000 he was
voted to the 1st team CCHA All Century Team, and the All 80’s Decade
Team along with Nelson Emerson, George McPhee,
Kip Miller and Rob Blake.
When he graduated from University
he left with 8 NCAA records to his name and played 7 years professionally.
Wayne skated with the Canadian Olympic Team under
the guidance of Dave King, and then went on to sign with the Montreal
Canadiens. He played in the AHL, the IHL, and won a championship
with the Branford Smoke in the Colonial League. He ended his career
in Europe playing in the Elite leagues in Switzerland,
Holland, and Denmark.
| Special Awards
MVP Defenceman
W.M.U 85
Leading Scorer C.C.H.A 86
Player of the Year C.C.H.A 86
Hobey Baker Award for Top U.S. Player
86 (Runner up)
8 NCAA records |
NCAA
Division I Leaders |
| Overall NCAA Assists / Single Season
Wayne Gagne ...1987.......76
Paul Kariya .......1993.......75
Tony Hrkac........1987.......70
Dave Taylor........1977.......67 |
Overall NCAA Career Assists
Dave Rost.............
226
Wayne
Gagne....... 199
Jim Montgomery....198
Greg Johnson........ 198 |
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Joey
Pedulla
Hockey Profile: A former European Pro player in Germany, Joey
holds the record for the fastest three goals in a single game,
5 min 23 seconds. Joey played his Jr. “A” career for the Brampton
Capitals O.H.A. He still remains in the top 5 group of the Caps
all time scoring leaders. During his final year, Joey received
all the major Awards, Central Canadian Championship M.V.P., All-Star
Center, and
Top Points Awards. He is a heads up player that is known for being
able to see the whole ice surface. With this ability, and his
breakaway speed he is able to capitalize on goal scoring opportunities.
Instructor Profile: Joey is one of the head instructor's
at Draft Choice Hockey, His teaching ability is incredible, he
knows how to make the students understand. A Master Motivator,
the students enjoy their time with Joey. He is a certified coach
under the N.C.C.P., a certified trainer under the H.T.C.P. as
well as completed the new abuse and harassment clinic which is
mandatory for all involved in Ontario minor hockey effective 2001. At
the young age of 13 Joey started working as a demonstrator for
Dr.Yasha Smushkin Hockey Clinic.
He spent 8 yrs studying under Smushkin's
tutelage. |
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Andrew Nahirniak
B.Ed, Head Instructor
Andrew graduated from Niagara
University
with a B. Ed and is teaching high school in the Dufferin
Peel Board. Andrew played professional hockey in France and in the U.S in the Central
League. Andrew earned a four year Division I Scholarship to play
NCAA hockey for the Niagara Purple Eagles. Draft Choice Instructors
have instructed him since the age of 12. Andrew played for the
Aurora Tigers of the Provincial Junior "A" league and
completed his Junior “A” career skating for Leamington
in the Western Ontario Jr. “A” League. Currently Andrew is an
assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies 97 Peewee AAA team and
the head coachof his High School team Ed Campion.
Andrew was a student, a demonstrator, and now has moved on to
become a head instructor for DCH for the past 5 summers. He is
an intense teacher and brings the most out of his students. Although
he is loud and very intimidating with his six foot five frame
the students all enjoy his sense of humour
and unpredictability on the ice. When Andrew is running a program
he demands a committed effort from the students. When involved
in Andrew’s programs be prepared to work
hard. Andrew runs programs for DCH in the U.S. and in the Toronto area. |
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Henry Fung B.Ed., Head Instructor
Henry is a high school teacher in the Dufferin
Peel Catholic school system. There he has coached several senior
boys hockey teams and has coached AAA in the OMHA. His Halton
Hurricanes Atom AAA team won the Bronze medal in Provincial Championships.
Henry graduated with Honours from Western Michigan University
on an Athletic Scholarship along with Wayne Gagne. Henry was an
Academic All American and led Western’s Penalty Killing unit to
the top of the nation during the 86-87 Season.
Before WMU, Henry played for the Bramalea
Blues in the Metro Junior B league where he lead
his team in scoring & finished 3rd in the leagueCurrently.
Henry is the Asst. Coach of the 94 Minor Midget AAA OHL champions
Mississauga Rebels in the GTHL.
Henry is one of our Head Instructors who brings to Draft Choice
a wealth of knowledge & discipline from his experiences as
a teacher and player. His strengths as an instructor include his
ability to demonstrate and to technically breakdown each movement
progressively when teaching. Henry currently runs programs in
the Toronto
area in the summers, and works with several teams throughout the
winter when he is not coaching. Henry is a great addition to our
staff. |
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Matt Dzieduszycki,
Instructor
Matt is currently
playing his hockey in the D.E.L league in Germany. He also played professionally in the American
and East Coast League in the U.S. Prior to turning pro, Dzieduszycki
played two seasons with the University of New Hampshire in the
NCAA, then moved to the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League
where he scored 111 points (55-56-111) in 91 games... Matt has
attended the NHL training camps for the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota
Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Florida Panthers.
Matt has been
instructing with Draft Choice for the past 6 years. His enthusiasm
on the ice when teaching and demonstrating is an inspiration for
the students. Matt’s area
of expertise is his ability to teach and demonstrate Puckhandling
techniques. When teaching
students Matt has high expectations and the students who put forth
a committed effort with him are the ones who get the greatest
results. He consistently brings out the best in the
students. He currently
holds the DCH Instructor record for hardest shot with a 94 mile
an hour slap shot. |
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Paul
Woods B.Ed., B.Sc., Instructor
Hockey Profile: Paul graduated from the University of Toronto where he earned his Education
and Bachelor of Science Degrees. Paul skated with the U. of T. Blues for four years and was a defensive
defenceman. Paul was known for his penalty
killing abilities and his sound, "head's up" play. Paul
is now a Physical Education Teacher in the Peel Board.
Instructor Profile: Paul has been teaching
with Draft Choice for the past 6 years after spending 9 years
at the Brendan Shanahan
Hockey School.
We are very fortunate to have Paul on staff because of his versatility
as a teacher. He has run our off ice program at our March Break
& Top Pick Sports programs as well as been a head instructor
on the ice. With his calm organized approach and ability to adapt
his teaching style, he is able to create an atmosphere for success
for the students. Paul also holds certification under the N.C.C.P.
(level I) and Standard First Aid. |
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Derek Montgomery,
B.Ed., Head Instructor
Derek is the Director of a Physical Education program at a private
school in Brampton. He grew up playing his minor hockey in the
Brampton Battalion Organization. He played high school hockey
for Notre Dame in Brampton where
he was the MVP of the team and led them to the Canadian high school
championship in Halifax. He then moved
onto the Provincial Junior “A” league playing for the Bramalea Blues and ended his career playing OUAA for York
University where he completed in the National Championship. Derek
has been with DCH for 10 years. He is an asistant coach with a
Brampton Canadettes Midget team.
Derek has developed his teaching skills under the watchful eyes
of owner Wayne Gagne. Derek is a great example of our DCH staff
who is able to demonstrate many of the
DCH skills and teaches using our consistent DCH language. Derek
is a year round instructor in our programs and is very intense
when on the ice with the players and pushes the students beyond
their comfort zones.
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Lana
Norris , B.Ed., Head Instructor
Lana is currently earning her Bachelor
of Education Degree at Brock University. Lana played 4 years with
the OUAA Brock Badgers womens team. Lana attended Draft Choice
as a student for 5 years and in her last year before University
she helped guide her Brampton Canadette
Midget AA team to a Provincial Gold Medal.
Lana has progressed from a student,
to a demonstrator, and is now one of our trained professional
instructors. Her on ice commitment to the players is exceptional
and demands only the best from each one.
She is becoming an excellent teacher of the game. Having
former students who know the skills and know how to teach the
players from previous playing experience is what allows us to
help your children achieve their dreams.
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Mike
Ross, B.Ed., Head Instructor
Mike is currently pursuing his Masters of Education.
He has been with the DCH Instructors since he was nine
years old. He has grown from a house league player to AAA rep
and finally into a junior level player. Mike played his Junior “A” hockey for Durham in the Provincial
hockey league. Mike was a demonstrator for 4 years and has mastered
many of the skills taught at DCH.
He currently runs many
of the team development sessions during the winters and summer
camps. Mike is always a reliable, responsible instructor and is
very polite and honest when interacting with all the students
and parents.
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Adam Stanley
B.Ed., Instructor
Adam played his junior hockey in the Provincial Junior "A"
league in the Toronto
area and is currently a Physical Education Teacher in the Peel
board of Education. He brings a loud voice and a very enthusiastic
attitude to the sessions that enable him to get the best out of
the students. Adam is very specific with his instructions when
teaching the various skills so the students know exactly what
is expected from them. There are no discipline problems when the
players are working in his zone. Adam has been with DCH for the
past 4 years and we are fortunate to have him as part of our team.
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Anderson White, Junior Instructor
Anderson
currently plays Junior "A" in the BCHL in British Columbia.
He attended St. Michaels
College private boys
school. He has attended
DCH since the age of 9. He
has matured into a fine responsible young man and is one of our
premier demonstrators. Under the watchful eye of Wayne
he is becoming another specially trained DCH instructor. At Draft Choice we pride ourselves in using
our own players eventually as instructors for consistency on the
ice so your child learns the proper methods of skill development
with success. |
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Margaret
Lockyer, Junior Instructor
Margaret is
currently playing Midget AA for the Etobicoke Dolphins. Margaret
began playing for coach Wayne and attending Draft Choice Hockey
since the age of 6 years old. When demonstarting she is very technical
and able to present the details of each DCH skill. When
on the ice she is very detailed when teaching and always brings
out the best in the kids so they gain that “Smile of Confidence
the DCH way!” |
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Mark
Dunning, B.Ed., Instructor
Mark has been with Draft Choice for the past 10 years. He is
the Head of Phys. Ed at Fallingbrook Senior Public School in the
Peel Board. Mark played for the University of Toronto Blues in
the OUAA As an instructor Mark is excellent with the players and
is very enthusiastic in challenging them to be the best they can
be. Mark is able to combine his own personal teaching methods
and ideas with the Draft Choice Technical teaching methods and
be a great teacher of the game. We are very fortunate to have
this high level of teaching in our program.
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Danielle Gagne, Junior
Instructor
Danielle currently plays for the Intermediate Junior AA Mississauga
Chiefs in the P.W.H.L Previously she won Two All Ontario Championships
while playing for Brampton.
She attends Mayfield high school where
she participates in in Field and Ice Hockey.
In Grade 9 she was selected as the Toronto Star Female “Athlete
of the Week,”for her on ice accomplishments. Most recently she was named to the 2009-10
2nd Team All-Star for the Toronto Star. This past year she also
played for Team Ontario Blue where she won a Silver medal at the
2009 Canadian Nationals. Currently she is in the process of deciding
where to continue her education in the NCAA.
Danielle possesses some “great hands” and posseses a "quick
release shot" using the DCH methods taught her and eagerly
shares the technical aspect of stickhandling
with many of our young hockey players. She is an enthusiastic
teacher and often challenges the players to raise their overall
game!
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Nita
Patel B.Ed., Professional Figure Skating Coach
Nita is a teacher
in the Peel Board of Education as well as a Professional Skating Coach.
Formerly she was a Team Member of the Canadian & World Synchronized
Gold Medallist Skating Teams. Currently she
Coaches and choreographs various teams in Ontario and the USA and has represented Canada on several occasions.
She brings to
Draft Choice a very enthusiastic & positive attitude that encourages
challenges the players to learn. Her strengths include the knowledge
on how to perform & teach the proper techniques in all aspects of
skating (developing power, edge stability, & body control).
Nita has instructed at several of our March
Break & Top Pick Mini Games programs as well as worked with students
in our Private & Small Groups Training Programs. This Summer Nita
will be instructing at several of our programs as a guest instructor
to teach Specific Skating Techniques and also to help reinforce the
Draft Choice Skating System |
