ON-ICE PROGRAM
Elite hockey is not just about physical ability—it is about developing the right skills, the right way, at the right time. Many young players work hard but still find themselves struggling to keep up at higher levels. This gap isn’t always lack of effort—it frequently traces to a lack of proper skill acquisition.
OTE’s on-ice training program is designed to help players learn how to level up their skill technique, sharpen their decision-making, and build the foundational skills that lead to improved game performance. Our structured and proven approach ensures that athletes develop the tools they need to perform with confidence, rather than hoping to rely on effort alone.
BRIDGING THE SKILL GAP
OTE was created to provide a dedicated, reliable, and locally accessible skills academy that helps players build their game without leaving Vernon. Our training model is rooted in three essential pillars of hockey performance:
SKILL
ACQUISITION
OTE Students register to become more skilled and gain an advantage. This is accomplished through elite skill instruction, technical correction, and purposeful practice design. Not endless flow drills. Players who are not intentional about improving their skills will fall short of the mark. They are more likely reinforcing existing inferior techniques.
Game Tactics
and Strategy
At OTE, our students play on their own hockey teams too. Our strategy is to work on individual and positional tactics that will complement any team plan. Running breakout or transition drills that do not match your team coaches’ plan could be counterproductive. Therefore, we zero in on the skills and game tactics that make you a better performer for any team you play for. That is the OTE advantage.
Athletic
Literacy
OTE is a Premier Hockey Academy. But it is also an accredited SD22 Physical Education program. Our off-ice programming embraces the philosophy that better athletes make the best hockey players. To that end we promote more than just strength and conditioning and multi-sport participation. We promote the education of these activities. OTE students leave as better prepared and informed athletes too!
A Smarter Approach to Skill Development
Many young players practice hard but struggle to see consistent improvement. That is because skill acquisition isn’t just about repetition—it is about quality instruction, proper corrections, structured progression, and deliberate practice.
OTE focuses on building more complete hockey players by:
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Teaching and reinforcing proper mechanics before insisting on game speed.
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Breaking down complex skills into manageable progressions in language students understand.
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Ensuring players get more meaningful repetitions and instructional support in every session.
With the right training environment and expert coaching, players gain the confidence and ability to take their game further—wherever their hockey journey leads.
BRYDEN EZEKIEL
PLAYER U15AA NORTH ZONE KINGS
"We do a lot of shooting, so I feel I've improved my shooting a lot. And also, just like my edge work and starting."
TERRI HIGGINS
HOCKEY PARENT
"Certainly the hockey skills, right, but also the leadership skills. It’s teaching them that work ethic, that discipline. He loves hockey so it keeps him engaged, keeps him out of trouble, keeps him busy with his friends."
ben dobernigg
GOALIE U15 VERNON VIPERS
"My conditioning has gotten a lot better. It's just like, it's like more ice time. So you can, you know, always be consistent, get up and then go... OTE is different from regular team practices. The thing that has improved the most in my game is my skating and how it's been a lot faster and like a lot more structured in the crease."