Instructors:
Craig Woodcroft
Craig serves as the Founder and Head Instructor for Northern Edge. His credentials include being drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks and playing professional hockey for 12 years. His vision and dedication to the school's professionalism are evident in the curriculum he oversees every year. The European influence to the on and off-ice drills are a direct result of his having spent the better part of ten years playing and learning in Europe.
Craig was Chicago's fourth pick in 1988 after earning a four year scholarship at Colgate University.
Craig had the opportunity to play for the Canadian Olympic Team in 1994, the year of the Lillehammer Games.
Craig's jersey hangs in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario.
Craig has been instructing at hockey schools for 21 years.
Todd Woodcroft
Todd has been a Director for Northern Edge for over ten years and currently resides in Minnesota. After 6 years on two NHL coaching staffs, Todd is currently the Western United States Scout for the Washington Capitals. Also, Todd is a consultant to the Belarus Ice Hockey Federation and a coach with the Men’s Senior National Team. He has written hockey drill books and presents at coaching seminars across the US and in Europe.
Prague, Czech Republic. Northern Edge Elite Hockey School salutes Todd Woodcroft on his Gold Medal at the 2004 IIHF World Hockey Championships. Woodcroft was part of the coaching staff for Team Canada that included Mike Babcock (Detroit Red Wings) and Tom Renney (New York Rangers). His responsibilities included participating in all on-ice practices, video analysis, special teams, and scouting the opposition.
FULL STORY (.PDF File).
Jay Woodcroft
Jay is the co-founder of the school, and an author of past and present curriculum. Currently, Jay is part of the Detroit Red Wings’ Coaching Staff as the Video Coach. Jay earned a four year honors degree and a Division I scholarship at UAH where he was an Academic All-American, an NCAA Hockey Humanitarian and captain of his team. His professional career included five years of hockey in North America and one overseas in Germany. His on-ice experience was honed at a young age working for the Brendan Shanahan Hockey School as well as the Adam Graves Triple-A development camp. As a head instructor at Northern Edge, Jay brings personal attention to the development of young players.
Stephen Yurichuk (Yuro)
Stephen has been a head instructor with Northern Edge for six years. As an elite skater, Stephen has had the opportunity to develop Northern Edge's exclusive Euro-Power Skating program. The intense drills and skill taught by Stephen have landed him NHL clients and draft prospects from all across the world. His innovative and professional techniques are unique: advanced and intermediate level skaters learn from his skill, work ethic and attention to the individual. After his playing career in Germany, Steve worked 4 years as the Director of Hockey Operations for the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. Currently, Steve is residing in the Twin Cities, where he has begun working with various associations and high school teams as a full time member of the Northern Edge Staff.
Todd McLellan
A new addition to the Northern Edge Staff. Todd McLellan begins his second season in the NHL coaching ranks with the Detroit Red Wings after spending the past four as head coach of the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros. He led the Aeros to the 2003 Calder Cup championship, defeating the Red Wings' affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, in the conference finals. He also coached two AHL All-Star Games.
Under McLellan's stewardship, the Aeros had a 154-111-37-18 record. Prior to Houston, McLellan spent one season in Cleveland, where the Lumberjacks went 43-32-7 in the IHL.
In four pro seasons and six seasons in the WHL at Swift Current, McLellan never missed the playoffs. He was named the WHL Coach of the Year in 2000. As coach and general manger at Swift Current, he was awarded the WHL Executive of the Year in 1997.
He played junior hockey with Saskatoon (WHL), and was drafted by the New York Islanders in 1986. He spent two seasons in the AHL with Springfield, and played five games for the Islanders in 1987-88, recording one goal and one assist.
McLellan and his wife, Debbie, have two sons, Tyson and Cale.
Curt Bowen:
Curt began his first summer as a full-time instructor with Northern Edge in 2005. A first round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, a Gold Medal Winner with Team Canada World Juniors, Curt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to NEEHS. Curt is currently playing in Europe where he continues to instruct youth players in his spare time.
Sheldon Gorski:
Sheldon has worked for Northern Edge for eight years and brings a wealth of playing and teaching experience, having played in 600 pro games (and scoring almost 400 goals). His teaching experience was learned at the University of Illinois-Chicago; Sheldon is currently the Director of Hockey Operations in Joliet, IL.
Petter Sandstrom:
Petter is currently the goal tending instructor for NEEHS, and his European program challenges all goalies to be their best. Focusing on flexibility and reaction time, Petter's drills incorporate the Swedish style that made him one of the top goalies in Europe.
John Hardy:
John was the first Northern Edge Student to graduate into a full-time instructor. John started with NEEHS ten years ago, and worked as a junior instructor for four years before being named a full-time instructor in 2001. John is currently the Director of Hockey Operations in Medford, OR.
Jim Paek:
Two time Stanley Cup Champion Jim Paek (Pittsburgh Penguins) has worked hockey schools throughout his playing career. Friends with the Woodcroft brothers since they went to hockey school together as young players, Jim brings tons of playing, coaching and teaching experience to NEEHS. Jim is currently the Player/Assistant Coach for Grand Rapids Griffins.