Hockey Academy: Instructors

Chilliwack Hockey Academy is proud to have instructors that provide our students with the skills necessary to improve their athletic skills and awareness.  Each of our instructors comes with a variety of strengths and coaching backgrounds allowing for a great mix within our Academy.

Darryl Adams - Head Instructor

Born in Creston Valley B.C., Darryl Adams played the majority of his minor and junior hockey with the Creston Valley Bruins and Creston Thunder Cats respectively.  After his junior career, Darryl moved to Victoria to pursue a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Victoria.  While enrolled in the Teacher Education program, Darryl was the head coach of the Victoria Racquet Club Midget AAA Hockey team for three years.  For the last two years, Darryl has been employed by Compton Sports Training Systems, where he worked in an off-ice and on-ice strength and conditioning role with numerous professional and semi-professional hockey players.  Darryl has a vast knowledge in professional skating techniques and skill development, and hopes to bring his knowledge and expertise to the Chilliwack Middle School’s Hockey Academy.  Besides instructing students in the CMS Hockey Academy, Darryl is also a Physical Education teacher at CMS.

Peter Hay - Head Instructor

Raised in Abbotsford, Peter played many years of hockey at the Junior A and College levels before going onto the AHL and ECHL Pro Leagues. Peter learned a great deal playing at the higher levels and wants to help young players with their goals of reaching their potential. Peter has brought his playing experience into coaching as he worked closely as an Assistant coach with the WHL's now defunct Chilliwack Bruins and continues to work with the CMS Hockey  Academy. Peter runs his own hockey training program out of Abbotsford called PHD.

Neil Murphy - On-ice Instructor

Neil played Junior 'A' with the Vancouver Centennials in the BCJHL. Neil also played three years with the Boston Braves (a farm team of the Boston Bruins) in the American Hockey League. Neil has experience coaching at various levels and is currently instructing and developing several Hockey and Skating Programs with Canlan Sports at Prospera Centre.

Natalie Christensen - On-ice Instructor

Natalie Christensen brings a wealth of experience to the Hockey Academy. She is an advanced level I coach currently coaching the Westerns Women’s Hockey League’s BC Breakers. Natalie has played in both the WWHL as well as the NWHL (National Women’s Hockey League), and has been to the Esso Women’s Nationals eight times. She has gained a great deal of knowledge along the way and has used that knowledge to better herself as a coach and instructor. Natalie has coached a number of years in the High Performance BC Best Ever Program, including the BC winter games and just recently, the U18 Nationals. She was also apart of the Long Term Athlete Development project done by BC Hockey. Natalie has her own hockey school which reflects her vision and philosophy on hockey and life. It is called A2D Hockey, which stands for Attention to Detail. She believes it is the attention to the smaller details that will set one apart from the rest.

“The Game is won…far away from witnesses…behind the scenes, in the gym, and out there on the ice alone. Long before I play under those lights.”

Jeff Battah - Goaltender Coach

Jeff has coached at the junior level for the last nine seasons, spending six years in the WHL and three seasons at the Junior “A” level.  Jeff is also the Owner/Instructor for Pro Goal Development.   Having spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach in Prince George in the WHL, Jeff also was as an assistant coach/goaltending coach for four seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL where they were WHL Finalists in 2007-08.

In the summer of 2005, Jeff won a Gold Medal as a member of the coaching staff with Team Canada's U-18 Junior World Cup National Team in Breclav, Czech Republic.

Prior to joining Lethbridge, Jeff was an assistant coach/goaltending coach in the Ontario Provincial Junior “A” League for three seasons coaching in Brampton and Milton.  While coaching in Milton, his team finished the 2002-03 season with a record of 41-6-2 (6th in Canada) while winning the Western Conference Regular Season and in the playoffs finishing as Western Conference Finalists.  In 2002, Jeff won the Ontario Provincial Junior “A” League Championship with the Brampton Capitals.   Prior to joining Brampton, Jeff played 4 seasons of Junior “A” hockey in the Ontario Provincial Junior “A” League.  We are very pleased to have Jeff join our Hockey Academy.

Pro Goal Development has produced the 2008 WHL Eastern Conference Playoff MVP in Juha Metsola (Lethbridge), as well as the 2010 WHL Western Conference Playoff MVP in Drew Owsley (Tri-City).  In 2009, Juha Metsola represented his native Finland at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa, Ontario.  As well, Justin Leclerc represented Canada at the U18 World Cup in 2006.

For more information about Pro Goal Development, go to:  http://www.pgdhockey.webs.com