Recently, I Rex had a good chat with Colton Buckler, Instructor
for Tucker Hockey and his Dad, Clint. Colton
has been a valuable member of the Tucker Hockey team for the past 3 years. He
has helped teach elite power skating, power skating and hockey skills and
checking programs to various Minor Spring and Summer groups. Here is a summary
of our conversation.
Colton, tell us a bit about yourself.
I am 16 years old and currently attending The Edge School
for Athletes and am played on their Midget AA Gold team last season. I have been playing hockey since I was four
years old (Timbits).
What is your hockey
playing background?
I have been playing hockey since the age of 4 and began taking
1 on 1 power skating and hockey skills lessons from Coach Rex at the of age 6.
I played my first high intensity/high skill hockey in my second year of atom.
In Peewee, I played on the Foothills Bisons then in Bantam I played on the
Airdrie AA Lightning. I just finished my first season playing with the Edge’s
Midget AA Gold team.
What is your hockey
instruction background?
I was first asked to begin helping Coach Rex at the age of 12.
Since then I have begun working part - time for Tucker Hockey and instructing
at power skating , checking and shooting camps and hope to continue on with
instructing in the years ahead.
Colton, how has hockey influenced your life?
It has influenced me to be a hard-working team player and to
be positive. Along with that I have learned to accept losing but also how to
indulge in a good win!!. (Said with a chuckle)
When and how did you
initially get involved with Tucker Hockey?
I began taking power skating lessons with Coach Rex at the
age of 6 and from then till now he has been continuously working with me on the
fundamentals of my game – power skating, passing, puck control,
shooting and checking as well as offensive and defensive individual and game
tactics usually during the minor hockey season. Probably I have done close to
100 sessions over the years plus in the Summer time I attended some of his
elite power skating and checking group programs.
What, if anything,
has instructing with Tucker Hockey taught you?
It has taught me patience, the importance of hearing various
points of view and that there is always room to improve and learn more. Skating
is the most important skill in hockey and a player can always keep working on
taking his or her skating skills to the next level.
Colton, what is the most enjoyable part of
instructing for you?
The part I find most enjoyable is the aura and experiences I
witness when talking, skating and working with younger hockey players. It feels
good to help out other players on the ice.
What challenges or
difficulties have you experienced while being an on ice instructor?
Being at the age of 16 , the challenge I have experienced
was trying to pass on my hockey knowledge to children and on some occasions,
teenagers. Most kids my age don’t have as much contact with children as I do
and I have found it quite hard to change back and forth from being in a
coaching/teaching position to a player position.
Colton, what advice
would you like to offer hockey coaches, parents and players about the
importance of skating, and why they should invest the time and money towards
quality skating instruction?
Skating is the foundation of hockey. Once a player begins
playing at higher hockey levels skating begins to become more and more
important… because other players begin becoming stronger at skating… and you
have to be able to keep up… so you have to continue to improve on your skills
and enjoy the game. It sure gets more
competitive the higher you advance in the hockey system.
What other things
interest you, outside of hockey?
Recently I have become interested in free running. I find
the idea of overcoming on foot obstacles… by using the natural flow of your
body… while still maintaining speed and doing it with style… to be quite
enjoyable.
Colton, what are your hockey playing and
instruction goals for the future?
My future goals are to continue in hockey and play in the
NCAA so that I may go to university. During the summer and for a job when I am
not playing hockey I would like to continue instructing so that as well as
passing on knowledge I can still improve on the aspects of teaching and taking
on a leadership role.
Rex’s Note:
Having spent many hours on the
ice with hockey player and instructor Colton,
it’s almost like working with your son! I have seen him mature and grow up over
the years. The following personal traits come to mind about Colton. He is a very polite, conscious, and
hard-working young man. He works quite well with the younger players. Since Colton has participated
in numerous Tucker Hockey 1 on1 coaching and group programs, he is very knowledgeable
about the Tucker Hockey – on ice philosophy, curriculums, practice plans,
drills and many of the teaching points. He is quite skilled at demo’ing the
power skating drills! Colton, my friend, I have valued your contributions to
Tucker Hockey…much appreciated! Look forward to many fun times on the ice in
the years ahead. Wishing you a great season this year at the Edge School
on and off the ice!!
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