Dryden/Vermilion Bay Area Hockey Canada Skills Academies

Just contact your child's school to register!

Visit our Facebook page for a glimpse inside our Dryden and Vermilion Bay academies, click here!

Lillian Berg - 227-2152
New Prospect - 223-4713
Open Roads - 223-4418
Dryden High School - 223-2316

*Students currently registered in our hockey academies do not need to re-register each year, your child will continue in the program year to year unless notice is given by the family that a child will no longer participate.  

WATCH OUR HOCKEY CANADA SKILLS ACADEMY VIDEO FOR A GLIMPSE INTO OUR ACADEMIES! 

MEET YOUR COACHES!

COACH Brett Lobreau -  new prospect, open roads and lillian berg - GRADES 4-6

Biography - Coach Brett Lobreau

My name is Brett Lobreau, born and raised in Dryden, where I attended both elementary and high school.  Hockey is one of my all-time passions that has given me a sense of drive throughout my life. I started out in Dryden Minor Hockey, making the AA atom team, played in Girls’ House League, Eagles Varsity, then on to play top-level University. I graduated high school as an Ontario Scholar with my French immersion certificate, and the ‘Female Athlete of the Year’ title. In 2009, I attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles Missouri on scholarship. It was an ACHA Division 1 hockey program at the time, and I worked towards my Physical Education degree.  Our team won a national championship and I was named 2^nd team all American for the league. After two years of playing hockey at that level, my school took our team to NCAA division 1. At the NCAA division 1 level, I served as captain of the Lindenwood Lions for my final two years of university. I graduated Lindenwood with a bachelor of arts in Physical Education in 2014.

Through all these experiences, my passion for the sport has grown, and hockey has become an integral part of my life. After university, while working as a supply teacher, I served as assistant coach for both the Girls high school hockey and soccer teams.  

I have had my eye on the hockey academy since I discovered its existence. I am excited about the idea that a student’s love for the game could be incorporated into their daily curriculum. Students not only have the opportunity to develop their skill as a player, but this program also cultivates character-building skills such as respect, teamwork, discipline and responsibility. I have built life-long friendships and experienced unbelievable opportunities because of the sport. I am happy to be coming in at this stage of the Academy and am eager to give back a little of what hockey has given me.

COACH BILL REID - NEW PROSPECT - grade 7 and 8

Biography - Coach Bill Reid

Education and hockey have been the epitome of my entire life. I attended school regularly within the KPDSB and enjoyed every day of it. I can echo the same sentiment regarding hockey in terms of being passionate about being there regularly for practices and games.  This has built a lifetime foundation for me in terms of time management, responsibility, respect, integrity, dedication, and commitment. These life skills were driven deep and after graduation, I wanted to give back to the community and the volunteers who provided me with such a rewarding opportunity as a child. Therefore I decided it was time to be involved with Dryden Minor Hockey Association. Here are some of my accomplishments over my playing a coaching lifetime.

• Played in Dryden Minor Hockey Association from about age 5-16. This included several “AA” teams.
• Played for Dryden Eagles from grade 9-11.
• Went on to play in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for Kenora Thistles in grade 12 and attended Beaver Brae.
• Offered and accepted a scholarship to the University of Michigan in the NCAA Division 1 at age 18.
• Began coaching career after graduation from the University of Michigan.
• Coached in DMHA for 20 years. This included “A” and “AA” teams. Coached “AAA” in Thunder Bay with summer hockey.
• Coached for about 10 years in Dryden Girls Hockey.
• Won a gold medal in Ontario Provincial Bantam “BB” girls hockey with a team selected from Northwestern Ontario.
• Currently, I have my D1 coaching certification and the Hockey Canada Skills Academy training qualifications from a clinic in Calgary in 2015.
• Currently teacher/coach of New Prospect Hockey Canada Skills Academy for grade 7/8 students.

I feel my experience in attending our local KPDSB schools and both playing and coaching hockey provide me with a strong background in teaching the Hockey Academy. The students all understand the curriculum is the main focus of our day. As a child, I grasped the importance of education and the doors it opens so I pass this onto the students. The hockey or athletic component is the “driver” that keeps the students engaged in every area of the curriculum.

Goals for my Students in the Academy

• Always finish any curriculum assignment which they are responsible for.
• Be respectful of all students, staff, and administration in the school setting.
• Set realistic academic goals and athletic goals and persevere to achieve them.

COACH Geoff zilkans - dryden high school - GRADES 9-12

Biography - Coach Geoff Zilkans

I am very proud to be a member of an excellent staff at DHS, a staff who regularly seek to put the needs of kids first. Like many of my colleagues I see the value of educating the whole child through mechanisms such as extracurriculars and non-traditional courses. If a student gets exercise and challenges through an activity they enjoy other areas of education will also benefit.

I have taught at DHS for 22 years and been involved as Athletic Director and a football coach for most of those years. A graduate of McGill University in Montreal, I have experience teaching Physical Education, History, Math, Geography and more. My career has reinforced my perception of the value each department and subject have in a complete education.

The hockey background I bring to the position includes years working as the coach within Dryden Minor and Dryden Girl’s Hockey Associations along with a 2-year stint as an assistant coach of the McGill women’s team. I have been a certified referee in the past and officiated the last time Dryden hosted the OFSAA championships. As a parent, educator, player and coach I feel I have a healthy and broad view of the role the game can play in someone’s life. I look forward to the challenge of the new program.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR HOCKEY CANADA SKILLS ACADEMIES!