LEARN FROM PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY INSTRUCTORS!!
coaching staff bios
Train at one of the most innovative hockey schools in North America!
When Christensen Hockey Program was established, teaching progressions were created to develop each player’s skating, hand skills, and checking technique, regardless of the players' talent level. This is accomplished by making sure the Coaching Staff are all "Hockey Educators".
Our goal is to teach the game in a well-planned, disciplined, and Fun Learning Environment"! Each Staff member has been carefully selected to ensure player development. It is imperative to us that your son and daughter can reach their FULL POTENTIAL and GOALS they have set for themselves in the GREAT GAME OF ICE HOCKEY
For the advanced Player, we will evaluate your individual skills as they relate to the game and then help you improve these skills so you can play at the levels you desire to play at.
Terry Christensen - Executive Director, Coach
Throughout his career, Terry has coached hockey at Elite levels for more than 30 years. His coaching experience includes NCAA Division I, USA National Jr Team Program., Czech National Jr Team Program, along with Professional Hockey as an Assistant Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel.
During these experiences, he has worked with some of the best coaches in the game including Hall of Fame Coach Ron Mason at Michigan State, George Gwozdecky, former Assistant Coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Head Coach of Denver University, and the late Dave Peterson who was a Head Coach for several USA Hockey Olympic and National Teams. In 2010 Terry became the first American to receive an opportunity to work with some of the top coaches and management in the Czech Republic as an Assistant Coach for their U20 National Junior Team at the 2011 World Junior Championships.
Terry has also worked at several NHL Development Camps including the Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, and Columbus Blue Jackets. During these Camps his primary responsibilities was the evaluation and development of Skating Skills.
All Players who attend Christensen Hockey Programs will quickly see that the Teaching Progressions have been designed to meet the needs of the group or individual he is working with whether the individual is an Elite Level Player or someone who aspires to play the game at the highest level possible. These Teaching Progressions are a culmination of all the influences of the Great Coaches and Hockey Experiences Terry has had throughout his career!
Wayne Smith, Director of Mentoring Program, Coach
Growing up in suburban Ottawa, Wayne's love for the game began early in life, leading him to play as an under-aged minor-midget for the Gloucester Rangers in the Central Junior Hockey League. His rookie campaign immediately caught the attention of Ontario Hockey League and NCAA scouts, turning their heads with his 15 goals, 35 points and 79 penalty minutes in 48 games. It also lead to a bidding war for his services between College and Junior Scouts. Ranked as a Top Five pick going into the 1984 OHL Draft, and weighing his College offers versus the OHL, he chose a Full Athletic Scholarship from the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs to continue his hockey career. Even so, Wayne was still selected with the 17th over all selection by the Owen Sound Platers that year. With the decision under his belt, "Smitty" returned to play in Gloucester, following up rookie success with an even better season, netting 29 goals, 70 points and 127 PIM in 51 games. The fall of 1985 saw 17-year-old Wayne Smith enrol at UMD to start his collegiate career, joining sophomore and future NHLer Brett Hull. As the youngest player on a veteran laden roster, he saw limited playing time in his freshman season. Returning for his second season, Smitty had a change in heart, and left Minnesota to return home to Ontario where he had been traded to the London Knights, where he played playing two seasons.
After his playing career ended, Wayne soon found a great passion for Scouting and Evaluating Talent and this is where he really made his mark in the game. He began his Scouting Career with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs and in a very short time he was elevated to Director of Player Personnel. In 2001 Wayne accepted a Full Time Scouting Position with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets where he was asked to evaluate players from all over the world in various national leagues. His next Scouting position would be with the NHL's Boston Bruins, where Wayne was named the Director of Scouting, one of only 31 people in the world to hold this position. His responsibilities included preparing and running the Bruin's Amateur Draft, working with the General Manager when asked about trades and Free Agent signings. All this hard work culminated with the Club winning the 2011 Stanley Cup. He now is one of the few people to have his name etched on the Best Trophy in all of sport!
Wayne has relationships at all levels of hockey and as a participant with Christensen Hockey, you will benefit tremendously from this.
Grant Sonier - Coach
Grant has been one of our Top Instructors for several years. He has worked as a Head Coach at the Professional Level, Director of Player Personnel, Manager of PEI in the QMJHL, and Assistant GM of the NHL Florida Panthers. These are just some of the things he has done throughout his career. Along the way, he has been very fortunate to work alongside some of the top people in the game including Rick Dudley, Senior Advisor to Bill Zito, GM, NHL Florida Panthers, Jim Clark Chief Professional Scout, NHL Ottawa Senators, and Gerard Gallant 2018 NHL Coach of the Year.
Grant is a great teacher of the fundamentals needed to have success in Hockey and understands what it takes for a Hockey Player to reach the goals he or she has set for themselves. Grant is currently an Amateur Scout for the defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Paul Flache, Coach
Paul Flache, a Peterborough, Ontario native has coaching, and player development experience gained through over a decade of operating elite training facilities and coaching at various levels of the game. Paul grew up playing junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League with the Brampton Battalion from 99-02 during which he was drafted to the NHL by the Edmonton Oilers (2002). Paul signed his first NHL contract with the Atlanta Thrashers and began his professional career in 2002. Over a 10-year span. Paul spent seasons in the AHL, ECHL and Germany. Upon retirement, Paul’s coaching career began in 2012 with the TPH Thunder Program where he worked with the U16 and U18 teams developing and advancing student athletes to the next level. Paul then served as associate head coach of the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League before returning to Atlanta.
Garrett Rutledge - Coach
From Waterdown, Ontario, Garrett Rutledge signed as the Thunderbirds head coach in the summer of 2021. Rutledge arrived in Carolina after more than four years in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In the 2016-17 season, Rutledge broke into the OHL as a scout for the Flint Firebirds. Just two years later, he found himself on the bench as an assistant coach for the 2018-19 campaign. The following year, Rutledge moved up I-75 to Saginaw, where he joined the Spirit for a 41-16-3-2 season that was cut short due to the pandemic. He served as the team's video coach that year and the next, though the league did not operate in 2020-21.
Kyle Christensen - On-site Coordinator, Casper, WY
Kyle is currently the Assistant Coach for the Casper, WY Roughnecks, A Member of the USPHL Premier Junior Hockey League. He is a USA Level IV Certified Coach and has worked with several Youth Hockey Levels including U-16 and U-18 AAA Teams. He has worked at our Hockey School for a number of years and has a good understanding of the Building Blocks to develop a good Hockey Player!
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Blake Christensen - Coach
Blake has just completed a 4-year College Career with a Business Degree in Finance at Division I American International College. He is the All Time Leading scorer in their Program History, was a 2 time Hobey Baker Award Nominee, and a Second Team All American his Junior Year. American International College is the 2-Time defending Champion of the Atlantic Hockey Conference having just won back to back regular season Titles and the most recent Play-off Championship. Blake signed his first Professional Contract this year with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, the Affiliate of the NHL Edmonton Oilers.
Keith Kurland - Coach
Keith is a USA Hockey Master Level Certified Coach. He was a top College Hockey Player and had opportunities to play at the Professional Level but instead followed his dream of becoming a world class pilot. He joined the Marines, became a Fighter Pilot and Commissioned Officer of Lieutenant Colonel. To accomplish all of this takes allot of discipline, hard work, and a complete understanding of the Team Concept. Combine all of this with a love for the game of Ice Hockey and you have a very good Coach and Role Model.
Keith has coached at all levels of the game. He is a well versed in teaching the fundamentals of the game and what it takes to be a successful player. Keith has been with our Hockey School for several years and we are very fortunate to have him on our Staff
Louis Abounader - Coach
Louis is currently the Assistant Hockey Coach for the ACHA Division II University of Louisville Hockey Team. He is also the Hockey Director for the Louisville Jr. Cardinal Youth Hockey Program. Louie grew up in Montreal, Quebec where he played Travel Hockey for many years. He also, was recruited to play at Gilmour Academy, near Cleveland, Ohio where he was one of their top players. Upon High School graduation, Louie went on to have a very successful College Hockey Playing Career. During this time, he earned a bachelor’s degree, in Sports Management and a Masters Degree in Sports Administration. Louie is a great addition to our Coaching Staff having played and coached at virtually every level of Amateur Hockey.