Apex Power Edge

09/04/2026

08/15/2026

I wanna a drive a Zamboni !

We're Hiring!
We are looking for a capable, energetic, motivated, and dedicated person to fill our Arena Manager role. Please visit our website for details and to apply. If you have questions, please contact Jim Brau - contact info is on our site. https://www.essentiahealthsportscenter.com/page/show/5987618-employment

08/08/2026

They came to Apex for skating.

They got uncomfortable instead.
Burning lungs. Heavy legs. Frustration. A few tears. Some throw up. Doubt and Attitude!

And then—
again, again, and again!!
Back to the line. Communicate. Commit.

That’s where confidence was built. Not from being told they were good. By earning it. From finding out they could do hard things.

They learned to lead when they wanted to blend in.
To be vulnerable without being weak. To NOT give up because it was hard.
To listen when frustrated.
To build up the player beside them while fighting their own battle.

Because honestly, Apex training is unique and definitely special. Some of it is damn hard and at first, some of it probably made absolutely no sense.

First day:

Marbles…Toe exercises?! What?! I’m a hockey player. What do my TOES have to do with hockey?

Everything.

Your feet are incredibly complex. Strength matters. Coordination matters. What happens inside that skate matters.

Little by little, they stopped questioning the work and started understanding it and questioning to get better.

They trusted the process connected skating and hockey.

Can you create space?
Can you drive the puck?
Can you escape pressure?
Can you compete exhausted?
Can you trust your body when your brain is screaming STOP?

That’s where skating becomes hockey.
But more importantly, they understood the standard.

I can teach the skill.
I can explain the why.

Apex set the standard.
They chose to commit.
They chose to come back to the line. They chose to compete.

Apex doesn’t just develop skaters. We build warriors!!

We missed several players today. This goes out to all the summer Apex players!🏒🏒🥅🥅🏆🏆

08/01/2026

LFG ☠️⏰

07/25/2026

🎈 🎈A balloon… an effective training tool❓❓❓

Sounds simple—but watch it in action and you’ll see athletes fully locked in, reacting, adjusting, and competing like it’s game time.

The players were blown away by how much you can train with it… and no, it’s not just about popping it.
Looking at you, Jordy. 😂

What looks like a game is actually a full brain-and-body workout. As the balloon floats and shifts unpredictably, athletes are constantly predicting its path—training visual tracking, reaction time, hand-eye coordination, balance, timing, and body awareness. Every touch builds stronger movement patterns under pressure.

Betcha boys didn’t know why you were blowing up so many balloons—sneaky win for Coach: diaphragmatic breathing 🌬️

To keep the balloon in play, players naturally slow down, focus, and regulate their breathing. That shift away from shallow breathing helps improve oxygen delivery, keeps them calmer under pressure, and supports faster recovery during high-intensity shifts.

Sometimes it’s a balloon, a lot of laughs, and athletes building better brains, better movement, and better hockey—all at once. 🎈🏒

Balloon keep-away might’ve been the favorite drill of the day. Great day Apex Power Edge! Thank you for another great pracky 🫶

Coach Michaela

What’s the most unexpected training tool you’ve seen that actually made athletes better?

07/23/2026

Last week, before class even started, one of my players ran into the rink, gave me a hug, looked me in the eyes, and said something with a HUGE smile I’ll never forget.

“I learned this summer that I’m good enough.”

That one sentence hit me harder than he’ll ever know.

Not because he suddenly became a better hockey player. It’s because I knew where he had started from years ago.

During the season, people saw a player who hesitated. A player who looked unsure of himself. A player who wasn’t competing anywhere close to his ability.

What they didn’t see was everything happening beneath the surface.
The pressure.
The self-doubt.
The feeling that no matter what he did, it was never enough.

As a parent and coach , I understand how much our children carry.
I know these experiences don’t just hurt their feelings—they shape how they perform, who they become.

When a child spends enough time feeling judged or afraid of making mistakes, they stop trusting themselves. They stop responding or reacting. They just start thinking. And hockey is played far too fast for that.

The amazing part is that the brain isn’t permanent. It’s constantly changing. Every positive experience, every small success, every coach who creates a safe place to fail and learn helps build new neuro pathways. That’s how confidence grows.🍃

That’s why to me, coaching has never been just teaching youth sports. It’s a huge responsibility.

Edges, speed, acceleration, tight turns…those matter.
But helping a child believe in themselves again? That’s the part I’ll remember long after anyone who had the fastest lap in a MJ 16!! 😉

At the end of our last class, I asked everyone what they learned.

“All 8 edges.”
“Defensive skating strategies”
“Tight turns with speed.”

Of course I smiled & cheered! I am proud of the hard work they ALL put in on and off the ice.

The right coach doesn’t just develop better athletes.
They help children discover what was there all along.

“I learned this summer that I’m good enough.” 🏒⛸️💓🥅

Coach Michaela








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