BY BRETT TAYLOR - The Chronicle
Bigger isn’t always better at least according to Sam and Chris Palladini.
Growing up and playing hockey in the West Island, the brothers saw the trend in the NHL that emphasized size over speed and finesse trickling down into the minor levels. With a combined 18 years of experience as Canpower Skate certified power skating instructors, the brothers struck out on their own and formed Palladini Power Skating in 1998. Their express purpose: forge young hockey and ringette players into little skating juggernauts.

When they began instructing, “we saw the level of skating, the lack of development of skating in the higher levels,“Chris said. “There was very little development. We started to teach the kids so that when they get to the higher levels, it is second nature.“

“We have to bring the speed back to the game,“ Sam said. “In order to do that, we have to bring back the skills.“
“Talent alone will only get you so far,“ Chris continued. “You have to work. You have to train your skills.“

Sam (left) and Chris Palladini try to ensure their words get through to the group of young skaters who joined them Saturday at NTR Arena in Kirkland. They work to ensure youngsters become the best skaters possible. (Chronicle, Peter McCabe)

Students aged six years and older, are divided into primary and advanced groups at each level and the size of each class is kept to a minimum usually about 12 to 15 students so that the instructors can focus on each student’s technique.

“Parents come to us with the intention of having a better skater at the end of the session and that’s what we do. We improve on all aspects of their skating ability everything from balance, to power to agility,“ Chris explained. “We’re about trying to improve one of the fundamentals of hockey skating. It’s neglected a lot. Today, it’s all about stick handling the puck and shooting the puck. We’re about the basics. If you can’t skate, you can’t play.” Each hour-long session combines fundamentals like forward and backward skating, stopping and lateral movement, along with strengthening exercises all designed to give the student the explosive speed needed to skate circles around the competition. At the end of each level, students are tested and their parents receive a written evaluation on how well their son or daughter has done. We started off giving lessons for five students and now we have around 500 kids in our database, Chris said. ”The feedback has been excellent. Parents like what we do, like what they see. Almost all of our advertising is word of mouth.”

Nick Psihogios is one parent who likes what he has been seeing.
Psihogios’ 9-year-old daughter Pamela was attending a hockey camp when his wife was told about the school by another parent. He said that after a little research, they enrolled Pamela. After only a few sessions, he said he knew that they made the right decision.

“At first (Pamela) had a hard time understanding what they were trying to get across. It’s hard for them to see it at that age,“ he said. “They don’t know what some of the exercises have to do with playing hockey. But when they go into a game and start skating better, they start to get it.”

The proud father beamed when explaining that Pamela, although of novice-level age, was playing on a atom team at home in Laval and credited the school for some of the gains that the young skater is making. Psihogios said that what impresses him most about the school is how much the instructors care about the students’ development and how good they are with the kids. “To watch your child excel at anything, whether it“s sports or academics, there’s no better joy for a parent. We’re planning on signing up for every session we can. ”The brothers’ day jobs are at the same company, but in different departments, “so that’s OK,“ said Chris, and they look forward to a day when they can help shape future pros full-time.

For now, he and Sam are thrilled that they are able to lace up on a regular basis and help young skaters make strides in the game they both love.

“We’re lucky doing this. I look forward to it. It is rewarding to do something fun and get results,“ Chris said.
“Nothing makes us prouder than when a parent comes back to us and says that their kid is burning up the league. What else can you ask for?“

Palladini Power Skating is run out of the NTR Excellence Ice 3-on-3 arena in Kirkland. For more information, call 363-6773 or check the Web site at www.powerskating.ca.