Book Lessons with Coach Elias

I’m a lifelong hockey player with over 20 years of experience on the ice. I started playing at age 5, grew up playing house league and travel hockey, and played Connecticut high school hockey as my highest level. I also grew up short track speedskating, which gave me a strong skating foundation that I still use when coaching edgework, balance, and movement.

I currently work at Pure Hockey and coach 12U B travel hockey. I’m USA Hockey SafeSport certified, Level 1 certified, and have completed the 12U coaching module. My coaching style is patient, positive, and focused on helping players build confidence while still improving their skills.

I speak English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

I'm happy to work with athletes with diverse backgrounds and abilities.

I can help players improve their skating, shooting, puck control, hockey IQ, and overall confidence. My goal is to help players understand not just what to do, but why they are doing it.

I focus on fundamentals like balance, edges, stride mechanics, shooting technique, puck protection, positioning, decision-making, and building better habits on the ice. I also help players develop a stronger hockey mindset, including confidence, effort, awareness, and learning how to bounce back from mistakes.

I can also offer video review for skating, skills, or game footage. This can include watching clips of a player skating to identify what they should work on, or reviewing game footage together to talk through positioning, decisions, habits, and ways to improve.

Sessions may include skating work, edge control, shooting, puck handling, passing, small-area skills, and game-like situations. I like to explain each drill clearly, give feedback throughout, and adjust as needed so the player understands what they are working on.

My goal is for every player to leave the ice feeling like they improved and had fun.

I’m happy to work on-ice, off-ice, or through video review. For off-ice sessions, Lake Fairfax Park has a free roller hockey rink that can be a good option depending on the player’s goals. For video review, we can look at skating clips or game footage and talk through what the player is doing well, what habits to improve, and how they can apply those changes in future practices or games.

I have been playing hockey since I was 5 years old and have been involved in the game for most of my life. I played house league, travel hockey, and Connecticut high school hockey, and I also have a background in short track speedskating.

I currently coach 12U B travel hockey and work at Pure Hockey, where I help players and families with equipment, skate fitting, sharpening, and overall gear knowledge. I am USA Hockey SafeSport certified, USA Hockey Coach Level 1 certified, and have completed the 12U coaching module.

The best coaches I had were the ones who made me want to keep coming back to the rink. They cared about development, but they also understood that hockey should be fun.

I try to bring that same approach to my own coaching. I don’t believe yelling is the best way to help kids improve. I would rather explain what can be done differently, ask questions, and guide players toward better solutions so they understand the game and build confidence.

Athletes and parents should know that I’m a patient, positive coach who cares about helping players improve while keeping hockey fun. I want players to feel supported, challenged, and excited to keep working.

I’m not an angry coach, and I don’t believe in coaching through fear or constant yelling. I focus on teaching, encouraging, and helping players build confidence.

At the end of the 25-26 season, my players’ thank-you notes made it clear that they appreciated having a coach who was patient, encouraging, and focused on helping them understand the game rather than just telling them what to do or getting frustrated with them.