Will 4 Skill
Shane Endicott returned home to where he first learned hockey to give back to the game, helping players make the most of their abilities. Now the former Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick is taking his game to a new level, signing on as the first skills coach in the history of the Saskatoon Blades.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to be working with the Blades,” Endicott says. “As a passionate trainer, I look forward to sharing my accumulated hockey knowledge and supporting player skill development in a fun and challenging way.”
“We are filling a critical need,” explains Blades General Manager and Coach Bob Woods. “We want to play a successful and entertaining brand of hockey – a fast, puck possession game – and Shane’s proven leadership on skill development is critical to help us do that.”
Endicott left Saskatoon in 1997 to play for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. The Pittsburgh Penguins selected him 52nd overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. After a cup of coffee with the Pens, Endicott spent the next decade playing primarily in the American Hockey League but with some teams overseas, as well.
He came home to the City of Bridges to begin a mentorship under a variety of skills coaches and instructors, including some from Skate Canada and Hockey Canada. After setting up On Ice Connections, Shane began working with minor, junior and pro players. Last season he also helped the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s team win the school’s first CanWest title.
“I’ve always believed having a clear understanding of one’s personal skill level is the first step needed to enable players to set realistic goals and take the appropriate steps to fulfill those goals. Achieving goals is a great motivator for players to set new targets and, in the process, continually take their game to new heights, making the most of their potential.”
No doubt, fans of the Saskatoon Blades will enjoy watching the players and their game evolve under the watchful eye of Shane Endicott.
