The Program

The Philosophy, Clinic Types, and Coaches

Program

KNPS strength lies in the Curriculum and the Coaches. There are a number of offerings, see more details below to determine which is right for you.

Kurt Nichols Power Skating Curriculum

Learn how our custom curriculum can give you the edge you've been looking for.
Pyramid Based Skill Progression


At Kurt Nichols Power Skating, our adaptive curriculum uses pyramid based skill progression, which reinforces and repeats as we learn. Basic skills and fundamentals create a baseline for our skaters.



One-of-a-kind Drills

Our one-of-a-kind drills build on that while teaching you to apply your skills in game. This creates an advanced efficient technique that gives our students more power AND more endurance. We then repeat and reinforce with similar drills until all skills are mastered and it is second nature.

High-Level maneuvers

Cap it all off with our unique high level maneuvers for elite skaters and the KNPS program is second to none in creating the best hockey skaters.



The KNPS Teaching Wheel

All Kurt Nichols Power Skating players will work toward mastering all skills on the KNPS teaching wheel.

Meet the Coaches

KNPS has highly skilled coaches that pay close attention to detail and skating mechanics. It's what makes KNPS a unique program.

Coach Kurt Nichols

Raised in a family of skaters, Kurt got his start on the ice from figure skating, but also found joy in playing hockey throughout high school and early college. After graduating from Clarkson University and moving to New York City, Kurt soon discovered he had a talent for sharing that joy and love of skating with others.

Over the course of his thirteen years as a coach, Kurt has developed a unique curriculum that combines the fluidity and efficiency of figure skating with the aggression and power of hockey. His firm but intense coaching style draws from a deep well of knowledge and experience and tailors each lesson to his individual players needs.

Kurt has been the head power skating coach for a variety of successful teams including the NYC Cyclones, North Park Hockey, Central Park Hawks and more. Additionally, he’s coached individual players on high-performing teams like the New Jersey Avalanche and Connecticut Rough Riders.

Thinking of going Full Throttle and having Kurt help take you or your child’s skating abilities to the next level? Click below to discover the programs KNPS has to offer!

Coach Michele Nichols

Best edges ever

Coach Andrew Nichols

Coach Andrew

kurt nichols power skating

Coach Cory Sammonds


Raised in Chicago, northern Minnesota, and Maine, Cory played High School hockey at North Yarmouth Academy, winning a State Championship. Following graduationm he played Junior “A” hockey in Avesta, Sweden before heading west to Stanford University in California. He was captain of the ACHA Div. II Stanford Cardinal team that finished 5th at Nationals, earned ACHA All Tournament Team honors, and a three time Pacific Association All-Star.

Cory started coaching at the young age of 13 with his family owned Training Center Baseball School (ME and Hudson Valley). After playing, Cory was the assistant director and hockey director of the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY and then the director of the Family Ice Center in Falmouth, ME before moving to New York City and coaching full time in the early 2000s.

Apart from coaching with Kurt, Cory coaches with the Riverbank Hockey program and is the head of coaches for the program. He coaches the 12U and 8U teams. In 2007, Cory and fellow alumnus Matt Karsevar started Central Park Sports. CPSports provides outdoor athletic activity and instruction in a non-competitive and fun environment to children ages 3-12. Cory has comprised a cohort of college athletes and local coaches that promote good sportsmanship and basic skills for various sports.



kurt nichols power skating

Coach Roxanne Gaudiel


Her goaltending experience and attention to technical detail translates into a power skating coach who focuses on balance, body control, and edge work.

kurt nichols power skating

Upcoming Clinics