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ABOUT FIRST STAR HOCKEY

ABOUT FSH

First Star Hockey is an elite hockey school based out of Oakville, Ontario, working with players of all ages & skill levels. Unlike many other hockey schools around, we focus on not only skating & skill teachings from Hockey Canada's Player Development Guidelines, but also focus on Hockey IQ development - teaching players how to think the game, and play without the puck just as well as they play with the puck.

Our approach is to develop the proper foundation through consistent teaching & correction of fundamental skills, before challenging our players to build off those skills and develop a more advanced skill-set through a combination of Hockey Canada's Long-Term Development Plan as well as European skill teachings. Once we have developed the proper foundation, we can then begin to apply those skills into game-scenario drills & Hockey IQ teachings in order to improve our game performance.

The sport of Hockey is a "marathon, not a sprint" - at FSH, we understand that, and recognize the "big picture" - skills must be developed and performed properly at the young ages, and then the game must be taught to our athletes in order for them to have continued success and succeed at the older ages.
From Professional Instructors to teach skill & IQ development to the players, to Advisors to teach parents & promote our FSH Athletes, First Star Hockey has put together a team to get your son/daughter to the next level!

STAFF

MIKE

DERENZIS

Owner, Operator &
Head Instructor

Mike began First Star Hockey at the young age of 19. While playing Junior A, and only 1 season away from achieving his goal of playing Division 1 NCAA Hockey on a full scholarship, Mike was diagnosed with a heart condition - which forced him to stop playing. At the time, Mike was Captain of his Jr.A team, and just 1 day after receiving the bad news, his Coach had offered him an Assistant Coach role with the team. During that same time, he began helping the 1999 AA & AAA Oakville Ranger teams - introducing him to the world of Coaching & Instructing.

Though not the length of the playing career Mike had hoped for, he has developed a love and dedication for coaching and teaching, and it's those same characteristics that make Mike one of the best in the business, and a professional in his field.

See below some highlights from Mike's shortened playing career and early coaching/teaching career:

  • Captain of his AAA team every year from Minor Atom to Minor Midget.

  • OMHA Silver Medalist

  • Played for the Oakville Rangers until Atom, and then Mississauga Senators until Minor Midget.

  • Recipient of the Pierre James Memorial Award in Bantam for the player who best exemplifies dedication, perseverance, and competitive spirit.

  • Selected for 1 of the 2 Team Ontario teams for the CanAm Showcase the Spring after Bantam.

  • Straight from Minor Midget to Jr.A, as the only 16-year-old player on the Jr.A team.

  • Assistant Captain 1st season with Streetsville Derby's Jr.A team, Captain 2nd season.

  • AAU Roller Hockey Nationals Silver Medalist with Team Ontario.

  • North American Roller Hockey Championship Gold Medalist (U16) & Top Scorer of Tournament (U17).

  • 9+ years Instructing experience, with 3 players drafted to the NHL, multiple drafted to the OHL or committed to NCAA, and multiple players advancing up to rep levels/Jr.A level.

  • 9+ year Coaching experience at the Rep AA & AAA levels.

  • Currently coaching the Minor Peewee AAA (U13 Tier 1) Oakville Rangers for the 2020-21 season.

RYAN

DERENZIS

Head Instructor

Ryan has been working with First Star Hockey for 5 years now - he began working part-time while still playing Jr. A Hockey with the Oakville Blades, and now works full time as he finished his playing career due to an injury.

Being in his 20's, Ryan has a unique ability to connect with the players - he is not much older than some of his oldest clients, and still has a close enough age gap with his youngest clients as well, that players look up to him and believe they can do the things on the ice that he does due to the minimal age difference. Ryan is a great example of the FSH Instructors' ability to develop a player while keeping a heavy emphasis on making sure they are having fun and wanting to come to the rink and session every day!

Some of Ryan's playing highlights include:

  • 2-time OMHA Gold Medalist, 2-time Bronze Medalist.

  • Bantam & Minor Midget AAA with Toronto Jr. Canadians, finishing 1st in Ontario rankings both seasons, and making a semi-final run to the OHL Cup.

  • Oakville Rangers Midget AAA, Captain of the team.

  • Played Jr. A for Oakville Blades.

  • AAU Roller Hockey Junior Olympics Gold Medalist with Team Canada.

  • AAU Roller Hockey Nationals Gold Medalist with Team Canada.

  • 2-time North American Roller Hockey Championship Gold Medalist, 2-time Bronze Medalist.

  • Coaching experience:
    - Practice Coach 3 years (Oakville Rangers Minor Bantam AAA to Minor Midget AAA).
    - Assistant Coach 2 years (Oakville Rangers Atom AAA to Minor Peewee AAA)
    -     Currently Assistant Coach for Oakville Rangers Minor Peewee AAA for 2020-21 season.

Coaches & Instructors
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