Donskov Hockey Development is Columbus Ohio's Premier Hockey School.  Providing Hockey Development and High Intensity Camps since 2000! Our highly qualified staff have decades of experience as both players and coaches. Please select from the drop down menu or click below to learn more about our company. We look forward to seeing you on this ice!

Our Story | Why DHD | DHD Philosophy | Employment @ DHD

Mission

Donskov Hockey Development supports players, coaches and clients by providing unparalleled instruction and services. We focus on youth development and coaching education. In a fun, competitive atmosphere, DHD breaks the game down to its fundamental components creating a solid foundation for the serious hockey player and|or coach.

Core Competencies

Learn More About Our Model

The Donskov Hockey Development Method

Since 2000, Donskov Hockey Development has provided hockey players of all ages and abilities outstanding hockey training and instruction. Our staff members are passionate about your development as a hockey player and individual. For these reasons we have made it our mission to seek out and identify  best practices to teach the game of hockey.

Through our collective experience at the junior, university and professional level... as well as decades of coaching and instructing experience in the United States, Canada, and Europe... we have designed a ™Total Skills Development Training Model.

At DHD, our primary responsibility is to ensure that we provide our young athletes an environment conducive to learning, skills development, and FUN. An environment with the very core of its mission centered around SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.  

What the experts have found...

Experts from Hockey Canada compiled the following data with regard to a youth hockey (60-minute) practice and game.

Game Numbers

| Players will have the puck on their stick for an average of 8 seconds a game

| Players will average 1 to 2 shots per game

| Players will take an average of 18 shifts per game

Practice Numbers

| 1 efficient practice will give a player more skill development than 11 games collectively

| In a 60 min practice, a player will have the puck on his/her stick for approx. 8-12 minutes

| Each player will take a minimum of 30 shots on net

These numbers clearly indicate that practice is where development takes place. If we extrapolate the above statistics, during a 20–game 20–practice season (1:1 game/practice ratio) the best player on the team only controls the puck for 2.67 minutes during the entire season. Conversely, during practice (entire year), EVERY player on the team would have the puck on his or her stick for 4 hours during the year.

These numbers, coupled with the fact that there are too many youth hockey organizations with poor development models, unqualified coaches, and lack of focus on fundamental skills prompted DHD to create a ™Total Skills Development Training Model. Our model is based on experience, scientific data and results.

Our instructors are constantly on top of the changing trends in hockey. Through many years of experience, hard work, attention detail and a passion for the game, we have put together a curriculum specific to your age and skill level. The first half of every ice session is devoted to fundamental skill development (technical skills and individual tactics). By isolating specific movements, we break down these fundamentals creating a solid foundation for any hockey player, mite through pro. During the second half of every ice session the more tactical aspects of the game are covered. Initially, the focus is on more complex individual tactics, but as the week progresses, more in–depth team tactics and concepts are discussed.

Our Teaching Curriculum Includes:

Focus on Fundamentals | Skating, puck handling, passing, & shooting are the foundation of hockey... specifically skating... all other technical skills are dependent on a player’s ability to skate

Small Area Games | Enhance skill training through confined areas, spaces & situations

European Training | Progressive drill sequences, overspeed & resistance training, functional exercises

Team Competitions | games & activities that challenge & push our students outside of their comfort zone

High Intensity Scrimmages | Apply concepts learned in controlled game situations & scrimmages

Dryland Training | We follow an Integrated Training Continuum focusing on stabilization, strength & power.  DHD is proud to partner with Donskov Strength & Conditioning, Inc. enabling our team to deliver exceptional off-ice programs

Lectures | Qualified guest speakers & professionals who are experts in their field share their knowledge & experience with our participants

Repetition | Perfect practice makes permanent & repetition is the mother of mastery.

Qualified Staff | To view bios of all our staff members Click Here 

Low Student : Instructor Ratio | Small group sizes allow us to effectively teach & motivate your son/daughter

FUN | We believe FUN is the most important component in any hockey player... All DHD camps provide students a curriculum based on structure, competition & fun

Note: The progression, complexity, and speed of our practice plans are dependent on the age and skill level of our participants. 

Learn More

Donskov Hockey Development was originally founded as The “OV” Hockey School in May of 2000. “OV” was the nickname given to the Donskov brothers during their junior hockey careers in Southwestern Ontario.

Since our inception we have provided a High Speed, High Energy, High Intensity school with a curriculum focusing on ™Total Skills Development. Our staff has decades of experience as players, teachers, instructors and coaches.

Over the years we have experienced considerable growth and demand. Our services now include not only summer camps but also specialized clinics, coaching education, consulting, curriculum|program development and sport performance training.

Due to the growth and diversity of services, we are now officially known as Donskov Hockey Development (DHD). Donskov Hockey Development has an international reputation and has been recognized as a leader in hockey training and instruction. Our camps and services are open annually to youth and adult participants from around the world. Please enjoy our site. We are looking forward to seeing you on the ice!

Instructor Positions: High Performance Summer Hockey Camps

If you are interested in working with a dynamic team of knowledgeable, dedicated and passionate hockey professionals than DHD is the place for you. A summer hockey school experience at DHD will dramatically improve your skills as a coach, instructor and hockey professional. Instructor positions allow hands-on coaching with athletes of all ages and skill levels – male and female – novice – pro.

Why a summer hockey school experience with DHD?

Experieince | Responsibility : We assign our summer hockey school instructors hands-on work/projects to showcase their abilities and develop your skill set

Networking: Opportunities to meet and learn from coaches with years of experience and practical application at the amateur, junior, university, national, and professional level

Mentoring: Instructors will have a mentor assigned to help guide and answer questions during their summer hockey school experience – on and off the ice

Feedback:  Team Donskov will complete a performance evaluation at the completion of every camp to improve your hockey skills and development as a coach and instructor

Camaraderie: Our program offers real-world, hands-on experience in a FUN, challenging and team oriented family atmosphere

 Interested in summer employment with DHD? Submit your resume:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Camp Overview

Each DHD camp is designed using a progression format. We feel this format is critical in the development of all hockey players. The first half of every ice session is devoted to fundamental skill development (technical skills and individual tactics). By isolating specific movements, we break down these fundamentals creating a solid foundation for any hockey player, mite through pro.

During the second half of every ice session the more tactical aspects of the game are covered. Initially, the focus is on more complex individual tactics, but as the week progresses, more in–depth team tactics and concepts are discussed. By incorporating European training, small area games, team competitions, and high intensity scrimmages, we are able to provide our participants the “total hockey” experience.

The progression, complexity and speed of our practice plans are dependent on the age and skill level of our participants. A low student to instructor ratio will ensure that your son or daughter receives the individual attention he|she deserves. All camps conclude with teams competing for the prestigious "OV" Cup.

Objectives | To Teach & Develop

Each DHD practice plan is carefully designed and created for the specific age and skill level of our participants. It is our goal to create drills that challenge our students, effectively utilize the ice surface, build off a progression and are fun!

Our instructors are constantly on top of the changing trends in hockey. Through many years of experience, hard work, attention to details and a passion for the game, we have put together a curriculum specific to each age and skill level. We are confident that your experience with Donskov Hockey Development will make you a better player.  Please click on our on-ice camps for more details! 

Hockey Camps

DHD Instructional Model

DHD 6-Step Teaching Process

Our staff follows a 6-step teaching process designed to ensure that all of our participants receive the very best individual and team instruction:

1. Discussion: We introduce the hockey skill|concept to our students clearly describing all the individual parts

2. Demonstration: All of our instructors posses the necessary skills to correctly & effectively demonstrate the proper techniques critical to your success

3. Execution:  Our staff members observe and evaluate as students execute the techniques & skills formerly discussed & demonstrated

4. Discussion: Our team will provide students positive, constructive feedback on an individual & team level

5. Repetition: We believe that perfect practice makes permanent & repetition is the mother of mastery

6. Application: We show our students how the skills & concepts we just Discussed, Demonstrated, Executed, Discussed & Repeated, are applied to & used in game situations

DHD Expectations

Hard Work: Listen & Execute to the Very Best of Your Abilities | Learning: Take Something Valuable From Every Session

Application: Apply the Concepts Learned at the Next Session | Have Fun: An Integral Part of the Hockey & Learning Experience