Instructors

Braden's hockey journey began in Spruce View, Alberta, and continued to Sylvan Lake, Alberta when he was thirteen years old. Throughout minor hockey, Braden played Bantam (U15) AA and Midget (U18) AA in Sylvan Lake, with a stop in Red Deer playing for the Minor Midget (U16) AAA Northstar Chiefs in between. Braden finished his playing days as a member of the Blackfalds Wranglers, the Wetaskiwin Iceman, and the Rocky Rams. 

Braden's love of playing hockey translated to a passion for coaching. His club coaching career began when he was just eighteen years old with the West Central Hub. He served as an Assistant Coach for the U15 AA and U18 AA Tigers for three, and two seasons, respectively. While attending university in Calgary, Braden coached in the Calgary NorthStars Hockey Association for three seasons at the U15 AA, U18 AA, and the U18 AAA level. After a stint with Red Deer Minor Hockey as the Head Coach for the U17 AAA Northstar Chiefs, Braden returned to West Central for the 2025/2026 season as the Head Coach for the U18 AA Tigers. 

Braden's developmental career in coaching spans over ten years. He has provided on-ice instruction for various businesses and academies such as the Fox Run Hockey Academy, Sylvan Lake Hockey Camp, Champion Hockey Development, the HJ Cody Hockey Academy, and more. Braden has also worked with Hockey Alberta for over six years. This includes serving as a Camp Evaluator/Coach for various developmental programs, and as an Assistant Coach for two Alberta Cup Teams (Team Black 2023/2024, and Team Green 2024/2025), and two Prospects Cup's (Capital Royal 2021/2022, and Capital Green 2022/2023). Braden is also a Junior Golf Coach and works at Alberta Springs Golf Course. 

Throughout his coaching career, Braden has accumulated 3 NCCP Coaching levels (Coach Level 1, Coach Level 2, and Development 1) and has received extensive training working with Hockey Alberta through programs such as their Future Leaders Development Program. Braden's post-secondary education began with studies in Kinesiology, which later shifted to Sports Management. In 2023, Braden graduated from Mount Royal University with a degree in Sports Management.

Nic's hockey journey began in his hometown of Red Deer, Alberta, and continued to Sylvan Lake, Alberta. He grew up in the Sylvan Lake Minor Hockey AA system through Bantam (U15) and Midget (U18) hockey, honing his skills as a goaltender. A two-time SCAHL All-Star, Nic was a key member of the 2012-2013 league winning Midget AA Tigers, who were the last Midget AA team to bring the league title to Sylvan Lake. When he was seventeen years old, Nic moved to Delta, BC to play for a U18 AAA Prep Team as part of the Delta Hockey Academy in the CSSHL. There he got a taste of what the next level of hockey was all about as he lived with his billet parents and was treated like a pro as a part of the Delta Hockey Academy program. In Delta, he worked with current, and former pro players and coaches, practiced as a third goaltender with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, and received instruction from world-renowned goaltending coach Eli Wilson. Nic finished off his playing days with the Blackfalds Wranglers of the HJHL. 

From 2011 to 2016, Nic trained with Complete Athlete under Jimmy Lawrence every Summer. His first coaching experience was instructing young goaltenders at Complete Athlete's performance centre. Since then, he went on to coach for various hockey development institutions such as GDI (Goaltending Development Inc.), Sylvan Lake Hockey Camp, and most notably, for Eli Wilson Goaltending. As a Camp Lead, Nic oversaw large groups of goaltenders and assisted them with on-ice, and dryland training. This experience built Nic's acumen for instructing young goaltenders. 

After his playing days, Nic attended Red Deer College and The University of Alberta studying Business Law and Economics. After attending university, Nic got back into coaching during the 2023-2024 season as an Assistant Coach alongside Coach Braden Bystrom for the U17 Northstar Chiefs in Red Deer. There he gained valuable experience in coaching outside the scope of goaltending.