Frequently Asked Questions

We work with athletes ages 13-25 who are competing at the AA or AAA level, preparing for NCAA, U Sports, or Major Junior, and those pursuing professional pathways. Our focus is on developing high-performance habits, strength, speed, and resilience for players who are serious about elevating their game and advancing to the next level.

Every athlete begins their programming by completing a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), a set of movement and performance assessments, and is covered by our profressional liability insurance. This combination ensures our programming is responsibly identifying any red flags early, and creating a training environment where athletes can grow, develop, and push their limits with confidence. 

At Edge Theory, we focus on the four physical pillars that determine whether a hockey player can skate efficiently, stay healthy, and compete at higher levels: mobility, stability, strength, and conditioning. Our coaching helps athletes move better, generate more power, and build the durability required for the demands of AAA, junior hockey, and beyond. This includes improving hip and ankle mobility for better stride mechanics, developing core and joint stability to prevent injuries, building balanced strength that transfers directly to on‑ice performance, and elevating conditioning so players can maintain speed and intensity shift after shift. Everything we do is designed to build the athletic foundation that allows skill to shine.

Our programming is built on a long‑term, periodized development system designed to help athletes progress safely and consistently toward their goals. Instead of random workouts, every athlete moves through four structured phases that build on each other. This approach ensures they develop the mobility, stability, strength, speed, and sport‑specific qualities needed to perform at a high level — without skipping steps or risking injury. As athletes grow and demonstrate readiness, their training becomes more advanced and more personalized, ultimately leading to a phase where we target the exact physical qualities they need to excel in their position and level of play.

Phase 1 — Skill Acquisition (Foundation Phase)

This phase focuses on movement quality: mobility, stability, balance, coordination, and proper mechanics. Athletes learn how to move well before they move fast or load weight. This is where we correct imbalances, build joint control, and establish the athletic foundation everything else depends on.

Phase 2 — Acceleration (Speed Development Phase)

Once movement patterns are solid, we introduce speed mechanics, acceleration technique, deceleration control, and low‑impact plyometrics. Athletes learn how to produce and absorb force safely, setting the stage for real strength and power development.

Phase 3 — Strength & Power Development (Performance Phase)

This is where athletes build the strength, speed, and power that transfer directly to the ice. We focus on single‑leg strength, posterior chain development, core stability, explosive power, and conditioning that supports high‑intensity play. This phase turns movement quality into measurable performance.

Phase 4 — Specialization (Elite Performance Phase)

In this phase, athletes have already built the foundation, speed, and strength they need. Now we drill down into their specific needs: positional demands, asymmetries, injury history, and performance goals. This is highly individualized training designed to give players a competitive edge at the AAA, junior, or collegiate level.

Our training is designed to be flexible and accessible for athletes and families. Most sessions take place at our Edge Theory HQ, a private gym in Kanata equipped for high‑quality strength and performance work. We also run sessions at local track and field facilities when the focus is speed, acceleration, or conditioning.

For families who prefer the convenience of training at home, we offer mobile, in‑home coaching for an additional fee. No matter the location, the goal is the same: delivering structured, high‑performance training that meets athletes where they are and supports their long‑term development.

Each training session is 60 minutes, built around a structured progression of activation, mobility, agility, strength, and conditioning. This gives athletes enough time to warm up properly, learn new movement skills, and train with intent — without rushing or cutting corners.

For meaningful development, we recommend athletes train a minimum of three times per week. This frequency allows them to build consistency, adapt to the demands of the program, and make steady progress in strength, speed, and overall athleticism.

That said, we understand every family’s schedule is different. If an athlete can only meet twice per week, we provide a custom at‑home workout to bridge the gap and ensure they stay on track. This hybrid approach keeps their development continuous and aligned with their long‑term goals, even on busy weeks.

At Edge Theory, all coaching is led by John Wright, a certified personal trainer (canfitpro PTS) and former semi‑professional hockey player with deep experience in youth athletic development. His background combines formal education in strength and conditioning with years of practical on‑ice and off‑ice experience, giving athletes a coach who understands both the science of performance and the realities of competitive hockey. We specialize in mobility, stability, strength, speed, and conditioning for youth and teenage players, and our programming is built on long‑term, periodized development principles used by top performance systems across North America. Every athlete receives coaching grounded in evidence‑based methods, safe progressions, and a deep understanding of how young hockey players grow, move, and compete.

All training is billed monthly in advance, with payment made by e‑transfer. This ensures athletes have their training times secured and allows us to plan their program with consistency and progression in mind.

At the start of each month, we set the full training schedule together. Because these time slots are reserved specifically for the athlete, it’s the family’s responsibility to ensure availability for the sessions they’ve chosen. For that reason, we don’t offer rescheduling — only cancellations.

If an athlete can’t attend a session, we ask for 24 hours’ notice. This allows us to adjust programming appropriately and maintain fairness for all athletes in the schedule. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice are considered forfeited.

My goal is always to provide a structured, reliable training experience that supports long‑term development, and this policy helps keep that standard high for every athlete I work with.

I offer several training formats so athletes and families can choose the option that best fits their goals, schedule, and budget. All sessions are 60 minutes and priced as follows:

• 1:1 Private Coaching — $60/hour. Fully individualized training focused on the athlete’s specific needs, goals, and development plan.
• 2-3:1 Semi‑Private Coaching — $100/hour. A cost‑effective option where two to three athletes train together, each receiving personalized coaching within a shared, competitive environment.
• Nutrition Coaching - Athletes can book a one-time 60-minute Nutrition Foundations Session for $100, which covers practical fueling basics, game-day strategies, and simple recovery guidelines. For ongoing support, families can add monthly nutrition coaching for $40 as part of any subscription or periodized training plan. This gives athletes consistent guidance, accountability, and easy-to-follow principles that support their development. 
• Team Dryland Sessions — $30 per player (1 hour) High‑energy, structured team workouts focused on activation, mobility, agility, strength, and conditioning.

Each option is designed to deliver high‑quality, hockey‑specific development while giving families flexibility in how they invest in their athlete’s growth