About Hockey Extreme
Founder David Trombley
David’s evolution into a highly-skilled hockey specialist began in typically Canadian fashion: on the backyard rink. He began skating at age 2 and played his minor hockey with the AAA Toronto Young Nationals. After high school, he attended Clarkson University in upstate New York on a full hockey scholarship. Upon graduation, David was the Quebec Nordiques’ 1st pick, second overall, in the 1991 NHL Supplemental Draft. A neck injury ended his professional career after two months.
But David was not about to give up hockey. His strong passion for the sport remained. So too did an eagerness to share his knowledge and provide other players with the tools to realize their dreams. In 1993, David founded Hockey Extreme with a single goal: to provide the best hockey instruction available. It’s a goal that continues to drive him more than 30 years later.
David is recognized for his ability to analyze and observe player strengths and weaknesses, providing techniques to correct all aspects of a player’s game. Over two decades, David has instructed a wide array of students – from house league to adult beginners, college players to NHLers.
David’s commitment to teaching passionate hockey players and helping to make them awesome hockey players is surpassed only by his devotion to family. He’s a dedicated father to daughter Darcy and a loving husband to his wife, Christy Trombley.
Hockey Extreme - Founder, President, & Head Instructor since 1993
University Graduate - Clarkson University B.Sc., 1991
NHL - Quebec Nordiques - #1 pick & 2nd Overall - 1991 Supplemental Draft
AHL - New Haven Knighthawks - Pro Player
NCAA - Clarkson University Division I Player - 1987-91
NCAA - Clarkson MVP, Captain, & Full Scholarship recipient
NCAA - Scoring Leader - 6th overall with 1.92ppg for 69pts
Hockey Graduate - CHCP, Advanced Level Honors - 1996
Coach - Wexford Bantam Champions - Switzerland 1995
Coach - NY Storm Bantam Ontario Champions - 1997
Coach - Participant at the Under 17 Team Ontario Camp - 1996
Creator - Trademark D.O.C. System
Movie Director - Hockey Director for Screech Owls - 2000-2002
Movie Director - Hockey Director for Degrassi - 2003
In the Book - The Gift of the Game, author Tom Allen 2005
David’s DOC System
Providing exceptional hockey instruction is simple, but it isn’t easy. That’s why there’s no other hockey school quite like Hockey Extreme. It offers three key elements: the right system, the right people, and the right methods. Hockey Extreme uses the trademarked DOC® instruction system, developed by David Trombley. DOC stands for Demonstrate, Observe, Correct, and It’s a proven system that produces great results every time.
Demonstrate: Our instructors break down each skill into its component parts and then demonstrate each part, slowly and precisely.
Observe: Next we observe each student performing the skill. The observation is intense, looking at each of the component parts demonstrated earlier.
Correct: Nobody can learn without correction. Our feedback is positive, constructive, and friendly. Actively correcting any element of a skill to greatly enhance overall learning.
To support he DOC system, Hockey Extreme also has the best instructors. They are personally selected by David for their exceptional credentials and their ability to teach hockey skills using the DOC system. To ensure continuity, David devotes time on the ice with the players and instructors, offering assistance, guidance, and encouragement.
Instructor to the Stars
In addition to instructing real hockey players of all ages and skill levels, David has worked with actors on the game. As a Hockey Director for the weekly TV series, Screech Owls from 2000 to 2002, David was required to use “Hollywood magic” to transform non-skating actors into peewee hockey players on the big screen. Working alongside the show’s director, he was instrumental in designing and creating realistic on-ice scenes where the stars “appeared” to be great skaters and play makers. The scenes impressed audiences everywhere.
In 2003, David became the Hockey Director for the TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation where he was influential in creating an on-ice scene in North Toronto Memorial Arena even though there was no ice on the pad. To ensure it looked like the actors were skating on real ice, David had them wear in-line skates, which gave the scene an authentic hockey feel.
When the Hollywood actor Denis Leary was in Toronto in 1999 shooting the movie Lake Boat, David set up 2-on-2 hockey games for Leary and his agent. Leary, a good player and avid fan, played against David (and lost) a series of games, which prompted the actor to attend a Hockey Extreme lesson to witness first-hand the exceptional coaching we offer our clients.
Year-Round Programs
Hockey Extreme operates an assortment of summer, winter break, March Break, and P.A. Day camps for players aged 4 to 16. The camps are often filled with familiar faces as students return again and again throughout their minor league hockey career to learn and have fun.
David and his team work directly with several minor league hockey teams and organizations from Tyke to Midget, offering supplementary instruction by providing the coaches of those teams with direction and advice. David’s teaching methods are in high demand and produce positive results, which prompts teams to return year after year to Hockey Extreme.
David created a program called “Coach the Coaches,” which is geared toward minor hockey organizations and this has been successful from the onset. He also provides a weekly skating skills program for a private elementary school in Toronto.
After more than 20 years in business, David and the Hockey Extreme team continue to teach the secrets that will lead to your hockey success.
A Great Team
James Roxborough
James Roxborough is a Director of the company and Hockey Extreme's A+ Lead Instructor and we’re lucky to have had him since 2013. James is a confident, caring, and compassionate skills coach who can relate to players and help them take their game to the next level.
Hockey Extreme - Lead Instructor (2013-)
OCAA - George Brown Huskies (2014–2016)
GTHL - Leaside Flames (2009-2013)
Marjorie Brooks
Marjorie Brooks is an exemplary customer service representative. She enjoys giving her best to assist all of our clients’ needs from 6-70 years of age. Marj has a passion for youth development and has been sitting on various health and safety committees for 30 years.
Hockey Extreme - Admin Assistant (2018-)
Scotia International Banking - Assistant Manager (2001–2017)
Boys & Girls Club of Toronto - Manager of Youth Program Development (1988 – 2001)
Daniel Vella
Daniel is a hardworking instructor who always brings his best to coaching players of all ages.
Hockey Extreme - Head Goalie Instructor (2011 - present)
Seneca College - Fire Pre-Service (2014)
Moe Rutherford goalie training student (2009 - 2011)
HOF Goalie Vladislav Tretiak student at the Elite Goalie Training Camp (2006 - 2010)
NHL Player Gary Roberts dry land training student (2010)
NHL Goalie Rick Heinz goalie training student (2005 - 2006)