The DYHA Jr. Sun Devils are ready to take the next step.

In a recent transaction that will benefit the entire organization, the Jr. Sun Devils have partnered with Power Edge Pro Hockey (PEP), a player development system based in Toronto.

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Power Edge Pro utilizes propriety equipment and training patterns. The system focuses on Reactive Countering Training, engaging multiple motor skills simultaneously to develop a player’s small-area game performance.

All patterns are completed while maintaining puck control and are designed to provide five times as many repetitions as standard drill-based practices, leading to faster development of elite skills.

“We are super-excited about becoming a skill development partner of Power Edge Pro,” said DYHA hockey director Brad McCaughey. “Our job as a hockey program is to develop hockey players and our program just took a giant step forward, in my opinion. Not only will we be holding some highly sought-after PEP skill sessions this summer, but our coaches will be incorporating the Power Edge Pro system into our team practices, which strongly enhances our coaching program.”

According to the Power Edge Pro website (www.poweredgepro.com), “Power Edge Pro is changing the way hockey players train, with five patents in Canada, the USA and Europe for innovative on-ice training gear as well as trademarks for Reactive Linear Crossover and Reactive Countering Training.”

Benefits of Reactive Countering Training include learning all the Connor McDavid speed training circuits and more, learning first-step quickness/footwork with quick hands through resistance of PEP GEAR, developing an explosive crossover and speed with Reactive Linear Crossover, becoming dominant with the puck and efficient on your weak side so you can execute anywhere during the game, becoming an elite skills multi-tasker through overloading the motor skills while executing PEP GEAR Circuits, developing evasive skating techniques, increasing reaction time to respond faster and creating more opportunities, gaining body positioning and creating faster separation from opponents with “puck placement techniques,” and getting access to clear HD videos of McDavid demonstrating Reactive Countering Training techniques.

Check out Jack Hughes at the 2018 PEP Pro Camp (VIDEO)

The training methods and unique teaching breakthroughs in player development have been adopted by the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets, numerous Canadian Hockey League teams and NCAA teams and USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP).

Almost a decade ago, McDavid (Edmonton Oilers captain) embraced the high-performance training and McDavid continues to train with Power Edge Pro today, as do over 100 NHLers including John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs), Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings), Matt Duchene (Columbus Blue Jackets), Taylor Hall (New Jersey Devils), Mat Barzal (New York Islanders) and Alex DeBrincat (Chicago Blackhawks), to name a few.

McDavid (2015) and Hall (2009, by Edmonton) are former first-overall NHL draft picks, while 60 percent of No. 1 draft picks since 2008 train with PEP.

Recently named in The Hockey News’ 2019 Money & Power Edition as No. 1 in the “Hockey Training” category, the most talented players in the world, along with future talents such as Jack Hughes (NTDP, probable top-overall NHL draft pick in June), Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks), Shane Wright (just drafted No. 1 in 2019 OHL Draft by the Kingston Frontenacs) and Quinton Byfield (OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, top prospect for 2020 NHL Draft) are all eager to work on their skills in the offseason with PEP.

“It’s just different,” McDavid told Sports Illustrated. “You have to do it at top speed. I think there are a lot of different skill coaches whose programs have you standing there, looking down at the puck. In today’s day and age, that never happens.”

“The skill development is year-round and it’s a lot more advanced than it was in my time,” added Hall. “You would’ve never seen apparatuses like that, or teachers teaching you to do that kind of stuff, but that’s the same with any facet in life. Smartphones, streaming services, it’s all developing.

The game’s only getting faster, the players coming up now are so good at skating and so good on their edges. I think it’s because of drills like that, that make it easy for them.”

— Matt Mackinder

Photos/Dan Bodanis

(April 24, 2019)