Our People
Who we are and who we work with is as important as what we do. We identify with people whose professional and ethical choices we admire. We have a team of instructors who are genuinely committed to developing the individual hockey player. Our team consists of three detail oriented instructors who share similar values, and similar professional experiences in their chosen sport. Each instructor applies a different focus of instruction -- together, these focus areas complement each other and provide building blocks to overall progress and future learning.
CLAUDIA STEINKE
R.N., B.Sc., M.Mgt., Ph.D
Focus: Analysis and deconstruction of skating skills
Breaking down of skating skills to their most simplest form
Claudia Steinke directs The Skating Company and has specialized in skating analysis and technique training for hockey players since 1992. She has coached all levels from novice to pro, and alongside some of the leading technical skating instructors in North America. She is a Skate Canada triple gold medalist, nationally certified (NCCP) in both hockey and figure skating, CanPowerSkate certified, and skated professionally on the international circuit with Hermanos Fuentes Gasca and Feld Entertainment’s Disney on Ice.
TRAVIS HILLIER
Focus: Analysis and reconstruction of skating skills
Rebuilding of skating skills to a more efficient form
Travis Hillier serves as a skating skills instructor with The Skating Company. He was a national level competitive skater and is a Skate Canada quadruple gold medalist. After his competitive career, Travis skated professionally on the international circuit with Feld Entertainment’s Disney on Ice. He currently serves as co-founder and figure skating coach with Southern Alberta Skating Academy and a hockey skating instructor with The Skating Company. Travis is a Certified Provincial Coach and CanPowerSkate certified.
SEAN GILLAM
Focus: Application of reconstructed skating skills to game-like situations
Sean Gillam serves as a hockey skills instructor with The Skating Company. He is a former third-round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings and has been deeply involved with the game of hockey since 1992, with over 1,000 games at the professional level, including the AHL, IHL, CHL, and SPHL. Sean brings a wealth of knowledge & experience to the sport. Sean has made a significant impact at the amateur level, coaching within CIS (University of Lethbridge) & the LMHA at the U18 AAA, U17 AAA, & U15 AAA levels. At the U18AAA level, he was a part of the coaching staff that took home the bronze medal at the National Championship Tels Cup. In 2023, he further expanded his leadership role by becoming the Director of Hockey Operations for LMHA. Sean is committed to developing both players and programs for growth, excellence, and long-term success.