Defence First Hockey
Toronto-based Defence First Hockey School offers defensive skills camps and private sessions for youth players, with programmes in Ontario, British Columbia, and Connecticut.
Quick facts
About Defence First Hockey
Founded and led by Mike Weaver, Defence First Hockey School centres its curriculum on defensive-zone skills, positional play, and tactical awareness for youth hockey players. Camps are structured around specific defensive concepts — programmes include "Defend the Rush," "The Complete Defender," "Positioning Checking Camp," "Transition to Offence," and "Special Teams Camp," among others — with small group ratios and an emphasis on mental skills alongside on-ice instruction.
The school runs sessions at its Toronto base as well as camps on Vancouver Island (Shawnigan Lake) and in Stamford, Connecticut, making it one of the few defence-focused operations with a multi-province and cross-border footprint. Dedicated Girls Camps and seasonal offerings such as March Break and Winter Break camps broaden the schedule throughout the year.
Private one-on-one sessions complement the camp programme for players seeking individual attention on defensive technique.
What parents say
“My son really enjoyed Mike’s camp and rates it a 5 star experience. Key highlights involved working on skating patterns specific to playing D. I noticed a significant improvement in my son Dylan’s transitions and backwards skating after receiving guidance from Mike and his instructors. Also, Mike stressed the importance of good vision on the ice and based on that mental snapshot, being able to anticipate where the next play might be. He worked on 2 on1’s 1 on 1’s, keeping an active stick in passing lanes. There was a lot to cover. Lastly the small area games were a lot of fun for the kids and kept them actively engaged. What a terrific experience for the kids!”
