Testimonials
“Erika has played an important role in helping me get to Boston University. She was instrumental in improving my footwork and stride, developing me into a quicker, faster, and powerful skater. Erika understands that skating is one of the most important parts to hockey and she is willing to do anything to help. Working with her is one of best decisions I have ever made. I would recommend her 10/10 times!”
- Matthew Quercia
Boston University Forward ('22)
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“Erika is an extraordinary teacher and she knows how to apply the fundamentals of skating to players of all ages and levels. Her program is an excellent way to improve and take your game to the next level."
- Kim Brandvold
Boston Bruins Skating & Skills Coach
"Erika is someone who was instrumental in developing my skating from a young age. After moving from Florida to Boston, I had to find a new skating coach. Erika was that person and she made the transition easy. She was so engaging and upbeat. She made learning to skate extra fun, she even bribed me with Starbursts which was an extra incentive! Skating has become the most important part of hockey and Erika excels at providing all of the fundamentals that hockey players need. Without Erika I would not be anywhere near the skater that I am today." |
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Make no mistake, Erika is a top tier skating instructor. Watch an uncommonly proficient skater on the north shore and chances are they trained with Erika at some point. The perfect combination of sweet and caring, yet demanding and challenging - her coaching approach works universally. My two boys are so grateful for her guidance through all these years. If she has a class opening that you can get into, do not hesitate!
Rob Anderson
Assistant Coach - 09’ Islanders Elite
Erika’s ability to communicate very complex and meticulous movements to children and young adults is unmatched. Our children wouldn’t be where they are today without her. Because of Erika Hammar both of our kids are known as elite level skaters which is needed if you want to play at the highest level.
- Chris & Ashley Austin
Parents of Nationally ranked U14 Elite Boston Junior Eagle - Gannon Austin & U12 Major I East Coast Wizard - Hadley Austin
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Our children are frequent skaters with Empower Hockey and we can’t say enough about the program! It is the perfect supplement to their regular hockey teams and has significantly improved not only their skating skills, but their game play, as well. It has also bolstered their confidence, making them stronger and more capable players. "Erika is truly a standout in the hockey/skating skills world. Erika is a great teacher with tremendous patience. Her classes are always organized, efficient, fun and challenging. The skating/edge skills taught to our 7 year old hockey player have turned him into a strong and confident skater. And the work that she's done with our 10 year old figure skater is truly amazing. We highly recommend Erika and her skating/edges classes for all ages and abilities." Erika’s ability to teach proper skating technique to youth hockey players is phenomenal. My son is not only engaged for the entire lesson, but he responds with maximum effort and concentration with each drill. Her true talent lies in her corrective communication to the player, which results in immediate and visible development. “My son has skated with Erika for the past two years and I'm very satisfied with the results. Originally, he was a bit of a clunky skater. Now he has learned to pivot with very little space and his footwork is much more active. As a result, he has become more confident with his edges. Erika's instruction has been so effective!" |
"Erika, thank you for working with my son the past two years. His edge work has improved tremendously and he has become a respectable defenseman for the Shamrocks in the '06 black division. His pivoting and acceleration far exceeded our expectations, which has allowed him to play and compete at higher levels. We are excited about his future prospects and look forward to working with you to help him get there! Hockey has become extremely competitive, even at the high school level. The most important thing a developing player should focus on is skating and edge work. As the saying goes, "if you can't skate you can't play!" "My son wanted to improve his skating for high school hockey so we sought Erika's help. During the first session, Erika immediately identified areas for improvement and designed detailed lesson plans to target weaknesses in his skating form. Erika's professional approach, clear communication, and positive demeanor have really helped make a difference!" |