Pat Malloy – Director of Hockey

As the Program Coordinator for The Peak Hockey Program, Pat brings a wealth of teaching knowledge. Past experiences include working with many professional and elite teams, athletes and coaches. As program coordinator for the Peak Hockey Program, Pat has developed specific on-ice training methods that target specific energy systems, muscle groups, angles and balance points to enhance skating and hockey skill performance and conditioning. He continues to develop a strong structural base for the Peak Hockey Program, focusing on skill development, mental, physical, nutritional and ethical aspects of the game. He has served as Director of Hockey Operations and Head Instructor for the Elite Performance Hockey Program since 1999. His programs specialize in a Skill Based Approach to learning and development. He is a nationally certified coach and part of the High Performance Stream with Canadian Hockey and a power skating instructor pursuing National Certification. Pat has served as a professional hockey skills and skating coach for over 10 years and has coached for over a decade from Initiation to Junior “A” throughout Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley. He is a former Coach and Director of Player Development in the Central Junior “A” Hockey League and has Tier II Junior “A” playing experience along with “Speak Out” Program Certification with Hockey Canada. Pat is also currently the head coach and GM of the Kemptville 73′s Junior A hockey club.

Ed McNeely – Sports Curriculum Director

Ed McNeely received his Masters degree in Exercise physiology from the University of Ottawa in 1994 and has been involved in the strength and conditioning industry for 15 years. Ed is a faculty member of the United States Sports Academy and has developed the sports conditioning curriculum for the coaching certification programs of several National Sports Organizations.

Ed has been a consultant to 17 Canadian National and professional sports teams. Ed is the author of three books, One Hundred Strength Exercises, Training for Rowing, and Skillful Rowing, and is currently working on a book about integrating strength training into the High School and Middle School PE curriculum. He has published over 100 articles on training and athlete conditioning covering topics such as strength training, plyometrics, making weight, assessing fitness, speed and power development, planning and periodization, and aerobic fitness. He is a frequent resource for other writers, acting as an expert for articles in Muscle & Fitness, Outside Magazine, the Georgia Tech Sports Medicine Newsletter, the Rowing News, the Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen and the Discovery Channel. Ed has an extensive background in performance and occupational research having been involved in studies that analyzed the physical demands of and developed fitness test protocols and standards for emergency medical technicians, prison guards, police officers, park wardens, firefighters, and military personnel, and has helped several high profile companies develop fitness screening programs for their emergency response teams.

Ed is a frequent speaker at National and International Sport and Fitness Conferences, having done over 75 presentations in the past 10 years at conferences such as the NSCA National Convention, the AAHPERD National Convention, the Society of Weight Training Injury Specialists Conference, ECA Sport and Fitness Conference, Coaching Association of Canada Conferences, Rowing Canada Conferences, Ontario Minor Hockey Association Clinics, Joy of Sculling Conferences, and Olympic Solidarity Conferences.

Ken Brunet, Director of Athletic Development

Ken obtained his exercise science degree at the University of Ottawa and is a Certified Exercise Physiologist with the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology. He was the director of the Exercise Physiology Lab at the Ottawa Sport Science Center for 7 years and is currently co-founder and President of the Peak Centre; an Accredited Elite Athlete Testing and Training Centre. Ken specializes in sport science, training monitoring, training plan development and consulting for many National, Olympic and professional team athletes and coaches. While being part of sport science committees for National Sport Organizations, Ken also teaches, consults and gives seminars to various groups such as: physical education teachers, national coaching programs, college level courses, personal trainers, fitness instructors etc.  Visit Ken on LinkedIn >

Kevin Wilson, VP of Athletic Development

Kevin obtained his Exercise Science degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa, graduating in 1998. Shortly after obtaining his degree, Kevin teamed up with current business partner, Ken Brunet to open the very first PEAK Centre for Human Performance, located in Kanata, ON. The initial focus of the PEAK Centre was in offering highly specific fitness testing and training solutions for the general population as well as high performance athletics. Today that focus remains, with services now being offered within Canada and specific locations across the US through PEAK Centre Franchises.

Over the years, Kevin had had the opportunity to with 1000’s of individuals and athletes from numerous sports each seeking to reach their personal best; triathlon, cycling, running, hockey, sailing, gymnastics, and golf. With each sport requiring a specific understanding of it’s physical demands, Kevin has had to research and develop specific testing and training protocols in order to assist athletes in these sports reach their individual peak performances. The results of this research and development can be seen throughout the network of PEAK Centre franchises.

Kevin has lead in several roles over the years with numerous National and Professional Sport Organizations; sport science advisor, educator, fitness evaluator, and protocol developer. These opportunities have shaped the way in which Kevin and the PEAK Centre as a whole provide a completely evidence based and methodical approach to fitness testing and training.  Visit Kevin on LinkedIn >

Brian Kehoe, Strength & Conditioning Coach

Brian completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Limerick (Ireland). As part of his degree requirements, Brian was required to successfully complete an extensive 1-year placement internship at the PEAK Centre in Kanata. Upon graduation, PEAK Centre offered Brian a full-time position as their Strength and Conditioning Coordinator which he has continued to develop. Currently Brian is co-lead trainer for Personal Training (group and individual), team and group training, as well as presentor during the PEAK Centre Seminar Series. As a leader, Brian continually develops his knowledge base to offer clients the most efficient and effective training solutions.

Brian’s clients search for his knowledge in the following areas: weight loss, general health and fitness, and sport performance.

Elly DiCola, Exercise Physiologist

Elly began working at the Peak Centre in the summer of 2010 after completing a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education from Wilfrid Laurier University. She coordinates and administers fitness testing for all Peak Centre clients including NHL players, other high performance athletes and Canadian team members. Elly has a sporting background in gymnastics, both as an athlete and coach (NCCP level 2 Certified). Her academic and athletic experience ensures that clients will reach their personal and performance goals through fitness and educational consultation. Email: edicola@peakcentre.ca or visit her LinkedIn profile >

Julia Gutsik OCT, M.Ed., B.Ed., BA (Dance)

Founder/artistic director of Luv2Groove Dance Education, Julia is recognized for her versatility as a dancer, distinct flavor and high energy as a performer and teacher. Julia Gutsik has been able to blend her passion for dance, health and education to develop and design programs for Luv2Groove. With over 25 years of dance training, Julia holds a Master’s in Education in Teaching, Learning and Evaluation, a Bachelor in Education and a Bachelor in Dance and Kinesiology. Julia has performed with professional dance companies including Rubberbandancegroup, Solid State Breakdance, Bboyizm and Propeller Dance an integrated dance company working with people with and without disabilities. Since 2007, Julia has facilitated over 27 projects across Canada’s Arctic with Blueprintforlife, a company that does social work through hip hop culture with First Nations and Inuit youth. In addition, Julia is a certified Om4Youth yoga instructor that caters to at-risk, marginalized and street-involved youth. Also, she recently became a GROOVE Method™ facilitator that provides participants with a great aerobic and cardio workout that fuses dance and fitness. Julia loves sharing her passion for dance, by inspiring students to challenge their minds and bodies and helping them to find their inner groove one dance step at a time!

www.luv2groove.com

Jimmy Zito – Soccer Program Director

Jimmy Zito has been a top youth coach in the city for 8 years mainly with the Ottawa Fury Soccer club in the USL New England division. Within this time he has worked with athletes both boys and girls in this time culminating in many division titles, North American champions as well over 100 american scholarships for both boys and girls. Jimmy a very strong believer in technical ability being the key for players success both in youth soccer as well collegiate and professional soccer. Jimmy has had many Canadian national team players in his teams as well as Turkish, Portuguese,Czech internationals and for the last 8 years he’s worked with North American finalists and champions.

He has also been the Algonquin college men’s head coach for the past four years losing in a national final and winning the province. His college teams are those of very high discipline and professionalism. The Thunder have been in the countries top 10 for the last 12 years.  Algonquin has won 2 national championships and the 8 provincial championships. Players at school must maintain a G.P.A of 2.3 to be eligible to play in the OCAA. Jimmy is a very strong believer in student athletes and that the student part comes before everything. Players must be able to manage there time and make sure they have there days organized and managed.

Jimmy holds provincial  B licensing with his UEFA licensing to begin in the winter. He also has a diploma in child and youth development as well as recreation and leisure. He has coached St Prius high school both boys and girls getting both to Osama and winning Osama with the men in 2001. He has won a national championship OCAA as a player and coach. He also worked in montessori  as teacher and has been working with kids from 8-18 full time for the past 10 years.