About Us
Northern Blades Hockey Academy, under the dedicated leadership of Head Instructor Chris Bernard, stands as a premier hockey training institution in Lac la Biche, Alberta. Committed to excellence, the academy provides year-round hockey training through tailored programs, including weekly ice sessions catering to specific age groups, weekend development camps, and immersive week-long hockey camps. The academy's unwavering mission is to cultivate the full potential of aspiring athletes in a nurturing and positive environment, fostering a love for the game and instilling essential skills for success both on and off the ice.
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Chris Bernard
Head Instructor
Chris Bernard was born and raised in the Ottawa area. Playing his minor hockey in Kanata, Ontario, Chris played through the AAA system there. He then moved away from home to attend Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan where he played a year of AAA hockey and one and a half years of Junior A for the Notre Dame Hounds where he received NCAA and Major Junior offers. Chris suffered a career altering injury to one of his hips during his second season of Junior A. After two years away from the game going through surgery and recovery, Chris played for Portage College in the ACAC where he received an education in Natural Resources Technology.
During Chris’s career he has been trained by some of the most elite development coaches in Canada, including the names of Alan Andrews, Shawn Allard, Jason York, and Shelley Kettles. While developing his own game, Chris learned and understood what it took to make it to the highest level and then grew a passion for the development process.
Since residing in Lac la Biche, Alberta, Chris has seen a strong passion for hockey within the community and the absence of hockey development coaches in the area, therefore, founding Northern Blades Hockey Academy. Chris’s goal is to guide athletes to reach their full potential, while focusing on a fun environment that also embraces valuable life lessons and values that the game can teach.