Chris Fuss
Director of Hockey Operations/Coach Mentorship
Chris graduated from Norwich University in 2004. During his four seasons with the Cadets hockey team, he made three consecutive Frozen Four appearances, won a NCAA National Championship, and served as team captain. Upon graduation, he spent two years in Red Deer as a full time hockey development instructor.
In 2007, Chris moved to the Calgary area and helped open Skillz Skating & Shooting Center. Since that time, the Skillz brand has expanded into a second location (Skillz High Octane), in a facility with Crash Conditioning. Since 2004, Chris has specialized in hockey skill development and skating treadmill instruction.
Chris also spent three seasons serving as an assistant coach with the Okotoks Oilers of the AJHL. During his time there, he was the assistant to the AJHL coach of the year in 2008, and helped guide the Oilers to the South Division Championship in 2009. Although he was offered the Head Coach / GM position for the 2010/11 season, Chris chose to focus his efforts on Skillz Skating & Shooting Center, the Skillz mentorship program, and the creation of Skillz High Octane.
Chris lives in Okotoks with his wife Carolyn and son Parker.
Joe Murphy
Director of On-Ice Development, Assistant Coach Mentorship
Joe was born and raised in Didsbury, AB. He played his Junior Hockey for the Olds Grizzlys, where he was part of 2 league championships, and 1 National Championship. He then moved on to play NCAA hockey for the University of Denver Pioneers. He was a team captain for 2 seasons at DU, and again part of a WCHA league championship team. After 4 years of NCAA, Joe turned professional, playing for 7 years. He played 4 years in the American Hockey League, 2 of which were under contract with the Ottawa Senators. A highlight of this time was taking part in 2 NHL training Camps, and Playing 5 preseason games in 2001. He then went to Europe to continue his professional career, playing for the Frankfurt Lions in the German DEL, Lukko Rauma in Finland, SM-LIIGA, and Oji Eagles of the Asian League in Japan.
Before joining the Skillz team, Joe was a hockey instructor at The National Sport Academy in Calgary. While at NSA, Joe was responsible for design, and instruction of various specialty skill clinics, coaching clinics, as well as coach mentorship at the community and quadrant AA and AAA levels. Joe has also coached at the AA, and AAA in the Calgary Royals Organization.
Joe considers himself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience the game on so many different levels, in very different places around the world. He hopes that he can pass along his knowledge and enjoyment for the game to all the coaches, parents and athletes he works with. He currently lives in Calgary, with his wife Maggie.
Shawn Overton
Manager - Skillz Skating & Shooting Center/Instructor
Shawn is from Penticton BC and started his playing career in the BCHL, playing over 280 games in 5 seasons. He was able to finish his junior career with the Nanaimo Clippers, serving as an assistant captain and winning the league championship.
After junior he went on to play Div 3 hockey for the St. Norbert Green Knights winning an NCAA national championship. He finished his playing career with the Mount Royal Cougars of the ACAC.
His teaching background goes back to 2002 as he spent his summers as an on ice instructor for the Okanagan hockey school in Penticton BC and continued until 2007. He has been with SKILLZ since 2008 and is motivated to provide the best instruction for each individual player.
Colton Sutter
Lead On-Ice Development
Colton is from Red Deer AB, where he played his entire minor hockey career including Bantam AAA and Midget AAA. He then pursued a junior hockey career in the KIJHL and BCHL for 3 years.
After Junior hockey Colton attended Red Deer College where he earned a two year Kinesiology Diploma and Hockey Canada coaching certification.
He also worked for Can-Pro Athletic training center in Red Deer for 6 years as a strength and conditioning coach for Bantam, Midget, Junior and Professional hockey players.
He has developed, marketed and instructed numerous on ice camps over the past 7 years for all ages and abilities.
He has now been with SKILLZ for one year, and is looking forward to developing our program to its full potential.
Blake Wildeman
Manager - Sales & Marketing/Instructor
Blake is from Okotoks where he played all his minor hockey, befrore playing
three years of junior in the HJHL with Cochrane and Stavely. Blake
attended Olds college where he received a Land Acquisition and Management
diploma. After college he entered into coaching in the OOAA Okotoks Oilers
Athletic Association. Blake has coached Bantam AAA, Bantam AA, Minor Midget
AAA, and two seasons with Pee Wee AA. Blake is a certified Hockey Alberta
coach.
Blake has over 10 years expierience in Hockey instruction through hockey
schools and other programs. Blake is very motivated in helping young
atheletes reach the full potential.
Blake lives in Okotoks with his wife Randi and sons Keigan and Kohen.
