Texas Brahmas Youth Hockey Association

As a player Todd grew up in Seattle Washington, where much of each hockey season was spent over the border in Canada. He played 3 years of Junior hockey and had tryouts with 2 prestigious colleges including the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Todd finally joined a college club team, but shortly afterwards turned his attentions to teaching the game he loves.

In 1986 he received the Associate level Coaching Certification with AHAUS. From 1987-89 he was an assistant instructor in the Cha Karulak Hockey School. 1988-91 Hockey Skating School Director at North Texas Ice Arena. In 1992 he joined Laura Stamm as an assistant and worked with her for 3 summers. Was Chief Instructor of Canadian Hockey Academy for 2 seasons and also Head Instructor with Huron Hockey Schools for one season.

Todd stayed involved with the local skating schools and instructional hockey programs throughout the years. Has run his own summer and winter mini-camps in Houston, Oklahoma City, and in Dallas.

Todd has been Head of Coaches in 3 different associations, and he and his wife also founded and organized two amateur associations. The one in Houston also included an adult league with 14 teams. Todd was the coach of a Peewee Silver Stick Champion team in 1988. Coached a Bantam TAHA Champion team in 98, and later a Midget Major AA team for 3 years. Todd has taken 2 teams to the Rocky Mountain Regional Tournament in Colorado. His highest coaching position was in 1991 with an All-Star Junior Tournament Team sponsored by “Pro-Set Trading Cards”. Kids from Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma City, came together for tournaments in Illinois, Colorado, and Albuquerque, which had great success and great fun.

2001 he received his Level 5, Master Level Certification with USA Hockey.

OFF-ICE; Todd bought his first skate sharpening machine at age 15, so he could take care of his hockey team on out-of-town trips. He learned the proper skill of sharpening and figure skate repair in 1987, from Master Skate Technician Joe Delio, who now has a skating rink named after him in Colorado. Joe stated in a letter of recommendation that Todd was the best student he had ever trained, and years later certified Todd as a Master Skate Technician. In 1990 Todd and his wife started “Blades By Todd”, selling figure skate apparel, hockey equipment and sharpening skates in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, OKC, and Tulsa, as well as some customers who shipped their skates to him from as far away as Delaware.

At one time, Bobbie and Todd had stores in Carrollton, Houston and in Edmond Oklahoma. At the mercy of rinks going under due to bad management or the economy, they chose to venture into new territory and started an embroidery business to compliment their figure skating business. In 2001 Todd wrote an article titled “Hockey From The Ankles Down” which was published in 4 parts in a monthly hockey Magazine. It explained about hollows, rockers, blade mounts and boot fittings for hockey players.

A copy is available at: http://www.ladyinredcreations.com/Ankles_Down.htm

Today he is back in the Pro Shop business at the NYTEX sports complex. Combined with the embroidery and apparel, he and his wife look forward to many years taking care of Brahma fans and players.