Recommended Hockey Clinics and Camps in the DMV

  I'm often asked what extra programs I recommend for youth hockey players in the DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. For years, I've shared this information informally, either by word of mouth or via email to hockey parents. This list reflects many years of recommendations based on my own experience and the insights of others in the hockey community whom I trust.

Please note: This list only covers clinics and camps, not individual instructors or development programs like Cold Rush. I’ll save those for another post.

  Each clinic or camp typically has a specific focus. Your player should prioritize attending the ones that target their biggest areas for growth, then use others to round out their development. The List is split into a Goalie and Player sections so Goalie information is easier to find.

  A quick note on terminology: Not every organization defines “clinic” and “camp” the same way. I’m using a parent-friendly definition: if your kid is gone for 4–8 hours a day over three or more weekdays, it’s a camp. Everything else is a clinic. That’s how things are sorted here, not by whatever the organization happens to call it.

  I'll update this list as needed, as indicated by the timestamp at the bottom. If a program or location isn’t listed, it’s either because I don’t recommend it or I don’t know enough about it (though the latter is unlikely).

For Players:

This section is mostly for skaters, some offer goalie spots, but don't expect much if anything at all from them other than shots against the goalie.

Independent Clinics:

• Laura Stamm - Concentrating on Mostly forward and Backward Skating Techniques it's very good for getting good form and power for skating.
  • Location: Usually run out of Medstar, Gardens Ice House and Reisterstown Sportsplex
  • Time: Usually March and June/July
• Apex - Concentrating on Edges and Skating with your head up with and without the puck. It is a very specific clinic and I found it's good to really promote keeping the players head up.
  • Location: Usually run out of St James
  • Time: Usually March and July
• Power Edge Pro (PEP) - Concentrating on stick handling while skating with proper forms. This one is "Ok" and I think it is fine if you need a filler class and it's at a spot you go to. Their website sucks and the information is hard to understand, your best bet is to contact them directly for times/dates/cost.
  • Location: Usually run out of St James, Prince William and Reston.
  • Time: Varies
• Robby Glantz Power Skating - Concentrating on skating techniques related to edge control.
  
  • Location: Usually Waldorf MD
  • Time: Usually March
• Nothing but net - They list everything as a "camp" but only their summer camp is a true camp everything else is a long skills clinic. These Clinics are the kitchen sink type of clinics and cover a little of everything.
  • Location: Usually Rockville Ice Arena
  • Time: Spring/Summer and Winter Breaks.
• DC Hockey - Specifically the Summer Instructional, Another Kitchen sink type of clinic. Run s a weekly 1hr clinic (sometimes twice a week). 
  • Location: Usually Rockville Ice Arena
  • Time: Summer
• Simply Defense & Simply Shooting - Two types of  "clinics" that offer specific instruction on Defense or Shooting, very good for those two aspects.
  • Location: Usually Gardens Ice House
  • Time: Summer, Spring, Winter
• Dedicated Hockey - Small Group Clinics, year around focusing on all aspects.
  • Location: Usually Gardens Ice House
  • Time: All Year, Times and dates move around
• Players Edge Hockey School - All about shooting, nope seriously that's it and its good at this!
  • Location: Fredrick and Easton
  • Time: Winter
• Ascend Hockey - Concentrating mostly on Edges, Stickhandling and Scoring. They are all listed as "Camps" but only one of which is an actual Camp.
  • Location: Piney Orchard, Fredrick and Easton MD
  • Time: Spring/Summer
• Pro Stride Skating - Similar to Laura Stamm, their clinic is about skating and a few game like drills thrown in to mix it up.
  • Location: Piney Orchard, St James, Gardens Ice House
  • Time: June/July/August depending on location

Rink/Team Organized Clinics:

• Medstar  
  • They run a spring and summer clinics once a week that focus on different skills. These clinics are quick and great for improving relevant skills while providing ongoing, non-obtrusive training during typical downtime. They are geared toward players from House level up to UA Travel.
    • Checking Clinic: One of the better checking clinics in the area, usually held over two days on a weekend (usually). It includes both on-ice and off-ice instruction and is offered in spring and summer, mostly for players aging up to 14U.
      
    • Other Clinic Names: Speed & Agility, Defensive Skills and Techniques, Shoot to Score (up to 12U), Technique & Power, and Total Athlete Development (up to 12U).
• Ashburn
  • They run short clinics lasting one week or less in the summer that focus on different skills.
    • Explosive Speed with Wendy Marco (8-14U): This is the one you really want—Wendy is one of the top skating coaches in the area, if not the very best. This clinic sells out quickly and is only offered in the summer.
    • Summer Hour of Power: Focuses on overall skating.
    • Other Clinic Names: Defensive Skills/Checking (10-14U), Elite Hockey Training (8-14U), Snipe Celly (8-14U), Pre-Season Development (8-12U), Power Skating (12-14U).
• Rockville
  • They run a spring and summer clinic once a week that focuses on different skills. These clinics are quick and effective for developing relevant skills while providing ongoing but non-obtrusive training during usual downtime. They are geared toward players from House level up to UA Travel. They also offer a good instructional clinic for new players.
    • Checking Clinic (14U and up): The Checking Clinic is a bit long, spread out over eight weeks, but it’s one of the better ones in the area.
    • Other Clinic Names: Stick Handling, Shooting/Scoring Clinic, Power Skating, Full Ice Hockey Development Clinic (10U only), Defenseman Clinic (12U/14U), Elite Clinic, Battle Clinic.
• Gardens Ice House (Tri-City)
  • Run by Tri City, featuring several drop-in clinics (pay per session) offered during the spring.
    • Clinic Names: Scoring Clinic, Advanced Power Skating, 3v3, 8U Skill Development.
• Fredrick
  • They run a “kitchen sink” clinic during the summer, one day a week for 10 weeks. This is good for general development only.
    

Independent Camps:

• Planet Hockey - Concentrating on all Skills, it has a lot of ice time and off ice instruction. Unlike most "Camps" there isn't a lot of wasted time on non hockey activities. Recommend adding the STP portion for more ice and your child will be exhausted and sleep well each night!
  • Location: Usually run out of Medstar
  • Time: Usually July
• Sport International Hockey Academy - Concentrates on all Skills, lots of ice time and off ice activities that are related to hockey. Almost no fluff in this at all and very focused!
  • Location: Reston, Rockville and Prince William
  • Time: Summer and Winter
• Pride Summer Hockey Camps - Girls only Camp, covers all the items making this a kitchen sink type of camp. Not a lot of fluff in this camp (non hockey related activities) as even the off ice items are related in tangential ways.
  • Location: Usually Rockville Ice Arena
  • Time: Summer
• Dedicated Hockey - Several different camps with minimal fluff. They focus on different areas and have one of the few AA+ Camps in the area.
  • USA WAY: GIRLS CAMP (Girls Only, A+ Level), Future Elite Camp (AA+ Level), Goal Scoring Skills and Offensive and Defensive Skills 
  • Location: Gardens Ice House (Elite Camps), Bowie (Others)
  • Time: Summer
• Players Edge Hockey School - Kitchen sink type of camp, very minimal downtime that focuses on training during that downtime.
  • Location: Fredrick and Easton
  • Time: Summer
    
• Ascend Hockey - Concentrating mostly on Scoring and 3v3 Pond Hockey (Pro Goal Scoring & 3 vs 3 Development Camp). This is a good Small Area fun type Camp to develop quicker hands and short scoring chances (3v3).
  • Location: Fredrick
  • Time: Summer
• Cold Rush - Custom Elite Camp run by Wendy Dimarco, this camp sells out really fast. It is for Travel Players ONLY that have already completed a FULL year of travel, most attendee's are AA/AAA players. If you can't get in try to do Explosive Speed with Wendy Marco in Ashburn (see clinics).
  • Location: Ashburn
  • Time: Summer

Rink/Organization Camps:

Most of these camps are filled with fluff and are really only engaging for players from House level up to Travel B, and typically for those 12U or younger. (Most kids age out of them completely by 15, and it's common to see 15–18-year-olds running the majority of the activities.) These camps are, at best, “average” and often serve more as childcare for working parents than serious hockey development. Yep, I'm not overly impressed with most of them when it comes to actually developing youth hockey players.

If you're going to sign up for one, stick with half-day camps as they tend to maintain more focus on hockey and less on fluff like movie-watching and unrelated activities. Also, it's best to choose camps run by larger, more established organizations.

The better-run rink camps are at:

Ashburn, Reston (SkateQuest), MedStar, Rockville, Gardens, and Frederick.

For Goalies:

This section is for goalies specifically.

Independent Clinics:

• Accelerate Goaltending - Goal Tending clinic
  • Location: Usually Rockville Ice Arena
  • Time: Summer

Rink/Team Organized Clinics:

• Fredrick
  
  • They run a short, fairly well-focused summer goalie clinic.

Independent Camps:

• Goalie Academy - Offering various camps by a good local goalie coach, highly recommend.
  • Location: Loudon Ice Center (small 1/3 rink, not a full rink)
  • Time: Summer
• Mitch Korn - The Goalie Camp! Goalie camps are a rare thing and good ones are even more rare. This one fills fast.
  • Location: Reston
  • Time: Usually July

Note: I am not affiliated with any of these programs or rinks. I don't take sponsorships or bribes either. If someone wants me to add something feel free to contact me and I will look into it and decide if it should be added!

Last Updated: 5/28/25