Instructor Bios:

Victor Kraatz: Victor is a world-class skating instructor. Victor brings a unique blend of elite athletic experience and hockey-specific skating expertise to the ice. Victor is NCCP Level 3 Certified, Skate Canada CanPowerSkate Certified Instructor, World Champion Figure Skater, 10-time Canadian Champion (1993-2003), 3-time Olympic Team Member (1994, 1998, 2002)

Karen Kos: Karen has spent over 30 years running her Technical Skating business, developing players from minor hockey through junior, collegiate, and professional levels. Her approach is rooted in her extensive background in biomechanics, allowing her to break down, rebuild, and refine skating technique with a scientific focus on efficient body movement, footspeed, and power. Karen’s hockey‑specific sessions teach players how to move with greater efficiency and control, accelerating skill development and overall performance. Her unique style, high‑quality instruction, and passion for improving skating bring out the best in every athlete in a fun, energetic learning environment.

Rob Fuchs (ProFormance Goalie School): One of British Columbia's leading goaltender development programs. For more than 20 years, ProFormance has been training goalies in the Vancouver area, helping goalies build strong fundamentals, improve their performance, and achieve their goals through expert coaching and a proven development model.

Amy de Bree: Amy is a Hockey Canada High Performance 1 certified coach with a Master of Education in Coaching Studies and more than 20 years of experience coaching youth athletes. She has coached athletes across a wide range of competitive levels, most recently at the U18 AAA level and has contributed to BC Hockey's High Performance Program as a camp coach with Male U16 Team BC and previously served as Head Coach of the U18 Female Team BC program.

Mike Todd: Mike has been a dedicated TBirds coach for nearly 20 years, working with youth players across multiple age groups. Most recently, he led the U18 A1 team to a Bronze Medal at BC Hockey Provincials, highlighting his ability to develop athletes at the highest levels of minor hockey. In addition to his coaching success, Mike serves as the Director of Player and Coach Development for our recreational stream, where he oversees both player growth and coach mentorship. His long-standing commitment, leadership, and passion for teaching make him an invaluable part of the TBirds community.

Kyle Star: Kyle brings a strong blend of high‑level playing experience and progressive coaching development. His playing career includes five years of Junior A hockey in the BCHL and AJHL with notable stops at the Brooks Bandits and Surrey Eagles, followed by four seasons of NCAA hockey at the College of St. Scholastica. He has served as an assistant coach at the U15 and U18 levels and more recently has been a head coach at the U15 and U13 rep levels.

Harrison Brown: Harrison brings 13 years of coaching experience with Vancouver Thunderbirds, building on his background as a former youth player within the Association. More than a decade behind the bench, he has led multiple teams to BC Hockey Provincial Championships. Harrison's coaching approach emphasizes skill progression and player-first development.