Testimonials
We have been involved in multiple sports for many years and this is the first time we have experienced true, deliberate, dedication to a players long term development. The focus on hockey IQ, competitive attitude, and work ethic is impressive. They hold players accountable for their actions but also teach young players to hold themselves accountable and stay disciplined. The growth in our son in just a year has been immense and we could not be happier to have him in Marian and Tomi's program.
— Mike & Tessa Harris
Our son absolutely loved playing for Marian and Tomi. Their coaching style is different from many in that they are not about 'winning at all cost.' Instead, they are focused on building strong teams, developing young players and helping them reach their full potential. Marian and Tomi go above and beyond in getting to know their players' strengths and weaknesses, and they truly care about helping players achieve their goals. We'll play with them again any time!
— Grady & Shannon Semmens
We are forever thankful for the opportunity to have had our son develop as a hockey player and young man under the thoughtful guidance and leadership of Coach Marian and Coach Tomi. While their combined hockey knowledge, experience and coaching methods are unquestionably practical, current and effective, what sets Marian and Tomi apart is their unwavering commitment to, investment in, and support of, each player reaching his or her own person potential, which in turn promotes collective team success.
Coach Marian and Coach Tomi create and maintain a safe, caring and mutually respectful (family-like) learning environment for their teams, which facilitates trust and “buy-in” from their players, and allows them, as Coaches, to demand and receive the most out of their players.
Under the direction of Coach Marian and Coach Tomi you can the sure that your player will be challenged, pushed hard, given responsibility and made accountable, but all within a positive, motivating and respectful culture that fosters confidence, pride and personal growth in your player.
We count ourselves as one of the very lucky families to have had this special opportunity to experience the high watermark of coaching displayed by Coach Marian and Coach Tomi and we look forward to continuing to see our son’s development as a hockey player and a person through their teachings and support.
— David Cuschieri
Our son was a 2011 goalie for winter (HSL) and spring hockey (Chargers). Marian and Tomi instilled attributes and habits that are typical of older/elite players. The key features include:
-learn from your mistakes especially playing the puck
-goal setting (don’t focus on statistics, focus on the steps)
-high tempo practices that develop mental and physical resilience
-learn the role of a goalie within the frame work of the team (be calm, confident and communicate with teammates)
-a focus on nutrition (diet, cooking)
The year with Marian and Tomi was pivotal in our son’s development and culminated into a championship win at the Stampede challenge!
We really appreciated what they did for our son.
— Napper-Nakagawa Family
Both of my boys (2010 & 2011) started with a skills program that Marian ran, and from day one we could see how beneficial his coaching was going to be. A year later my younger son got the opportunity to play for one of Marian and Tomi's regular season teams and then he continued with another year of regular season and 2 Spring seasons. We can't say enough about Marian & Tomi as coaches! These coaches truly care about all of their players and coach them not only to be hard-working team players on the ice, but also hardworking, polite and caring individuals off the ice. Their commitment to each team/player is astounding and their excitement for team-building is contagious.
Players respond very well to Marian & Tomi and are motivated to do their very best. They challenge the players to get better each and every practice. They push players to give their maximum effort at all times, and hold them accountable for their actions and effort in a fair and positive manner. When my son first started playing for them he was scared of making mistakes and was extremely hard on himself when he didn't achieve his desired outcome on the ice. Marian took notice right away and helped him understand that without mistakes there is no growth, and hockey is supposed to be creative and fun and opportunities are missed when you are busy sulking in your mistakes. Wow! It truly changed him as a player and helped build his confidence to know he had such a supportive coach.
This past Summer our boys played on a baseball team where they had a negative coaching experience. Both of them talked about how Coach Marian would have handled this team and both finished the comparison by saying that he was THE BEST COACH EVER! - Straight from the players mouth.
We look forward to any future opportunities our boys may get to be coached by you!
— Kristy Chong
Our son has been coached by Marian and Tomi Gmitter for over five years and it has been an amazing experience. Both coaches have a real passion for sharing the love of hockey and developing players. They intrinsically motivate players to recognize their strengths and develop their game to the next level. They call out areas of development, but do it in such a way that the player is motivated to improve and master that skill.
Our son was always excited to hit the ice with the coaches for a lot of hard work in skills and conditioning. Marian and Tomi always emphasized the importance of teamwork and that each player brought their own strength to the ice. Players always left the ice with confidence and comradery for their teammates.
Over the years we have run into many people through different connections that say “my son was coached by Marian years ago, still his favorite coach.”
A great coaching team for not only developing great hockey players, but great humans.
— John Pavao
Both of my boys have had the privilege of being coached by Marian & Tomi. My oldest boy is a 2008 player and was fortunate enough to make the U15 AAA team this year with the Royals. Marian and Tomi played a huge role in Nolan making this team as a first year Bantam player. Nolan has said numerous times that Marian & Tomi have been the best coaches he has ever had. The biggest thing that Marian gave my son was confidence and believing in himself. Where a lot of other coaches had really taken the confidence away from him, He was able to develop him and teach him the game through many high-tempo and great practices. They know how to teach the boys to be disciplined and teach them to work as hard as they can on and off the ice. They believe and preach to their players to believe in the process and learn to play hockey the correct way and not to focus on the outcome. The outcome and reward will come, by putting in the hard work and the process. They also do self assessments and give their players feedback on their strengths & weaknesses throughout the season. This is a very helpful tool for players to understand what they are doing well but what they need to continue to work on.
Marian & Tomi have a gift of how to bring the best out of every player that they coach. They really do believe in developing all their players and give every person on the team equal opportunity. They do lots of team-bonding and the boys have learned so much from Marian & Tomi. They even support their players after coaching them, so the players know just how much they want them to succeed in the game.
Now my younger boy Luke who is a 2011 player is being coached by Marian & Tomi. We are really looking forward to seeing his development and the fun he will have with them.
I have also been fortunate enough to coach with Marian & Tomi and have learned a lot from their coaching philosophies.
My wife and I have never seen 2 coaches work together with so much dedication and passion towards their players and coaching. They supported our boys through good times and bad times on the ice, in practices and in games.
I would highly recommend Marian & Tomi to any parent that wants their son/daughter to get to the next level in hockey. They are fantastic coaches and people. Both of my sons are very fortunate to have had them as their coaches.
— The Van Waes Family
The Chargers program was an amazing experience for my son. Marian and Tomi’s close bond extends to creating a family environment for the players. Their hockey knowledge and teaching styles perfectly balance hockey skill, game theory and personal development for their players. They create the perfect balance of competitiveness, accountability and fun that makes going to the rink a valuable and enjoyable experience every time.
Both coaches truly care about the players on and off the ice. Only coaches with the most genuine interest in their player’s overall development would be able to so quickly develop relationships with players that will leave a meaningful mentorship impact on them for years to come.
Thanks for what you’ve done for Cale in the past and looking forward to seasons to come!
— Chad Grummett
It is not often that you find people that truly love what they do. Marian and Tomi truly love developing, teaching and mentoring young athletes. That was evident from the first moment that our hockey athlete came in contact with the Gmitter family. Our family has been involved with Marian and Tomi through both Winter and Spring hockey seasons resulting in greater passion and enjoyment for the game of hockey then before we were introduced to the coaches.
Marian and Tomi place a huge premium on attracting like minded, highly skilled competitive athletes that creates an environment that enhances development both on and off the ice. We are impressed with how the on ice development is driven by the goal of ensuring that every drill is relatable to a skill that is needed in actual game situations. Most importantly, they teach in a way that individuals are best able to understand it. They absolutely ensure that the athletes clearly understand the “why” behind every drill and every session. In our experience there is nothing more frustrating for a young, driven hockey player with a passion to learn and excel to have no idea why they are doing what they are doing…….
Game play and bench management is clearly a strength for both coaches as they take a fair and disciplined approach that allows our kids to develop in all areas of the game both mentally and physically. They care deeply about the growth and maturity of each of their student athletes as well as the success that is attained by the team when the players demonstrate their skills in game play.
Our family is tremendously blessed to have Marian and Tomi in our lives.
— The Rogers Family
Marian and Tomi Gmitter have a passion for hockey that is undeniable as Coaches. They are natural born Teachers of the game and have a way to bring their excitment into the lives of all the players they work with. Nathan had the opportunity to play for Marian and Tomi for two HSL seasons as well as two spring seasons with the Chargers. They taught him to believe in himself and to showcase his own strengths that set him apart from other players, all while playing a team game and supporting the greater goal. Every player on their ice is an equal. Every player gets opportunity and everyone has their role on the team. What they teach their players has so much to do with life lesssons above everything else. Being part of something bigger than themselves, taking care of your teammates and your linemates, supporting each other, hard work, dedication, being accountable and being committed to the process. They have supported Nathan on and off the ice. They have been there for him when he needed the guidance the most, being a constant role model in his life.
Our family is forever grateful to have them be a part of Nathan's hockey journey. His path as an athlete is forever changed because they are a part of it! A good coach can change a game, but a great coach can change a life. They are two of the absolute best!
— The Crellin Family
Not a day went by that our son wasn’t excited to go to the rink to prove to Marian and Tomi that he was better than the last practice. This is the type of coaching and mentorship the Charges program provides. Coaching based on mutual respect between player and coach. They demand a team effort and praise hard work ethic. They push the players to their limits while at the same time coaching them through their developmental mistakes. They are fair and kind and above all else they care. They care for each of the kids as hockey players but also as individuals. The coaching and mentorship both on and off the ice will be with our son for years to come. We look forward to the day our paths cross again. Thank you, Marian and Tomi, for a wonderful experience.
— The Leonard Family
With 3 boys playing competitive hockey, we have been exposed to a broad variety of coaches, development programs and training camps in the game of hockey. We feel incredibly lucky to have had Marian & his son Tomi as one of our sons coaches for the past 5 years of spring hockey. Their knowledge and understanding of the game of hockey and ability to teach it to young players are second to no one.
Players respond very well to them and are motivated to do their very best. They challenge the players to get better each and every practice, and they push players to try their hardest to learn new skills and improve on existing ones in an environment that is not intimidating.
His passion for the game, desire to teach and most of all ability to connect with players is what truly separates Coach Marian.
Practices are fast paced and filled with teaching points that players can use to improve their game. They genuinely care about every player and that comes across both at practices and in games.
In addition to developing strong hockey skills and learning how to see and play the game of hockey better mentally, our son has developed confidence, passion and a love for the game of hockey thanks to Coach Marian and Coach Tomi.
He loves to play for them and is excited to go to the rink when he does. Thank you Coach Marion and Coach Tomi!!! We truly appreciate you both
— Craig & Luanne Baun
My son Adam’s time with Marian and Tomi has allowed him to further his development as a hockey player. I can confidently say that Chargers Hockey program had an impact on Adam. Adam started playing hockey in Atom (U11). His first year of Atom he played on div 6. That spring we got introduced to Marian and Tomi. With hard work and determination, Adam’s second year of atom he made Div 1.
Adam loved Marian’s style of coaching, teaching the real game of hockey and hockey IQ. He would keep them accountable and taught them to work hard at all times. Adam has been with Marian and Tomi for 5 years. If anyone is looking for great coaching and development, I would strongly recommend Marien and Tomi. In the 2021-2022 season Adam made the U15 AAA CBHA Bisons. Thanks Boys.
— Joe Mhamed
When our son started skating for Marian and Tomi, he immediately felt welcomed and supported as "the new guy" coming in to a mostly already established team. They connected with our son easily and the coach-player relationship formed very quickly into the season.
Our son's development escalated within the season (even with Covid protocols being implemented and lots of gaps in training), he gained not only a ton of skill, but his conditioning was greatly improved as well. After one very short season with Marian and Tomi he found himself with the confidence and skills to try out and earn his spot on a U15 AA Bantam team as a first year defenseman, we are so thankful for the time and energy they put into his development. They even came to his tryout skates to cheer him on!
Marian and Tomi are excellent coaches and mentors, we highly recommend them and their program to anyone looking to take their hockey to the next level. We are so lucky to have crossed their paths!
— The Paulgaard Family
Our son has skated with Marian and Tomi for a few years now. He gets a lot growth and development out his coaching and looks forward to every ice time. They have an excellent program and we would highly recommend Chargers Hockey.
— The Folstroms
Our son had a lot of stuff going on emotionally during a high-calibre, high-pressure tournament. It affected him mentally and physically. But you still believed in him. You kept coaching him and teaching him and encouraging him. You gave him equal opportunities. You put him in a position to succeed.Our family is extremely grateful for your kindness, patience and support. So is our son. He told us. And he thinks you’re great.We’re also very proud of him. His character, his courage and his perseverance. We think you saw those traits in him too.So. Thank you very much Marian. We think you’re an outstanding coach. Hockey Alberta has a better program with people like you teaching and developing our kids.
— John Sexsmith
Marian is an extremely effective Coach who has the ability to connect with players of all ages and abilities. His track record reflects success at all levels and his skill development model is second to none. He comes highly recommended.
— Dave Freeborn - Midget AAA Coordinator, Calgary Royals
The best skill development coaches we have ever had. That is how I describe Coach Marian and Coach Tomi to other parents. We first began working with Coach Marian 2 years when Luke skated with a spring team in Calgary. The focus on skills, and small area play led to big improvements in my sons play and confidence. With Coach Marian and Coach Tomi’s help Luke has improved in every area of game – skating, balance, agility, stick handling, passing, shooting, and body awareness. Coach Marian and coach Tomi are patient, professional, very instructional and incredibly skilled. We are proud to have these coaches teaching and mentoring our son. The players these coaches work with are learned to respect each other which intern engages the player to preform their best. If your looking for a coach to help your son or daughter become a better hockey player I highly recommend coach Marian and Coach Tomi Gmitter.
— Renee & James Vink
I met Coach Marian a few years back and he has had a huge, positive impact on my son and his team mates development over the past three years. From Novice 4 to atom 1 I have witnessed the results with his importance to details.
Tomi is a defensive specialist that has helped my sons transition immensely. Tomi cares about the kids and they love him!
Coach Marian’s focus on development over games clearly makes sense for an effective spring program!
Best cost effective program we use.
— Mo Elsaghir
Marian Gmitter - A Coach For All Ages
Marian’s CV shows his dedication to hockey, and the players he has coached and mentored over the last decade in Canada. He has taken many of his teams to the highest of levels of success in all age ranges. His teams have been provincial champions, league champions, Alberta Cup champions, Esso Cup champions, to name a few. Marion has taken many teams to compete in Europe and given players the experience of a lifetime as well as exposure to European opportunities. He is one the few coaches who connects his team with the age range below so they can experience the compete level they will be advancing to. He encourages development by allowing players to play up on his team whenever possible.”
There are few coaches that develop the whole player/athlete to their maximum potential on and off the ice…Marian Gmitter is one of those coaches. He has an innate ability to bring out the best in every player at every level of battle and compete.
Whether he is working with your Junior A player or your six year old just starting out, Marian knows how to bring out the best in both. He fosters a passion for the game and teaches the skills and concepts of achieving excellence through development at age appropriate levels.
Young hockey players are nurtured and supported in the basics and advancing their skills/compete in a supportive, fun and encouraging way. There is much positive reinforcement with smiles, high fives and one on one’s that increases kids confidence and love of the game from an early age.
Experienced and elite hockey players are coached to maximize their potential by embracing their strengths, and determining their weaknesses for development. Marian’s strengths are in supporting players goals, leadership, knowledge and love of the game, his communication with the players and getting the very most out of each of them-is second to none. His sense of humor and his easy disposition makes him an ideal coach for all age levels.
For those players who want to continue professionally Marian’s coaching and guidance will support them as far as their work ethic will take them. He pushes his athletes to find the most in their game while teaching them the importance of character, leadership and teamwork to achieve their goals.
We have always felt that Marian’s open door policy has allowed players the confidence to face their biggest challenges on the ice as well as the confidence to be a well rounded person outside of the rink.
On any given week Marian will be coaching young players, Junior A players, watching his son play and scouting for Tri-cities. He is a coach, a scout, a mentor, a dad of a hockey player, and successful hockey player himself. He is an amazing coach because he exudes his love of the game, his love of developing young and elite players and knows all there is to know about bringing the best out in players of all ages.
— The Robins Family