SKATE TECHNICIAN
Todd bought his first skate sharpening machine at age 15, so he could take care of his hockey team on out-of-town trips. While he began working as a skate technician in 1987, working with his first National Champion (Chris Brown – 1988), he received his ultimate training, learning the proper skill and tools of sharpening and figure skate repair in 1989 from Master Skate Technician Joe Delio.
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, Oklahoma City 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 Edmond, OK. 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 four parts in a monthly hockey magazine. It explained hollows, rockers, blade mounts and boot fittings for hockey players.
Today he is back in the Pro Shop business at the Dr. Pepper Starcenter in Farmers Branch, along with a second pro shop and embroidery shop in North Richland Hills, TX.
COACHING/INSTRUCTING
Todd Alexander grew up in Seattle Washington, where much of each youth hockey season was spent over the border in Canada. He played three years of junior hockey and earned tryouts with two prestigious college programs, including the University of North Dakota. 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 Todd was an assistant instructor with the Cha Karulak Hockey School. From 1988-91 Todd was Hockey Skating School Director at North Texas Ice Arena.
In 1992, he joined Laura Stamm and the world-renowned Laura Stamm Power Skating School as an assistant, working with her for three summers. He was Chief Instructor of Canadian Hockey Academy for two seasons and also Head Instructor with Huron Hockey Schools for one season.
Todd continued to stay involved with the local skating schools and instructional hockey programs throughout the years, running his own summer and winter mini-camps in Houston, Oklahoma City and Dallas.
Todd has been Head of Coaches in three different associations and he and his wife also founded and organized two amateur associations. The association they began 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 three years.
Todd has taken two 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 New Mexico.
In 2001 Todd earned his Level 5 Master Level Coaching Certification with USA Hockey.