Jacob R.

I am a strength and conditioning coach at Bando Performance, where I started as an intern and earned my way into a coaching position through hands-on experience and a commitment to athlete development. At Bando, I have worked with athletes at every stage of their journey; from youth and middle school athletes learning the fundamentals of movement to high-level and professional competitors refining their performance. I also worked as an on-ice skills coach over the course of a combined 5 years for Hat Trick Hockey and Dream Big.

A large portion of my coaching experience has focused on middle school and early high school athletes, where I emphasize building strong movement patterns, developing athleticism, and creating confidence in training. My goal as a coach is to help every athlete improve their strength, speed, and resilience while building habits that support long-term success in sport. In addition; I am a Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist.

I played competitive hockey from the age of 3 through 24. My junior career included time in both the NCDC and the EHL, where I was part of a championship team with the Boston Jr. Rangers during the COVID era of amateur sports.

I went on to play NCAA Division III hockey at SUNY Brockport, competing in the SUNYAC conference for three seasons and the UCHC for my senior season due to athletic conference realignment.

A typical session with me is focused on improving hockey-specific skills in a high-energy and detail-oriented environment. Since sessions take place on our synthetic ice training surface, the primary focus is on stick handling, shooting mechanics, puck control, passing, hand speed, and developing confidence with the puck.

Sessions usually begin with a quick dynamic warm-up before progressing into skill-specific drills tailored to the athlete’s age, position, and experience level. I emphasize proper shooting mechanics, quick releases, puck protection, handling the puck in tight spaces, and developing better hands under pressure.

I like to create an environment that is challenging, competitive, and enjoyable while still coaching the small details that translate directly onto the ice. Every session is designed to help athletes become more skilled, more confident, and better prepared for game situations.