After over 30 years of running of summer hockey schools, Suburban Hockey Schools continues to be the leader in providing fun and disciplined hockey instruction to players of all ages and ability levels.

Bob Goodenow, who captained the Harvard University hockey team and was a member of the 1974 U.S. National Team, started Dearborn-based West Suburban Hockey School in 1974. The program ran out of Ford Woods Arena in Dearborn and Garden City Civic Arena for the first three years before expanding to additional locations throughout the Detroit area.

"It really started as a great way to work our way through college," Goodenow said. "Back then there weren’t many rinks open in the summer, but there really was a need for instructional programs where kids could be taught proper technique and develop their skills in an environment where winning or losing wasn’t an issue. As college hockey players, we were able to take the skills and knowledge that we had experienced over the years and put them to good use in teaching kids. I can’t imagine having any better summer job than that."

West Suburban Hockey School became an innovator in the summer hockey school business, with several instructors who have gone on to successful careers in hockey. Goodenow (Executive Director, National Hockey League Players’ Association), Doug Ross (Head Coach, University of Alabama-Huntsville), Bob Dobek (1976 U.S. Olympian), Tom Ross (career record-holder for goals, assists and points at Michigan State), Mike Liut (15-year NHL veteran, NHL agent), Pat Carmichael (Scout, Atlanta Thrashers), Mark Wells (1980 U.S. Olympian), Craig Button (General Manager, Calgary Flames), Don Waddell (General Manager, Atlanta Thrashers) and Tom Anastos (Commissioner, Central Collegiate Hockey Association) are examples of the many people in the hockey world with Suburban ties.

Anastos took over as director of what had evolved into Suburban Hockey Schools in the mid-1980s. Anastos, who was a player in Suburban’s first ever summer program, had gone on to become an instructor while playing for Michigan State University. He later played in the Montreal Canadiens' organization and served as the head coach at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, before returning to Michigan State as an assistant coach. After a successful tenure as commissioner of the North American Hockey League, Anastos became commissioner of the CCHA in 1998.

Along with former Michigan State teammate Lyle Phair, Anastos has turned Suburban Hockey Schools into Michigan’s most established and respected hockey instructional program.

"Over the thirty years we have been in existence, we have seen a lot of changes in the game, and have adapted our program to meet the ever-changing needs of the players coming through," Anastos said. "But at the end of the day, our mission has really remained the same, to provide a positive learning experience for every player to improve his or her skills and knowledge of the game, while building their confidence and self-esteem. We strive to create a disciplined, yet fun learning environment where we can maximize ice usage, provide individualized instruction and challenge each kid to be better through a progressive curriculum that features innovative drills and teaching techniques."

Now headquartered in Farmington Hills, Suburban has grown from a hockey school that ran at two locations for a few weeks in the summer, to a successful business that thrives throughout the year at various locations in Michigan. Mid-Winter Clinics (February), Spring Clinics (March/April), Learn to Check Clinics (various times), Pre-Season Clinics (August), Thanksgiving Clinics (November) and Christmas Clinics (December/January) are offered at various locations in addition to the wide variety of summer hockey school options.

Phair, who played professionally with the Los Angeles and New Jersey organizations and also coached at the University of Illinois-Chicago in the CCHA for three seasons, prides himself on finding the best possible people to provide an instructional experience that allows each student to improve skills, knowledge of the game and self-confidence through a positive learning experience.

"Our instructors aren’t just people who have played the game at higher levels, they really enjoy the experience of working with kids to help them become better players," Phair said. "It is one thing to just have the skills to be able to demonstrate them to young players. Our instructors really want to make a difference for these kids, and with our experience, we are able to teach them what they need to know to communicate their knowledge and skill to the kids. "

With individualized instruction from an experienced and dedicated staff, Suburban Hockey Schools is widely recognized as the best place to go to learn the game of hockey. Perhaps most importantly, the focus of Suburban is fun.

"At every level of the game, it is really all about fun," Phair said. "Whether you are a 7-year old, or a professional player, if you are having fun playing the game and enjoy trying new things, you can’t help but improve. Our goal is to make learning the game fun."