Ryan Pardoski first crossed paths with Rick Judson in 1988, when Pardoski was a junior forward playing for the University of Michigan of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Judson was a freshman forward on the University of Illinois-Chicago squad.

Three years later Pardoski joined Judson, who by then was a senior, in Chicago when he took the graduate assistant coaching position at UIC. Little did they know they would once again be working together over a decade later as Suburban Hockey Schools instructors in the metro-Detroit area.

Pardoski has literally come a long way from where he started as a youth hockey player. Growing up, he played recreational hockey in his native Calgary, and attended anywhere from two to four weeks of hockey school each summer. From age 8 through high school, he regulary attended Northeast Hockey Schools, under the direction of the current Head Scout/Director of Player Personnel for Canada’s National Women’s Team Program Wally Kozak. Pardoski counts Kozak, who was an assistant coach for Team Canada when the women’s team won the gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics, as well as Don Phelps, the career wins leader among active coaches in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, as his two biggest influences.

"I’ve had some really good experiences and I learned a lot of life’s lessons from (Kozak and Phelps)," Pardoski said. "They instilled a lot in me, teaching me to work hard and do things the right way. They reinforced the values that my parents taught me, and really played an important role in shaping my character."

Pardoski attended hockey schools even after he had established himself as an elite youth hockey player, taking part in a number of college and professional conditioning camps. After playing a year with the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL, Pardoski was picked by the New Jersey Devils in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. He played four years for Michigan under head coach Red Berenson and earned his masters degree in Sports Administration while holding down the graduate assistant position at UIC.

Suburban Hockey Schools Program Director Lyle Phair was an assistant coach at UIC from 1990-93, and kept in touch with Pardoski and Judson through the years. It was that connection that brought the three back together as instructors for SHS.

Judson, a native of Lambertville, grew up playing hockey in Toledo from the time he was five-years old until coming to the Detroit area to play AAA hockey as a bantam and midget. He then went on to play for the Rochester Mustangs of the United States Hockey League under NHL coaching veteran Kevin Constantine.

Judson earned a scholarship and played four years at UIC, and following his freshman season, the Detroit Red Wings selected him in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. Upon completing his collegiate career, Judson joined the Red Wings’ organization, playing for affiliates in the East Coast Hockey League, American Hockey League and International Hockey League.

Both Pardoski and Judson agree that getting the most out of summer hockey schools is imperative in player development.

"The key is to provide an atmosphere that is fun, yet challenging," Pardoski said. "And you can never underestimate the benefits of personal attention from an instructor to a student."

Judson added, "What I remember fondly about going to hockey school as a kid is not only learning fundamental skills, but also having fun. The key is having personable coaches that make it enjoyable to be out on the ice."

In addition to hockey instruction, both Pardoski and Judson are involved in arena operations. Pardoski has been general manager at the Onyx – Rochester Ice Arena since 1999, and Judson recently finished his first year as an assistant manager at Suburban Training Center in Farmington Hills.

"It’s just second nature to stay involved in hockey," Pardoski said. "It feels right. It’s something that I’ve known from a very young age and being around hockey keeps me young. I enjoy giving back to the game, because while I had a lot of fun playing, I also learned a lot of things that I have been able to apply to my life in general."

"I am a hockey instructor so that I can pass along what I got out of hockey," Judson said. "When I can see a player make improvements over a period of time, I find it to be very rewarding."