Karen's Hockey School is founded by Karen Whiton, who has been actively training skating & hockey students since 2006.  

Many people know Coach Karen as she is the In-House Skills Trainer for the Tri-Cities Female Ice Hockey Association.  She has done this for the past 4 years.  She is also one of the Skate & Hockey Lesson Supervisors for the City of Port Moody.   During her 20 year training career (18 years with City of Port Moody & 2 years with City of Coquitlam), she has worked with players (3-18years) and Adults (19-68yrs) from all walks of life.   

Born & raised in Singapore, Coach Karen spent 10 years in track & field, specializing in shot put & discus in her last few years.  When she came to BC, she fell in love with hockey.  

Starting late in hockey (specifically at 30 yrs old after her son was born), meant she had to quickly apply her athletic track & field background, sort through the most effective methods to acquire skating & hockey skills, and more importantly, know HOW to fix technical issues.  Within 15 months of learning how to skate and taking numerous Adult hockey camps, she scored the tying & winning goals to help her women's hockey team secure their 1st hockey playoff championship.  This clearly shows it's NEVER too late to start!

Coach Karen's training philosophy is embedded in "T-S-P" (Technique-Speed-Power).  "Always fix technique, and the rest will follow.  Skating always comes 1st, as it's the foundation of hockey."   Together with her keen eye for detail & focus on technical corrections, she has transformed many general skaters into successful hockey players, with some making into the elite AAA ranks.    

Coach Karen absolutely LOVES hockey, because it has personally given her so much self-esteem & confidence, and more importantly, essential lifelong skills such as learning how to work with others, how to stay focused & disciplined amidst distractions, and being mentally tough in difficult situations.  

Her passion is in grassroots hockey, teaching little kiddos & working with aspiring Youth & Adults.  That is why she continues to give back the Community, as a Skate & Hockey Lesson Supervisor at her home rink in Port Moody.  

From Coach Karen to players:

• • "If you have a strong desire to learn & are not afraid of hard work - that's half the battle won."

  • "F - F - F"  (use this acronym) :   Fight For Focus

Did You Know?  

Coach Karen retired from BC Hockey in Dec 2019, having officiated 12 years for minor hockey - mostly U15-U18 boys games as well as U21 female games.  

At the height of her reffing career, she officiated 92 games in a single season - both as Referee & Linesman.  

The most exciting games she worked were the ones at the 2017 Provincial Female Bantam Championship.   "Energy, hustle, strong battles" - that is what female hockey should be about!