Local Programs

Dennis Chighisola began his skills training programs in 1976, a few years later incorporating a growing hockey instructional organization as New England Hockey Institute (now New England Hockey, Inc).

Although a move is planned for the spring of 2009, NEHI has been based in the historic Commonwealth Building in Whitman, MA for close to two decades.  There one can find Coach Chic’s office, his high tech video and radio show studio, plus his off-ice training facility, The MOTION Lab.

Team NEHI

Coach Chic is Head Coach of Team NEHI, which includes a Developmental Team (for grades 6, 7 and 8), a  Junior High Selects Team (for grades 7, 8 and 9), and a High School Prep squad (for grades 10, 11 and 12). These programs are unique, in that they are aimed at slow, methodical, year-round development.

Both junior high school teams are with the coach for an 11-month period, training on- and off-ice, from late-May through the following April.  HS Prep squad players leave for their respective high school teams in great shape, having trained with Coach Chic for the previous 7-months.

The Old Coach is also involved in advancing his players’ futures, assisting them with private or Catholic high school, prep school, juniors and college placement.  (Team NEHI players are often featured in CoachChic.com training videos.)

Usually only a few openings are available on each team, with these being filled between January and March (so new members are able to take part in the upcoming May workouts.)

The MOTION Lab

The MOTION Lab is a unique off-ice training facility located in downtown Whitman, MA (across from the NEHI offices.)  Lab training is capable of enhancing almost any hockey skill or physical attribute.  Here, Coach Chic works with players of all ages on their skating speed and power, their puckhandling and passing skills, their shooting quickness and strength, as well as their agility, speed, conditioning and explosive strength.

Todd Jacobson, NEHI’s goaltending coach, is also available for Lab training, and his patient, confidence-building approach is loved by goalers of all ages, beginners to advanced.

Learn-to-skate, Learn-to-play Clinics

Coach Chic performs his “Mr Rogers impression” in these sessions, keeping 4- to 9-year olds laughing, growing and dying to come back for their next session!  Learn-to clinics take place from September through April each year, on Sunday mornings, at Bridgewater Ice Arena, in Bridgewater, MA.

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Coach Chic’s Famous Puck Course

Yes, it’s famous, because most of Coach Chic’s long-time students are among the top puckhandlers around!

Every Monday night…  7:15pm (Rink B) Pilgrim Arena – Higham, MA.  This course is pay-as-you-attend, or $15 per session each time a player attends.

Improved “puck skills” mean improved confidence.  Actually, Coach Chic feels improved skills in this area also increases the amount of fun we have playing the game.  This course includes A LOT of puckhandling skills, as well as some help with the slapshot and passing.

Contact Info

Contact Coach Chic (Dennis) if you have questions about any of the above programs:

Email:   coachchic@aol.com

Telephone:  781-447-4616