Nate Leslie

Director, Coaching Consultant, & Speaker

After growing up in a small town in Manitoba and then in Switzerland, Nate played 2 seasons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for the Portage Terriers and 2 seasons as a member of the Victoria Salsa in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. From there Nate spent 7 years playing professionally while attaining a degree during the summers from the University of Victoria. His professional tenure includes the Swiss National A League with EHC Basel and the British Super League as a member of the London Knights. Nate finished his career in 2004 as a member of the Odessa Jackalopes of the Central Hockey League. Nate took full advantage of his European life traveling to 30 countries and becoming nearly fluent in German, French, Swiss German, and has a basic proficiency in Spanish. He recently completed a Master’s Degree in International Education and Leadership from Endicott College, attending classes at their satellite campus in Madrid, Spain.

Spending 4 years in New York City, Nate held the position of Athletic Director at the Saint Thomas Boarding School in Midtown Manhattan. Nate is equally proud of his role as Coaching Director of Riverbank Hockey in West Harlem, New York where he helped establish and grow what he regards as the most diverse youth hockey program in North America. Drawing from all ends of Manhattan’s economic and social spectrum, Riverbank Hockey grew from 15 players to nearly 120 players during his 2 seasons as Coaching Director. In accordance with Nate’s firm belief that young athletes should be exposed to many different sports, Nate spent 2 years coaching Varsity soccer and badminton, as well as softball, basketball, volleyball, and hockey at the Nightingale-Bamford School for Girls, and Saint David’s School for Boys, two prestigious independent schools on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.  Nate now resides in Vancouver, BC where he consults with numerous minor hockey associations, instructs the Earl Marriott Advanced Hockey Academy, Sentinal Hockey Academy, and speaks to young athletes throughout the lower mainland.

Boe Leslie

Director, Coaching Consultant, Author of “The Complete Season,” & Speaker

Boe is a former Division 1 College and professional hockey player and now works full time in youth hockey development. He played NCAA Division 1 hockey for the Union College Skating Dutchmen of the ECAC. Boe then went on to play 8 years professionally in Europe. The majority of his professional career was spent in Switzerland while he also played for the Sheffield Steelers of the British Super League. During both the winter months and the off season of his professional years, Boe began to work in youth hockey development. TheLeslie Global Sports Complete Season Manual has been written based on Boe’s experiences in youth hockey in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

Ryan Esselmont

Coaching Consultant, Off-ice Skill & Conditioning Coach

Ryan Esselmont is the GM and Head trainer for the Cyclone Taylor Hockey Training facility, has been training and coaching hockey for the past 7 years. He is the founder and managing trainer of HST (Hockey Specific Training), a Vancouver based sport specific training company. Ryan’s primary focus to on and off ice training is to help players improve their hockey skill set, game play and physical condition. HST’s specialized approach develops and prepares athletes on ice performance to meet the high demands of modern day hockey. Other than training, HST also develops and manufactures training equipment called StrideSlide and StrideSlide Crease. StrideSlide and its training program utilize slideboard technology to provide an effective off-ice tool for players and goalies.

TRAINING / COACHING:

Ryan’s interest and career development as a hockey trainer started 11 years ago while playing NCAA Div I at the University of Northern Michigan where he studied Kinesiology and Business. During his 8 year pro career Ryan developed a passion for coaching and his training philosophy from his personal experiences and the coaches he played for. During the last 3 years playing professional hockey, he was also hired as the team’s strength and conditioning trainer. For the past 6 years Ryan has been teaching his unique style of powerskating which develops the fundamentals to provide technically sound skating for all ages, building quickness, power and efficiency.

Shea Esselmont

Coaching Consultant, Yoga Instructor, Off-ice Conditioning Coach


Ram Sidhu

On Ice Coach / Off-ice Skill & Conditioning Coach

Ram played 2 seasons in the BCHL with the Quesnel Millionaires and Alberni Valley Bulldogs.  A native of Port Alberni, Ram fulfilled his dream of playing for his local BCHL team.  In 2004 Ram left the west coast for New York where he spent 4 seasons as a member of NCAA Div III Geneseo State Knights.  Ram played the 2008-2009 season for the Groningen Grizzlies of the Netherlands Elite League.  Ram has been a very positive addition to Leslie Global Sports in providing positive encouragement and a wealth of knowledge, commitment, and class as our on ice development coach and off-ice strength and conditioning trainer.  Ram believes that championships are won at practice, and encourages players to practice winning every day.