Advantage High Performance Hockey
About
At Advantage High Performance Hockey, we are dedicated to fostering a love for the game while building lasting relationships with our players and their families. Our mission is to provide a supportive and challenging environment where young athletes can develop their hockey skills, enhance their confidence, and grow both on and off the ice. Leveraging our experience and unique approach to player development, we strive to give our players a competitive ADVANTAGE by focusing on their individual growth, creativity, and mastery of the game. We believe in creating a positive, fun, and inclusive culture that nurtures personal development, teamwork, and lifelong connections through the shared passion for hockey.
Coach Mike Duco
Mike Duco enjoyed an extensive nine-year professional playing career, highlighted by 18 games in the NHL with the Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks. He also played 267 games in the AHL, with additional experience in the ECHL and Europe. During his junior career, Mike spent parts of five seasons in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers, where he was a key member of the 2008 J. Ross Robertson Cup-winning team as OHL champions.
Following his playing career, Mike transitioned into coaching, initially serving as a player-coach in the ECHL before becoming the head coach of the Elmira Jackals. He then moved to the Ontario Hockey League, serving as an assistant coach for the Peterborough Petes during the 2017-18 season. Additionally, Mike worked as a player development coach with the Pickering Panthers, where his efforts contributed to the team’s success in winning an OJHL championship.
Following his playing career, Mike transitioned into coaching, initially serving as a player-coach in the ECHL before becoming the head coach of the Elmira Jackals. He then moved to the Ontario Hockey League, serving as an assistant coach for the Peterborough Petes during the 2017-18 season. Additionally, Mike worked as a player development coach with the Pickering Panthers, where his efforts contributed to the team’s success in winning an OJHL championship.
In 2018, Mike embarked on a new path, moving into officiating after attending the NHL’s Officiating Exposure Combine. He was hired as a referee in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he worked for three seasons.
In 2018, Mike embarked on a new path, moving into officiating after attending the NHL’s Officiating Exposure Combine. He was hired as a referee in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he worked for three seasons.
Over the past three years, Mike has dedicated his time to the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), coaching the Don Mills Flyers 2014 AAA team and serving as the Head of Development for Okanagan Hockey Academy.
Mike’s commitment to player development has been the cornerstone of his post-NHL career. Guided by a passion for nurturing young talent, he focuses on fostering growth both on and off the ice, helping athletes reach their full potential in hockey and in life. This dedication ultimately led to the launch of Advantage High Performance Hockey, where Mike continues to provide players with the tools and support needed to excel in the sport and beyond.