Jason Fredricks Program Director
Jason has been working hockey camps since 2001 and has been the lead instructor since 2008. In addition to running Next Level Hockey Training since 2009, he was also a lead instructor and coach at Shattuck St Mary’s Hockey Camps in Faribault, Minnesota for 5 years. Jason also spent a year coaching and coordinating off ice training at Shattuck St. Mary’s School.
Jason brings an unmatched focus and dedication to teaching. When he steps on the ice he demands perfection. With his genuine passion for the game, Jason is known to drive and motivate players to reach their full potential.
Jason progressed from playing four years and winning a USA Hockey National Championship at Shattuck St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minnesota, to playing NCAA Division 1 for Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. After university, Jason played three years professionally for the Providence Bruins (AHL), South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL), Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) and the Ontario Reign (ECHL).
Charlie Strauss Lead Instructor
Charlie's playing and coaching experience combined with his attention for detail makes him an excellent instructor. Charlie has been on the staff of Next Level Hockey Training since its inception in 2009. He has coached at the professional level while playing for CH Jaca in Spain. The past several years Charlie has been coaching at the high school prep level and has been at Salisbury School in Connecticut since 2015. At Salisbury, Charlie helps the Varsity program as an assistant coach running skill development, the powerplay, and helping with the strength and conditioning program.
After playing for Northland Pines High School and Team Wisconsin, Charlie played NCAA Division 3 at Middlebury College where he was team captain for two years and was selected 1st Team All-NESCAC in 2010-11. After Middlebury, Charlie played professionally for two years with CH Jaca in Spain.
Luc Kreuser
Senior Instructor
Luc has been on the Next Level Hockey Training staff since since 2013, after participating in camp for the 6 previous years. With a deep passion for the game and a strong understanding of its nuances, Luc has brought energy, precision, and a high level of commitment to help the students focus on continued growth in their game.
Luc’s playing career spans multiple competitive levels, including high school, junior, collegiate, and professional hockey. He played for the Wisconsin Rapids Red Raiders before joining the Twin City Steel in the NA3HL, eventually earning a call-up to the NAHL's Northeast Generals. Following his junior career, Luc committed to Concordia University Wisconsin, where he competed in NCAA Division III hockey for four years. He continued at Concordia for two additional seasons at the ACHA Division II level, helping lead the team to back-to-back national tournament appearances. He also had a professional stint with the Elmira River Sharks in the FPHL.
Now serving as a coach for the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons ACHA team, Luc brings a wealth of playing experience and leadership to the next generation of athletes, continuing to contribute to the game he’s been passionate about his entire life.
Will Leedy
Senior Instructor
Will Leedy has been with Next Level Hockey Training since 2021. He has coached full-time since graduating in 2015 after a successful playing career at Connecticut College( NESCAC, NCAA Division III). He then became the Assistant Coach at Connecticut College, where he managed the defense, penalty-killing, strength and conditioning programs, and recruiting. Since 2017, Coach Leedy has been at Salisbury School, continuing to work with the defensemen, penalty kill, and hockey-specific strength and conditioning programs.
Certified at USA Hockey Level 4, Coach Leedy focuses on skill development with strong attention to detail and discipline, while keeping players motivated and having fun. His coaching philosophy is based on building strong fundamentals and creating a competitive yet supportive environment that helps young athletes improve both on and off the ice. At Next Level Training, his goal is to help campers fine-tune their skills, boost their confidence, and create lasting memories through hockey.
Liza Maizel
Liza Maizel is new to the Next Level Training team, joining the staff in 2024 to help with off ice coordination. She brings a wealth of experience working with kids of all ages both in and out of sports. She helps campers push themselves and discover their resiliency to keep going when they feel challenged. She works hard to support the on-ice staff, campers and parents, filling whatever role is needed of her.
She is currently Associate Dean of Students and a teacher at Marvelwood School, a boarding high school in Kent, CT, where she has coached Girls’ Varsity Soccer and Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse. She worked as Head of Girls’ Camp at Kenwood and Kenmont Camps for 8 summers, as well as Assistant Director at Camp Dunnabeck for two summers. She played lacrosse at the University of Rochester (Liberty League, NCAA Division III), and brings her love of sports and summer camp to Next Level Hockey Training.
Other Staff Members
The other instructors are active players currently playing at the college, junior, or high school level. These players are very proficient at demonstrating the skills being taught as they have been students of ours for 8 or more years prior to joining the instruction staff.
There is generally 7 or 8 instructors on ice and we strive to keep student instructor ratio around 6:1.
In the past instructors have also included:
Pete Susens, 30+ years high school coaching
Chase Drake, Wisconsin Badgers, NCAA D 1