Meet Coach Bruce Porter: Division I Hockey Player and U.S. National Team Ice Dancer

Bruce brings a combination you rarely find in one coach. He played Division I college hockey and skated as a U.S. National Team ice dancer, which means he teaches power and edge quality from both sides of the sport. He has coached in the Washington, DC area for nearly 30 years.

• Division I college hockey player
• U.S. National Team ice dancer
• Nearly 30 years coaching in the DC area
• Specialist in adaptive athletes: blind hockey, autism, Down syndrome
• Coaches first-timers through competitive and adult league players

Bruce’s coaching philosophy is simple: skating is the foundation of everything. A hockey player who can move efficiently has more time with the puck. A figure skater with strong edges has cleaner jumps and better flow. A beginner who learns to fall safely and get back up gains confidence quickly. Every lesson starts with how you move on the ice and builds from there. That is Bruce on the big screen at a Washington Capitals game, recognized for his work bringing hockey to every kind of athlete.

Stick n Puck Coaching at Mount Vernon REC Center: Stick Handling, Deking, Shooting and Power Skating

Mount Vernon REC Center runs weekly Stick n Puck sessions: open ice for hockey players with pucks and nets available. Bruce is on the ice for many of these sessions and takes private students who want structured, one-on-one hockey training instead of skating laps alone.

What a private hockey lesson covers

• Stick handling and puck control: soft hands, head up, puck protection, handling in traffic
• Deking: toe drags, fakes, body deception and finishing around the net
• Shooting: wrist, snap, backhand, one-timers and shooting in stride
• Power skating for hockey: explosive first steps, crossovers, tight turns, transitions
• Game situations: positioning, breakouts and the small habits that separate good players from great ones

Lessons are built around your level. Youth players preparing for travel tryouts, adult league players who want to be more dangerous in the offensive zone, and goalies who need better lateral movement all get a plan tailored to their game.

Bruce’s weekly Stick n Puck availability at Mount Vernon REC Center

Early-morning sessions, great before school or work.

Reserve a Stick n Puck slot

Power Skating Lessons in Northern Virginia: Edge Work, Speed, Agility and Endurance

Bruce also coaches on Mount Vernon REC Center’s public skate sessions, where the focus is pure skating. Power skating is the fastest way for hockey players to get faster and for figure skaters to build the edge control every element depends on.

• Stride mechanics and full extension: more speed with less effort
• Inside and outside edges, crossovers both directions, transitions
• Stops, starts and quick direction changes for agility
• Backward skating, pivots and mohawks
• Conditioning that holds up in the third period or the last minute of a program

Hockey players, figure skaters, speed skaters and adult beginners all train on these sessions. Power skating is also a great option for parents who want to keep up with their kids on the ice.

Learn to Skate Lessons in Alexandria for Beginners of All Ages and Abilities

Never been on skates? You are in the right place. Bruce teaches beginners of every age, from preschoolers to retirees, and from nervous first-timers to athletes picking up a new sport.

Private learn-to-skate lessons move at your pace, so most students are gliding and stopping on their own after a few sessions. Kids, parents and grandparents are welcome to book back-to-back lessons on the same public session.

Book a first lesson

Figure Skating and Ice Dance Coaching on Freestyle Sessions: Jumps, Spins and Dance

Bruce has availability on Mount Vernon REC Center’s freestyle sessions for figure skaters working on ice dance, moves in the field, jumps and spins. Skaters preparing for U.S. Figure Skating tests, competitions, exhibitions or their first ice show get focused, one-on-one time on quality ice.

Bruce is part of the Washington Elite Skating School coaching team, which also includes former international competitors and Olympic-level choreographers, so students can build a full training plan under one roof.

Where We Train: Mount Vernon REC Center in Alexandria, Virginia

The rink sits just off the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Fort Hunt Road. The facility reopened in 2025 after a major renovation and now has two ice rinks, which means more Stick n Puck, public skate and freestyle sessions throughout the week. It is a short drive from Old Town Alexandria, Belle View, Hollin Hills, Fort Hunt, Kingstowne, Fort Belvoir and Arlington, and about 20 minutes from downtown Washington, DC.

Check the current ice schedule on the Mount Vernon REC Center ice arena page. Rink admission for each session is paid to Fairfax County Park Authority; your private lesson fee is paid directly to Bruce.

How to Book a Private Hockey or Skating Lesson with Bruce

1. Pick a session

   Choose a Stick n Puck slot from the weekly availability above, or a public or freestyle session that fits your week.

2. Book online

   Reserve your time at calendly.com/WashingtonElite. It takes about 30 seconds.

3. Show up ready

   Pay rink admission at the front desk, lace up, and Bruce will meet you on the ice. Helmets are required for Stick n Puck.

Questions before you book? Call or text (202) 436-6577 or email WashElite@gmail.com.