• Little Twigs Hockey School 2024 registration is NOW OPEN!

    Register today as registrations fill up fast!
    This camp is for 5-9 year old hockey players!

  • Teachers First, Coaches Second

    One-On-One Attention is Fundamental for Each Our Students.

    Meet Our Coaches
  • Have Fun and Learn the Game of Hockey

    Learn and Develop in a Safe & Relaxed Environment.

    Our Philosophy

Develop. Improve. Have Fun!

At Little Twigs Hockey School we believe that young hockey players develop best in small groups with high-quality instruction.

  • Skills Based

    We focus on developing core hockey skills in a well-organized, active, and encouraging environment. Skating, edgework, agility, and puck control skills are the building blocks to a hockey player’s success.

  • High Quality Instruction

    Players receive constant feedback and direction that is age-appropriate, mindful, and goal-oriented. Our staff is second to none in that we’re all long-time coaches and teachers. We not only know what to say, but more importantly we know how to say it to young players.

  • Relationships And Values

    We strive to make each player and family’s experience at Little Twigs a positive one in every way. At each practice we teach and model the importance of effort, listening, teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship.

  • Repetition, Repetition, Repetition

    Every inch of the ice is utilized to ensure that players are constantly skating and touching the puck. Our practices are active, fast-paced, brisk, and FUN!

What others say about us

Between my son and daughter they have participated in 6 different Little Twigs camps. I have been involved in hockey my entire life as a player, coach and administrator and I can’t say loud enough that Twigs gets it. He combines skill development with a fun side to all sessions. I wish his demeanor and approach could be bottled and given to all coaches. Since my son attended his first camp I have not considered any others while my kids were of mite age. Thanks Mike for not only keeping this fun but for developing my kids as hockey players and people at the same time!

We can’t say enough good things about Little Twigs Hockey School!  This will be our third summer at the camp.  We live in Edina and it is worth making the drive the Eden Prairie.  The program is fast paced and challenging enough that the kids really improve, but don’t get frustrated.  Our son and daughter have both attended the camp and absolutely love the coaches.  You can tell right away that everyone on the ice is an experienced teacher.  They relate so well to the kids, communicating high expectations and teaching them new skills without yelling or barking.  Each day, our kids came off the ice with big smiles.  They were so proud of what they had learned and had a ton of fun.  It is has been such a positive experience that we can’t wait to come back again this year!   This is a great summer hockey experience for boys and girls in the early elementary grades.Jon and Bernadette Hornig, Edina

Little Twigs is the perfect summer hockey program for your mite age child. The twice a week program allows for gradual improvement throughout the six weeks and retention of the skills that one week camps cannot match. The instructors are very knowledgeable. However the two things that set the camp apart from others are:
1) The instructors’ ability to relate to the kids through teaching.
2) FUN. Both our son and daughter participated in the program multiple years and couldn’t wait to go back the next summer!

Mike Terwilliger is incredibly passionate about teaching kids the game of hockey. More importantly, Mike ensures that the kids have fun. Little Twigs is action packed. Mike maximizes the full use of the rink and always has the kids moving. I can’t think of a better place to send my child to learn hockey.

Joe Krmpotich

“Coach Krmp”

I am the  Director and Operator of Little Twigs.  I took over from  Coach Twig  in 2016  and have worked for Little Twigs for many years before running it. I look forward to continuing the traditions and great coaching that has been developed along with my own special touches. I have been a mainstay on the Little Twigs staff for over 20 years,  was an educator in the Eden Prairie School District for 10 years and now a full time hockey coach year round.  I was born and raised in Eden Prairie, where I have come back to make my home with my wife Karen and two sons, Luka and Leo.

I am a strong believer in creating a fun and safe environment for kids to allow them to develop to the best of their ability. My coaching is based on an educational background to help teach kids not just how to do things on the ice, but why its important and present new ideas in a way that is easiest for them to understand.  My Philosophy is all about having fun and teaching kids lessons in hockey that they can incorporate into their own lives.

Coaching Experience:
19 years (current) Boys Head JV Coach for Eden Prairie High School
22 years (current) Little Twigs Coach
12 years (current) Player Development Coordinator Ice Edge AAA Hockey, Hockey Coach and Director of Coaches
2015- (Current) Director Of Operations Ice Edge AAA Hockey
2010-2013 Hopkins Youth Development Instructor
2004-2015 Educator in the Eden Prairie School District
USA Hockey Level 3 Coach

Playing Career
98’ Graduate from Eden Prairie High School
1999-2001 Rochester Mustangs Rochester, MN (USHL)
2001-2002 Iona College New Rochelle NY (D1)
2002-2004 University of St. Thomas St. Paul, MN (D3)

Little Twigs Coaches

Little Twigs Hockey School has an impressive staff that is unique. We’re unique in that we’re hockey guys, we’re teachers and we’re coaches.

We get kids and know how to work with them.

All of our lead instructors are also teachers. Sure, instruction is a lot of “what” you say, but with young players it’s also important “how” you say it. We know how to say things in terms that Mite players can understand.

We are hockey guys and have played the game.

All of our lead instructors are hockey players and have played hockey through high school, junior, or college. What does this mean? It means that we know what skills to focus on…it means we know what skill leads into what skill…we know it’s a marathon and not a sprint…and it means we are passionate about hockey.

We are coaches and teachers!

Josh Shingler

"Coach Shingy"

Josh Shingler-- a former resident Shawano, WI Josh brings a wealth of hockey and physical fitness knowledge to the Steel. Josh grew up playing youth and midgets in Milwaukee, Green Bay, San Diego as well as Michigan. Following a successful u18 career Josh earned opportunities at the junior level. His first stop being in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and later went on to play for the Kenai River Brown Bears of the NAHL. Proceeding his junior career Josh earned his way on to the Bethel University Hockey Team where he spent 4 years playing hockey and later graduated with a Biokenetics Degree. Using his Biokenetics degree Josh became an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Bethel as well an instructor for the Laura Stamm Power Skating School which he is still currently a member of. Josh joins the Steel following a coaching position with Roseville High School in Minnesota as well as being the Head on and off ice trainer for the Rocky Mountain Hockey Schools. Josh currently coaches at Eden Prairie High School Boys as an assistant coach and has been with Ice Edge and Little Twigs Hockey school for the past 5 years as a Instructor.
Josh currently resides in Eden Prairie with his Wife, Laura and is a Special Education Para at the High School.

Austin Krebsbach

"Coach Krebs"

Laura Mitchell

"Coach Laura"

Jalen Henkel

"Coach Jalen"

Becca Berg

"Coach Becca"

Josh Shingler-- a former resident Shawano, WI Josh brings a wealth of hockey and physical fitness knowledge to the Steel. Josh grew up playing youth and midgets in Milwaukee, Green Bay, San Diego as well as Michigan. Following a successful u18 career Josh earned opportunities at the junior level. His first stop being in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and later went on to play for the Kenai River Brown Bears of the NAHL. Proceeding his junior career Josh earned his way on to the Bethel University Hockey Team where he spent 4 years playing hockey and later graduated with a Biokenetics Degree. Using his Biokenetics degree Josh became an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Bethel as well an instructor for the Laura Stamm Power Skating School which he is still currently a member of. Josh joins the Steel following a coaching position with Roseville High School in Minnesota as well as being the Head on and off ice trainer for the Rocky Mountain Hockey Schools. Josh currently coaches at Eden Prairie High School Boys as an assistant coach and has been with Ice Edge and Little Twigs Hockey school for the past 5 years as a Instructor.
Josh currently resides in Eden Prairie with his Wife, Laura and is a Special Education Para at the High School.

Little Twigs Apparel Available

Little Twigs Hockey School Hat
Little Twigs Hat

Sizes: Coming Soon
Price: $20

Little Twigs Hockey School T-Shirt
Little Twigs T-Shirt

Sizes: Coming Soon
Price: $20

Sizes and Ordering Information
Coming Soon!

Contact Us

Little Twigs Hockey School

7274 Tartan Curve
Eden Prairie, MN 55346

952-393-8567

[email protected]

Send us mail

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