Former Everblades captain coaches next-gen hockey stars at Hertz Arena

ESTERO, Fla. (WINK) — As hockey continues to grow in Southwest Florida, young players are finding more opportunities to develop their skills.

Dozens of athletes took the ice at Hertz Arena in a training session led by former Everblades captain Ryan Brindley. He spent a decade playing professional hockey and now dedicates his time to developing the next generation through Southeast Elite Hockey.

"I get to do what I love for a living, but you know, when you go through it, and you know, you play professionally, you play for a living for a lot of years, you learn things along the way," Brindley said.

More than 20 years into his coaching career, he's back on the same ice where he finished his playing days. The facility has become a hub for young talent in the region.

"A lot of kids have developed through this program, through this great facility, having the Everblades, Hertz Arena, all this stuff," Brindley said. "It's just awesome to have it in our backyard."

One of those kids is Cade Miller, an 8-year-old forward who fell in love with the game after only a year of skating. His passion for hockey runs deep.

"Because it's a team sport," Miller said. "I get to play with my friends, and I really like Coach Ryan."

It's a love Brindley knows well. He sees the sport as more than just a game.

"I mean, it's not an easy sport. I mean, you've got to be tough, you've got to have an extreme work ethic, and they're great life lessons," Brindley said. "I see all these, you know, buddies and kids, they go on after, and it just makes life a little bit easier when you go through all that commitment and work."