Top Dog Announces new Skating Coach
     Top Dog’s new skating coach brings years of hockey experience. Graeme Townshend was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the 41 year old Townshend moved to Toronto at the age of 3. Played one year of Junior hockey for the Mimico Monarchs of the O.H.A Central Jr. B.As the #2 recruited player in North America, Townshend turned down offers from 14 schools, including Michigan, Michigan State and Cornell, to accept a full scholarship from #1 ranked and defending NCAA Division 1 Frozen Four Champion, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).As captain at RPI, Townshend, recruited as a forward, led all RPI defensemen in scoring and was one of the top scoring defensemen in the ECACHL as a Junior.
     Townshend signed with the Boston Bruins in the NHL then went on to play parts of 5 seasons with the Bruins, N.Y. Islanders and Ottawa Senators. Townshend played 686 professional games, scoring 227 goals and 208 assists for 435 points while playing in the NHL, AHL, IHL and WPHL. He went on to coach 3 years professionally in Macon, GA and Greensboro, NC. During his 13 professional experience, Townshend also owned and operated the nationally acclaimed GTP Hockey Schools, with specialty camps in N.Y., Maine, Texas, Alaska, Colorado and Alberta. Many of Townshend’s students went onto play NCAA Hockey. Some of Townshend's former students include former University of Maine and NHLer’s Peter and Chris Ferraro, Boston Bruins Defensemen Matt Lashoff and Paul Mara to name a few.
     Townshend is currently the Player Development Coordinator for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks (one of only 3 in the NHL). His main responsibility is to prepare all sharks players and prospects for the skills required for the “new” NHL, with the primary focus being skating skills. Every player in the Sharks organization is trained under Townshend’s watchful eye, including the NHL’s reigning MVP and Maurice Rocket Richard (NHL’s leading goal scorer) Trophy winner, Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo respectively.
     Graeme is currently the only skating and skills coach in the world who has played, coached and taught at every level of hockey there is.