New name, new look, new programming: in short, there's a whole lot of news to be shared from the Northern Hockey Academy.

While the core of the facility that formerly housed RHP Training Centre is still built around a mini-rink (roughly 2/3 of a full-sized ice) that is home to numerous three on three leagues as well as team skill sessions and goaltender training, the new-look NHA enjoys a very broad spectrum feel to it as one roams around the renovated venue.

That is not at all a coincidence, according to NHA general manager Darryl Moxam.

The former associate coach with the Sudbury Wolves was lured to the new venture by NHA co-owners Blake Didone and Brian Doyle, looking to tap into both the hockey acumen of the former pro as well as a penchant for business that emerged as Moxam spent some time teaching at both the secondary school level, but also with the renown Sports Administration program at Laurentian University.

"It's built off some of the same concepts as some of the other businesses that you see down south," said Moxam. "We want to take the vision of the Academy and make it a sort of one-stop shop for all athletes, both from Sudbury and northern Ontario as well."

"We want to be able to provide any number of services, whether that is on-ice, court and gym training - even the nutrition aspect. And we have an athletic therapy aspect (NHA has partnered with highly respected local athletic therapist Kim Brouzes) now in house - and an education component."

While it's not the least bit unusual for top-end northern AAA hockey talent (and some elite athletes in other sports as well) to tap into "family advisors", a quasi half-step into the roles that agents provide for those small handful who actually require those services, Moxam insisted that they are treading lightly into that entire area.

"Athletes are looking for some realistic information to make proper, educated decisions," he said. "We are in no way, shape or form an agency - but we can provide them some information that they need. The vision is to be that one-stop shop."

While the concept of individual skill development, specific to hockey, has often seemingly also carried the connotation of only being applicable to the top tier of players, Moxam insisted that the basic idea can be useful, right across the spectrum of hockey talent.

"We can put kids in an environment where they can compete against themselves," he said. "We will do an evaluation about where a young boy or girl is today, and then put a program together that will help them develop individually from a skills standpoint."

It could be argued that Moxam speaks with the greatest amount of pride as he discusses assembling a staff, with the notion of building a team very much at the forefront of everything, right from the start.

"The knowledge is important, but more important than that is the character and the culture," he insisted. "There needs to be a knowledge base, with the understanding that we can learn from each other every single day."

"We want it to be an infectious environment. We wanted people that can have fun together. If we are having fun as a staff, that's going to wear off on the customers."

The names at the top are certainly familiar ones.

Rob Dmytruk (Chiseled Hockey) is leading skill development, Wolves' goaltending coach and former OHLer Alain Valiquette heads up the puck-stopping group while long-time local hockey man and respected law enforcement veteran Craig Maki tackles the over-arching role as assistant GM.

But as was noted at the outset, Northern Hockey Academy is not limited to just hockey - not by a long-shot.

High-school teachers Kyleen and Sean Gray have moved their Hoops and Spikes offerings over to the NHA venue that now features courts lined for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, badminton and futsol.

Figure skating coach Daniela Cotesta lends her support to the "learn to skate" program while the weight room (moved conveniently upstairs) is home to some 25 pieces of equipment.

Not too surprisingly, the response has been ultra-positive, both in the months leading up to the official grand opening in early October as well as the few weeks since. "It's been overwhelming, to be honest," said Moxam. "We are quickly running out of ice time."

"It's a testament to the belief that we can help the (local hockey) associations."