Back to the Basics is NHL.com's multipart series focusing on youth hockey skill development. During the coming months, NHL.com will feature a slate of guest coaches who will share their expertise on skill development.

Bryce Cockburn is the founder and coach of Next Level Training in Campbell River, B.C. Cockburn's hockey career started in Campbell River, where he played his minor hockey, before joining the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League. He played in the ECHL and AHL after spending four seasons with the Northern Michigan Wildcats.

He's s stickler for fundamentals when it comes to skating.

"The first thing I do in my camps is go over proper posture and skating stance so that you are starting things off right," Cockburn told NHL.com.

CALGARY -- If there is a Calgary Flames practice going on at the Scotiabank Saddledome, chances are you don't have to look too far to find several members of the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen peeking in.

Sharing the rink with the Flames, the Hitmen get to see first-hand on a daily basis what it takes to play professionally at hockey's highest level. It's just one of the many perks to being roommates with an NHL franchise.

"Obviously it's really cool," said Brooks Macek, a draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings. "You get to see them almost every day. You get to see them practice and see how hard they work on and off the ice. Seeing them walk around, they're professionals."

Once the last outdoor rink melts and the final school bell rings, youth hockey players will want to start thinking about ways to stay in shape this offseason.

Nate Beveridge, the general manager and director of young athlete development at Hybrid Athletics in Langley, B.C., has some ideas.

Beveridge has worked with athletes from all ages and abilities, including athletes from the NHL, WHL, AHL, BCHL and the Olympics. Through all of this training he has developed his own philosophy of fitness.