Steel Ice Sports Academy is underway for the 2026–2027 academic year. Our inaugural class is building daily habits through structured academics, high-energy on-ice development, off-ice performance training, sport-specific classroom work, and a whole-athlete approach to growth.
Passion • Precision • Purpose • In partnership with St. Luke’s Sports Performance
2026–2027 Inaugural Class
The first Steel Ice Sports Academy student-athletes have begun their year at Steel Ice Center, combining academic accountability, sport-specific development, and daily structure inside one integrated academy environment.
Welcome
Welcome to the Steel Ice Sports Academy. We built this Academy to provide the Lehigh Valley a much-desired place where elite athletic training and academic focus coexist without compromise. This is not just a rink. It is a training ground for life.
By partnering with St. Luke’s, we’ve created an environment that is truly holistic—combining on-ice excellence with off-ice performance science, academic accountability, and growth.
The Why
The modern student-athlete lifestyle can be chaotic—stress, travel, missed school time, and inconsistent routines that make it hard to thrive.
SISA is the solution: one structured environment where academics and high-performance training are aligned, monitored, and treated with equal seriousness—every day.
About Our Academy
Hockey and figure skating tracks operate under one roof, sharing the same standard of discipline, structure, and purpose while following schedules designed for each group.
On-site education leadership and dedicated classroom space support focus, accountability, and daily academic progress.
Training and support are guided by health professionals and built into the school day to develop strength, movement quality, recovery habits, and long-term athletic health.
What Families Receive
Steel Ice Sports Academy is built to develop the complete student-athlete through integrated academics, elite on-ice training, off-ice preparation, gym work, classroom-based sport development where applicable, structure, accountability, and whole-athlete support throughout the school year.
405–450
Approximate Hours on Ice
Twice-daily on-ice development across the academic year, with total on-ice hours varying by student track.
225–270
Approximate Off-Ice + Gym Hours
Daily off-ice preparation and gym training, including performance work through our partnership with St. Luke’s Sports Performance.
720
Approximate Sport-Specific Development Hours
Across the school year, each track is structured around on-ice development, off-ice work, gym training, and sport-specific instruction.
315–360
Approximate Dedicated Academic Hours
Structured academic work time with on-site oversight, daily monitoring, and accountability. Academic block time varies by track.
Whole-Athlete Support
Mental well-being and behavioral health support, nutrition and refueling guidance, recovery-minded structure, and daily accountability.
Inaugural Year Benefit
Enrolled student-athletes receive complimentary open ice access for a full year.
Most importantly: these are not disconnected add-ons. SISA is designed so academics, training, recovery, support, and structure reinforce one another every day to develop the whole student-athlete.
Tuition
$12,000 / year
Payment plan available.
Tuition supports a fully integrated academic and athletic development model built around daily structure, expert oversight, and whole-athlete growth.
Enrollment Status
The application window for the 2026–2027 academic year has closed, and the inaugural Steel Ice Sports Academy class has begun.
2026–2027 Class Underway
SISA is now operating its inaugural academic year at Steel Ice Center with structured daily schedules for enrolled hockey and figure skating student-athletes.
Future Interest
Families interested in future enrollment may contact SISA leadership for information about the academy model, academic expectations, and future application opportunities.
Cyber School Pathway
SISA is built around cyber school flexibility—families choose the online school that best fits their student’s needs. The Academy provides the structure, supervision, and accountability that makes cyber education work in a high-performance environment.
- Family choice: select the cyber school that is the right fit for your student
- On-site education leadership: oversight during the academic block
- Secure classroom space: designed for focus, routine, and consistent output
Academic Accreditation
SISA operates within a dual-track model. Academic accreditation and diploma issuance are handled directly by the cyber school or online program selected by each family. SISA provides the dedicated facility, daily structure, in-person academic oversight, and elite athletic development that support success within that academic pathway.
Academic Environment
Academic & Educational Advisor: Rita Prugar
The student precedes the athlete. Success here requires ownership, accountability, and consistency—every day.
Academic Standards
Training is supported by academic discipline. Students must maintain a 75% (C+) or higher in all courses, with zero missing assignments.
Academic Leadership & Oversight
To match the elite standard of our on-ice coaching, SISA invests in on-site academic leadership to run the classroom, monitor progress, and support long-range planning aligned with each student’s pathway.
Academic Probation
If a student drops below the 75% threshold in any class, or has missing assignments, time is reallocated to academics until work is submitted and performance is verified by the Academic Advisor.
Athletic Development
We operate distinct, specialized tracks led by experts in their fields.
Hockey Development
Lead Instructor: Ryan Bertelsen
- Hockey Sense: reading and anticipating situational play
- Skating Mechanics: speed, acceleration, balance, four-way mobility
- Puck Control & Protection: possession in open ice and tight areas
- Passing & Shooting: accuracy, deception, scoring opportunities
- Chalk Talk: classroom-based hockey development for hockey tracks
Figure Skating Development
Lead Instructor: Angela Davis
- Skating Skills: edge quality, power generation, multi-directional flow
- Technical Consistency: jumps & spins with structured progression
- Artistry & Components: posture, line, musicality, projection
- Competitive Preparation: testing pipeline + competition season strategy
- Off-Ice Development: daily dryland and gym structure supporting long-term growth
Off-Ice & Medical Performance
Partner: St. Luke’s Sports Performance
Strength training follows a long-term athlete development approach with age-appropriate progression—foundation, building, and performance— designed to reduce injury risk and support sustainable growth.
Student-Athlete Support
In partnership with St. Luke’s, mental well-being and behavioral health support will be available as part of the Academy’s whole-athlete approach.
Daily Schedule & Logistics
The Academy is built on routine. Each student-athlete follows a structured daily schedule designed to support academic accountability, on-ice development, off-ice training, recovery, and long-term growth.
A Sample SISA Student Day
Daily schedules vary by sport, track, age group, and season, but every SISA day is built around the same core structure: academics, on-ice development, off-ice training, classroom-based sport development where applicable, and whole-athlete support.
| Time | Sample Daily Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Arrival and report to academy staff |
| 8:00–8:30 AM | Off-ice preparation, mobility, activation, or track-specific training |
| 8:45–9:45 AM | On-ice development session |
| 10:00–11:45 AM | School / academic block |
| 11:45 AM–12:15 PM | Lunch in classroom |
| 12:15–12:45 PM | Chalk talk, classroom-based sport development, or track-specific instruction |
| 1:00–2:15 PM | Second on-ice development session |
| 2:30–3:15 PM | Gym / performance training with St. Luke’s trainer |
| 3:30 PM | Pickup |
This sample schedule reflects the structure of a typical SISA day. Exact timing and training blocks may vary by hockey track, figure skating track, age group, and seasonal training needs.
Communication
- Real-time updates: a dedicated team app for daily logistics and reminders
- Weekly outlook: a regular digest outlining schedule, training focus, and key academic dates
- Master schedule: a centralized digital calendar for long-term events, holidays, and facility closures
2026–2027 Academic School Year
- August 24, 2026: School Opens
- September 7, 2026: Labor Day — No School
- October 12, 2026: Columbus Day — No School
- November 25–30, 2026: Thanksgiving Break — No School
- December 21, 2026 – January 4, 2027: Christmas Break — No School
- January 18, 2027: Martin Luther King Jr. Day — No School
- February 15, 2027: Presidents Day — No School
- March 24–29, 2027: Spring Break — No School
- May 28–31, 2027: Memorial Day — No School
- June 4, 2027: Last Day of School
Academic school year dates are subject to change.
Our Core Values
At Steel Ice Sports Academy, success isn’t just a scoreboard or a test sheet. It is about who you become in the process. We have established Five Pillars of Steel that guide our culture.
IRON SHARPENS IRON (Competition & Teamwork)
We believe healthy competition makes everyone better. In the classroom and on the ice, we push each other to improve. When one of us succeeds, we all get stronger.
FORGED IN FIRE (Resilience)
Growth is uncomfortable. We view failure as part of the refining process. We don’t quit when it gets hot; we get stronger.
THE STEEL STANDARD (Integrity)
We do the work when no one is watching. We own mistakes and treat the facility and staff with respect. Character is our currency.
PRECISION & PASSION (Excellence)
Details matter. We attack small details with the same passion as big moments. Excellence is the standard—on the ice and in academics.
WHOLE ATHLETE HEALTH (Sustainability)
Powered by St. Luke’s, we value the complete person—not just the player. Sleep, nutrition, grades, character, and recovery are not “extras.” They’re part of the job.
Safety & Security
The safety of our student-athletes is the prerequisite for everything else we do. We maintain strict standards regarding who enters our space and how students are released at the end of the day.
Authorized Pickup
- Students are released only to individuals on the Authorized Pickup List.
- ID verification is required when an individual is new or unrecognizable.
- One-time pickup changes must be communicated in writing prior to dismissal.
Check-Out & Emergency Readiness
- Students must physically check out with staff before leaving the building.
- In a medical emergency, SISA follows standard 911 / EMS protocols.
- Families complete required medical & emergency forms prior to Day 1.
SISA Leadership
Leadership responsible for the Academy’s direction and standards.
Academy Leadership
Keith Krem
Academics
Rita Prugar
Academic & Educational Advisor
Figure Skating
Angela Davis
Lead Instructor
Hockey
Ryan Bertelsen
Lead Instructor
Performance
St. Luke’s Sports Performance
Division Lead: Adam Sankovsky
Built for the Future
Steel Ice Center is making a major investment to support long-term growth—expanding the facility and creating more room for training, development, and performance.
$11.3M Facility Investment
- New ice sheet planned
- 6,000 sq ft dedicated training & performance space
- Targeted completion: July 31, 2027
What’s Coming
A 34,000-square-foot addition at 320 E. First St. designed to add a third ice rink, support facilities, and a fitness center.
SISA Family Handbook
Review the complete Steel Ice Sports Academy Family Handbook for institutional standards, daily policies, academic expectations, and academy culture. View the Handbook
Future Enrollment Interest
Families interested in learning more about Steel Ice Sports Academy may contact Academy Leadership for information about the program model and future opportunities.
Contact Academy LeadershipContacts
Who to Contact
- Academy Leadership: [email protected]
- Academics: [email protected]
- Hockey: [email protected]
- Figure Skating: [email protected]
- St. Luke’s Sports Performance: [email protected]
Location: Steel Ice Center, Bethlehem, PA