THIS WEEK: Geraldine Heaney on transition skating

Each Saturday during Hockey Night in Canada, Ron MacLean will be joined by a well-known hockey expert to present a skill, tip, idea or piece of advice designed to help develop a more complete hockey player. The first of two nightly episodes will air during Saturday Night, the pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, while the second episode will air in between Game One and Game Two of the traditional Saturday night doubleheaders.

In total, Think Hockey will broadcast 60 features throughout the 2006-07 regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs. Following each Saturday night broadcast, the tips from that telecast will be posted here, along with other Think Hockey information and updates.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

Keith Acton | Assistant Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs Keith Acton was named an assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Aug. 4, 2000, after spending two seasons as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers and four seasons as an assistant / associate coach with the Philadelphia Flyers. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Acton played 15 seasons in the NHL as a centreman. Throughout his NHL career, Acton played in 1,023 games, collecting 226 goals and 358 assists for 584 points with Montreal, Minnesota, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Washington and the New York Islanders. Acton was a member of the 1988 Stanley Cup Champion Edmonton Oilers and registered his best NHL season in 1981-82 with the Canadiens, notching career highs in goals (36), assists (52) and points (88).

Wendel Clark | Former NHL Player Considered one of the most popular Toronto Maple Leaf players of all time, Wendel Clark was picked first overall in the 1985 NHL entry draft by Toronto and quickly endeared himself to fans for his scoring ability and toughness, recording 71 goals and accumulating 498 penalty minutes in his first two seasons. Although Clark wore the uniforms of the Quebec Nordiques, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks during his 14-year career, his best seasons were with the Leafs. A two-time NHL All-Star, Clark finished his NHL career with 330 goals and 564 points in 793 games.

Rob Cookson | Assistant Coach, Calgary Flames Currently in his sixth year as an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames, Rob Cookson has spent considerable time at the forefront of international hockey. Prior to joining the Flames, Cookson worked as a video coach with the Philadelphia Flyers and served as an assistant coach for the Canadian Men's Olympic Team during the 1998 Winter Olympics. Most recently, he worked with Brent Sutter as assistant coach for Team Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 2005 World Junior Championships. It was just the latest in a string of appearances on the international stage for Cookson, who has won a total of six gold medals with Team Canada at the World Juniors and World Championships.

Ron Davidson | Director, Ultra Skills Hockey Schools Ron Davidson, director of Ultra Skills Hockey Schools since 1996, has been teaching and coaching hockey in Canada, the United States and Europe for more than 30 years and has also directed schools and clinics for the Phoenix Coyotes and Ottawa Senators. A Canadian National Team member for five years, Davidson represented Canada at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid and played professional hockey in Europe for four years with teams in Sweden, Switzerland and France. Davidson also played Major Junior A hockey for three years, including one year with the OHL Champion Ottawa 67's under coach Brian Kilrea.

Adam Graves | Former NHL Player During his sixteen-year career as an NHL player, Adam Graves played for the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks and was known throughout the league for both his tough work in the corner and his tireless charity work off the ice. Following a few seasons with the Detroit Red Wings (1988-89) and Edmonton Oilers (1988-91), Graves joined the Rangers in 1991 and his scoring touch came alive. In 1994, he scored 52 goals - setting the Rangers club record at that time - and helped to lead his team to their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. After winning the Bill Masterton Trophy in June 2001 for his sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey, he joined the San Jose Sharks for two seasons and announced his retirement in April of 2004.

Geraldine Heaney | Former National Team Member Considered a hockey pioneer and one of the most feared players on the blue line, Geraldine Heaney was a key player for Team Canada during the 1990s and is one of the greatest players in Canadian women's hockey history. Heaney is often compared to the legendary Bobby Orr for her ability to join the rush and contribute on offence, and solidified this reputation when she was named top defenceman at the 1992 and 1994 IIHF Women's World Hockey Championships. The only Canadian team member to play on all seven IIHF Women's World Hockey Championships gold medal-winning teams (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001), Heaney has played the most games all-time (125) with Canada's National Team and leads all defencemen with 27 goals, 66 assists and 93 points. Heaney was instrumental in leading Canada to its first Olympic gold medal in 2002 and retired later that year. As the current head coach of the University of Waterloo women's hockey team, Heaney concentrates on teaching the next generation of women hockey players.

Brian Kilrea | Coach and General Manager, Ottawa 67's Junior hockey coach legend Brian Kilrea - or "Killer" as he is known to his fans - has been passing down his knowledge of the game to junior hockey players since 1974, when he first assumed his familiar position behind the bench of the Ottawa 67's. A two-time Memorial Cup Winner and the winningest coach in junior hockey history, Kilrea became the first coach in Canadian Hockey League history to earn 1,000 career victories on March 9, 2003. Later that same year, Kilrea was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builders Category. During the mid-1980s, Kilrea joined the NHL for a brief stint as an Assistant Coach with the New York Islanders, but the lure of teaching the next generation of NHLers was too strong and two seasons later he rejoined the 67's.

David Marcoux | Goaltending Coach, Calgary Flames Currently in his fourth year as goaltending coach with the Calgary Flames, David Marcoux has been instructing goaltenders across Canada - amateur and professional, young and old - for more than 15 years. Marcoux introduced the concept of Mental Training - mental toughness, relaxation, concentration, confidence and goal setting - to the Flames along with a Quebec technique style of goaltending. It is no coincidence that Miikka Kiprusoff has become one of the NHL's top goaltenders since being traded to Calgary in 2004. This past season, Kiprusoff, under the guidance of Marcoux, won his first Vezina trophy, led all netminders in goals-against average (2.07) and shutouts (10), and ranked second in victories (42) and third in save percentage (.923). Prior to joining the Flames, Marcoux spent 12 years teaching goaltenders at a sports academy in St-Jerome, Que. He also held the position of Goaltender Coach with the Hull Olympiques of the QJMHL from 1997 to 2001. During the off-season, Marcoux conducts goaltending camps in Sherbrooke, Que., Hawkesbury, Ont. and Calgary, Alta.

Paul Maurice | Head Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs Paul Maurice begins his first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs after being named the 26th head coach in franchise history on May 12, 2006. Maurice originally joined the Leafs organization June 24, 2005 as head coach of their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Toronto Marlies, compiling a record of 41-29-4-6 and advancing to the playoffs in their inaugural season. Prior to his work with the Leafs organization, Maurice spent more than eight seasons behind the bench with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes organization. He ranks first in Carolina franchise history in regular season wins (268), games coached (674), playoff wins (17) and playoff games coached (35). Under the guidance of Maurice, the Hurricanes achieved four consecutive winning seasons from 1998-2002. They captured Southeast Division titles in 1999 and 2002 and appeared in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 2002. Maurice played his junior hockey with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires (1984-1988). He had his career cut short due to an eye injury and began coaching as an assistant with the Detroit Jr. Red Wings shortly thereafter.

Kirk Muller | Former NHL Player A six-time NHL All-Star, Kirk Muller was the second overall pick in the 1984 entry draft and played in the NHL from 1984-85 to 2002-03. Muller began his NHL career with New Jersey, playing with the Devils for seven seasons and serving as team captain from 1987 to 1991. In September 1991, Muller was traded to Montreal and instantly became a fan favourite. During Muller's second year in Montreal (1992-93), he tied a career-high 94 points and helped the Canadiens win their 24th Stanley Cup. The following year he was named team captain, and was surprisingly traded to the New York Islanders during the 1994-95 season. Throughout the remainder of his career, Muller played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars. Muller retired at the end of the 2002-03 season, ending his impressive 19-year NHL career, which included playing 1,349 games and recording 357 goals and 602 assists for a total of 959 points. This season, Muller will be returning to Montreal as an associate coach for the Canadiens, following a one-year stint as head coach of the Queen's University Golden Gaels men's varsity hockey team.

Larry Murphy | Former NHL Player and Hockey Hall of Fame Member Delivering one of the most steady and productive careers of any defenceman in NHL history, Larry Murphy was known as a reliable blue-liner who could contribute at least 65 points a season. Murphy made his mark on the league early, establishing a new rookie defenceman record when he recorded 76 points with the Los Angeles Kings in 1981. He continued to showcase his offensive skills throughout the 1980s, but did not win a championship until he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he helped a talented team win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. He achieved the feat again with the Detroit Red Wings, helping them win two straight Stanley Cup championships in 1997 and 1998. In 1,615 regular-season games, Murphy recorded 287 goals and 1,219 points and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

Bryan Murray | Head Coach, Ottawa Senators Bryan Murray was named head coach of the Ottawa Senators on June 8, 2004. A former NHL Coach of the Year and fifth head coach in the Senators' new era, the 2006-07 season marks Murray's 24th consecutive season in the NHL. Prior to joining the Sens, Murray served as senior vice-president and general manager of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. In 1981, Murray joined the NHL coaching fraternity with the Washington Capitals. Murray's 14 years of coaching in the NHL, which has also seen seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Anaheim Mighty Ducks, have Murray ranked sixth in the NHL in all-time games coached (1,057) and seventh for wins (513). He coached his 1,000th NHL game with Anaheim on Nov. 28, 2001, against Edmonton and earned his 500th victory at Dallas (6-1 win) on Jan. 25, 2002.

Drew Remenda | Analyst, Hockey Night in Canada Drew Remenda brings 15 years of NHL experience as both a broadcaster and coach to his new role as an analyst on CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. Remenda began his professional broadcast career in 1996, providing colour commentary for the San Jose Sharks on Sharks radio. Prior to his broadcasting career, the Saskatchewan native worked as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks from 1991-95 and also spent a year as head coach with The Kansas City Blades, the Shark's minor league affiliate. Additionally, Remenda worked on the coaching staff of the University of Calgary's men's hockey team from 1988-90 and worked for Hockey Canada and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association.

Ryan Walter | Former NHL Player Considered a true leader in the NHL, Ryan Walter was picked second overall in the 1978 NHL draft by the Washington Capitals. Walter became the youngest captain in NHL history when he was handed the honour during his four years in the Capitals organization. Following his tenure with Washington, Walter played nine seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, and won a Stanley Cup with the franchise in 1986. Walter returned to his hometown of Vancouver to play his last two years of NHL hockey and reached the milestone of playing in his 1000th NHL Game during his final season in 1993. Walter refuses to slow down despite being retired. He's a motivational speaker, a hockey colour analyst and the author of three hockey books: Off the Bench, Power Forward and Simply the Best.