By Andrew Chong /

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is one of the world’s top NHL prospects.

International Scouting Services ranks the Burnaby-native as their third-best prospect for the 2011 NHL Draft in their early rankings.

The 6-0, 160-pound centreman has 24 goals and 65 points through 67 Western Hockey League games in his rookie season with the Red Deer Rebels.

Nugent-Hopkins is the highest-scoring Canadian rookie in the WHL and the highest-scoring 16-year-old.

He is a winner of Hockey Now’s B.C. Minor Hockey Player Achievement Award (2008) and his dynamic offensive flare has drawn early comparisons to another Burnaby-boy: Joe Sakic.

We recently talked to Nugent-Hopkins to get his take on hockey schools and training programs for young players:

1) What was your hockey school experience growing up?
I grew up in B.C., and when I got to Grade 8, I started going to high school at Burnaby North Secondary. It had a hockey school that I went to for three years which helped me in my development as a player.

2) How did hockey schools contribute to your development?
Hockey schools, especially at Burnaby North, helped because it meant I was on the ice a lot and I got lots of practice time. The difference with hockey schools and team practices are that in hockey schools, you really work on your individual development as a player which is hugely important.

3) Besides hockey schools, what other kinds of things helped your development?
Growing up, I went to a number of skating camps as well as skills camps to work on specific things. I still go to skating and skills camps to keep improving on those areas of my game.

4) As someone who has recently made the step from Minor Hockey to the next levels of hockey, you are probably in the know of what’s out there--what kind of coaching/development/training options are out there for minor hockey players who want to get better?
There are tons of opportunities out there for kids especially at the minor hockey stage of development. The biggest key is getting on the ice a lot so you can always be working on getting yourself better. Also, try to find instructors that you enjoy being around, so you will be having fun when you’re working with them.

5) What should parents look for when deciding to put money down on a training session or hockey school?
Parents should look for people who really care about making the kids better players. Maybe ask around a little bit before you make your final decision on a hockey school or trainer.

6) As a top WHL rookie and a high-end 2011 NHL Draft prospect, what does your training and development schedule look like?
In season, my training schedule has me on the ice everyday and I do light workouts two to three times a week. In the summer, I’m in the gym five to six days a week and I also get a bunch of time on the ice.

7) What do the rebels expect from you in terms of development and getting your game to the next level?
The Rebels expect me to work as hard as I can in the off-season so I can continue to get better and hopefully be a top-end performer in the Western Hockey League next year.