Journal #6 - Slapshot Alley 2 Up and Running

Double up!

Slapshot Alley 2 was designed to double the first location space and go from a 1-2 player lesson plan to a 3-4 player session. Instead of 1 net, we've got two. Instead of two tarps, we got 2.

The nets are from a place in Port Moody called Cascadia Sport Systems

Slapshot Alley Goalies

We don't use real goalies at Slapshot Alley because it's not an efficient practice plan. Goalies can only take so many shots and need time to rest and recover. So Slapshot Alley builds dummy goalies to give shooters a sense of depth and space, but with the ability to keep the players shooting for maximum repetitions.

Dummy Goalie #2 still needs a jersey! We've ordered a #1 McLean from 1994

Can-Ice Pro Series

Slapshot Alley upgraded our ice from Can-Ice Glidemasters to the Pro Series. The Pro Series was so slick and fast when we first got it, it was very comparable to real ice. However, after 3 months of skating on it, it has slowed down. It's still faster than the glidemasters, and players have the ability to practice a backwards pivot snapshot nice and smooth which is one of the drills that you can't do on most synthetic ice surfaces.

Rhys practicing a Quinn Hughes shooting drill

Stalker II + Radar Gun

Slapshot Alley upgraded our radar gun to the Stalker Pro II+ radar gun. The gun is very accurate but once in a while it does make some errors, so we're working on adjusting the settings with the manufacturer to help us get the most accurate readings for our players. Nothing motivates our players as much as the radar gun. It prevents players from getting lazy and if anything it energizes the player to work harder.

Sasha Mutala Target Shooting with Stalker Pro II+ Radar Gun Reading

The radar gun can also be discouraging, so it's important for coaches to be there and explain to the players why they get strong powerful shots and why they might also lose power. Players also get very exhausted shooting for power, so our lessons are structured with sections for power and sections for technique, balance, speed and accuracy.

Slapshot Alley Mom!

Mama Parfeniuk is my mom and biggest hockey supporter putting up with holes in the walls, broken windows, noisy shooting. Slapshot Alley was built with family and community values and I will never forget that even though we primarily teach shooting, but I also focus on teaching respect and gratitude. I praise the parents and I try to show all the players that come through our program that they are so lucky to have such supportive parents so we can thrive and enjoy this great game to our fullest potential.

Mama Parfeniuk testing out the $15 homemade Slapshot Alley bench