Our Story
The Barn was
never just a building.
Long before the giant arenas and the booking apps, the game lived somewhere a lot more human.
Before modern rinks and rigid schedules, a lot of hockey happened on the frozen floor of a barn. People gathered, played for hours, told stories, and went home better friends than they arrived. Somewhere along the way the game got bigger and, honestly, a little colder. Rent the ice, run the drill, clear out for the next group. The Hockey Barn exists to bring back the part that got lost in all that efficiency, which is the community, the fellowship, and the simple joy of playing the game with people who love it as much as you do.
THE VISION
We believe hockey should be about more than practices, games, and schedules. It should be about development and competition, but also friendships, experiences, confidence, and a lifelong love for the game.
The Hockey Barn was created to build a place where all of those things can thrive.
That requires intention around three things:
STRUCTURE
Creating more access, opportunities, and resources to experience the game.
PEOPLE
Bringing together coaches, teammates, families, and people who genuinely care about the game and each other.
CULTURE
Creating the expectations, energy, and sense of belonging that challenge people to grow and keep them coming back.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Experience and Development Are Downstream from Environment.
Get the environment right, and people have the opportunity to thrive.
Players become comfortable enough to fail. Confident enough to try. Challenged enough to improve. And excited enough to keep coming back.
Better experiences. More meaningful development. Stronger relationships. A deeper connection to the game.
That belief is at the foundation of The Hockey Barn.
OUR COACHING PHILOSOPHY
Great Coaching Should Build Better Players and Better People.
We believe development starts with connection.
Every player learns, responds, and connects to the game differently. Great coaches take the time to understand the person behind the player, learn how to reach them, and build meaningful relationships.
We don’t just coach hockey players. We invest in the humans who play hockey. Our coaches are mentors, committed to helping every member grow both on and off the rink.
Our philosophy is built around the Three Loves of Hockey: Love the Game. Love the Environment. Love Who You Become Through the Game.
When players feel known, supported, and connected, they want to play more, learn more, compete more, and become more.
That is where meaningful development happens.
BARN CERTIFIED COACHING
Every Hockey Barn coach is held to a higher standard.
Our coaching staff brings experience gained through playing and/or coaching at the Tier I (AAA), Junior, Collegiate, and Professional levels.
But experience alone is not enough.
Every coach is Barn Certified, prepared to deliver The Hockey Barn’s player development curriculum and coaching philosophy. That means learning how to connect with each player, understanding that every player learns and responds differently, and investing in the person behind the player.
Our coaches are not simply instructors. They are mentors responsible for creating an environment where members can Love the Game, Love the Environment, and Love Who They Become Through the Game.
The Team Bringing the Vision to Life
A vision is only as strong as the people responsible for bringing it to life. The Hockey Barn brings together a team with different backgrounds, experiences, and responsibilities, united by a shared belief in what we are building. Each person has a unique role in creating The Hockey Barn.
KYLE KINZIE
Founder, Visionary and Player Development Coach
Kyle has spent more than 40 years in the game and nearly three decades coaching and mentoring players from Learn to Play through the professional ranks.
Those experiences shaped the philosophy behind The Hockey Barn: great coaching develops more than better players. It builds confidence, character, connection, and the person behind the player.
Kyle is also the author of What Are We Playing For?, centered on restoring the Three Loves too many players lose along the way:
– Love for the Game.
– Love for the Environment.
– Love for Who They Become Through the Game.
The Hockey Barn was built to bring that philosophy to life.
IAN MCDONALD
General Manager & Player Development Coach
Turning the vision into reality and building the environment and culture that define The Barn.
ANDREW FLEMING
Manager of Hockey Operations & Player Development Coach
Leading the daily hockey operations that bring The Barn experience to life.
Zach Yoder
Head of Player Development
Building the player development philosophy and approach of The Hockey Barn.
Logan Stein
Head of Goalie Development
Building the goalie development philosophy and approach of The Hockey Barn.
Austin Magera
Pro Ambassador
Austin has played an important role in the creation and evolution of The Hockey Barn, bringing the perspective of a professional player, coach, and someone who genuinely loves the game.
His experience and insight have helped shape our approach to player development, coaching, and the environment we are creating at The Barn.
SHAPED BY THE HOCKEY COMMUNITY
Great Ideas Get Better When the Right People Are Part of Them.
The Hockey Barn has been shaped by more than one person or one perspective.
Throughout its creation and evolution, players, coaches, and hockey professionals have shared their experiences, challenged our thinking, and helped us build a better approach to the game.
Their influence continues to shape how The Hockey Barn grows, evolves, and serves the hockey community.
Come Experience The Barn.
The best way to understand The Hockey Barn is to experience it for yourself.
A Few Answers to Your Questions
- Who founded The Hockey Barn, and who leads the coaching team?The Hockey Barn was founded by Kyle Kinzie, a lifelong hockey player, coach, and mentor with more than 40 years in the game and nearly three decades of coaching experience. Kyle and his team of coaches bring experience from Tier I (AAA), Junior, College, and Professional hockey, with several coaches still actively competing at the professional level.
- Where is The Hockey Barn located?The Hockey Barn is located at 13000 Deerfield Parkway in Milton, Georgia, near GA-400 and Windward Parkway, with convenient access for players and families from Milton, Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, Cumming, and the greater Atlanta area.
- What makes The Hockey Barn different from a traditional rink?Traditional rinks provide essential access to the ice and serve as the foundation of the local hockey community. The Hockey Barn was created to complement that experience by bringing training, competition, coaching, and community together in one place, giving members the opportunity to Train, Compete, and Belong every time they visit. We also collaborate with local rinks and hockey organizations to give players and coaches additional ways to develop, connect, and experience the game beyond their regular team and rink schedules.