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 Without Losing Sight of Why They Play.
We believe development starts with connection.
Players need to love the game. They need to love the environment in which they experience it.
Our responsibility as coaches is to protect and grow both.
When players love the game and love the environment around them, they want to spend more time playing, learning, competing, and improving.
That is where meaningful development happens.
THE BARN
COACHING STANDARD
Every Hockey Barn coach is held to the highest standards.
Our coaching staff combines playing and coaching experience across Tier I (AAA), Junior, NCAA College, and Professional hockey to create an exceptional development experience for every member player.
But experience alone is not enough.
Every coach is Barn Certified and prepared to deliver the philosophy, environment, and player development curriculum of The Hockey Barn.
Our coaches are empowered to bring their own experience, personality, and perspective to every interaction while working within a shared development approach designed to guide our members.
One philosophy. One development approach. Great coaches empowered to bring it to life.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE BARN
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
Creating the vision and philosophy behind The Hockey Barn.
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.
OUR COACHING PHILOSOPHY
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 started The Hockey Barn and who coaches there?The Barn is built and coached by lifelong hockey people, including pro players Zach Yoder, Austin Magera, and Logan Stein, who lead development across skating, skills, and goaltending.
- Where is The Hockey Barn located?Alpharetta, in North Atlanta, near GA-400 by Windward and McGinnis Ferry.
- What makes The Barn different from a regular rink?It is a membership community on synthetic ice with coaching included, built around belonging rather than booked-by-the-hour transactions.