Gurley, AL - Huntsville has been known as the hockey capital of the south for many years, now one local entrepreneur is training up the next generation of local hockey stars in a somewhat unusual location.
Just off of Highway 72 East and Dug Hill Road, you will find a big warehouse full of groceries. But, if you follow the road alongside the warehouse to the back of the property you will find a whole new world, and this world has nothing to do with groceries.
" They say there's 'A' , 'B', and 'C' real estate. I think we're like 'E' real estate here in the back of a double gated facility," said Steve Briere, of Canadian Professional Goalie Schools in Huntsville.
" We came back here and just though it was the perfect spot. Mark Vashon, another hockey guy who owns cross check construction, built this place for us. I'd like to say that I did, but he was really the brains behind the operation of building this place."
This place, the Canadian Professional Goalie School, is owned and operated by Steve Briere, who won a national championship in college at U-A-H, and has played professionally all over the country, including a current stint with the Huntsville Havoc. Now, some of you might be thinking.... How do they maintain an ice surface in the back of that warehouse? Synthetic Ice.
" We purchased this synthetic ice, you wouldn't believe it.... It's made in South Carolina. Even funnier, the boards, the hockey boards are made right here in Alabama. We managed to get all the pieces of the arena we need in the Southeast."
Steve and his staff train local prospects of all ages on that synthetic ice year around.
" We do drills, having guys shoot on us. We talk about challenging, coming out of the net and equipment and stuff like that, " said Tyler Williams of Huntsville.
