Coaches
Lubomir Macoun
Director of Hockey Operations
Lubo brings exceptional leadership and technical training to our association with a resume that is matched by few others in the Lower Mainland. He has coached at all levels from U6 to professional at some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including HC Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia and Linkoping HC in Sweden. He holds an A+ international coaching license, has a Masters degree with a specialization in hockey coaching, and has published scholarly articles on game situational awareness.
He has an extremely friendly and caring personality and is universally well-liked by players, whom he challenges with highly technical drills and detailed individual instruction.
Initiation and Novice skills development
Led by Joe Saloustros, Inside Edge provides skills training for our Initiation and Novice (U6 - U9) age groups. They are one of the most recognized names in professional hockey training in the Lower Mainland. They have worked closely with our association leadership to create a healthy culture at WVMHA where players are taught respectful behaviour from a very young age in a fun and productive hockey environment.
Joe is a co-founder of Inside Edge. He has extensive hockey and coaching expertise, including a degree in Psychology from Simon Fraser University. He played Junior A hockey for the Kimberley Dynamiters of RMJHL, and he has played at the professional level for the Knoxville Speed of the UHL.
As someone who began playing at 14 years old, Joe understands the unique challenges of starting the sport late, as well as the importance of dedication to practice and training. However, he didn’t let his late start stop him from progressing rapidly through the levels, from Bantam house, to Junior B, to Junior A, to College, and then a brief time in pro hockey. With determination and focus, Joe believes success is within everyone’s reach.
Daniel Szpakowski
U11 A1 Head Coach
Daniel’s hockey philosophy centres around combing elite knowledge with a positive and structured environment in order to produce well-rounded hockey players. He has coached various U11 and U13 ‘A’ teams in West Vancouver to league and tournament championships over the past 4 seasons.
Daniel grew up representing Coquitlam before moving to the Burnaby Winter Club for their inaugural Academy season. He spent 3 seasons in the PJHL where he became the franchise all-time leading goalscorer for the Port Moody Panthers. He also won a league title and provincial silver medal with the Delta Ice Hawks. He spent one season with the Red Lake Miners of the SIJHL.
In addition to his role as a team coach, Daniel is an offensive and shooting skills coach for WVMHA. Given his goalscoring background, he has a passion for breaking down the various tactical and mechanical strategies used to produce offence. He has spent countless hours training under some of the best skills coaches in the world honing skills such as shooting, passing, playmaking, play reading, and maneuvering. His goal is to expand this knowledge and pass it on in his instruction.
Robert Ginnetti
U13 A1 Head Coach
Robert was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. After finishing Minor Hockey, he went on to play in the BCJHL for the Vancouver BlueHawks and in the WHL for the New Westminster Bruins @ Seattle Breakers. He still holds the BCJHL record for assists in one year at 111. After his Jr career, Rob went on to play Professionally in Europe for 12 years, also playing for Team Italy in the 1992 Winter Olympics and 2 World Championships. Most recently he has been coaching in the lower mainland for 15 plus years, for all ages and skill sets, ranging from Minor Hockey, Jr, College and Pro skaters. Robert brings many years of experience both playing and coaching, passion to the game, and getting the best out of the players.
Spencer Samson
U15 A1 Head Coach
Spencer is a WVMHA alumni who went on to play for the University of Minnesota-Crookston in the NCAA. Hs a consumate professional who prepares meticulously for every ice time and demands a high standard of commitment and dedication from his players. He comes to us after having spent several years as an assistant coach for the North Vancouver Wolf Pack Junior B team of the PJHL.
Jakub Stofko
U18 A1 Head Coach
Jakub competed at the highest levels in youth and junior hockey in Slovakia. He has a Masters degree in physical education, specializing in training and coaching youth in ice hockey and he coached for 5 years for HKL Bratislava, one of Slovakia's top clubs. He is also a fitness and bodybuilding coach and a qualified referee. Jakub is a leader and problem solver who commands respect from players and colleagues alike.
Jon Woodyard
Development Instructor
After finishing his career in junior hockey, Jon became a coach and player development specialist. Over the past fifteen years, he has trained players from minor, junior, college, and professional levels.
Jon has impressive hockey skills and specializes in skating and puck skills and has developed a progressive system of enhancing core skills and game skills such as maintaining puck control, evasive maneuvers, situational play, and utilizing peripheral vision.
Jon is truly a kid-focussed coach who takes an individual interest in each player with an understanding that individuals respond differently to different coaching techniques. He has an interest in child psychology and motivation and is committed to continuous learning and improvement. Along with his exceptional hockey skills, he truly represents the style of coaching and demeanor we value at WVMHA.
Pro-Formance Goalie School
Goalie Training
Sean Murray from Pro-Formance provides specialized goaltending coaching to WVMHA goalies. Sean is present at each of our goalie training sessions. Pro-Formance is the leading goalie training company in the Lower Mainland, working with many of the area’s top athletes.
Their coaches believe that the foundation of everything goalies learn is based on positional mastery. From Novice-aged beginning goalies to Pro caliber athletes, their students are taught to continually work towards improving their positioning skills. Stressing confident positioning is where all goalies start. Once positioning has been understood and demonstrated consistently, students are ready to start learning the mechanics of stance, movement, challenging shooters, rebound control, playing the puck, and directing play in the defensive end.
Their instructors are sticklers for details. Details on stance, positioning, holding your stick and other subtleties can mean the difference between the one that got past you and making the winning save. Students are constantly monitored and assessed for their adherence to practicing exactly as the instructors have explained. This attention to detail makes students more aware of the finer points of their game and aids in developing of mental toughness.
HeadstartPro
Sports Psychology Training
Headstartpro provides mental and sports psychology training to our Bantam and Midget level athletes as well as to our Rep coaches. They blend performance-enhancing sports psychology with proven injury-prevention techniques. They offer workshops, online courses, and athlete resources to help teams and players improve focus, awareness, and mindfulness.
WVMHA is one of the very few minor hockey associations to offer mental and sports psychology training to its players and coaches. We believe strongly in our mandate to not only create great hockey players, but also to teach skills that give our players life-long tools that will help them succeed in any endeavor they choose.
