Our story
Built for the adult player
The Hockey Lab started with a frustration a lot of adult skaters share: plenty of games, almost no coaching. So we built the missing half.
Where it started
The coaches kept hearing the same thing from adult players at the rink: they loved the game, they played every week, and they had not actually been taught anything since they were kids. Weekly hockey gave them ice. Nobody gave them development.
So we rented ice, built a small-group format, and kept coaches on the ice every session. Players got better fast, and they kept coming back session after session.
Our philosophy
Coaching is the missing half
2 weeks left of coaching gives you the tools and gives our coaches an honest read on your game. You get measurable feedback every week, so the work shows up in your Sunday-night games — not just in practice.
Mission & values
Method over hype
Every drill has a purpose and a measurable outcome. If it does not make you better on Sunday, it does not make the plan.
A real pathway
2 weeks left of reps, then you take the tools straight into your own games.
Adults first
Careers, kids, and early alarms are real. We respect your time with tight sessions and clear communication.
Respect the room
Compete hard, keep it clean, and leave the locker room better than you found it.
Meet the founders
Ryan Dobos
Stamford, CT — Head Skills Coach
Experienced adult-hockey skills coach based in Stamford. Focuses on skating mechanics, edge work, and building confidence in players who want to take the next step.
Rich Goia
Stamford, CT — Head Skills Coach
Stamford-based coach with a player-development approach. Breaks down skating, shooting, and game-reads into simple, repeatable habits that stick.
Chris Roth
Wilton, CT — Unskilled Player
A lifelong bad hockey player building the exact clinic he needed: structured progression, good coaches, and more ice time.