Coaching Team

Shane Byrne is the Managing Partner of Apex Skating Canada. As a former elite hockey player, Shane played minor hockey in the Nepean Raiders system and reached the Ontario Hockey League by being drafted to the Kingston Frontenacs. A passionate and energetic leader, he has developed hundreds of youth level players with over twelve years of coaching experience. Regarded as one of North America's leading skating treadmill specialists, he has worked with National Hockey League players such as Zdeno Chara, Andrej Meszaros, and Matt Carkner. Shane is also a certified Gold Level Twist Sport Conditioning Coach. Shane also consulted with the Boston Bruins organization as a Skating Analysis Consultant at the 2015 Development Camp, and during the 2015-2016 season. In 2017-2018, Shane serves as a Skating Consultant to the Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), and the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL Development Affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings).

Dan Bittle is the Managing Partner of Apex Skating USA. With a specialization in strength and conditioning, Dan has developed athletes at the Junior A, Major Junior, AHL, and NHL levels. From 2011-2015, he served as a Fitness Evaluation Consultant for NHL Central Scouting at the NHL Scouting Combine. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Exercise Science from California University of Pennsylvania. Dan is currently a Master of Science student at California University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Exercise Science and Health Promotion (Concentration in Performance Enhancement and Rehabilitation Studies). He is a Gold Level Twist Sport Conditioning Coach, and a Level 1 Speed Coach with the National Association of Speed and Explosion. He has also served strength and conditioning and video coaching roles at both the Junior A and CIS University levels, with the Gloucester Rangers Junior A Hockey Club of the CCHL, and the University of Ottawa Mens Hockey Program. Dan also consulted with the Boston Bruins organization as a Skating Analysis Consultant at the 2015 Development Camp, and during the 2015-2016 season. In 2017-2018, Dan serves as a Skating Consultant to the Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), and the Manchester Monarchs (ECHL Development Affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings).

Coach Smale hails from Stratford, Ontario. He received training camp invitations from Junior teams in his hometown region before heading to the University of Guelph to complete his Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Kinetics. For the entirety of his undergraduate degree, Coach Smale was a member of the nationally ranked University of Guelph Mens Varsity Soccer Team, which taught him what it takes to succeed as an elite level athlete. He then moved to Ottawa where he completed his PhD in Biomechanics from the University of Ottawa, specializing in computer simulations to prevent and improve the rehabilitation of lower limb injuries. Aside from the successful defence of his doctoral thesis, his current research interests focus on applying his computational skills to human performance analysis to validate and improve coaching techniques. Dr. Smale also serves as the Assistant Director of Performance Integration for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball. Coach Smale is a firm believer that when science meets skating, the player’s development is unequivocal.

Michael Del Bel is the Assistant Director of Research and Development for Apex Skating. Coach Del Bel hails from Quispamsis, New Brunswick, and played elite AAA-level hockey, in addition to competitive lacrosse at the provincial level. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (Honours) in Biology from Acadia University, in addition to a Master of Science Degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa. He is currently a PhD Candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Ottawa, specializing in Biomechanics. His research interests include the prevention and rehabilitation of ACL injuries in athletes.

Coach MacGregor originates from Carleton Place, Ontario, and played elite minor hockey with the Carleton Place, Ottawa Valley Titans, and Kanata Blazers organizations. A few of his notable junior career highlights include All-Star Rookie and Leading Scorer seasons with the Brockville Braves, followed by two seasons with North Bay (Centennials) in the Ontario Hockey League. Following his junior career, he pursued university varsity hockey with the University of Waterloo Warriors (CIS), where Coach MacGregor won Humanitarian of the Year Award. His professional hockey career includes time spent in both the Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets systems.

Colin Doelman is a Skating Movement Specialist with Apex Skating. Coach Doelman originates from a very strong hockey family and enjoyed a successful career, beginning with the Ottawa Sting at the AA level for the majority of his youth hockey. He then joined the Ottawa Jr. 67’s AAA organization during his Major Midget year, where we captained the team. Coach Doelman played Junior B for the Ottawa Jr. Canadians, becoming assistant captain and winning a League Championship in the 2009-2010 season. His hockey career culminated with the Napanee Raiders Junior B organization, becoming the team top scorer and the League Most Valuable Player. Coach Doelman looks forward to sharing the lessons learned from his successful hockey journey with Apex Skating Clients, helping them to work closer toward their own goals and aspirations.

Alex Hulford is a Skating Movement Specialist with Apex Skating. Originating from Stittsville, Ontario, Coach Hulford played minor hockey in the Stittsville Rams and AAA Ottawa Valley Titans systems. After youth hockey, he played at the junior level locally with the Junior B Stittsville Royals before spending time with the Junior A Kirkland Lake Gold Miners of the NOJHL. Coach Hulford finished his junior hockey career playing in Toronto for the Cambridge WinterHawks. Hulford made the move to collegiate hockey, spending four years playing for the Davenport University Panthers in the ACHA (winning multiple awards including All-State Rookie team, All-Tournament Team, and League MVP as well as finishing as all-time leading scorer). Hulford graduated from Davenport University with both a finance and business administration degree. After university, Hulford received an invitation to the Reading Royals Development Camp in the ECHL but chose to pursue a career in finance and change lanes in hockey to a coaching perspective.

Coach Downer grew up in the Ottawa, Ontario and played minor hockey with the Gloucester Rangers Hockey Club. Coach Downer moved on to play elite minor hockey with the Ottawa 67's AAA Hockey Club. After four years of playing with the Ottawa 67’s AAA Hockey Club and obtaining Defenceman of the Year honors, Hardest Working Player, and a League Championship, he was drafted 36th Overall to the Junior A Ottawa Senators in the CCHL Draft. He played Junior B, in addition to time spent at the Junior A level with the Ottawa Junior Senators. Coach Downer is currently attending Algonquin College in pursuit of a career in law enforcement. Coach Downer still enjoys participating and volunteering in the community, and has experience coaching in various hockey and youth camps in the Ottawa region.

Carolina Parravano is an Exercise Physiologist, and Skating Movement Specialist with Apex Skating. Coach Parravano holds a Bachelor of Physical Education degree from Brock University, specializing in Exercise Science. She also holds a competitive hockey background. Following her education, she attained the designation of Certified Exercise Physiologist through the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology. She holds several years of experience teaching technical skating and hockey skills at various hockey camps and programs across the Ontario region.

Coach Molinski hails from Ottawa, Ontario, and played elite junior hockey at both the Junior A and Junior B Levels, with the Ottawa Jr. Senators Junior A, and with the South Ottawa Canadians. Coach Molinski is also one of Apex Skating's senior skating treadmill development coaches at the Treadmill Performance Centres. He is extremely passionate about sharing his hockey journey with Apex Skating's youth clients, and assisting them to reach their sport and life endeavors.

Coach Haché originally hails from Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick, and played elite Junior A hockey in the Maritime Hockey League for four seasons, where he had three appearances in the Kent Cup Championships, winning the title once. In addition, he also received the League Student of the Year Honour from the Maritime Hockey League. He is currently studying Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa, and brings a wealth of high level playing experience and knowledge of physiology and biomechanics to the Apex Skating coaching team.

Mathieu Ouellette is a Skating Movement Specialist with Apex Skating. Always looking for new adventures and challenges, and after an accomplished youth hockey career, Coach Ouellette played for the University of Ottawa Varsity Mens Hockey Team, where he received Rookie Of The Year honours. His professional hockey career led him to time spent in Europe as a league-leading goal scorer, and to Australia, where he received a nomination for League Most Valuable Player. Coach Ouellette studied at the University of Ottawa where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Specialization in Human Kinetics. This program emphasized the biophysical sciences of human kinetics, focusing on the disciplines of biomechanics, exercise physiology, and psychomotor behavior. In addition to also specializing as an off-ice Strength and Conditioning Coach, Coach Ouellette has also shifted his focus toward assisting Apex Skating Clients become their best. He is very excited to share his knowledge and skills with the end goal of helping as many athletes as he can, giving them the opportunity to play at their highest level possible.

Coach Walker originates from the Ottawa, Ontario area, and played elite minor hockey with the Ottawa 67's AAA Hockey Club, in addition to with the Ottawa Sting Hockey Club. He is currently attending the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, where he just completed his second year in the Kinesiology program. Coach Walker still enjoys participating in university intramural hockey, and has experience coaching in various hockey and youth camps in the Ottawa region. Coach Walker serves as a role model to Apex Skating's many hockey clients who aspire to reach the top ranks of elite youth hockey.

Jared Patterson is a Skating Movement Specialist with Apex Skating. Coach Patterson was born and raised in Greely, Ontario, and played elite minor hockey with the Gloucester Rangers and Upper Canada Cyclones organizations. Patterson played three years of Junior A hockey with the Kemptville 73s in the CCHL and was captain of the team during his final year of junior hockey. Patterson hopes to continue pursuing elite hockey at the NCAA level and also plans to earn a degree in business and economics.

Olivia Keefe is a Skating Movement Specialist with Apex Skating. Hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, Coach Keefe began her youth hockey career with the Leitrim Hawks before switching to girls hockey, finishing her minor hockey career with the Ottawa Lady Sens. With dedication and hard work, she earned a spot as a walk-on with the Carleton University Ravens Womens Hockey Team as well as receiving an academic scholarship. Following university, Coach Keefe played for the Boston Blades of the CWHL where she competed against the top women’s players in the world. Since retiring, Coach Keefe is directing her passion for the game into coaching and helping young athletes reach their goals.

Brendan Whitlaw is a Skating Movement Specialist with Apex Skating. Coach Whitlaw played elite youth AAA hockey with the Ottawa Senators AAA organization for three seasons. Coach Whitlaw also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (Honors) in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa. Coach Whitlaw is involved in Apex Skating's scientific research collaboration with the University of Ottawa's Clinical Biomechanics Research Unit, regarding the biomechanics of skating maneuvers. His interests include continuing his studies with a masters degree focused on hockey.