2027 Goaltending Camp

The R&R Empowering Society of Alberta proudly hosted its 4th Annual Goalie Camp this summer at the Terwillegar Recreation Centre in Edmonton, welcoming 36 goaltenders from U9 through U18 for a completely FREE, three-day experience!

Our mission remains the same: to give young goalies from across Alberta access to quality coaching, mentorship, and opportunities they might not otherwise have because of financial barriers.

The camp was led by Head Goalie Coach Nic Melnychuk, alongside an amazing coaching team of Carson Ironside, Ashtyn Berthiaume, Samual Kohlman, and Brett Epp.

Our programming was designed to support goalies at every stage of their development:

• U9 goalies participated in two Learn to Goaltend on-ice sessions, two dryland sessions, and two Mind & Motion sessions.
• U11–U18 goalies participated in six on-ice skill development sessions, three dryland sessions, and two Mind & Motion sessions.
• Mind & Motion, led by Brett Epp, focused on mental wellness, confidence, resilience, and the unique pressures of playing between the pipes.
• Parents were invited to attend two educational sessions, offering valuable insight into supporting their young goalies both on and off the ice.

But what makes this camp truly special goes far beyond the training.

It's watching goalies from different communities become friends. It's seeing a nervous young athlete find their confidence. It's the encouragement between goalies, the laughter in the dressing rooms, and the feeling of finally being surrounded by people who understand what it's like to play the position.

It's about creating a place where every goalie feels like they belong. 💙

A heartfelt thank you to Sport Central and Flames Sport Bank for helping outfit our goalies with the equipment they need to play the game they love.

For families facing financial barriers, having properly fitted equipment can make all the difference. These partnerships help ensure our goalies can step onto the ice safely, comfortably, and confidently, with equipment they can continue using long after camp ends.

A camp like this simply wouldn't be possible without the generosity of businesses and organizations that believe every child deserves the opportunity to play.

We are incredibly grateful to:

PCL Construction • Connect Sport • Trans Mountain • Olive Garden • Coach's Source for Sports • L&T Custom Apparel • Staples • United Cycle • Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels Ltd. • Edmonton's Best Hotels

Your support helped us provide an unforgettable experience for 36 young goalies and their families, completely free of charge.

Three days. Thirty-six goalies. Countless memories.

We're so proud of what this camp has become and even more excited about the young people who are growing up alongside it.

Thank you to our coaches, volunteers, families, partners, and sponsors for helping us continue Ryder and Radek's legacy through the game they loved.

See you July 16–18, 2027, for our 5th Annual R&R Goalie Camp! 🥅💙

 The R&R Empowering Society of Alberta proudly hosted its 3rd Annual Goaltending Camp this past summer — a fully sponsored experience for 36 goaltenders, U9 through U18. Our mission remains the same: to provide quality goaltending instruction to athletes of all skill levels, helping them elevate their game without the barriers that financial restrictions can create.

The camp was led by Head Goalie Coach Nic Melnychuk, joined by goalie coaches Ashtyn Berthiaume and Carson Ironside — all of whom bring a wealth of experience in goalie instruction across Alberta and have competed at the Junior and College levels.

• U9 goalies took part in two “Learn to Goaltend” on-ice sessions, two dryland training sessions, two Mind & Motion sessions and shared a team lunch.
• U11–U18 goalies received five on-ice skill sessions, three dryland training sessions, and three Mind & Motion sessions led by Brett Epp, focusing on both sports performance and mental wellness.
   

This camp is about more than just stepping on the ice — it’s about building connection and community. It’s a place where goalies feel safe, seen, and understood. Where parents can connect with one another and learn about the unique battles their children face in net. It’s a camp you leave with sharper skills, stronger confidence, and an entire new goalie family. 💙

A huge part of making that possible this year was the support of Sport Central and the Flames Sports Bank. Their commitment to working directly with our goalies to ensure they were fully equipped from head to toe went beyond providing gear — it gave kids the chance to step on the ice with pride, comfort, and confidence. For many of our goalies, this was life-changing, and we cannot thank them enough for being such a vital part of the R&R Goalie Camp.

💙 We are incredibly grateful for the support of our sponsors, whose generosity made this camp possible: Jumpstart, Tornado Infrastructure Equipment, Alexander Safety, Metrix Group, CM Forestry, The McQuarrie Family, Devon Minor Hockey, Coach's Source for Sports, L&T Custom Apparel, Royal Pizza Blue Quill, and United Sport & Cycle.

Your contributions created meaningful impact for goalies across Alberta, and we can’t wait to see the momentum continue into next year!

The R&R Empowering Society of Alberta hosted its 2nd Annual goaltending camp that was free to 36 goaltenders in the age groups of U9 to U18. Our purpose was to provide quality goaltending instruction to goaltenders of all skill levels to help elevate their games without the restrictions that finances might cause.  Our camp was facilitated by Lead Goalie Coach, Nic Melnychuk and goalie coaches, Ashtyn Berthiamue, Carson Ironside and Brett Epp  who all have previous history in goalie instruction across Alberta and who have played Junior & College level hockey. 

U9 goalies enjoyed two "Learn to Goaltend" on-ice sessions, two dryland training sessions, and lunch. For U11-U18 goalies, the camp featured six on-ice skill sessions, three dryland sessions, and three sports performance and mental health workshops provided by Level Up Wellness Group. Each participant was provided with an official camp jersey, swag, and lunch daily. Additionally, we hosted an equipment day where all goalies could get fitted with and keep “new-to-them” gear at no cost.

A special thank you goes out to the Beaumont Amateur Hockey Association for organizing three equipment donation days and to Coach’s Source for Sports for their generous contribution of equipment for our goalies. We are also incredibly grateful for the support from our sponsors: Redco Group of Companies, Level Up Wellness Group, Level 2 Sportswear, The Mill Craft Bar and Kitchen, Rheaume Family Foundation, L&T Custom Apparel, Coach's Source for Sports, Noyen Construction, The McQuarrie Family, CM Forestry, DES Engineering, and Alexander Safety. Their contributions made a meaningful impact on this year’s camp.

Our 1st Annual goaltending camp was free to 24 goaltenders in the age groups of U9 to U18. Our purpose was to provide quality goaltending instruction to goaltenders of all skill levels to help elevate their games without the restrictions that finances might cause.  Our camp was facilitated by Lead Goalie Coach, Nic Melnychuk and goalie coaches, Max McKee, Carson Ironside and Jackson Berry  who all have previous history in goalie instruction across Alberta and who have played Junior level hockey. 

All goalies received three ice times per day with a dryland session and we provided lunch with a guest speaker session. We want to thank former NHL goaltender, Joaquin Gage, 2022/23 AJHL Coach of the Year, Shawn Martin and Edmonton Oil Kings Broadcaster, Andrew Peard for joining our lunch sessions to talk hockey with our goalies.

The camp was very successful in it's inagural season thanks to our main sponsor, Redco Group of Companies as well as valued sponsors, Coach's Source for Sports in Wetaskiwin, Totem Outdoor Outfitters in Edmonton, Level 2 Sportswear Inc out of Calgary, Alexander Safety (Edmonton and Whitecourt) and Melissa Baker Photography. 

 We are looking forward to hosting the 2nd annual goalie camp during the summer of 2024! Please check back in mid-January for the 2024 camp applications and information.