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www.insidehalton.com |OAKVILLE BEAVER |Friday, December 15, 2017 |16 B U SIN ESS IN OAKVILLE R etired NHL player builds a te am and sticks to hockey After more than a decade of playing for the NHL, retired defenseman, Jamie Allison, has found his new niche, running the Oakville Hockey Academy. Allison was drafted to the Calgary Flames in 1993, and during his time in the NHL, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Colum bus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, and Florida Panthers. "Nashville was the best. I love country music, both of my kids were born in Nashville, it's a really special place for us as a family," said Allison. "Plus I was there for the first year that the Predators made the playoffs. Nashville was probably my favourite time in my career." In 2 0 07, Allison retired and started trying different things, "Construction, I was a public speaker for anti-bullying, which was great, and I coached the OHL which was a lot of fun, but I didn't like being away from my family seven days a week," Allison explained. He then came across the Academy. At the time, his friend owned the arena and it didn't take much for Allison to realize that working with kids who have a love for playing hockey, is exactly what he wanted to do. · Adult Skills Clinics · Team Training · Sm all Group Training · Private and Sem i Private Lesson s · PA Day, Christm as, March Break and Sum m er Cam ps When the business first started, Allison was on the ice every night coaching kids in order to build the business and reputation. Since then, Jamie has taken a step back and has tutored Jake DeJulio on the intricacies of being a high level on ice skills instructor. "I'm 42-years old, I've had a lot of injuries, but I like to do the private lessons, where I focus on the Triple A or Junior level kids." Both Allison and Van Vliet are proud of putting together an experienced group of on ice instructors at OHA. With the way things are going, Allison said he knows that that the Academy will continue to grow, and expand, and be a place where young players in the area can get quality training for years to come. The Oakville Hockey Academy is located at 1111 Speers Rd. in Oakville. For more information call 905-842-2423, email info@oakvillehockeyacademy.com, or visit www.oakvillehockeyacademy.com. Jamie Allison and Dean Van Vliet are proud of the team they have at the Oakville Hockey Academy. (Left to right) Tyler Pracek, Mark Penelton, Jamie Allison, Danielle Van Vliet, Melanie Allison, Dean Van Vliet, Paige Brown and Jake De Julio |Photos by Graham Paine, Metroland Media He met his business partner, Dean Van Vliet, who has also been around hockey his entire life, so the two, both passionate about the sport and excited about the business, built the reputation of the academy in two and a half years. The Oakville Hockey Academy won the 2 0 1 6 and 20 17 Platinum Medal in Children's Sports Instruction Readers Choice Award. "We're really proud of that award, we put a lot of work into making the Academy what it is," said Allison. "The coaches are top notch, and we pride ourselves on providing this service, it's basically everything you need under one roof in terms of hockey development." Som e of the programs offered are: · Rising Stars Hockey Development League for 4 to 8 years old · Learn to Skate · Rep and House League Defence Clinics · Intro to Hockey MILTON LIGHTING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCiAL LiGHTiNG FiXTURES 1 m m m m j .· i E S F r o m io : -1 R -- - Services offered: > Hom e Staging Consultations h|> F u ll Service t G o to our website to view the Artcraft flyer. 295 Main Street East, Unit 6, Milton (Same plaza as Troy's Diner, at the rear of the building) Staging m Showcasing > M odel & Vacant Hom e Staging 9 0 5 -8 7 8 -7 1 1 1 w w w .m iltonlighting.com Monday - Wednesday 10:00am-6:00pm Thursday & Friday 10:00am-8:00pm Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm · Sunday 12:00-4:00pm "Your House i i M y House" T ris h W atso n, u s c ' Property Stylist 905 599 8348 | sucasahom estaging.com