Today we’d like to introduce you to Bruce Racine
Hi Bruce, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in a small town outside of Ottawa, Ontario where I played youth hockey and eventually went to play Junior hockey in Canada, then on to college at Northeastern University in Boston. While playing for the Husky’s I was two-time All-American, won a Hockey East Championship, and the Beanpot tournament twice (MVP both time). As a freshman I was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and played for many teams in the NHL, AHL, IHL, and Finnish Elite league during my 15 year pro career; including playing with the St. Louis Blues during the 1995-96 season. After retiring, and coaching at Northeastern, my wife Lori and I decided to settle in St. Louis with our daughter. I then began working with former Blue’s players Jamal Mayers and Bryce Salvador who were opening The Hockey Academy of St. Louis. I was brought in to be their goalie coach. After one season they supported me to go out on my own in the development of the Racine Goalie Academy. That was 18 years ago. Since then, RGA has grown tremendously. I have worked with hundreds of goalies and watched so many of them grow to achieve great things; on the ice and in life. I work with a lot of exceptional youth hockey organizations in St. Louis, partnering with them in strengthening the skills of goalies all over the area. I am also the goalie coach for TPH Academy of St. Louis, as well as holding camps in the summer and winter months at several local rinks.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In the beginning, and even still, the goalie coaching side of things came very easy for me. I’ve always enjoyed coaching kids and am quite knowledgeable of the game and how to build the skill set to for a goalie to develop. However, since there was not a history of many goalie coaches in St. Louis at that time, people seemed to be a bit skeptical, and finding coaches, or teams, to get on board was an early challenge. There were also obstacles in finding ice to have lessons. Renting ice is costly, finding ice times is sometimes difficult, so that proved a slow start on the business side of things, Next, it was the need to get the word out that I was here, available, and a deeply dedicated goalie coach.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I coach hockey goalies of all ages in the St. Louis area. I am known as a very professional and demanding technical goalie coach, who helps kids improve and have fun. It is highly rewarding to teach young goalies how to work hard at a young age so that they can develop their talents.
I am very proud that I have assisted in the placement of over 60 goalies into NCAA college hockey and I have had two goalies that I worked with from a very young age from St. Louis that have been drafted into the NHL; Luke Opilka and Joseph Woll (currently with the Toronto Maple Leafs). Jospeh was one of my very first goalies I began coaching at RGA, he started with me when he was eight years old and has made it to the National Hockey League.
If anything sets me apart from others, it would be my passion for coaching young goalies and helping them find their way to be their best and love their time in youth hockey, college hockey, or even the pros!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve learned in business, much like learning to be a goalie, that there will be challenges, there will be competition, there will be those who support you no matter what, and those who don’t, but regardless to remain steadfast in who I am as an integral, knowledgeable, and passionate goalie coach, that I can face any challenge that comes way, and keep moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://racinegoalieacademy.com/
- Instagram: RacineGoalieAcademy
- Facebook: Bruce Racine (Racine Goalie Academy)
- Twitter: @RacineRGA
