Veteran goalie coach Joey Ali has worked in a lot of rinks in the Lower Mainland.
Now he can add the Pacific Coliseum to that list. Ali, who has helped coach with the women’s national team at their training camps, was recently hired to be the goalie coach for the new PWHL Goldeneyes.
A Cloverdale resident, Ali also runs Pro Ali Goalie Training, his everything-goalie-development centre has a bricks and mortar location on the Cloverdale-Langley border, but he’s always out and about at various rinks. He’s also part owner of Proformance Goalie Schools. The Hockey Canada national certified goaltending coach is also in the NHL Coaches’ Association BIPOC coach mentorship program.
“It’s an amazing kind of feeling,” Ali told the Cloverdale Reporter about being hired. “I’m super excited to be working in my hometown.”
Ali grew up in Vancouver. He saw his first live Canucks game in the Coliseum, a game against the Blackhawks, and he’s excited at the prospect of returning there now to work. He moved to Clovy about 15 years ago.
TEAM
Ali said he applied for the job in the summer. He had to go through a series of interviews and the process filled him with both exhilaration and apprehensiveness.
He chatted with the GM, the coach, and the goalies along the way. After that came the waiting, of course, which provided him with some time to reflect, but he was always cautiously optimistic. Though excited and nervous, he didn’t’ tell many about his application, playing those cards characteristically close to his vest.
“When the news came that I got the position, I was super pumped,” Ali said. “I was really excited after hearing. I’ve been working towards this over a period of time. So it was surreal when I found out.”
Coaching since 2008, he said he’s ready for a jam-packed season and plans to be at the Coliseum early every morning. He’ll be heading on the road with the team too, though he’s not quite sure how that will look right now or what that frequency will be.
SUPPORT
His kids and his wife are also thrilled for him.
“They’ve been supportive of me over the years,” Ali explained. “It takes a really strong support group. Whether family—my wife my brother’s or my parents—or close friends, they’ve all been super supportive.”
He said their reactions to the news were every bit as “over the moon” as his reaction was.
“It was a phenomenal response. Everyone was really excited for me.”
He received great reactions from colleagues as well.
“It’s been wonderful. Lots of people have been reaching out and congratulating me on getting it. So really supportive there too.”
Some colleagues he’s known throughout his career expressed their congratulations, but Ali noted he’s very thankful for their support too.
“It takes a whole community—people that I’ve learned from, people that have helped me along the way, people that have been in the background, and people that have helped me in my development.”
Whether it’s been pro goalie coaches he’s met over the years through the NHL’s BIPOC coaching mentorship program, or the hockey Canada program, or through his work in B.C., he’s been able to network with a lot of goalie coaches.
“Being able to share things with them and bounce things off them for the last four or five years has been instrumental in my growth as well.”
SEASON
Ali added there are two things exciting him about the upcoming season in the PWHL, 1.) just being with the team and going through that whole process, and 2.) the opportunity to bring the city a league championship.
The job in Vancouver will take up most of his time so he said to step down from his goalie coach role with the Langley Rivermen Jr. A club. Ali had been with the Riverman for eight years.
“I’m all in with our Goldeneyes team,” he said. “I want to be ready and be prepared every morning, every day, and every night. I know what it takes to do that.”
He’s still doing some minor hockey stuff and some u18 AAA stuff that will still work with his schedule—and he’ll remain on with the Langley Trappers as there are no conflicts with the Goldeneyes there either.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity,” he noted. “I’m excited to be part of the inaugural season with our PWHL team. I’m really looking forward to the season, to working with our players and our staff, and seeing what this first season will bring.”
To find out more info on the Goldeneyes visit, thepwhl.com/vancouver-goldeneyes.
To find out more info on Proali Goalie Training, visit proali.net.
COACHING RESUME
2008: Begins coaching after wrapping up playing career
2012 – 2016: Coquitlam Express
(2014 BCHL Champions)
2017 – 2025: Langley Rivermen
2017 – present: Langley Trappers
(2021 PJHL Champions)
(2021 Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions)