-2.png)
THE {NET} WORK
the {
Meet your coaching staff available for private lessons or group lessons.
the {net}work
Meet your hand-selected network of highly trained coaches who put your long-term development first. This isn’t one-size-fits-all training. It’s the right guidance, at the right time, with the right mentor. Choose the coach who aligns with your goals — or let us thoughtfully match you with someone who fits your game, your mindset, and your vision for growth.
Goaltending Director
Bob Zalabak
Bob brings a wealth of passion for goaltending to the everything he does. With a deep understanding of the position and a dedication to helping goalies reach their full potential, Zalabak is committed to fostering an environment where goalies can grow, compete and thrive.With over 3 decades of playing and coaching experience at the goaltending position, Bob Zalabak will work to ensure that each goalie receives the tools necessary for success.
Coach Garret Sparks
Garret was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 7th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. But before he turned pro, he won a gold medal playing for the US in the 2013 U20 World Junior Championships.
His playing career includes over a decade of professional hockey, highlighted by his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he became the first goaltender in franchise history to record a shutout in his NHL debut. He also spent time with the Vegas Golden Knights, Calgary Flames and LA Kings organizations and was able to play in his hometown for the Chicago Wolves in 2019.
As a Goaltender Performance and Development Coach, Sparks will bring an unmatched insight on the game which will make him an invaluable resource for our goalies. Whether working with young goalies developing their fundamentals or with our advanced netminders fine-tuning their game, he is dedicated to helping each player reach their highest potential.
He will use his firsthand NHL and AHL experience to help goalies refine their skills, improve their consistency and develop the mindset necessary to thrive in high-pressure situations. Sparks will collaborate closely with goalies at all levels, focusing on technical precision, puck tracking and situational reads. His hands-on coaching style, combined with his unmatched love of the position, will help our goaltenders develop the skills and confidence needed to excel.
Originally from Chicago, Alanna Serviss is one of the best goaltenders to come out of the area in recent memory. She spent her youth hockey years dominating the IL hockey scene for Team Illinois, Chicago Chill and Chicago Young Americans. In addition, she played 4 years of high school hockey serving as an alternate captain, which is rare for a goalie but shows the type of leader she is.
Serviss was recruited from high school to play Division I Hockey for Providence College in the Hockey East Conference, one of the toughest conferences in collegiate hockey. It was there that she honed her skills playing against some of the world's best players, including Marie-Philip Poulin and Kendall Coyne Schofield.
After 4 years playing in one of the most competitive hockey environments in the country, Serviss decided to go pro. There wasn't a PWHL at that time so she ended up going to Helsinki, Finland to play with KJT Haukat where she played against some of the best players Europe had to offer.Following her tremendously successful playing career, Serviss got into coaching.
Her experience and knowledge are second to none and her ability to deliver diverse teaching and philosophical styles confirms that she is a coach this club needs. Her passion for developing the next generation of great goalies is inspiring and the Hawks are proud to bring a coach like this to our young players.
COACH ALANNA SERVISS
COACH SCOTT DARLING
A Stanley Cup Champion and one of the best goalies in Blackhawks history, Scott brings a powerful mix of professional excellence and lived experience that inspires every goalie who steps on the ice.Raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, and playing in the same rinks our Hawks and Phantoms goalies do today, Scott grew up watching the Blackhawks and dreaming of one day wearing the Chicago sweater. His path to that moment was anything but simple – and that's exactly what makes his journey so meaningful.From youth hockey to the University of Maine, from long bus rides in the ECHL to rebuilding his game in the AHL, Scott's career is defined by perseverance and the courage to keep moving forward.This determination helped elevate him into one of the greatest goaltenders in recent Blackhawks history. In Chicago, Scott posted 39 wins in 75 games along with a sparkling .923 save percentage and stingy 2.37 GAA. In 2015, Scott became a Stanley Cup Champion, the first ever Illinois raised goalie to do it with the Blackhawks, delivering clutch performances throughout the playoffs and earning a permanent place in Chicago sports lore. His size, athleticism, and calm presence made him a steady, reliable force throughout his professional career which also included an NHL stop with the Carolina Hurricanes.
He understands the position not just from a technical standpoint, but from the emotional and mental side that young goalies often struggle to navigate. His message is simple: your story is yours to write, and with hard work and belief, anything is possible.
COACH MICHAEL LEVINE
A former standout goaltender with the Chicago Hawks, Michael Levine returns home in his new role as Goaltender Performance and Development Coach. Known for his technical proficiency and leadership on the ice, Levine is excited to mentor the next generation of elite goaltenders.
Hailing from Clarendon Hills, IL, Levine began his hockey journey right here with the Chicago Hawks, then moving on to the Syracuse Stars in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) before committing to Suffolk University.
During his collegiate career from 2015 to 2019, he consistently demonstrated exceptional skill and resilience between the pipes. Levine's performance peaked in his junior year when he was honored with the Jeff Rose Award, recognizing him as the team's best defensive player.
Levine's dedication to excellence and familiarity in playing for the Hawks makes him an incredible asset to us in his coaching role. His firsthand experience at the collegiate level equips him with the insights necessary to guide aspiring goaltenders toward achieving their goaltending goals.
Chicago Hawks Goalie Academy Partners
STALWART HOCKEY
COACH VINNIE PURPURA
Founder & Director of Goalie Development at Stalwart Hockey and Goalie Academy Development Coach
Professional Goaltender — Reading Royals, ECHL
Vinnie Purpura is the founder and head goalie coach of Stalwart Hockey. A native of Lemont, Illinois, Vinnie has played at every level of the game — from junior hockey in the NAHL and USHL, to NCAA Division I with Boston University and Long Island University, and now professionally in the ECHL.
Still an active goaltender, Vinnie built Stalwart Hockey on the belief that development goes far beyond the ice. His mission is to help goalies build complete habits — physically, mentally, and emotionally — so they can perform with confidence, consistency, and purpose.
At Stalwart, Vinnie leads all goaltending development, focusing on technique refinement, game reads, and professional-level preparation that equips goalies to succeed at the next level.
COACH NICK GRABKO
Nick Grabko is a Goaltending Coach with Stalwart Hockey and the Chicago Hawks Goalie Academy. A native of Channahon, Illinois , Nick played junior hockey in the NAHL and USHL. He then played NCAA Division 1 at Bentley University, and later transferred to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Following his college career, he logged pro appearances with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads and Toledo Walleye as well as an AHL loan to the Rockford IceHogs. Most recently, he signed to play for Mont-Blanc in France’s Division 2 league.Nick brings a modern technical foundation and pro-level experience to his coaching. He focuses on refining movement efficiency, composure under pressure, reading plays, and making the complex look simple. His goal is to help goalies develop the consistency and confidence needed to perform at the highest levels.