Ron Wong

Tucker Hockey Head Instructor Profile

Published June 28, 2023

  • Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a native Calgarian since 1964, married for 33 years to my wife, Janice, and we have a daughter and a son.  I recently retired after working for 28 years as a mechanical engineer for a natural gas pipeline company.  I enjoy playing recreational hockey, tennis, and bicycling.

  • Tell us a little about your interest in the sport of hockey.

My interest in the sport of hockey did not start until just before I graduated from university in 1987.  I did not grow up playing in minor hockey.  I still remember my first shinny ice time playing with a church youth group back then.  I had borrowed different equipment from friends, substituted hockey shin pads with soccer shin pads, and I bought oversized Lange plastic molded hockey skates at Canadian Tire.  My friend helped me purchase my first hockey stick (Titan TPM1020, $25) at Ribtor Sporting Goods.  I remember cutting the hockey stick to fit in the trunk of my car instead of cutting it to suit me (It so happens to be the right length; about an inch or so below the chin).  I was hooked on hockey after playing shinny that first time.  I just wanted to play more hockey and get better at it.  Since then, over the span of 36 years, I’ve been regularly playing recreational hockey.

  • What’s the best part about hockey for you?

The best part of hockey for me has been the people you get to meet over so many ice times.  You get to develop new friendships and strengthen old friendships.  You get to know their strengths, weaknesses, and accept them as who they are.  You also get to share life experiences and create a lot of memories through hockey.  Also, if your team wins the game while all this is happening, that is “icing” on the cake.  

  • How has hockey influenced your life?

That is a very good question and I’m realizing hockey has been a greater influence in my life than I perceived.  That influence has been shared with my friends, wife, kids, community, and coworkers.

To this day, I still regularly play hockey with a remaining handful of players/friends from that first ice time in 1987.  The locker room talk has covered cars, girls, work, marriage, family, and is currently about health issues and fitness to increase our hockey playing longevity.

I tried sharing my hockey influence with my wife when we moved to Edmonton shortly after we married during the early 90’s.  At that time, I bought a whole set of equipment for my wife to convince her to give it a try.  She was a very good sport about it and had a great time. 

When we moved back to Calgary in 1995, we started our family, and as the kids grew up, there was no hesitation to sign them up for skating lessons which developed an excellent foundation for them before they moved on to ringette and hockey.  For a several winters, I would set up a backyard rink to give them more ice time, but I think I used it more than they did.  When the kids were in ringette and hockey, I was helping as an assistant coach for both kids’ teams.  I enjoyed being on the ice with the kids (and their teammates) as well as meeting people in the ringette and hockey community. 

In December 2010, my wife called upon those communities to vote for me to be one of three first skaters for the grand opening of three new ice rinks at Winsport at Canada Olympic Park.  The voting was successful enough to allow me the privilege of skating and passing the puck around with Olympic gold medalist and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Hayley Wickenheiser. 

I was also playing hockey with coworkers from 2009 to 2019 with the last three of those years as team captain.  I was also trying to encourage more female players to join our corporate team and had as many as six female players on the team roster.

  • When and how did you initially get involved with Tucker Hockey?

My initial involvement with Tucker Hockey was as a participant.  I first heard about Tucker Hockey from a friend who was also a participant back in 2002.  I had been looking for power skating lessons for adults like me who had started playing hockey at an older age.  At that time, it seemed the only power skating lessons available were for minor hockey age groups.  Tucker Hockey was a great fit for my demographic.  Rex was running his programs singlehandedly at that time and his youthful exuberance was killing us.  I still remember my first session in the Level 1.0 adult program started with eight skaters and finished with five skaters because the other three skaters were on the bench exhausted.  Rex has steadily mellowed since then. 

From 2002 to 2006, I was a repeat participant in the Level 1.0 and Level 1.5 adult programs.  I cannot emphasize enough about how the ice time was extremely valuable to develop proper technique, edge control, and other hockey skills which allowed me to enjoy playing hockey more than ever. 

In 2007, Rex asked me to help as an assistant instructor for a Level 1.0 adult program and that was truly an honour especially when I put on the Tucker Hockey instructor track suit.  I had never imagined that I would be doing that some day.  I was so happy because it was now a chance for me to pay it forward to the participants in that program.

In 2014, Rex took another chance and asked me to be head instructor for the Level 1.0 adult program.  Again, it was an honour, and I was very appreciative of the opportunity especially knowing that it was his original program and he trusted me put my own style into the program.  Thanks Rex!

  • What is the most enjoyable part of coaching/teaching players?

The most enjoyable part of coaching/teaching players is being in an environment where everyone has the same objective and determination to become a better skater.  I enjoy “paying it forward” to those who are discovering the Tucker Hockey adult beginner program because I have been through the same program and I absolutely believe in it.  I get tremendous satisfaction in finding the right instruction to help a participant with their skating, seeing immediate results, and seeing their reaction as well.

  • What is your favourite age group and skill level?

My favourite has always been the adult beginner age group and skill level.  They are so keen to learn and improve.  Before the beginning of each session, the adults are already on the ice practicing their edge work.  Also, after the end of each session, the adults are still on the ice practicing what has been taught during the session.  I admire their dedication to improve!

  • Any favourite skating drills that come to mind?

My favourite skating drills are the backward skating drills, probably because I normally play defense and it is such a satisfying feeling to execute backward crossunders.  Also, any outside edge skating drill (forward or backward) come to mind because I understand and appreciate how much the outside edge can contribute to a person’s skating ability.

  • Being a Tucker Hockey Instructor – what has the “Tucker Hockey Way” / being a part of the on ice instructional team taught you?

Being a part of the Tucker Hockey on-ice instructional team has taught me the importance of communication, attention to detail, and believing that improvement can happen at any skill level and at any age.  I want to thank the Tucker Hockey instructors and especially Rex for teaching me the many facets of on-ice instruction.   I greatly appreciate Rex’s mentorship and patience.

  • What advice would you like to offer hockey coaches, parents and players about the importance of skating, and why they should invest the time and money towards quality skating instruction?

Skating is the most important skill to have as a foundation or as a launching point into any on-ice sport such as hockey or ringette.  That is why it is important to learn this skill through proper instruction as early as possible.  For most skating skills, every person has a strong side and a weak side.  For example, strong at skating forwards and weak at skating backwards or strong at turning one direction and weak at turning the opposite direction.  Proper skating instruction will strengthen a skater’s weaknesses and build confidence.  Once the skating skill becomes a strong foundation, it will be one less thing to think about when developing other hockey skills such as puck handling, shooting, and tactics.

  • What other things interest you, outside hockey?

Outside of hockey, I enjoy spending time travelling, playing tennis, and bicycling.

  • What are your future goals or aspirations?

Hopefully, continued hockey skills development for myself (you’re never too old to learn) and to continue as an on-ice instructor at Tucker Hockey.

Thanks Rex!

Editor’s Note:

Ron has been involved in our Tucker Hockey programs for more than 20 years! 

He first started as a participant in our Adult technical skills / fundamentals program. After witnessing his dedication & commitment to hockey development, I thought Ron could be a nature fit & valuable member of the on-ice instructor team. Ron started out as an assistant on ice instructor and has advanced into a very solid leader and excellent head instructor for the Tucker Hockey Adult Fundamentals Program. Ron is a specialist – yes, only teaching the Tucker Hockey Adult Fundamentals Program during the Fall, Winter & Spring time each year. He relates extremely well to his students, provides excellent demos & communicates the program exceptionally well! It has been a true pleasure having Ron on the Tucker Hockey Team for the past 15+ years!

Ron, I have truly valued your dedication & contributions over the many years my friend. See you on the ice again this Fall! 

Best wishes,

~Coach Rex 

PS – “Let’s roll!” It is one of Ron’s familiar / signature expressions on the ice. Yes, let’s keep “rolling” my friend!