more than a game
About Us
Shinny is a Canadian term that refers to a type of hockey played casually with friends. It is often associated with pick-up hockey or pond hockey. Shinny is a game that all levels of hockey enthusiasts can play because it requires no formal hockey training. Shinny is non-competitive and recreational by nature, and scoring is secondary to the camaraderie among our participants.
Shinny USA was founded in 2001 by Jim Malesich and Dave Lane, two West Chester residents who had a vision of creating an environment where hockey enthusiasts can play the game of ice hockey in a friendly, “low-pressure” atmosphere. Because Shinny USA is a grass-roots type of program, it attracts local players who look forward to sustaining friendships more than the game itself. With access to multiple sheets of ice, Shinny USA is able to offer varying levels of play to accommodate players with different levels of ability and experience.
In addition to the above-listed morning programs, Shinny USA runs a series of Friday evening events known as the Friday Night Special. These mini-tournaments are offered at various times throughout the year at many of our current rink locations. All games are played with the same recreational format as our morning shinny, offering several hours of hockey in a party-like setting, featuring food, beverages, and giveaways. It’s like Poker Night, only on ice and without the cards!
Leadership Team
Jim Malesich
President
Jim is the President of Shinny USA. Jim co-founded Shinny USA in 2002, after running an informal early morning pick-up hockey program for several years. As President, Jim has expanded Shinny USA’s presence to multiple ice rinks throughout the Southeastern PA area, bringing the Shinny culture of non-competitive, recreational hockey to players of all skill levels throughout the hockey community.
Professionally, Jim has spent the last 30 years in multi-family development and management. Jim currently resides in West Chester.
Dave Lane
Co-Founder
Dave and his wife, Cathy, are expatriate Canadians who moved to the states in ’81 for grad school and never made it home. When their youngest son expressed that he wanted to play hockey, Dave and Cathy decided that they would also begin to play. Cathy had never played before and Dave hadn’t played in more than 35 years. Now they both play multiple times a week, and their son has gone on to play college and junior hockey.
Dave is a graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa and Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He has a private counseling practice in Newtown Square, Pa.
Pat Cronin
Director of Player Recruitment
After being invited to skate with Shinny USA in January 2000, Pat joined the Shinny USA Leadership Team as Director of Player Recruitment in June 2011. Pat is responsible for recruiting hockey enthusiasts of all levels and providing operational support for Shinny USA. Still an active participant, Pat can be found on the ice anywhere from Aston to West Chester.
A graduate from Millersville University (BS Industrial Technology), Pat played ice hockey for Millersville from 1994 – 1997. During that period he helped lead the team in winning the 1994 – 1995 DVCHC Championship. Pat was also selected as starting goaltender for the 1996 – 1997 DVCHC All-Star Game. Pat resides in Springfield, PA with his wife and their two daughters.
Mike Stromberg
Regional Support Manager
Mike joined Shinny in 2007 after transitioning from roller to ice hockey. In 2011 Mike joined the Shinny Leadership Team as a Regional Support Manager, traveling to multiple rinks in the area to help boost sign ups and promote Shinny culture. Mike resides in West Chester with his wife Janine and their four children.
Chris Wheatley
Social Media Manager
Chris has been a rink-rat since he was a toddler and learned to skate at the age of 3. He was a standout defenseman for Pennridge High School in the late 90’s but a poor GPA kept him from pursuing hockey at a collegiate level. He bounced around the local mens leagues until 2013 when he joined Shinny USA at Hatfield Ice where you can still find him today, calmly policing the defensive zone wondering when his wingers are coming back to help.
Chris is an IT admin for an residential elevator company that he started with in 1997. He is married with two daughters and has a cat named Nacho. When he’s not on the ice, you will usually find him with a camera in-hand at a sporting event or on the beaches of OBX.
Rink Captains
The Shinny USA Rink Captains are our leaders at our various rinks. They run the show at each location, making sure the teams are organized, balanced and the games start on time. They are there to make sure you’re enjoying the Shinny experience. Please look for any one of our captains if you have questions or concerns, and to remit your payments.