Meet the Team
Viper Sports Performance Group Leadership
Sharina Filion
Principle Coach & Senior Leader
Ally Taylor
Mental Performance Coach & Professional Media/Photographer
Sharina Filion is the Principal Coach and Senior Leader of VSPG Hockey Development Group, helping drive its vision for elite hockey development across all ages and skill levels. A proud alumna of Mount Royal University’s hockey program, she combines competitive experience with a passion for athlete development, shaping VSPG’s coaching culture and standards. She is also the owner of Rocky Mountain Venom Hockey Academy, recognized for its commitment to discipline and athlete advancement. Sharina brings together top coaches and specialists while leading from the ice, ensuring athletes receive high-level training in an environment that develops skilled players, confident athletes, and resilient leaders.
Ally Taylor is VSPG’s Mental Performance Coach and Sports Media lead, helping athletes build the confidence, focus, resilience and preparation skills that support performance on and off the ice. A former competitive athlete who attended university in the United States on an athletic scholarship, Ally combines firsthand athletic experience with more than 25 years of leadership, coaching and mentorship. An experienced writer, photographer and media professional, she also leads VSPG’s photography, videography, social media and sports storytelling, capturing the athletes, teams and moments that make sport matter.
Doug Raycroft
Kyle Gordon
Senior Coach &
Senior Leader
Goaltending Coach &
Senior Leader
Doug Raycroft is a Senior Coach and Senior Leader at VSPG Hockey Development Group, bringing decades of hockey development, leadership, and athlete mentorship experience. He has been the Head Coach of the Agra Risk Wheatland Kings and has led elite hockey development programs across Western Canada and Alaska. With a Master’s degree in Leadership from Gonzaga University, Doug has spent more than 20 years developing young athletes and leaders. His leadership extends beyond hockey, having served as CEO of the Strathmore Stampede & Rodeo and in senior community and educational leadership roles. At VSPG, Doug combines proven coaching experience, hockey knowledge, and mentorship to develop confident athletes and strong leaders both on and off the ice.
Kyle Gordon is the Goaltending Coach and Senior Coach at VSPG Hockey Development Group, bringing extensive playing and coaching experience to VSPG’s athlete development programs. A former competitive goaltender with experience in elite youth and junior hockey, Kyle brings a firsthand understanding of the technical and mental demands of the position. He also serves as an assistant coach with the Wheatland Warriors U15 AA program. At VSPG, Kyle leads goaltender development while contributing his experience across the broader coaching team, helping athletes build strong fundamentals, confidence, and the skills needed to perform in game situations.
Justin Fraser
Vittoria Valente
Senior Coach
Athlete Wellness & Performance Coach
Justin Fraser is a Senior Coach at VSPG Hockey Development Group, bringing a strong background in competitive hockey, coaching, and athlete development. Justin grew up playing within the Wheatland Athletic Association before continuing his career at the junior level in Fort McMurray. With six years of coaching experience, he has coached across Peewee AA, Bantam AA, and Minor Midget AAA, giving him experience developing athletes through key stages of competitive hockey. Justin also spent 10 years leading on-ice and off-ice strength and conditioning programs in Strathmore. At VSPG, he combines playing experience, coaching knowledge, and a strong development mindset to help athletes build skill, strength, confidence, and compete at a higher level.
Clay Armstrong
Vittoria Valente is the Athlete Wellness & Performance Coach at VSPG Hockey Development Group, bringing her expertise as a Registered Nurse and Holistic Nurse Coach to VSPG’s whole-athlete approach. Vittoria works with athletes beyond the ice, providing practical education in nutrition, mental performance, breathwork, confidence, and healthy habits. Through regular classroom-based sessions, she helps young athletes understand how fueling their bodies, managing pressure, recovery, and overall wellness directly impact performance. Vittoria’s practical and approachable philosophy gives athletes tools they can use in sport and everyday life, supporting VSPG’s commitment to developing strong, resilient, healthy athletes both on and off the ice.
Senior Coach &
Physical Impact Specialist
Clay Armstrong is a Senior Coach & Physical Impact Specialist at VSPG Hockey Development Group, bringing more than two decades of coaching, leadership, and involvement in Alberta minor hockey. Currently Head Coach of the Wheatland Warriors U15 AA program in the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL), Clay’s coaching accomplishments include a South Conference Championship and South Central Tournament gold medal with Wheatland, along with provincial gold and silver medal performances coaching female hockey with the Strathmore Storm. At VSPG, Clay specializes in teaching athletes how to safely and effectively deliver and receive body checks, with a focus on positioning, awareness, timing, technique, and confidence. His approach helps athletes understand and manage physical contact responsibly while developing the compete level, resilience, and physical readiness required for higher levels of competitive hockey.