Performance Den – New Jersey's Batting Cage For Hockey

NEW JERSEY'S PREMIER PRIVATE SYNTHETIC ICE STUDIO

PRIVATE LESSONS

1v1 training

SMALL GROUP

private small group training

goalie training

goalie-specific training

RENTALS

train your kids in our facility

TRAIN WITH THE BEST

MEET OUR COACHES

BRANDON CRAWLEY

Brandon, the founder of Performance Den, is a Bergen County, NJ native, and began his hockey journey with the North Jersey Avalanche. After a stint at Selects Academy in 2013-14, he ventured north to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he played for the London Knights for three years. His achievements include winning an OHL championship and Memorial Cup championship in the 2015-16 season. In 2017, he was drafted in the 4th round, 123rd overall by the New York Rangers, where he played majority of his contract in the AHL for the Hartford Wolfpack and then with the Syracuse Crunch after signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

JJ PICCINICH

JJ is a former 4th-round NHL pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014. In 2015, he was a finalist in the NCAA Frozen Four and a Beanpot Champion. He later signed with the London Knights and achieved success, winning the 2016 OHL Championship and a Memorial Cup Championship. In 2019, he secured the ECHL Kelly Cup, and the following year, he claimed victory in the 2020 ECHL Fastest Skater competition. With impressive point-per-game seasons in the USHL (1), OHL (2), and ECHL (1), JJ possesses a deep understanding of both the American and Canadian hockey models. He's had the privilege of playing alongside NHL stars like Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel, and Matt Tkachuk, gaining valuable insights into what it takes to be among the world's best players.

ZANE KALEMBA

Zane, currently serving as Princeton University's Director of Hockey Operations and USA Hockey's Goaltending Director for the Atlantic District, hails from Saddle Brook, New Jersey. He initially attended Bergen Catholic High School before transferring to the Hotchkiss School, where he was drafted in the first round to the USHL. Before his professional career, Kalemba spent four seasons with the Princeton Tigers at Princeton University. During this time, he played a pivotal role in securing Princeton's 2nd ECAC title and led the team to their 2nd and 3rd NCAA tournament appearances in school history. Throughout his college career, Zane earned numerous accolades, including All-American honors, being a Hobey Baker Award Finalist, winning the Ken Dryden Award, and being named both the Ivy League and ECAC Player of the Year.

DREW MELANSON

Drew, originally from Bergen County, NJ, started with the North Jersey Avalanche before attending Delbarton School. He played in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers after his junior year at Delbarton, later contributing to the Waterloo Blackhawks' Anderson Cup victory. At 19, Drew returned to the Northeast to play for Rensselaer in Troy, New York, where he graduated early. He then transferred to Boston University for his final year of eligibility, sharing the ice with NHL stars Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Greenway, resulting in a Hockey East title. Following college, Drew signed with the Hartford Wolfpack, the New York Rangers' AHL affiliate. He spent time between Hartford (AHL) and Portland (ECHL) in the Rangers' minor league system. Last season, he excelled in the Deutschland Eishockey Liga 2 in Bayreuth, Germany, averaging over a point per game.

ROBERT JAWORSKI

Coach Robert Jaworski joins the Performance Den with a wealth of experience. He spent three seasons as a skills coach and bench coach with the North Jersey Avalanche, where he originally played his youth hockey from Peewee to Midget. In high school, he competed for Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, NJ. Following high school, Robert's hockey journey continued in various leagues, including the EHL with the New Jersey Titans, the NAHL with the Keystone Ice Miners, and concluding with the Jersey Hitmen in the USPHL. His passion lies in teaching skating and skill development, with a strong emphasis on stick handling, shooting, and stride work. His ultimate goal is to give back to the game and enhance the development of all the players he mentors, both on and off the ice.

COLE GARABED

Coach Cole, a North Jersey hockey product, is a valuable asset for players seeking to advance their game and navigate their next steps. He honed his skills through youth hockey with the Ramapo Saints, New Jersey Hitmen, and New Jersey Colonials. At St. Joseph's Regional High School, he captained the team to three league titles. Cole's playing career culminated with the University of Vermont's club program. In his coaching journey, Cole has contributed as a USA Hockey development coach for the Atlantic District, conducted skill development camps with Erik Nates Euro Hockey, and has been offering private lessons and clinics at The Den since 2021.

STEPHEN DEMPSEY

ABOUT US

Private Synthetic Hockey Training Center

The Performance Den is your hockey batting cage. Our studio, led by former/current NCAA and pro players, nurtures growth. Equipped with rebound passers, stick handling aids, and a radar gun, progress is tangible. Cultivating habits for success, our space shapes players’ journeys, propelling them through hockey’s ranks.