Shandor grew up dreaming to be a NHL player just like most of the Canadian kids. The Orangeville, Ontario native played left wing for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL from 2001 to 2004. In 183 OHL games, he posted 25 goals and 48 assists, along with 143 PIM. After his junior years, he attended Lakehead University in Thunder Bay where he played for the Thunderwolves from 2005 to 2010 and helped the team capturing the Ontario University Association Queen’s Cup Championship in 2006. In 115 college games, Alphonso focused on his defensive game, scoring 19 goals and 24 assists. Alphonso graduated from Lakehead with a Honors Bachelor of Commerce Degree majoring in Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration Degree. He started officiating after his playing days were over. He attended the NHL Amateur Exposure Combine in the summer of 2009, an officiating camp designed to entice major junior, U.S., and Canadian college hockey players to consider becoming linesmen or referees. The experience convinced him to drop his stick and pick up a whistle. He officiated in various leagues and worked three full seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a linesman. Alphonso was offered a linesman minor league contract (40-40) just prior to the NHL Officials training camp in September 2014. He was working at the time at RBC Royal Bank as a financial planner focusing primarily on investments and retirement planning. He worked his first NHL Regular Season game in Buffalo on October 17th, 2014 when the Florida Panthers were in town to play the Sabres. His teammates that night were referee Dan O’Halloran and Ghislain Hebert while his partner on the lines was Brad Kovachik.