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Player Development

AAHA Player Development Staff

Jim Hunt – Director of Player Development  
President/Director of Player Development – NJ Hitmen, EJHL (Present)
Assistant Coach – United States World Junior Team  (2008)
Assistant Coach, US Under-18 Team (2006)
Scout – US National Team (1996 – Present)
Director of Hockey, Ice Vault – Wayne, NJ (2004-Present)
Head Coach - Fairfield University (1999-2002)
Assistant Coach - US National Team (1997-1999)
Graduate of St. Mary’s College, MN (1987)

John Riley – Associate Director of Player Development
Scout – Philadelphia Flyers, NHL (Present)
Scout  – US National Team (2000-2005, 2007 – Present)
Assistant Coach – Princeton University (2005-2007)
Head Coach/Teacher – Brunswick School, CT (2002- 2005)
Head Coach/Teacher – Kingswood-Oxford, CT (1998-2002)
Scout – Sioux Falls Stampede – USHL (1998-2000)
Graduate; Player;  University of Massachusetts, Boston (1991)

Professional Staff Coaches/Evaluators (out of district):
The Player Development Program goes to great lengths to attract the finest coaches/scouts available to work with our players.  The following full-time hockey professionals have graciously dedicated their time to help with the process.  Below is an alphabetical listing of the coaches/scouts who are present this weekend to help with the evaluation process.

We are proud to have personnel from the following Professional and College Teams working with us today:
Los Angeles Kings
Philadelphia Flyers
Princeton University
Quinnipiac University
Union College
Trinity College
US National Team Development Program

Rick Bennett  
Associate Head Coach – Union College 
Former Associate Coach – Providence College 
Graduate; 4 year letter winner at  Providence College (Hockey East)
154th overall Pick in 1986 NHL Draft (Minnesota North Stars)
Played in NHL, AHL, ECHL

Patrick Burke
Scout – Philadelphia Flyers, NHL
Former Scout – Anaheim Ducks, NHL
Graduate; University of Notre Dame

Matt Dennehy
Assistant Coach – NH Junior Monarchs (Tier III Jr. A National Champs)
Former Assistant Coach – Colby College
Graduate; 4 year letter winner & Captain at St. Anselm, NCAA Division III

Keith Fisher
Assistant Coach – Princeton University
Former Associate Coach – Omaha Lancers (USHL)
Graduate; St. Cloud State

Matt Greason
Assistant Coach, Graduate Student – Trinity College (NESCAC Division 3)
Former Assistant Coach – Kent School & Kingswood Oxford School
Graduate of Hill School
Graduate; 4  year letter winner at Trinity College (NESCAC – Division 3)

Steve Greeley
Scout – Los Angeles Kings, NHL
Graduate, 4 year letter winner at Boston University
Played in ECHL, CHL
Graduate, Thayer Academy

Graham Johnson
Assistant Coach – Quinnipiac University (ECAC Division 1)
Former Assistant Coach – University of Rhode Island (ACHA Division 1)
Graduate; 4 year letter winner at University of Rhode Island

Bill Riga
Assistant Coach – Quinnipiac University (ECAC Division 1)
Former Assistant Coach – Union College  (ECAC Division 1)
Former Head Coach – Boston Jr. Bruins
Former Head Coach – Rivers School (New England Prep)
Graduate; 4 year letter winner at UMass-Lowell (Hockey East – Division 1)

Ben Syer
Associate Head Coach – Quinnipiac University
Graduate; Western Ontario University

Peter Ward
Associate Director of Player Personnel – US National Team Development Program
Former Scout - QMJHL
Former Professional Player – ECHL, CHL

District Staff Coaches

In addition to the hockey professionals we have on staff, the Atlantic District Player Development Program is proud to work in concert with ALL OF THE YOUTH HOCKEY PROGRAMS IN THE DISTRICT.  

We currently have coaches from the following organizations working in the program:
Central Penn Panthers
Hershey Bears
Mercer Chiefs
Philadelphia Jr. Flyers
Philadelphia Revolution
NJ Bandits
NJ Colonials
NJ Devils       
NJ Hitmen
NJ Rockets
NJ Titans
NJ Wildcats
Team Comcast
VF Minutemen
Wissahickon

Chris Barcless
Head Coach – Mercer Chiefs ’92 & ‘94
Former Head Coach – Princeton Day School
Graduate of New Hampton Prep, NH
Graduate; 4 year letter winner –  Geneseo State (SUNYAC – Division 3)

Chris Barling
Assistant Hockey Director – IceVault, Wayne, NJ
Head Coach – NJ Hitmen U19
Assistant Coach – Chicago Showcase, Team NJ
Played 3 years in EJHL with NH Monarchs

Dave Crandell
Head Coach – NJ Rockets Assistant Coach – New Jersey Rockets
Intern Coach – National 15 Player Development Camp
Former Head Coach – The Pingry School
Graduate of Southern Connecticut State University

Dustin Depalma
Head Coach – NJ Junior Titans Jr. B
Graduate of University of Connecticut

John Dinorcia
Director of Hockey Operations – NJ Devils Youth
Head Coach – NJ Devils U16
Former Head Coach – NJ Devils Quebec PeeWee Team
Atlantic District Coach-in-Chief
Graduate; Villanova University

Chad Dlugolecki
Coach, NJ Devils Youth
Former Director of Elite Hockey Training
Graduate and former player – Avon Old Farms
Graduate and former player – MCLA

Rich Eby
Head Coach – Hershey Bears ‘97
Former Athletic Director
Present Middle School Principal

Pat Ferrill
Assistant Coach – Philadelphia Jr. Flyers U18
Former Head Coach – Philadelphia Jr. Flyers U16
Head Coach – Philadelphia Flyers Quebec Team (2002-2006)
Former Head Coach – Villanova University (NCAA Division 3)
VP Hockey Development, Comcast Sports
Graduate;  Drexel University

Toby Harris
Associate Head Coach, Recruiting Director – NJ Hitmen (2008 EJHL Champions)
Graduate of The Governors  Academy, MA
Graduate,  4 year letter winner at Boston College (Hockey East – Division 1)
Played four years pro hockey – Germany and WPHL

Mike Lichtenberg
Former Head Coach – Lehigh University (ACHA – Division 2 Club)
Associate Coach-in-Chief – Atlantic District

Steve Mackel
Head Coach – Malvern Prep School
Former Assistant Coach – Philadelphia Jr. Flyers ‘93
Graduate of Temple University

Greg Marinari
Head Coach – Drexel University (ACHA Division 1 Club)
First “Alumni” Coach from Player Development Program
Graduate and letter winner at Drexel University

Wally Muehlbronner
Head Coach – LaSalle College HS
Director of Hockey Operations – Valley Forge Minutemen
Graduate and letter winner at Norwich University (ECAC Division 3)
Former Head Coach – Team Philadelphia, Chicago Showcase

Steve Riley
Head Coach – NJ Youth Devils Youth AAA
Assistant Hockey Director – NJ Devils Youth
Former Goaltender at Trinity Pawling School
Attended University of Arizona
 
Mike Tenney
Assistant General Manager / Assistant Coach –  Central Penn Panthers Jr. B (Present)
Head Coach Hershey Jr. Bears Midget U16 
Former Head Coach – Conestoga Valley High School
Graduate Millersville University

Randy Walker
Head Coach – NJ Jr. Titans ’92 & ‘96
Head Coach – Philadelphia Flyers Quebec Team (2008 & 2009)
Played four years Pickering Panthers (OPJHL)
Graduate; 4 year letter winner - York University, Toronto

Mike Walsh Sr.  
Former President - Quakers
Former Head Coach – VF Minutemen
Former Assistant Coach – Philadelphia Jr. Flyers

Gump Whiteside
Head Coach – Germantown Academy
Head Coach –  Chicago Showcase, Team Philadelphia
Director of Hockey – Wissahickon Skating Club
USA HOCKEY Festival Camp Director 2006-2009

Justin Stanlick
Head Coach – NJ Wildcats, Empire League
 Graduate, Player Wyoming Seminary
Graduate of Drew University

Matt Yingst
Head Coach – Hershey Bears
Graduate, player – University of Connecticut