DYHA Coach Bios and Contact INFO

DYHA believes in the importance of hiring great coaches for our players and teams. All of our coaches have achieved success in their own hockey careers and have demonstrated excellence in both teaching skating & hockey skills and in coaching competitive hockey teams.

Many of our coaches offer private lessons or off season programs. Feel free to reach out to them if their contact info is listed.


Corey Badeau

Coach


Corey Badeau Is a Rhode Island native who was a four-year varsity hockey player at Woonsocket High School and named All-State Defenseman in his junior and senior years. He was a recipient of the Hobey Baker Award in 2010 as the team’s captain. After High School Corey went on to play 4 years of club hockey at Sacred Heart University where he won two NECHA Conference Championships in 2013 and 2014. Corey started his coaching career at the Fairfield Ice Academy giving private lessons, running multiple clinics that specialized in fundamentals, power skating, and stickhandling. Following FIA, Corey became the Adult Hockey Coordinator at Chelsea Piers Connecticut where he managed adult hockey programs, and led the Mite Development and Learn to Play programs. In addition to having successfully coached DYHA Squirts, Peewees, and Bantams, Corey also serves as the Darien High School JV Head Coach. In his role as the Assistant Hockey Director at Stamford Twin Rinks Corey manages and coaches Impact Hockey Skills LLC clinics, camps and Connecticut’s premier spring hockey program, the CT Breakers. Established in collaboration with DYHA, Twin Rinks programming and theCT Breakers provide local players the opportunity to train with top-end coaches in a travel hockey environment while still allowing them to play spring sports. More information on the CT Breakers program can be found here: Twin Rinks Stamford – Where champions are born. Corey can be reached at 203-968-9000 x 17, or found at the Hockey office at Stamford Twin Rinks!

Lukas Baksay

Coach


Lukas Baksay

Michael Bruno

Coach


Michael Bruno grew up in Darien, playing hockey for DYHA from Mites through Bantams. His love for the game started early on and he knew he wanted it to be a part of his life.  

Mike was a four year varsity hockey player at Darien High School. He excelled through his high school years, being named team Captain his senior year. Following his high school career, he pursued his passion for hockey at the collegiate level, joining the club hockey team at Endicott College.

Mike transitioned from player to coach where he has over eight years of experience with the Connecticut Junior Rangers, Ridgefield Amateaur Hockey Association and DYHA. Mike brings his knowledge, passion, and love for the game of hockey to coaching the next generation of hockey players. His coaching philosophy emphasizes skill development, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence both on and off the ice. Mike is a level 4 USA Hockey Coach.

Michael Carlucci

Coach

203-912-0873


Michael Carlucci grew up playing “A” level travel hockey for 8 years where he won 6 CHC state titles and 2 New England Regional Championships. He played on Team Connecticut, 4 years of Trinity Catholic Varsity Hockey, earning 2 State Championships and 1 State title, followed by 2 years of University of Connecticut Club hockey. Mike’s extensive coaching career includes the Greenwich Blues, Trinity Catholic High School, the New England Generals, and the New Canaan Winter Club. Mike has also been Hockey Director for the Rinks at Shelton and SoNo Ice House and Travel Hockey Coordinator for the Fairfield Ice Academy. Mike’s most important contribution to youth hockey the area been through the creation of the longest running, successful spring hockey program, CT United Spring Hockey (originally known as CT Flames). Founded in 2011, this 10-week, professionally coached program focuses on skill development that isn’t possible during a regular-season schedule with regular games. https://ctunitedhockey.com/ Mike's dedication to our young hockey players is both generous and inspiring to watch. contact info   privatehockey@gmail.com, 203-912-0873


Dominic Civitano

Coach


Dominic Civitano started playing hockey when he was 7 years old for the Westchester Vipers travel team moving on to play for the CT Jr. Rangers, finishing his youth career with Elite Hockey Academy as a leader in goals scored and face-off wins. Since 2020 Dom has been playing in the EHL for the CT Roughriders, Protect Jr Ducks, Ct Chiefs, and Valley Jr Warriors. Dom brings energy, passion and a keen eye for offensive tactics to his coaching style.

Devin Edgerton

Coach


Devin Edgerton is a highly motivated entrepreneur and retired professional hockey player from Saskatchewan, Canada. Throughout his 17-year pro career, he established dozens of high level relationships with international dealers from Easton, CCM, Bauer and Warrior. Devin played junior hockey with the Humbold Broncos and turned professional in 1991. Devin spent the next five season playing in the East Coast Hockey League and the International Hockey League. He played for the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds, Wheeling Thunderbirds and Peoria Rivermen among others. In 1996 Devin left North America to spend the remainder of his career in the European leagues. He moved to the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga in 2006 with EC VSV where he played two season before retiring in 2008. As a Centerman Devin accrued over 900 points in his 17 year career. 

Devin also coaches teams, clinics, camps, and lessons at Twin Rinks, home of Connecticut’s premier spring hockey program, the CT Breakers. Established in collaboration with DYHA, Twin Rinks programming, and the CT Breakers provide players the opportunity to train with top-end coaches in a travel hockey environment while still allowing them to play spring sports. More information on the CT Breakers program can be found here: Twin Rinks Stamford – Where champions are born.


John Fahey Jr.

Coach


John Fahey Jr. joined DYHA from the Norwalk Roughriders where he was most recently coaching in the PeeWee ranks. He has been a youth travel coach for the past seven years, including stints at Greenwich and CPCT, with teams ranging from Mites to Bantams. John grew up in the Stamford Sharks program and played 3 years for Stamford High School where he was Captain his senior year. John’s specialty is developing young players skills and passion for the game of hockey. John is a USA Hockey Level 5 certified coach. 

Chris Furtak

Coach


Chris Furtak grew up in Fairfield County, played youth hockey for New Milford Youth Hockey, attended New Fairfield - Immaculate and went on to play Varsity hockey for Manhattanville College before transferring to the University of Connecticut. Following graduation, he attained his master’s in history-Education from UConn, and made hockey his career, working for Blueline Sports. He spent four years as an Assistant Coach for New Canaan High School and has coached Squirts for DYHA since 2015 and is currently Head coach of Squirt AA team. Chris is a USA Hockey Level 3 certified coach.

Chris also coaches teams, clinics, camps, and lessons at Twin Rinks, home of Connecticut’s premier spring hockey program, the CT Breakers. Established in collaboration with DYHA, Twin Rinks programming, and the CT Breakers provide players the opportunity to train with top-end coaches in a travel hockey environment while still allowing them to play spring sports. More information on the CT Breakers program can be found here: Twin Rinks Stamford – Where champions are born.

Andrew Furtak

Coach


Andrew Furtak learned to skate at Darien Ice Rink under the tutelage of Jamie Tropsa and Al Gurney and their Blueline Hockey Academy. His youth career was spent with New Milford Youth Hockey and Western Youth Hockey. Andrew played high school hockey for New Milford/Immaculate and ACHA club hockey for Western Connecticut State University. Andrew has coached Squirts for DYHA since 2015 and is years currently Assistant coach of Squirt AA team. Andrew is a USA Hockey Level 3 certified coach.

Andrew also coaches teams, clinics, camps, and lessons at Twin Rinks, home of Connecticut’s premier spring hockey program, the CT Breakers. Established in collaboration with DYHA, Twin Rinks programming, and the CT Breakers provide players the opportunity to train with top-end coaches in a travel hockey environment while still allowing them to play spring sports. More information on the CT Breakers program can be found here: Twin Rinks Stamford – Where champions are born.

Paul Hammer

Coach


Paul Hammer grew up in Minnesota and earned All-State and All-American honors playing for Aurora Hoyt Lakes High School. He was a 4-year letter winner at Boston College where his 1978 team was a Finalist in the NCAA Division I National Championship before playing professionally in Europe for a year. He has been involved in coaching with the DYHA since 1996 and has a USA Hockey Level 4 coaching certification.

Andrew (AJ) James

Coach


Andrew (AJ) James played his youth hockey at Mid-Fairfield from Squirts through Midgets earning a trip to three USA Hockey National Tournaments. He played for Trinity Catholic High School for a year before attending Trinity Pawling where he played varsity hockey and lacrosse. AJ pursued lacrosse in college at Clark University where he played for four years. AJ has been helping teach hockey at STR since he was sixteen and has worked with DYHA for the past few years in the House program and with Bantam AA.

Bob Mazzone

Coach


Bob Mazzone has been a DYHA coach since 1994 and led the DYHA’s mini-mite program from 1995 – 2005. He has also served as Head or Assistant Coach on several mite, squirt and Ice Cats teams. More recently, Bob has been a coach at both the Mite and Squirt levels and has led multiple teams to CHC state titles. Bob was a Captain and earned All-League honors at Wakefield High School before playing a PG year at Phillips Andover Academy. He played four years of JV Hockey at Harvard, serving as Captain his senior year. Bob is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach.

Seth Michelson

Coach


Seth Michelson brings fifteen plus years of power skating & hockey skills instruction to DYHA and ICE CATS. Seth Prior to coming to DYHA, Coach Seth spent three years at the Sono Ice House, where he coached at the Mite through Midget level. Before that, he spent time with the CT Ice Cats & Greenwich Panthers. Coach Michelson is the Powerskating Instructor at Stamford Twin Rinks and runs Michelson Power Skating offering individual and group training. He specializes in skating proficiency and stride development. Players who work with Coach Seth see dramatic improvement in their balance & stability along with their speed & agility, all of which translates to more confident hockey player.

Seth also coaches teams, clinics, camps, and lessons at Twin Rinks, home of Connecticut’s premier spring hockey program, the CT Breakers. Established in collaboration with DYHA, Twin Rinks programming, and the CT Breakers provide players the opportunity to train with top-end coaches in a travel hockey environment while still allowing them to play spring sports. More information on the CT Breakers program can be found here: Twin Rinks Stamford – Where champions are born.




John Miserendino

Coach


John Miserendino Originally from Southbury, Connecticut, John began coaching hockey during his HS senior season with the WP Indians and over the last decade has established himself as one of the premier youth coaches in Connecticut. John has successfully coached at all levels of youth hockey from 8U-18U as well as High School, coaching Wilton High School to their most successful seasons since their inception. John has professionally served as Director of Hockey Operations for several local rinks including Danbury Ice Arena, Sono Ice House, and currently for Stamford Twin Rinks. He has also served as program director for several notable programs including the New York Rangers Assist program and Hockey in Norwalk Foundation. For DYHA, John serves as Mite Development Coordinator and Head Coach of Mite A, a role in which he oversees the development of DYHA’s youngest stars.

John is also the Director and coach for Twin Rinks Clinics, Summer Camps, and Connecticut’s premier Spring Hockey Program, the CT Breakers. Established in collaboration with DYHA, Twin Rinks programming and the CT Breakers provide local players the opportunity to train with top-end coaches in a travel hockey environment while still allowing them to play spring sports. More information on the CT Breakers program can be found here: Twin Rinks Stamford – Where champions are born. John can be reached at 203-968-9000 x 14, or found at the Hockey office at Stamford Twin Rinks!



Chris Nelson

Coach


Chris Nelson Chris Nelson is the former Head Coach of St. Joseph High School and heads teams at the Bantam and Midget levels for DYHA, as a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach. Prior to joining DYHA in 2019, Chris led teams with the CT Riverhawks organization. In addition to coaching his teams, Chris ran skills clinics for the Development League at the Shelton Rinks and many of the hockey camps there. His local youth hockey was played at Mid Fairfield from Mites through Midgets, so Chris is very familiar with the landscape of CT youth hockey. Fifteen years of private skill instruction for players from beginner to professional levels, gives Chris the skills-based focus required to help players excel both individually and as a team.

Jimmy Newman

Coach


Jimmy Newman

Buzz Olson

Coach


Buzz Olson began coaching at the DYHA in the 2009-2010 season. He currently serves as head coach of the PW A team and assistant coach of the DYHA Midget Minor White team. Buzz is also the assistant coach of the King School’s varsity hockey team.

He began his youth hockey coaching career in 1982 at Mid Fairfield Youth Hockey. He has since coached a total of 51 teams at all age levels in 6 different organizations located in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He has been USA Hockey Level 4 certified since 1995. He was Co-Head Coach of the varsity hockey team at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan from 2017 to 2021.

Buzz was a three-year varsity starter at Phillips Academy in Andover MA and a member of the Harvard Freshman and Junior Varsity teams. He was a three-time Colorado State Speed Skating champion and one year Rocky Mountain Speed Skating Champion.



John O'Neill

Coach


John O’Neill is a product of Ithaca, NY, and Greenwich, CT, a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach and former Level 4 official. He spent 2 years coaching in the Greenwich Jr. Hockey League as well as 1 year assisting Laura Stamm power skating, 5 years with the Winnetka, IL youth program and 2 years with Minneapolis Youth Hockey. Since returning to Darien in ‘91, he spent 5 years as a head coach with the Darien Sr. House program and 2 years with Rising Stars and since 2001 has been a Head or Assistant coach from Mites to Midgets in DYHA with a brief pause from 2011-14. John spent 4 seasons as the Assistant Varsity coach at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan. John has been the Assistant PW A coach since 2015 and currently Assistant Varsity Coach at F.A.A. Champion King School.

John also coaches teams, clinics, camps, and lessons at Twin Rinks, home of Connecticut’s premier spring hockey program, the CT Breakers. Established in collaboration with DYHA, Twin Rinks programming, and the CT Breakers provide players the opportunity to train with top-end coaches in a travel hockey environment while still allowing them to play spring sports. More information on the CT Breakers program can be found here: Twin Rinks Stamford – Where champions are born.




Peter Moseley

Coach


Peter Moseley

Billy Santora

Coach


William “Billy” Santora is a Stamford native whose youth hockey experiences included playing for the Mid-Fairfield Blues (State Champions), Stamford Sharks, New England Nighthawks, and the CT Yankees. Billy played four years of high school hockey at Stamford High School where he was named Captain and earned All-State honors as a defenseman. Since graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 2018, Billy has coached for the Stamford Sharks and the CT Jr. Whalers at the Bantam and Peewee levels, respectively. He credits his passion for teaching hockey to the coaches he played for when growing up including Rosario Mallozzi, Clark Jones, Dave LoPresti and Eric Lind. Billy holds a Level 2 USA Hockey Coaching Certification and will gain his Level 3 over the course of the 2020-21 season. When not on the ice, Billy enjoys playing golf and fishing the Long Island Sound.



Darius Souza

Coach


Darius Souza is a Rhode Island native who grew up playing for the Providence Capitals. He played two years for LaSalle Academy before playing U16 and U18 in the USPHL for the South Shore Kings. Darius is a four-year member of the ACHA Division II Sacred Heart hockey team. 

Darius also coaches teams, clinics, camps, and lessons at Twin Rinks, home of Connecticut’s premier spring hockey program, the CT Breakers. Established in collaboration with DYHA, Twin Rinks programming, and the CT Breakers provide players the opportunity to train with top-end coaches in a travel hockey environment while still allowing them to play spring sports. More information on the CT Breakers program can be found here: Twin Rinks Stamford – Where champions are born.




Matt Stack

Coach


Matt Stack has been coaching DYHA Midgets for the past 8 years. He played professional hockey with the Adirondack Ice Hawks of the United Hockey League, the “AA” affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes. In college he was a two-sport captain in hockey and lacrosse at New England College and helped lead the Pilgrims to three championships in eight seasons, with two finals defeats. In 2015 he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at New England College. Matt's passion lies in the development of the complete hockey player, on and off the ice. Matt is USA Hockey Level 4 certified and currently 11 of his students have been drafted into the NHL and he has helped coach and train numerous prep school, Division I/III, professional and Olympic athletes. Matt is currently the Project Manager within the Construction Dept at Shoreline Pools. Prior to Shoreline, Matt helped launch both BlueStreak Sports Training in 2004 and Chelsea Piers Connecticut in 2012. Matt currently resides in Darien with his wife Tanya, and three beautiful children, Bryce, Avery, and Dylan. Hockey has been a life-long passion of Matt's and now gets to enjoy watching his children as they matriculate through DYHA / Ice Cats as a proud hockey dad! 



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