Coaches & Staff
Mite Head Coaches
Brian Hopper
Mite A Gold
- 15 years coaching experience (LTPH - 18U)
- Former Asst Coach Daniel Hand Boys Ice Hockey Team
- USA Hockey Level 4 Certified
- Competitive background: Mid-Fairfield Stars (two state championships, one regional championship) Snapple Express (Bernieres Tournament Pee-wee world championship), Notre Dame Catholic High School (Fairfield; Senior Captain), Saint Michael's College Purple Knights (NCAA D2)
- Current Occupation: Student and personal Loan underwriter, Coach of Mite Blue A1 and Squirt A team, Wallingford Lacrosse Girls Lightning coach, Yalesville Little League coach
- Coaching Philosophy: There is no greater way to improve as a hockey player than by developing a love and passion for the game. All players grow and learn most when having fun and being challenged appropriately.
Squirt Head Coaches
Christopher Shabbott
Squirt AA
- 7 years coaching experience (House, Mites, Squirts)
- USA Hockey Level 4 Certified
- Competitive Background: Wallingford Hawks, Yale Youth Hockey, Middlesex Youth Hockey, Notre Dame of West Haven (DI State Champion)
- Current Occupation: Meteorologist in the Energy Trade Sector
Brian Hopper
Squirt A
Check out our 'Mite Head Coaches' section above to read Coach Hopper's bio!
Eric McCabe
Pee Wee Head Coaches
JP Shimko
Pee Wee AA
- Milford Ice General Manager
- 9 years coaching experience
- USA Hockey Certified
- Competitive Background: Wonderland Wizards, Joel Barlow Falcons, Canterbury Saints, Ohio State University Buckeyes
- Current Occupation: MIA General Manager, Milford Boys High School Hockey Coach, Team Doritos PW Quebec Coach
Mark Mongillo
Bantam Head Coaches
Jason St. Peter
Midget Head Coaches
Dave Canfarotta
"DC"
18U Clippers TB
- Head PEP Instructor
- 10 Years coaching experience
- USA Hockey Certified
- Competitive Background: Connecticut Oilers, Salisbury Knights, Southern Stars
- Disciplines: PEP, Power Skating, Edge Work, Stick Handling and Shooting Skills, Off-Ice Training
- Current Occupation: Founder and Director of DC Skills, Notre Dame Catholic High School (Fairfield) Boys Hockey Coach
Mike Wahola
18U Midget Open
- 9 years coaching experience
- USA Hockey Level 5 Certified
- Coaching Experience: Fairfield Co-op HS, Riverhawks Mites, Southern Stars Squirts/Pee Wee/Bantam
- Current occupation: Head Coach Fairfield Co-op HS Hockey, Visiting Room Attendant Bridgeport Islanders, Chief Ansonia Rescue & Medical Services
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UNIVERSAL COACHES
Dave Canfarotta
"DC"
Head Skills Coach / Director of Player Development
Check out our 'Midget Head Coaches' section above to read DC's bio!
Rachel Ricca
Head Skating Coach
- Skating Director of Milford Skating School
- 25 years coaching experience
- PSA Member, USFS Member, ISI Member, LTS USA Member, Level 3 USA Hockey
- Competitive Background: USFS competitions, ice shows
- Disciplines: Freestyle, Moves in the Field, Power Skating, Basic Skills, Hockey, Off-Ice Training
- Current Occupation: Skating Director, Cutting Edge TOI Coach, PR for Ricca Autosport Pro Race Team
- Fun Fact: My husband and I manage a pro-race team that travels all over the USA and overseas; the rink and race tracks are my second home!
Pro Crease / Jared Waimon
Head Goaltending Coach
- Quinnipiac University Goaltending Coach (2015-2019) with three of his goaltenders signing NHL contracts - Also was the goaltending coach for first-round NHL Draft Pick, Spencer Knight
- 2X Stanley Cup Champion with the Tampa Lightning serving as the Goaltending Scout (The first former Quinnipiac coach or player to be a part of a Stanley Cup Champion organization)
- Multiple roles within USA Hockey, most recently serving as goaltending coach of the U.S. National Junior Team in 2023
- Trinity College Goaltending Coach which culminated in a D-III National Championship in 2015
- Former prep-school Goaltending Coach at Westminster School, Avon Old Farms, and Salisbury School
- Former collegiate goaltender at Stonehill College and both goaltender and goaltending coach at Sacred Heart University
- Pro Crease instructors have served as assistant and goaltending coaches for a number of prestigious college and university varsity programs, including: Albertus Magnus University, Boston College, Brown University, Cornell University, Trinity College, and the University of Connecticut
Managerial Staff
JP SHIMKO
Club President
Check out our 'Pee-Wee Head Coaches' section above to read JP's bio!
Brian Kim
Hockey Director
- Milford Ice Hockey Director
- 15 Years coaching experience
- USA Hockey Certified
- Competitive Background: North Andover Youth & HS Hockey (MA), Wake Forest University Demon Deacons
- Current Occupation: MIA Hockey Director, Founder and Director of Foundation Hockey, Milford High School Boys Hockey Coach
Other Programs Represented by Our Coaches & Staff
Stormac Wreckers
Fairfield Co-op Mustangs
Milford Co-op Mariners
Notre Dam Prep (Fairfield)
