Coaches & Staff
Mite Head Coaches
Chris Shabbott
Mite A Gold
- 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
Mite A1 Blue
- 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
Mark Mongillo
Brian Hopper
Squirt A
Check out our 'Mite Head Coaches' section above to read Coach Hopper's bio!
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Pee Wee Head Coaches
Pat Thompson
Pee Wee AA
- 10 years coaching experience
- USA Hockey Level 4 Certified
- Competitive Background: Hamden Hall Hornets (NEPSAC), SCSU (ACHA)
- Current Occupation: Branch Manager at Graybar, Boys' Coordinator and Coach at Milford Youth Lacrosse
Assistant Coaches
Greg Goldspink | Chris Smith
Tim Carr
Pee Wee A
- 11 years of youth hockey coaching experience
- USA Hockey Certified
- Competitive Background: Hingham Youth Hockey, Hingham High School (Hingham, MA)
- Coaching Background: Fairfield Ice Academy Assistant Director 2012-2020, USA Hockey Player Development Program (Atlantic District) 2014-2015, King School (Stamford, CT) Varsity Assistant Coach 2016-2017, Southern CT Stars 2020-2021
- Coaching Focus: Skill Development
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Eric McCabe
Bantam Head Coaches
Mike Warhola
Bantam A
- 8 years coaching experience
- USA Hockey Level 5 Certified
- Coaching Experience: 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
Assistant Coaches
Austin Allen
Midget Head Coaches
Sam New
18U Clippers TB
- 5 years coaching experience (Staples High School Boys, Southern Stars)
- USA Hockey Level 4 Certified
- Offensive-minded coach who specializes in powerplay and offensive zone setup
- Competitive Background: Southern Stars (2016 National Champion), Staples High School (All-FCIAC First Team, CHSCA All-State First Team), University of Tampa (ACHA)
- Current Occupation: Staples High School Boys Hockey Coach, Founder and Director of New Line Hockey, Student at Sacred Heart University
Assistant Coaches
Dave Canfarotta
Chris Godek
Brendan Labanara
18U Midget Open
- Youth Hockey Coach in Massachusetts
- USA Hockey Level 3 Certified
- Competitive Background: Connecticut Clippers (Original Program; Tier II), Branford High School (four-year letterman)
- Current Occupation: Attorney at Law (Branford, CT)
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UNIVERSAL COACHES
Dave Canfarotta
Head Skills Coach / Director of Player Development
- 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
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
- 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
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
Staples Wreckers
Fairfield Co-op Mustangs
Milford Co-op Mariners
ND Catholic Lancers (Fairfield)