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Fall 2011 Coaches
* coaching information subject to change
Dennis Bresingham — Peewee 3 (NIHL)
The Chicago Hawks are proud to have Dennis Bresingham join the club's coaching staff. Dennis brings a solid level of playing and coaching experience to the Chicago Hawks coaching staff. Dennis grew up playing youth hockey locally for various Tier II clubs in the area in addition to playing Varsity Hockey at Saint Laurence High School and playing on the Illinois State University Club Team. He coached at Saint Laurence High School from 1988-1994 as both Head Junior Varsity and Assistant Varsity Coach. He also served as a Head Coach at various levels for the Orland Park Vikings Organization from 2000-2009. Dennis brings a great deal of enthusiasm to our NIHL Peewee 3 team offering a solid approach to establishing the basic foundations of skating, shooting and passing.
Tyson Fraser — Mite 4 (NWHL)
The Chicago Hawks are happy to have Tyson Fraser coaching again for the 2011-2012 season. This past spring, Tyson was co-head coach of the Mite 3 team alongside Brett Varchetto. Prior to this role, he coached the Silver Mites and Learn to Skate programs for the Hawks. He grew up playing youth hockey in western Canada, progressing to Junior A Tier II (British Columbia Junior Hockey League) and ultimately receiving a full hockey scholarship from the University of Notre Dame. After college, Tyson went overseas to play for the Coventry Blaze, a start up franchise in the now Elite League of England. He has coached in the Central States Hockey League at the Bantam level as well as locally for various Huskies teams at the Squirt and Pee Wee levels. Tyson brings an extremely enthusiastic and solid approach to our program with an emphasis on the basic foundations of skating, shooting, passing and having fun - "Sweaty heads and smiley faces!"
Mike Glowa — Peewee 5 (NWHL)
The Chicago Hawks are happy to welcome Mike Glowa as their NWHL Peewee coach. Mike played youth hockey with the Downers Grove Huskies, then played four years of varsity hockey at Lyons Township High School, serving as captain his senior year. He played Junior "A" hockey with the Peoria Mustangs and Chicago Force, and attended the University of Central Oklahoma, where he made the transition from offense to defense and was the assistant team captain for four years. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry Health Science, and was drafted by the Madison Ice Muskies and played for the Indiana Blizzard and Chi-Town Shooters of the AAHL. He served as an assistant coach for Lyons Township’s JV team for a season and has served as an instructor in several youth hockey clinics.
Willis Griffin — Peewee 2, Midget 2 & 3 (Midget Major & Midget Minor Tournament Teams)
The Chicago Hawks are proud to welcome back Willis Griffin to the club's coaching staff. Willis brings a solid level of playing and coaching experience to the Chicago Hawks coaching staff. He grew up playing youth hockey in Toronto, then played for the Mimico Monarchs, Junior B team, the Oshwa Generals Junior A team and the OHL, all in Canada. For nearly 15 years, he’s coached for numerous high schools and hockey clubs in Texas and Colorado, as well as for Northern Illinois University and the Sabres Youth Hockey Club locally. Willis’ coaching philosophy is to fine tune skills around his players’ abilities. While in Colorado, he coached teams to three state championships and a national championship.
Jon Grzbek — Mite 5 (NWHL)
The Chicago Hawks welcome Jon Grzbek as their NWHL Mite coach. Jon played for the Huskies before attending Marist Catholic High School, where he was hockey team captain. He played center for DePaul University and was team captain for three years. A business major, he works for Follett Corporation and resides in Downers Grove with his wife Karen. His coaching credentials are extensive and include coaching for the Hawks, where his sons AJ, 10, and Ryan, 7, play. At the high school level, Jon has coached one Blackhawk Scholarship Winner, 28 showcase invitees, four All-State Players, and 16 High School All-Star Players. In 2008, his team placed 2nd in the Blackhawk Cup Championship and was Cougar Cup Champion. He has led three teams to Final Four appearances in the Blackhawk Cup. Jon is active in hockey-related charities and is currently a board member of ICE – InnerCityEducation.
Kris Koski — Midget 1 (CSDHL Midget Minor)
Kris Koski is very excited to be returning to the Chicago Hawks for his third season of coaching. He has had the pleasure of playing at many different levels, for some excellent coaches, who had a positive impact on his life. He looks forward to a great season while helping individuals to develop not only as hockey players but, also as young men who carry themselves in the appropriate manner while having fun playing the great game of hockey. In his hockey playing days, Kris played for the Danville Wings Junior "A", Sault Ste. Marie Indians Junior "A" and Michigan State University. In addition to coaching for the Hawks, he has coached for the Chicago Steel Junior "A" and the Chicago Young Americans AAA.
Brandon Lewandowski — Mite 3 (NIHL)
The Chicago Hawks are proud to welcome back Brandon Lewandowski to the club's coaching staff. Brandon played youth hockey for 13 years for the Downers Grove Huskies, the Oak Lawn Saints and the Chicago Mission AAA. He played one year for Naperville Central High School where he was selected for All State team and received the All State MVP. He also had the honor of being chosen for the 2001 Illinois showcase team. In the spring of 2011 Brandon was the assistant coach for the Hawks Mite 2 team. He also has assisted brother, Justin Lewandowski of the Chicago Mission AAA, with several clinics and camps.
Jimmy McKeague — Mite 2 (NIHL)
The Chicago Hawks are happy to have Jimmy McKeague coaching again for the club for his third year in the 2011-2012 season. Highlights of Jimmy’s playing career include making the Illinois High School All-State team, the Metro West High School All-Star team, and a Purdue University All-American Team selection. His previous coaching experiences include the Hawks A-2 head coach and Mite NIHL Bronze head coach, where they finished second, Chicago Mission AAA summer skills clinics and high school varsity and junior varsity assistant at WVHC. He is currently a level 3 coach pursuing his level 4 certificate this fall.
Bob Niemann — Peewee 4 (NWHL)
The Hawks are proud to welcome Bob Niemann to the coaching staff. Bob grew up playing hockey in Burnsville, Minnesota, starting on outdoor rinks and then playing with Burnsville Blaze travel teams. He started coaching in house squirt and mite teams in 2007, and in 2009 he was the assistant coach for the Huskies Pee Wee 3 NIHL team. In in 2010 he was a Hawks assistant coach on the Pee Wee 2 NIHL team and the Bantam 3 NIHL team, and coached the Squirt 4 2011 spring team. Playing hockey were some of the best times in Bob's life, and he believes in team play, basic skills, and working with players on an individual basis to improve and become better players. He is passionate about hockey and coaching brings him great joy!
Paul Peseski — Squirt 4 (NWHL)
The Chicago Hawks are proud to have Paul Peseski join the club's coaching staff. Paul brings an extensive level of playing and assistant coaching experience. Paul grew up playing his youth hockey locally for the Huskies and Park Ridge Express. He was a 3 year varsity player for Naperville Central. Additionally, he was voted to the all-national team while playing for Arizona State University. Paul has also served as a volunteer, assisting Hawks Hockey Director Kyle Kotrba with various duties including tryouts, Learn to Skate programs, and as an assistant with various camps and clinics. He brings an extremely enthusiastic approach to the NWHL Squirt 2 team, offering a solid approach to establishing the basic foundations of skating, shooting and passing.
Keith Pfister — Bantam 3 (NIHL)
The Chicago Hawks are proud to have Keith Pfister join the club's coaching staff. Keith grew up playing youth hockey locally for the Franklin Park Jets/Flames organization. He then played junior A hockey in Colorado in the now defunct America Frontier Hockey League. This season will be Keith's 12th year of coaching youth hockey. During this time, he has guided his teams to multiple league and state titles, with numerous organizations in Northern Illinois. Many of his former players are now playing at various levels of junior and college hockey, throughout North America. He brings an extremely enthusiastic approach to our organization, offering his knowledge of developing individual skills, in a team-first environment.
Marc Rogers — Bantam 1 (CSDHL Bantam Major)
The Chicago Hawks are proud to have Marc Rogers join the club's coaching staff. Most recently Marc spent 4 years coaching with the University of Illinois D2 ACHA program, including 2 years as head coach. He grew up playing youth hockey locally for various Tier II clubs in the area including the Hawks while the program was based out of Bridgeview. In addition, he played for the Chicago Chill and was a drafted by the NAHL's Texarkana Bandits. Instead of playing junior, Marc decided to attend the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and played for their D1 ACHA program. After his playing career was cut short by injuries, he started coaching with the University's D2 program spending the last 4 years at various positions including as an assistant, co-head and head coach. Marc brings an extremely enthusiastic approach to our coaching staff team, offering a solid approach to establishing the basic foundations of skating, shooting and passing. Additionally, Marc is dedicated to teaching young players to see the ice as the play develops and how to compete for space. The goal is for his players to move on to higher levels of hockey as individuals that can contribute in AAA and Junior programs.
Tony Rossi — Silver Mite Director
The Chicago Hawks are proud to add Tony Rossi, Jr, back into the coaching mix. Tony has previously coached for five years at Mt. Carmel High School, one year at St. Laurence High School, four years at Naperville Central High School, three years for the Chicago Hawks' Mite 1 Team, and most recently, has been involved in the Silver Mite program. Tony has his Master's Coaching Certification through USA Hockey. His Masters' topic was "Teaching Defense in Youth Hockey.” He has run defenseman clinics and enjoys teaching those skills. Tony has been involved in playing for the Chicago Saints, the Homewood-Flossmoor Cardinals, the Chicago Junior Blackhawks, Mt. Carmel High School, and the Miami University Club Team. Tony enjoys working with young players to help them develop the basic skills needed to move on to the next levels.
Rocky Saganuik — Mite 1 (NIHL) and Squirt 1 (NIHL)
The Chicago Hawks are proud to welcome back Coach Rocky Saganuik. Rocky grew up in Canada where he played youth hockey, and played in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins. Rocky has been coaching and teaching ice hockey for the past 36 years. In 2003 he received AHAI Coach of the Year Honors, and is currently an AHAI Coaching Instructor for Illinois Hockey Coaching Certifications and a NIHL Mite Development Director. Prior to joining the Hawks in 2009, he served as the Director of Youth Development for the Huskies Hockey Club.
Ryan Skvarenina — Squirt 3 (NIHL)
The Hawks are happy to welcome back Ryan Skvarenina as the Squirt 3 coach for the 2011-2012 season. Growing up, Ryan played for several youth hockey organizations including the Hawks and Team Illinois. He then played four years of varsity hockey at Fenwick High School. Previously, he has served as head coach for four years at Hinsdale South, and a season as the J. V. head coach at Lyons Township. Ryan also spent two previous seasons with the Hawks coaching at the midget and bantam levels as well as helping with the learn to skate program.
Michael Smolen — Squirt 2 (NIHL) & Bantam 4 (NWHL)
The Chicago Hawks are proud to welcome back Coach Mike Smolen for another season with the club. Growing up, Mike played youth hockey for numerous local clubs including the Willow Spartans, Chicago Saints AAA, Randhurst Flames Junior A and Park Ridge Hornets Junior A. He has coached with Hawks for 13 seasons at the Mite, Squirt, Peewee and Bantam levels, also coaching power skating, goalie clinic and learn-to-skate in-house programs. He has led three teams to NIHL Championships and President’s Cups Awards, two state championships, and one National Championship. He also coached for Team Illinois and Thunder Hockey.
Brett Varchetto — Squirt 6 (NWHL)
The Chicago Hawks are proud to welcome Brett Varchetto to their coaching staff. Growing up, Brett played youth hockey for several local clubs including the Flames out of Franklin Park and Glen Ellyn, and the Chicago Hawks out of Saint Spectrum, as well as the St. Joseph High School junior varsity and varsity teams. He helped coach the Franklin Park Panther's Northwest Mite in the early 90's and has coached for the Hawks’ Learn-to-Skate and Learn-to-Play programs. He coached Hawks’ Silver Mite teams in the fall '10 and winter '11 seasons, the Hawks Spring '11 Mite-3 SWHL team and the Maple Leafs Mite/Squirt Spring '11 in-house team.
Peter Volpe — Bantam 2 (CSDHL Bantam Minor)
The Chicago Hawks are happy to have Pete Volpe coaching again for the 2011-2012 season. During his playing days, Pete played AAA as a midget, playing in the US Midget Nationals in 1977. He competed in Junior Hockey U.S. Junior B Nationals in 1978, and played NCAA hockey with UIC in 1981. Pete has been coaching hockey since 1996, coaching at the Central States level since 2002. Before joining the Chicago Hawks, Pete coached for the Huskies and the Chicago Blues. While at the Blues he coached to three State final games, winning one State Championship, the Midwest regional championship, and competed in the U.S.A. Hockey nationals.
Mike Whalen — Peewee 1 (NIHL)
The Chicago Hawks are happy to welcome back Mike Whalen for the 2011-2012 season. Growing up in the Chicago area, Mike played hockey locally as a youth with the St. Jude Knights organization and high school hockey at Mt. Carmel High School, serving as team captain his senior year. He went on to play four years of varsity hockey at Lake Forest College, serving again as captain his senior year. He began coaching youth hockey in 2005 with the Birmingham Hockey Association in Birmingham, MI, and has coached within Chicago Hawks organization since 2007.
