Navy Youth Hockey Is Excited about Coaching Staff for 2021-2022 Season

In preparation for the 2021-22 season, NYH has put together an all-star lineup of coaches who are committed to the NYH’s ladder of development in which we have built our program on, and we look forward to working with them to continue to cement our spot as one of the top development programs in the region.

Coaching Inquiries: If you are interested in coaching for the Navy Youth Hockey Club, please fill out the coaching application and send it to Matt Fleming, Director of Coaching for Navy Youth Hockey.

2021-2022 NYH Skills Development Team:

Zach Arden: Zach is currently about to begin his second season as Director of Hockey Operations for Navy and as the U10 Elite head coach, and first as the U18 Elite head coach. During the 2020-21 season, he led the Squirt team to a CBHL playoff appearance. Additionally, he led the South River High School team to an Eastern Conference Championship in his first season behind the bench. Prior to joining Navy Youth Hockey, Zach played his youth hockey locally for Team and the Little Caps. Zach attended Churchill high school where he was a two-time Washington Post All-Met first team player. Following Churchill, he played junior hockey for the Rochester Jr. Americans in the USPHL, NCAA Division III at Skidmore College, and ACHA Division 2 at the University of Maryland where he graduated with a B.A. in Government and Politics.

Ashley Harper: In addition to serving as the Girls Hockey Director at Navy Youth Hockey, Coach Ashley is on the Board of Directors for the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the governing body for non-NCAA men’s and women’s hockey in the United States. Prior to her time at Navy, Ashley worked closely with the Naval Academy Women's ACHA D2 program, training the goaltenders and teaching new student-athletes.

Matthew Fleming: Matt is embarking on his 17th year of coaching youth and high school hockey and he is entering his 12th season with Navy. Matt has earned his USA hockey level 4 certification. Matt is originally from Yorktown, , and he grew up playing youth hockey in New York and before playing at Binghamton University in the ECHA. Joe Vonakis: Joe, who grew up in Abingdon, MD began his career in the CBHL playing for the Harford Patriots, Youth Hockey, and the Howard Huskies. As his playing career advanced he moved on to play AAA and Junior Hockey for the Little Flyers organization. Joe graduated from Calvert Hall where he enjoyed a great career winning several championships and individual player awards. Joe remains second on the Cardinals all-time scoring list doing so playing large portions of his time there as both a forward and a defenseman. Joe played college hockey in the ACHA Division 1 with Towson University In addition to serving as NYH Hockey Director, Joe was an Asst. Teaching Professional for Tomorrow's Ice and the Mid-Atlantic Selects.

William Seiferth: Will grew up in Columbia, MD and attended Glenelg Country School from 2004-2014 and was a four sport varsity athlete lettering in baseball, hockey, cross country, and track. During his youth hockey career, William played in both the CBHL and the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League with the Tri-City Eagles and the DC Caps AAA. Upon graduation from Glenelg, he took a Post-Graduate year in Exeter, NH where he attended Phillips Exeter Academy playing both Varsity Ice Hockey and Baseball while furthering his education. In 2019 he graduated from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business with a double-major in Finance and Risk-Management and a minor in Sports Management. After working for a year as an Associate Consultant for a Sports Marketing Agency, he transitioned into Wealth Management where he currently works in Leesburg, VA.

Brendan Magner: Coach Brendan started skating at four years old. He played his youth hockey in Saratoga Springs, NY. From grades 8-11 he played with his high school varsity team as a defenseman then shipped off to play at Northwood Prep in Lake Placid, NY. He played three years of Junior A in the AJHL. He played college hockey at Milwaukee School of Engineering where an injury ended his playing days during his freshman season. Coach Brendan works in the Industrial Utilities sector selling for Mobile Air & Power covering metro DC and Virginia. He currently resides in Annapolis with his dog a 130-pound Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Sullivan.

Navy Youth Hockey Elite Coaches 10U - 18U:

U10 Elite ~ Zach Arden: Zach is currently about to begin his second season as hockey director for Navy, second season as the U10 Elite head coach, and first as the U18 Elite head coach. During the 2020-21 season, he led the Squirt team to a CBHL playoff appearance. Additionally, he led the South River High School team to an Eastern Conference Championship in his first season behind the bench. Prior to joining Navy Youth Hockey as Director of Hockey Operations for the 2020-21 season, Zach played his youth hockey locally for Team Maryland and the Little Caps. Zach attended Churchill high school where he was a two-time Washington Post All-Met first team player. Following Churchill, he played junior hockey for the Rochester Jr. Americans in the USPHL, NCAA Division III at Skidmore College, and ACHA Division 2 at the University of Maryland where he graduated with a B.A. in Government and Politics. He has also completed his final year at George Washington University where he is a candidate for a Masters of Science in Sport Management. Zach began his coaching career running skills clinics for local youth hockey players as a lead instructor for the local “Nothing But Net” camps and the Tier-I oriented DC Selects Spring teams. Zach has also served as a team leader at the USA Hockey Southeast District Select Festival. He served as an assistant coach at Team Maryland during the 2018-19 season, helping guide the Peewee Majors to a second place AYHL finish and top 10 national ranking. During the 2019-20 season, Zach worked for the Washington Capitals in their Youth Hockey Development department primarily focusing on expanding the Learn to Play program and growing the game through the Hockey in School program.

U12 Elite ~ Daniel Levey: Daniel is entering his 2nd year of coaching at Navy Youth Hockey. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Coach Levey comes from a hockey background/family. As an offensive defenseman, Daniel was fortunate enough to play varsity for his High School Hockey team. He later went on to play hockey at the University of Kansas where he earned his degree in Sports Management and Business. Daniel is currently Assistant Director of Ticket Operations for the Naval Academy Athletic Association. Coach Levey is coming off of a strong first season behind the bench as his 12U elite team earned second place in the CBHL.

U14 Elite - Steven Sandler: The Navy Youth Hockey organization is proud to welcome Steven Sandler as the new head coach of the 14U Elite team. Coach Sandler began his hockey coaching career with the Little Cardinals and Steve Wirth Hockey Basics in 2014, where he developed his philosophy that hockey fundamentals are the key to developing hockey players. Steven has spent the past three seasons at the Baltimore Youth Hockey Club where he has served as the head coach for 10U, 12U and 14U hockey teams. Furthermore, Coach Steven continues to participate in hockey development camps working with kids at all age levels. Currently, Steven is the operations manager for the Reisterstown Sports Complex where the StevensonUniversity hockey program calls home. Steven has benefited from the opportunity to observe and interact with the Stevenson University DIII men and women's coaching staff for the past five seasons. Steven added, "Having access to college coaches and players has been tremendously beneficial in developing my young players and my coaching style." U16 Elite ~ Paul Lofgren: Paul has been on the ice since he was 6 years old growing up skating on the ponds in Canton, MA where he grew up. In 1995 he began coaching Montgomery Youth Hockey, U/18 and Bantam level teams until 2001. He started the Richard Montgomery High School hockey team and coached until 2016. He was an assistant coach for two years at The Bullis School prior to joining the NYH family in the 2019-2020 season. Paul holds a USA Hockey Level 5 certification. He has served on the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League Board of Directors from 1995 to 2016, serving as President for two terms.

U18 Gold Elite ~ Zach Arden: Zach is currently about to begin his second season as Director of Hockey Operations for Navy and as the U10 Elite head coach, and first as the U18 Elite head coach. During the 2020-21 season, he led the Squirt team to a CBHL playoff appearance. Additionally, he led the South River High School team to an Eastern Conference Championship in his first season behind the bench. Prior to joining Navy Youth Hockey, Zach played his youth hockey locally for Team Maryland and the Little Caps. Zach attended Churchill high school where he was a two-time Washington Post All-Met first team player. Following Churchill, he played junior hockey for the Rochester Jr. Americans in the USPHL, NCAA Division III at Skidmore College, and ACHA Division 2 at the University of Maryland where he graduated with a B.A. in Government and Politics. He has also completed his final year at George Washington University where he is a candidate for a Masters of Science in Sport Management. Zach began his coaching career running skills clinics for local youth hockey players as a lead instructor for the local “Nothing But Net” camps and the Tier-I oriented DC Selects Spring teams. Zach has also served as a team leader at the USA Hockey Southeast District Select Festival. He served as an assistant coach at Team Maryland during the 2018-19 season, helping guide the Peewee Majors to a second place AYHL finish and top 10 national ranking. During the 2019-20 season, Zach worked for the Washington Capitals in their Youth Hockey Development department primarily focusing on expanding the Learn to Play program and growing the game through the Hockey in School program.

Navy Youth Hockey Girls Coaches 10U - 19U Teams:

U12 Girls ~ Ashley Harper: In addition to serving as the Girls Hockey Director at Navy Youth Hockey, Coach Ashley is on the Board of Directors for the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the governing body for non-NCAA men’s and women’s hockey in the United States. Prior to her time at Navy, Ashley worked closely with the Naval Academy Women's ACHA D2 program, training the goaltenders and teaching new student-athletes. Before moving to Annapolis, she served as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division III Stevenson University, helping build the fledgling program as primary recruiter, while training the goaltenders and forwards. Prior to coaching and earning a graduate degree at Stevenson, Ashley was a graduate assistant at NCAA Division I Robert Morris University, where the team earned their first-ever CHA championship. Outside of the collegiate season, Ashley worked at several USA Hockey national and district camps, earning her USA Hockey Level 4 certification in 2013.

U14 Girls ~ Matt Fleming: Matt is embarking on his 17th year of coaching youth and high school hockey and he is entering his 12th season with Navy. Matt has earned his USA hockey level 4 certification. Matt is originally from Yorktown, New York, and he grew up playing youth hockey in New York and Pennsylvania before playing at Binghamton University in the ECHA.

U16/19 Girls Team Skill Coaches: Head Coach TBD. Assistant Coaches include Matt Fleming, Joe Vonakis and Ashly Harper:

Navy Youth Hockey U08 (Mites) Coaching Team

Jesse Masear: Jesse grew up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. After high school Jesse joined the North Battleford North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. During his second year he helped the Stars reach the Royal Bank Cup, Canada’s Junior A Tier II National Championship. The following year Jesse was traded to the Flin Flon Bombers of the SJHL who were subsequently hosting the Royal Bank Cup that year. That year Jesse as recruited to play with the D-I Princeton University Tigers of the ECAC and spent four years playing defense for the Tigers. Upon graduation Jesse moved to Baltimore, Maryland and began his coaching career with the Loyola Blakefield Dons. Fast forward a few years later Jesse was approached to coach the Baltimore Youth Hockey Mite Travel Team. Jesse then moved on to Squirt A with the BYH Stars. Follow the 2013 season Jesse took a break from coaching. However a relocation and sons that showed an interest in playing the game, Jesse started coaching with Navy Youth Hockey Learn to Play and eventually Mite Blue/Gold. Jesse and his family now call Severn Park home and look forward to a great year in 2021-2022.

Jon Mahaffee: Jon grew up in Bowie, MD, and played in the CBHL for the Bowie Ice Hockey Club and the Tri-City Eagles. He was a standout player at Archbishop Spalding High School and helped lead the team to their first-ever state championship his freshman year. Known as a tough, stay-at-home defenseman, Jon began his college career at Duquesne University in , PA before transferring to Towson University. While at Towson he played in two conference championship games and made two ACHA National Tournament appearances. After his playing career, Jon became the Head Coach at Towson University for two seasons and was tasked with rebuilding the program. For his efforts, he was named ECHA Coach of the Year his second season and nominated twice for ACHA Division 1 National Coach of Year. Jon then became the Assistant Coach at the United States Naval Academy for one season and finally rounded out his coaching career as the Head Coach of the Frederick Freeze Junior B program and an Assistant Coach with the Potomac Patriots Tier 3 Junior A program. Jon graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and completed his Master's Degree in Public Administration from DePaul University.

John Camden ~ Coach Camden grew up playing youth ice hockey in the CBHL/DVHL. He was fortunate to play on many talented teams earning various championships in the CBHL and Southeastern Districts. During High School he was a volunteer in-house referee and served as an on-ice assistant to Craig Laughlin and Marsha Perry at their respective summer camps at Benfield Pines Ice Rink. Coach Camden holds a USA Hockey Level IV Coaching certification. Coach Camden has coached each of his three sons at different times during their youth hockey careers, with both Navy Youth Hockey and Broadneck Middle School. He started his coaching journey with Navy Youth Hockey in the fall of 2009, where he was the Head Coach of Pee Wee Rec. For more than a decade Coach John has contributed, not only coaching in several capacities, but as a volunteer in other arenas, such as launching the 1st Annual NYH Golf Classic and volunteering with every Hockey for Heroes event. An endeavor he is especially proud of is to have been part of the team in helping Navy Youth Hockey create a dynamic community partnership with Anne Arundel County to secure outdoor ice at Quiet Waters Park.

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