Our Executive
President – Ian Gallagher
Vice-President – Owen Pighin
Director of Marketing & Business Operations – Brittany Kirby
Director of Finance – Austin Vetterl
Director of Recruitment – Tim Preston
Meet Our Team
Ian Gallagher
President
Ian has lead the Delta Hockey Academy since its inception in 2004. He designed and implemented the South Delta Secondary Hockey Academy Skills Program and has grown the academy to include 8 competitive teams, 7 of which play in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). Ian is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Delta Hockey Academy with over 25 years experience working with professional and amateur players, including 12 years with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) from 2004 to 2016. Ian earned his Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and taught for 15 years in the Edmonton School District.
Owen Pighin
Vice-President
Owen has been coaching competitive male and female hockey since 1983 and in that time has won 18 championships. He earned the Top Coach Award at the Coca-Cola Classic in Vernon in 2012. Owen was the Vice-President of Female Hockey at North Shore Winter Club and the head skills instructor for female hockey. He earned the NSWC Coach of the Year award in 2001 and again in 2002, and attended the Quebec International Tournament in both years. In 2004 Owen was the Head Coach of Team BC at ESSO Women's Nationals and later that year was selected to coach the all-star team for South Coast Female Amateur Hockey League. Owen is the Head Coach and Operator of West Coast All Stars Skills Training. He has coached with the female program at the Delta Hockey Academy since its inaugural year in 2016. Owen has coached 9 NHL players, over 30 WHL players, over 50 Jr A/Jr B players, over 40 NCAA players and over 15 CIS/U-Sports players. Owen is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach.
Kate Wheeler
Director of Clinic Operations & Business Administration
Kate graduated from Quinnipiac University with a degree in Biomedical Marketing in 2012. She earned a NCAA Division 1 athletic scholarship for the women's hockey team and served as an assistant captain from 2010 to 2012. After graduation, Kate played for the Neuberg Highlanders in the DEC League in Austria for the 2012/2013 season. Kate played for Team Ontario Female Prep in 2005 and was the captain in 2007. She played junior hockey for the Oakville Ice and the Toronto Aeros. Kate also manages operations for the Delta Health & Performance Clinic and is a Certified Hockey Canada Development 1 Coach.
Milan Dragicevic
U18 Prep Head Coach
Milan joined the academy as the Head Coach of Bantam Prep White in 2018/2019. He has an extensive coaching career which includes serving as the head coach of the UBC Men's Hockey Team from 2002 to 2014. He is also the former head coach of Drayton Valley in the AJHL and the Vancouver Giants in the WHL. Milan has strong ties to the Richmond minor hockey community. He is the Director of Development for Richmond Ravens Female Hockey and the Director of Hockey for Richmond Minor. Milan is also the Owner and Operator of Dragicevic Hockey Development. Milan is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach.
Harry Dion
U18 Prep Assistant Coach
Harry has coached male and female hockey for over 30 years. He is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach with NCCP Level 3 Hockey Theory. Harry has coached at the Delta Hockey Academy for many years including E15, Bantam Varsity and Bantam Prep White. Harry was the assistant coach for the Team BC female program at the Canada Winter Games and was a two-time assistant coach for the BC Best Ever male program. He has 4 years coaching experience for the BC High Performance Program and over 7 years of experience coaching with Semiahmoo Minor Hockey. Harry was also a three-time head coach for Team BC Female at the ESSO Nationals.
Mark Taylor
U18 Female Prep Green Head Coach
Mark has a long history of coaching female hockey, most recently with the Greater Vancouver Comets Major Midget female program, where he led the team to 5 straight league titles. In 1976, Mark was named MVP in the BCHL at the age of 17 with 49 goals and 79 assists. He won a national championship with the University of North Dakota in 1980; that season Mark was named to the NCAA all-American team and won MVP (now called the Hobey Baker award). Mark is the second all-time leading scorer in UND history. Following his university career, Mark went on to play 12 years of professional hockey with the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. In his 1983-84 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mark scored 24 goals and 31 assists in 59 games. Following his career in the NHL, Mark dedicated himself to coaching and to building the business once owned by his grandfather – Hockey Hall of Famer Cyclone Taylor. Mark is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach.
Whitney Juszkiewicz
U18 Female Prep Green Associate Coach
Whitney was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, and started her career playing for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and Sr. Women's Hockey with Team Alberta. Now living in BC, Whitney coaches for U18 Team BC while operating Fire and Ice Hockey Development. She brings over ten years of experience working with numerous MHAs in the Lower Mainland, is a Hockey Canada Skills Coach and was a leader in the National Hockey League Coaches Association's (NHLCA) Female Coach Mentor Program. In 2022 she received the BC Hockey Development Award - Coaching and in 2021 was named the Hockey Canada BFL Female Coach of the Year for BC. She returns for her second season as Female U18 Team BC Assistant coach after helping the team win gold at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
Brittany Kirby
U18 Female Prep Black Head Coach
Director of Marketing & Business Operations
Brittany graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree with a double-major in english and history. She played for the UofT women's hockey team, served as an assistant captain for 2 seasons, and was a scholarship recipient of the Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Award of Merit. Prior to university, Brittany played junior hockey for the Connecticut Polar Bears and Taft Prep School in Connecticut in 2007-2008, and for the Pacific Steelers from 2004-2007 where she served as captain in her final season. She coached Team Winnipeg Gold at the 2018 Manitoba Winter Games and continues to volunteer coach at Team BC regional and provincial camps. She is the lead skills coach for the Delta Stars female minor hockey program. Brittany coached our U18 Female Varsity team to a CSSHL Championship victory alongside head coach Owen Pighin in 2018-2019. In 2022 Brittany was named Hockey Canada BFL Female Coach of the Year in BC. Brittany is a Certified Hockey Canada Development 1 and High Performance Coach.
Jordan Mackenzie
U18 Female Prep Black Assistant Coach
Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach
Jordan has over 10 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach with elite athletes. He spent 6 years as an intern and assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Vancouver Canucks. He also worked with the Coquitlam Express (BCHL) for one season. Jordan has a Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching degree with a specialization in Kinesiology. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), NCCP trained level 1, holds a high five certificate, BCRPA fitness theory weight training and personal training, and is certified in CPR and First Aid. Jordan is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Delta High Performance Clinic.
Steven Hodges
U17 Prep Green Head Coach
Steve moved from Yellowknife to Delta to train at the Delta Hockey Academy at 14 years old. After that season with the Wild, Steve was drafted 1st Round, 9th Overall by the Chilliwack Bruins in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft. He scored the 1st franchise goal in Victoria Royals history after the original Chilliwack Bruins Team was sold and relocated to Victoria in his second year with the organization. Steve was then drafted 3rd round, 84th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He was selected to represent Team WHL in the Canada-Russia Subway Super Series and soon after signed a 3-year Entry Level Contract with the Florida Panthers. Steve played his first of 3-years Professional Hockey at the American Hockey League (AHL) level from the age of 19 to 22 before transitioning into his coaching career. He has been a coach with the Delta Hockey Academy since 2019 and has coached our U18 Prep, U17 Prep and U15 Prep teams. He also works with North Delta Minor Hockey. Steven is a Certified Hockey Canada Development 1 Coach.
Rick Lanz
U17 Prep Black Head Coach
Rick's extensive professional career started when he was drafted by the Oshawa Generals in the OHL and played in the World Junior Hockey Championships. He was selected in the 1st round (7th overall) in the 1980 NHL entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks. He played in the NHL for 12 years with the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He played in the World Championships and won a bronze medal in 1984/85. Rick also played in the Swiss Elite League Division 1. Rick has over 15 years of experience as head coach/GM in the IHL, WHL and BCHL and received Coach of the Year Honors in the BCHL. He coached teams to the RBC Cup twice and won it in 2006. He has coached numerous NHL players such as Scott Gomez, Kyle Turris, Milan Lucic, Patrick Weircoich, Mike and Mark Santorelli, Ryan Hollweg, and Brad Hunt. Rick is the Co-owner of Gateway and Hockey.com Amateur Scout for 10 years with the Colorado Avalanche. He is currently an amateur scout for the St. Louis Blues. Rick is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach.
Brent Thurston
U17 Prep Black Assistant Coach & School Liaison
Brent has been playing and coaching hockey for over 30 years. He is active in the Delta hockey community as a coach and on-ice skills instructor. Brent has coached the Bantam Prep, Bantam Varsity and E15 teams at the Delta Hockey Academy. He has also worked as a skills coach at Burnsview and South Delta Secondary. Brent's career highlights include winning the Memorial Cup with the Spokane Chiefs, earning a spot on the First All-Star Team and later being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks. Brent played professional hockey in Sweden. He was the first player in the Canadian National Team program to play for Canada in both Ice Hockey and Inline Hockey, winning two gold and two silver medals. Brent helped design the National Standards Skills Testing program with Hockey Canada and has traveled throughout Canada to assist Hockey Canada and other organizations with on-ice skill evaluations and development. Brent is a Certified Hockey Canada Development 1 Coach.
Austin Vetterl
U15 Prep Green Head Coach
Director of Finance
Austin graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2020 where he competed with the Thunderbirds for 5 seasons earning a total of 107 points in his USports career. Prior to university, Austin played in the WHL for both the Vancouver Giants and the Kootenay Ice. Austin started his coaching career in September 2020 with the Delta Hockey Academy. He is a certified strength and conditioning coach and a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach.
Shawn McBride
U15 Prep Black Head Coach
Shawn was the head coach of the Delta Hockey Academy Midget Varsity team from 2016 to 2018 and the assistant coach of Bantam Prep Green in 2018/2019. He coached Bantam A1 and Midget A1 and went to the provincial finals with both groups. Shawn is also the head coach of the BC Lightning spring program. He is the on- and off-ice instructor with Impact Hockey. Shawn's coaching experience includes working with current NHL players such as Brendan Dillon, Ryan Johansen and Shea Theodore, as well as numerous semi-pro, major junior, and junior hockey players. Shawn is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach.
Zefan Pighin
U15 Prep Black Assistant Coach
Pro Shop & Equipment Manager
Zefan is an alumnus of the Delta Hockey Academy having spent 5 seasons with the Wild. His first two years were with the skills academy before he joined the inaugural E15 team in grade 10. In 2016 Zefan was a contributing member of the U18 Prep Championship team and he moved on to Captain the U18 Prep team in his second year with the squad. After graduation, Zefan played for the Victoria Cougars (VIJHL) and then finished his playing career with the Richmond Sockeyes (PJHL). Zefan is a Certified Hockey Canada Development 1 Coach. He is also a skills coach with the BC Bears program.
Richard Mueller
U15 Head Coach
Richard played 5 years in the Western Hockey League for the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Calgary Hitmen. He went on to play 18 successful years in Europe, including Germany and Sweden. Richard won a total of 5 Championships while playing in Europe. Richard had the honour of being placed on the 2010 Olympic Roster with Team Germany. In 2016, Richard was awarded Frankfurt, Germany “Athlete Of The Year” where he was nominated along side Olympians and World Champions. In 2022, Richard retired from playing his professional career and stepped into coaching. He is the founder/owner of Mueller International Hockey Development. Richard is going into his first year coaching at Delta Hockey Academy.
Mike Aviani
U15 Assistant Coach
Mike played four seasons in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs tallying 235 points over 315 games played. He was an assistant captain in his final two seasons with the Chiefs and in 2023/2014 he was named to the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team. In addition to Mike’s contributions on the ice, he also participated in several charity events in Spokane, helping raise funds for cancer research for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and volunteering at a local homeless shelter – actions that contributed to Mike earning the Humanitarian of the Year Award for two seasons. After his time in the WHL, Mike moved on the play in the ECHL for the Florida Everblades and in the AHL for the Charlotte Checkers, San Jose Barracuda, Iowa Wild and Rochester Americans from 2014-2017. Mike then moved to Europe where he played pro in the EBEL from 2017-2020. He returned to Canada in 2020 to start his coaching career. Mike is a Certified Hockey Canada Development 1 Coach.
Tim Preston
Director of Recruiting & Lead Skills Coach
Tim has worked for the Delta Hockey Academy since 2014. He led the Bantam Varsity team to a CSSHL League Championship and Playoff Championship in 2014. Tim's coaching experience started in 2002 and his specialization spans from teaching and developing young players to the NHL level. Tim was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 1999. He played in the WHL for the Seattle Thunderbirds for 5 years. Tim is the head on-ice instructor at Impact Hockey Development (IHD) and is also the Owner and Operator of the Lightning Spring Hockey Program.
Tyler Chambers
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Yogi Svejkovsky
Skills Coach
Yogi is widely regarded as an expert skill development coach and has a long history of coaching both professional and young athletes. Yogi is the current Skills Coach for the Vancouver Canucks organization. Yogi worked as the Skills Coach for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL from 2006 to 2018. As a member of the Giants coaching staff, Yogi won a Memorial Cup in 2007. Yogi was a 1st round draft pick (17th overall) of the NHL Washington Capitals. He went on to play 4 years in the NHL for the Capitals and Lightning and holds the Capitals record for most goals scored by a rookie (4) in a single game. Prior to his time in the NHL, Yogi was a WHL and AHL Allstar. He served as Hockey Director for Seafair Minor Hockey from 2009 to 2014 and Director of Hockey for the Saint Georges Saints from 2017 to 2019. Yogi is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach.
Kris Beech
Skills Coach & Mental Performance Coach
Kris is the Founder of AIM Mindfulness and is a Certified Mindfulness Instructor (McLean Meditation Institute 2015). He earned a Masters of Science in Sports Management from Ulster University in 2016. Kris was selected by the Washington Capitals, 7th overall pick in the 1999 NHL entry draft. He played 7 seasons in the NHL and AHL for the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Vancouver Canucks. Kris also played 8 seasons in Europe (Sweden, Finland, Czech Rep., Germany, Austria, and N. Ireland). Prior to his career in the NHL, Kris played 4 seasons in the WHL with the Calgary Hitmen, winning the WHL Ed Chynoweth Cup with the Calgary Hitmen in 1999. Kris also won the AHL Calder Cup championship title with the Hershey Bears in 2006. In 2010, Kris won the Swedish Hockey League championship title (HV71). Kris is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach.
Nolan Gallagher
Skills & Strength Coach
Nolan has coached at the Delta Hockey Academy since 2015. Nolan travelled to China in 2018 as the assistant coach of the Bantam Varsity team as they competed against local Chinese hockey teams. Nolan is an alumnus of the Delta Hockey Academy where he played for 3 years before playing in the SJHL for the Estevan Bruins and the BCHL for the Coquitlam Express. Nolan graduated from the Vermillion Fire School in 2016 as a certified fire fighter and first responder. Nolan is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach.
Spencer Bennett
Skills Coach
Sumeet Wareh
Skills Coach
Sumeet is a Certified Hockey Canada Skills Coach and a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach. He has a wide range of playing and coaching experience that includes working as an Assistant Coach/Video Coach with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2019-20, as a Video Coach for the 2019 Team Canada Men’s National Under-18 Team, and as an Assistant Coach/Video Coach with the University of Calgary Dinos Men’s Hockey Team from 2017-2019. Sumeet is also the owner and operator of LAB 9INE, revolutionizing the understanding and implementation of research-based player development. His approach is rooted in performance analytics, which he hopes will redefine the skill development industry. He has experience working with some of the NHL’s best young prospects.
Lynden Sammartino
Lead Goalie Coach
For the past 20+ years, Lynden has been involved with goaltending either as a player, coach or mentor. Lynden started his playing career in Surrey, eventually moving on to play a year of Junior B with the Ridge Meadow Flames of the PIJHL. The following year, he played Junior A for the Yorkton Terriers and went on to win a league championship, break the SJHL shutout record, play for the All-Star Team and be named to the top 35 Terriers of all time. After finishing his last season of Junior, and considering many offers, he committed to attend SAIT in Calgary. As the season approached, he decided to reconsider his decision to pursue his new passion of teaching goaltenders under the tutelage of GDI’s Ian Clark – now the highly acclaimed goaltending coach for the Vancouver Canucks. For the past 6 years he has worked closely with Brady Robinson (Philadelphia Flyers Goaltending Development Coach) teaching goaltenders at all-levels throughout British Columbia, as well as internationally. He is currently the lead goaltending coach with the Victoria Royals (WHL), UBC men’s goaltending coach and owner/founder of The Goalie Group.
Kai McDonald
Goalie Coach
Kai began playing his minor hockey in Coquitlam, finding success in the BC High Performance Programs alongside the provinces top goaltenders. He went on to be recruited by the Penticton Vees, eventually playing his rookie season in the KIJHL and spending time with the Trail Smoke Eaters. In the following season he was recruited to play on the east coast with the Amherst Ramblers and Summerside Capitals. At 19, Kai shifted his athletic pursuits to lacrosse, winning a Junior A National Championship with the Coquitlam Adanacs before attending McGill University where he competed as a student-athlete. Through his experiences as a dual-sport athlete, it helped him understand what it takes to navigate the world of competitive sports. Kai currently works with Lynden as a goaltending consultant with the WHL’s Victoria Royals goaltending development team, and is the head goaltending coach for the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL.
Patrick Chan
Skating Coach
Patrick Chan is considered one of the best men’s figure skaters of all-time. His incredible combination of athleticism, technical skills, and artistry are hard to match. Patrick is an Olympic gold medalist, two-time Olympic Silver medalist, ten-time National Champion, and three-time World Champion. Patrick capped off his illustrious career with a new Canadian record of 10-National titles, and a gold medal for Canada in the Team Event at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Now retired from competitive skating, Patrick continues to captivate audiences around the world.
Aaron Akune
Principal, North Delta Secondary School
Ben Scarr
Vice-Principal, North Delta Secondary School
Christine Niemar
Education Advisor, French & New Media Teacher
Ivan Li
Math & Science Teacher
Brett Willows
Director of Rehabilitation & Physiotherapist
Brett obtained his Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Toronto in 2016 before completing his Master of Physical Therapy from the University of Manitoba. For the last 5 years, Brett has held his National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer designation allowing him to work with recreational to elite athletes in pursuit of their fitness goals. Clinically, Brett has had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings including clinics, gyms and sideline settings, highlighted with his experience as Team Newfoundland’s Physiotherapist at the 2018 and 2019 Canadian National Ball Hockey Championships. While at the University of Toronto, Brett was named a CIS Academic All-Canadian 4 years while playing for the Men’s Varsity Hockey team. Brett’s passion for hockey granted him to opportunity to dress 1 game with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2013) and serve as emergency back-up goalie for the Winnipeg Jets (2017-2018).
Lydia Maxwell
Athletic Therapist & Mental Performance Coach
Lydia completed a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Biomedical Physiology/Kinesiology and Psychology with a concentration in active rehabilitation at Simon Fraser University in 2015. She then continued her education in Calgary as a post graduate student at Mount Royal University where she completed an advanced certificate in Athletic Therapy. In November 2016 she passed her National Board Certification exam with the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association to become a certified Athletic Therapist. Lydia has spent her whole life invested in the sports world. From being a high-level soccer and lacrosse player, youth soccer coach as well as an avid fan of all sports, she always knew she wanted her career to keep her in the sporting world. She runs a private practice in the Delta Health and Performance Clinic. She is also the assistant Athletic Therapist with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Super REX program, working with Canada's top youth female soccer players.
Ayesha Koome
Athletic Therapist
Ayesha completed a Bachelors of Athletic and Exercise Therapy at Camosun College in 2018. She then passed her National Board Certification exams to be a Certified Athletic Therapist and Certified Exercise Physiologist. Ayesha has worked as a therapist in many different environments. She has worked with high performance sports such as with Field Hockey Canada, Langara College and U17 Soccer Nationals. She also has the experience of working with many different conditions such as those with a cancer diagnoses, heart and lung disease as well as spinal cord injuries. As an Exercise Physiologist and Certified Athletic Therapist, Ayesha uses manual therapy, movement assessment and exercise as a rehabilitation tool to help people get back to doing what they love and achieve their goals.