2019 TNW Coaches

2002/03 Team Black – HEAD COACH – PAUL LEIGH

Paul is a native of Long Beach, California. Between the California Wave and DYHA Jr. Sun Devils programs, he’s guided his teams to a number California Amateur Hockey Association and Arizona Amateur Hockey Association State Championships. 

He has had great success at the State and National level, that included:

• 2019 AAHA Midget 16U Tier II State Finalist

• 2018 AAHA Midget 16U Tier II State Champions

• 2018 AAHA Midget 16U Tier II League Champions

• 2018 USA Hockey National Tournament Apperance

• 2018 AZYHL Bantam A State Champions

• 2016 CAHA Peewee Tier II State Champions

Paul brings a commitment to excellence which transcends to his players, as he has assisted many players onto AAA, Prep School, and Tier II & III juniors. This is Pauls second year with Team Northwest!

2002/03 Team Black – ASSISTANT COACH  – NICK GREEN

Nick Green is a Level 4 USA Hockey certified coach in Phoenix, Arizona.  Nick grew up in the Detroit area playing hockey since an early age.  His love of hockey growing up sparked a passion to coach and continue involvement in the sport.  He believes in skill development as the key to progressing in the sport at any age.

Nick has coached for the past nine years beginning in recreational leagues, A, and AA levels in Arizona. Nick began coaching travel teams at the Arizona Hockey Union.  Nick has coached the past three years at the AA level with the Desert Youth Hockey Association (DYHA) Jr. Sun Devils.  Nick was an assistant coach last year with the 16U AA Jr. Sun Devils and will continue in that role for the next season.

Nick was an assistant coach with the 14U AA Jr. Sun Devils during their Arizona Tier II State Championship and USA Hockey Tier II Nationals bid in the 2017-2018 season.

Nick is also a Team Northwest coaching alumni and has coached with TNW in Calgary and Canmore, Alberta at the 2002 and 2003 birth year level.

2002/03 Team Red – HEAD COACH – NICK FUHER

Nick is a Team Northwest 1981 birth year alumni, originally from Grand Forks, North Dakota. He has been coaching for Team Northwest over 11 years. Nick played the 2001-2005 seasons for the University of North Dakota, appearing in the 2005 NCAA National Championship game. Nick played in the AHL with the Utah Grizzlies 2004 -2005. After his hockey career, he began coaching with the Lincoln Stars (USHL), and Winkler (MJHL) before joining the Penticton Vees, a Jr. A  hockey team in the BCHL, of which he was with for 3 seasons. Nick currently is the assistant coach for The Rink Hockey Academy in Manitoba, CA. We welcome Nick back to Team Northwest again this summer!

2002/03 Team Red – ASSISTANT COACH – KYLE HANSON

Kyle is a Minnesota native that has a passion and love for the game of hockey. He grew up playing hockey in the Rochester, MN area.

He has been the assistant coach for Rapid Fire AAA 2000 team from 2002 to 2016 and also was an assistant and head coach for the Rapid Fire AAA 2002 group from 2012 until present. This is Kyles 1st year with TNW!

2004 HEAD COACH – TAYLOR SHAW

Taylor just finished up his first season as Assistant Coach for the Gillette Wild Junior Hockey Team of the North American 3 Hockey League. He also served as the Youth Skills Director for the Gillette Youth Hockey Association in Gillette, Wyoming. Before arriving in Gillette, Taylor spent the previous three seasons as an Assistant Varsity coach with Proctor Boys High School Hockey Team in Proctor, Minnesota. He has also served as the Head JV coach the last two seasons as well as the Goalie Coach since arriving in 2015. In addition, he served as the Goalie Clinic Coordinator for the Proctor, Twig and Mirage Youth Hockey Association.

A native of Sartell Minnesota, Taylor was a goaltender for the Sartell High School Hockey Team from 2009-2012. During his tenure, he earned honors as a conference player of the week, section 6A honorable mention as well as “Most Improved Player.” Upon graduation, he moved on to attend the University of Minnesota – Duluth to further his education. He graduated in 2016 with a Minnesota Teaching License in Grades 5-12 Social Studies and earned a minor in Coaching as well. Following graduation, Taylor was hired as an economics teacher at Minnesota Connections Academy where he has been teaching since 2016. He is also currently attending Michigan State University’s Graduate Program while pursuing a Masters of Art in Education with concentrations in Sports Coaching and Leadership as well as Literacy Education.

Having started his coaching career while still attending Sartell High School, he spent time volunteering with the Sartell Youth Hockey Association during monthly goalie clinics. In 2014, Taylor served as a Bantam Coach for the Duluth East Youth Hockey Association of Duluth, Minnesota. Taylor then went on the be a volunteer Assistant Coach and Goalie Coach for the Proctor Boy’s High School Hockey team during the 2015-2016 season. During this time, he developed and implemented a bi-weekly goalie clinic for the Proctor, Twig and Mirage Youth Hockey Association. Following the 2015-2016, he was then moved into a full time position as the Assistant Varsity and Head Junior Varsity Coach of which he has currently held the past two seasons.

2004 ASSISTANT COACH – CORY WARD

Cory played his youth and High School hockey in Proctor, MN graduating in 1994.  Cory and his two children, Reece and Riah (both hockey players) reside in Proctor.  After High School Cory went on and played two years in the NJCAA.  Cory was named Captain of both his High School and Junior College teams and credits his leadership skills to some quality coaches he had along the way. After his two year stint in the NJCAA he returned home to finish his schooling at the University of Wisconsin Superior.  Cory began his coaching career at the age of 20. He spent his first 16 years coaching all levels with the Proctor Area Hockey Association and the past 7 years he has served as an assistant Varsity coach for the Proctor Rails.  Cory has also coached the 2002 Northern Storm AAA and in the MN Super Series. 

2005 HEAD COACH – BRAD MCCAUGHY

DYHA Coach-in-Chief, Hockey Director
Brad McCaughey
(DB Hockey Link)

After a successful 4 year college hockey career with the University of Michigan, center Brad McCaughey was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1984 and played over 200 career games of professional hockey.

Over the course of five years, Brad played in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League, and East Coast Hockey League. During his career, Brad played for the Sherbrooke Canadiens, Peoria Rivermen, Springfield Indians, Adirondack Red Wings, and Toledo Storm, before ending his playing days with the Phoenix Roadrunners.

In a total of 4 seasons, Brad’s playing stats are as follows:

  • 224 games
  • 114 goals
  • 118 assists
  • 232 points
  • 70 minutes in penalties

After his playing days, McCaughey went into coaching, getting his first job in the 1996-97 season with the Alaska Gold Kings of the West Coast Hockey League.

After a season in Alaska, Brad took over as head coach of the Phoenix Mustangs franchise in 97-98, guiding them to back to back playoff appearances in 1998 and 1999.

McCaughey also competed in inline hockey as a member of the Anaheim Bullfrogs for three seasons from 1993-95.

Brad got into Coaching youth hockey when his kids became of age and has been busy ever since. He has worked his way into his current position, which is the Hockey Director for the DYHA Jr Sun Devils in Tempe, AZ. This is Brads 1st year with TNW!

2006 HEAD COACH – BRAD FEDERENKO

Playing career –
92-97 UMD Bulldogs, Captain 96-96
97 -02 ECHL , Jacksonville, Greenville, Baton Rouge
03-05 SPHL Orlando, Jacksonville

Coaching Career –
Coach 05, 06 Team MT 2015-Current
Coach Billings Jr Bulls High School 2015-Current
Coach 05 Team Northwest last season in Duluth, MN

Rod is currently Running General manager of Centennial Ice Arena Billings, MT, Skills Director for BAHL This is Brads 2nd year with Team Northwest!

   2006 ASSISTANT COACH – JERRY PICKAR

Coach Pickar grew up playing hockey in Duluth, MN and played at Duluth East High School 1982/83 and  at The College of St. Scholastica 1983/84. Jerry then played at Northern Michigan University 1983/84, In Marquette, MI.

He coached in Washington state for 17 years and was the founding coach of Everett youth hockey. He has coached beginners through 18U AAA.

Jerry has been a goalie coach last 15 years – coaching many of the top AA and AAA Goalies from the Pacific NW into AAA 16U, 18U as well as Junior B, Tier III and Tier II as well as ACHA Club hockey. He participated as guest goalie coach for Everett Silvertips of WHL in 2016 and 2017. The last few years, he was the lead Goalie Coach for Everett Youth Hockey association as well as the Co-Head Coach and Head Coach of the Everett Jr. Silvertips AA 18-U. He managed and coached both boys and girls AA and AAA, bringing teams to Minnesota on number of occasions – 2017 and 2018 teams participated in Spirit of Duluth Tournament; Managed Seattle Junior Hockey Association 1996 birth year team for  Bantam Minor AA team that  attended USA Hockey National Tournament.

Both his daughter Saville and son Luke played hockey. Saville played AAA 19U in British Columbia at Pursuit of Excellence and in Detroit for Little Caesars earning scholarship to NCAA Division I Lindenwood University.  Luke played AAA 14U in Seattle leading his team to USA National Tournament, Tier I League AAA 16U in Chicago, NAPHL AAA 18U in Anaheim and NAHL in Corpus Christi before going on to college. Luke also participated with Team NW 1996 birth year. We are very happy to have Coach Pickar on board TNW!!

2007 HEAD COACH – CLAY VANDIEST

Clay spent 5 summers as a player for Team Northwest AAA Hockey. Recently graduated from St. Norbert College. He was the 2018 NCAA Elite 90 Award Recipient and graduated from Notre Dame Prep School, Wilcox, Saskatchewan.

Athletic Accomplishments:

  • National Champion, 2010 Team Montana U-16 AA
  • National Champion, 2018 St. Norbert College NCAA Division III
  • 5 Sport Athlete in High School—Hockey, Football, Baseball, Lacrosse, Track
  • Captain of 3: Hockey, Football, Baseball
  • Football: Team MVP, 1st Team All-Conference
  • High School Hockey:
  • Team Captain of AAA Hounds


Junior Hockey:

Portage Terriers & Virden Oil Capitals (MJHL)

2013-2014: Best Defensive Defenseman

College Hockey:

  • 4 National Tournament Appearances (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
  • 3 Frozen Four Appearances (2016, 2017, 2018)
  • 2 National Championship Appearances (2016, 2018)
  • 1 National Championship (2018)
  • 3-Time Academic All-American

Coaching:

  • 2016: Head Coach of 2002 Green Bay Hornets U14 Team
  • 2016: Assistant Coach of 2005 Team Northwest AAA
  • 2018: Head Coach of 2003 Team Northwest AAA
  • 2019: Head Coach of 2007 Team Northwest AAA
  • 2019: Assistant Coach of St. Norbert College Men’s Division III Hockey Team

2007 ASSISTANT COACH – DEREK WINTERS

Derek grew up playing youth hockey in Deerfield Illinois and then went on to playing AAA hockey for Team Illinois and the Chicago young Americans.  He left Illinois in his sophomore year to play prep school hockey for the prestigious, Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts.

Derek resides in Hayward, Wisconsin with his family. He has coached for Hayward Youth Hockey for the last 7 years were his team has taken 3rd and 2nd in state the last two years at the squirt age.  Derek has his level 4 coaching certification and this is Dereks 3rd year with Team Northwest!

2008 HEAD COACH – ROD ALDOFF

In 2012, he was named the head coach of the Minnesota Wilderness of the Superior International Junior League in which he led the team to the league championship and a trip to the Canadian Junior hockey national championship RBC Cup. In 2013, he was hired as the head coach of the Pensacola Ice Flyers in the Southern Professional Hockey League and again led the team a championship in his first season. After winning his second SPHL championship in 2016, he was hired by the Edmonton Oilers to be the head coach of their ECHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, for the 2016–17 season. However, the Oilers then sold the Admirals prior to the season and the new ownership relieved Aldoff of his duties after 17 games in Norfolk. He stayed on with the Oilers in a scouting capacity while he was also rehired by the Ice Flyers as head coach in February 2017. He left the Ice Flyers again at the end of the season to return to his duties with the Oilers. Aldoff returned as head coach of the ice flyers for a third time for the 2018-19 season. This is Rods 5th year with TNW!

2008 ASSISTANT COACH – CHARLIE HOST

Playing:

  • 1991-93: Played for the North Iowa Huskies – USHL
  • 1993-97: Played for the University of Denver Pioneers 

Broadcasting:

  • 2000-05: Radio game-analyst for University of Denver Pioneers
  • 2005-Present: Current television game-analyst for University of Denver Pioneers on Altitude Sports & Entertainment Television

Coaching:

  • 6 seasons coaching youth hockey within the Littleton (CO) Hockey Association (LHA)
  • 2017-18: Co-Head Coach LHA Squirt A President Team 
  • 2018-19: Assistant Coach LHA Squirt AA Team
  • Upcoming 2019-20 Season: Named Head Coach of the LHA u11AA Team
  • This is Charlies 1st year with TNW!