Atlanta Fire Tier II Coaches Announced!

The Atlanta Fire is pleased to announce the Tier II coaching staff for the upcoming 2012-2013 season.  We believe this is a very strong group of coaches for our Tier II teams in terms of coaching experience and knowledge of the game.  The player’s fortunate enough to play for these men should reap tremendous benefits.  Good luck to everyone at tryouts and for a great season.

Mites

Mike Lozano

• Fifteen years of coaching experience from the Mite level to Division I College.
• Played youth hockey growing up in California.
•  Played Junior A hockey with the Kalamazoo K-Wings.
• Four years of Division I hockey at Canisius College.
• First Assistant Coach at Canisius College from 1995 – 1997.
•  Head Coach of Tier I AAA San Diego Jr. Gulls.  Lead team to Quarter Finals of the USA Hockey Tier I National Championship.
• Head Coach of Atlanta Fire Pee Wee team in 2006 that reached semifinals at the Pee Wee Quebec Tournament. 
• Level 4 USA Hockey Certification.

Squirt 2003’s

Chris Powers

• Eighteen years of coaching experience in the Atlanta area, has coached in the Atlanta Fire program every year since its inception. Has taken nine Fire teams to USA Hockey’s National Championship, three teams to the Pee Wee Quebec Tournament.
• Did a coaching internship with the USA Hockey 18U National Team in Ann Arbor, MI.
• Coached at the 15U USA Hockey National Development Camp in Rochester, NY.
•  Is on the National Board of Directors For USA Hockey.
• Director of the Atlanta Fire Hockey Club.
• Played travel hockey growing up in Ann Arbor, MI.
• Played club hockey for four years at Kenyon College.
• Level 4 USA Hockey Coaching Certification.

Neil Ruffini

• Began playing minor hockey in Michigan.
• Played Tier I AAA hockey for Detroit Little Ceasars, Detroit Compuware, Detroit Honey Baked as well as Junior Hockey for the Motor City Chiefs.
• Was drafted by the Sault Saint Marie Greyhounds in the OHL.
• Three time selection to the USA Hockey National Player Development Camp.
• Played Midget hockey for the Atlanta Fire in the 2004-2005 season for Coach Powers.
• Attended Prep School at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire, and played in the New England Prep Hockey Association.
• Played four years of Division I hockey at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, graduating in 2011.

Squirt 2002

Marcus Gustafsson

• Eight Years of coaching experience the last three years with the Atlanta Fire.
• Atlanta Fire Skill Development Staff Instructor.
• Played Youth; Junior & Senior (semi-pro) for Almtuna IS (Div-1 Sweden).
• Played four years of Division I College Hockey for University of Maine from 1995 – 1999.
• Scored game winning goal in OT to win 1999 NCAA National Championship.
• Played professional hockey with the Vancouver Canucks, Syracuse Crunch; Lowell Lock Monsters & New Orleans Brass.
• Level 4 USA Hockey Coaching Certification & Level 1 Certified Coach in Sweden.
• Marcus was born and raised in Uppsala, Sweden.

Jon Hurd

• Seven years of coaching experience from Mites through Bantams, three years with the Cooler and 1 year with the Atlanta Fire
• Led the Mite ADM Cross Ice Training program at the Cooler
• Played travel and High School Hockey in Ohio
• Level 2 USA Hockey certified
• Born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio
  

Pee Wee Mixed Birth Year

Paul Gwyn

• Five years coaching AARHO.
• Four years coaching at The Cooler.
• Mites thru Bantam, Bantam B.
• Goaltender Coach Bantam 1997AAA.
• Level 3 USA Hockey Certification.
• Played Youth Hockey in Milton MA.
• Paul was born in Quebec City, Que.
  

Bantam Major 1998
Mike Kotas 

• Fifteen years of coaching experience at Squirt, PeeWee, Bantam and Midget AA and AAA levels.
• This coming year will be his ninth with the Atlanta Fire Program.
• Played twelve years of Tier I AAA minor hockey for the Amherst Knights in NY.
• One year of Junior Varsity hockey at Clarkson University.
• Level 4 USA Hockey Certification.
• Mike grew up in Williamsville, NY which is a suburb of Buffalo. 

Bantam Mixed Birth Year

Frank Rabinovitch

•  Ten years coaching experience in hockey, lacrosse and baseball.
• This will be sixth season with Atlanta Fire with duties ranging from statistician, team manager and assistant coach.
• Began playing hockey in 1972 and has played since.
• Level 3 USA Hockey Certification.
• Frank grew up in Spring Valley, NY and Hollywood, FL
  

Midget 16U 

Kevin Rogers 

• Eight years of coaching as Assistant Coach with the Atlanta Fire, Bantam and  Midget AA and AAA levels.
• Played three years of Prep School hockey at Trinity Pawling, in New York.
• Played four years of Division I College hockey at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA.
• Level 3 USA Hockey Coaching Certification.
• Born in Boston, grew up in nearby Southboro.

Midget 18U

Steve Maggs

• Fourteen years coaching experience Mite through Midget, 7 years with the Atlanta Fire
• Played Rep AAA and Junior B in the Toronto area.
• Played Varsity Hockey at Hillsdale College in Michigan.
• Level 3 coaching certification.
• Steve grew up in Clarkson Ontario

Dan Bouchard

• Twenty-three years of coaching experience ranging from minor hockey to college to head goalie coach for the Quebec Nordiques in the NHL
• Selected by the Boston Bruins in the second round with the 27th overall pick in the 1970 NHL draft
• Played 15 years in the NHL for the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames, Quebec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets
• Dan grew up in Quebec City, Quebec