Director of
Hockey Operations and GM Mike Spadafora announced today the restructuring of
the Hamilton Huskies Hockey Operations Department, “over the past few months we have worked
diligently to put together a group of individuals to execute the mandate that
will shape the future of our hockey club” The Hamilton Huskies Hockey Club will continue to expand the Hockey Operations department over the next few months and beyond. This group will implement and oversee all aspects of the Hockey operations of the Hamilton Huskies Hockey Club, more details to come in the coming weeks.
Director of Player & Coach Development
Robert Kitamura
·Amateur Scout – Tampa Bay Lightning (2011 – Present)
·Director of Central Scouting and Player Development - Ontario Hockey League (2005-2011)
·Director of Operations Team Ontario U17- 3 Gold, 1 Silver (2008-2011)
·Experienced AAA Hockey Coach and Hamilton Huskies Alumni
Director of Player Development
Jeff Toole
·Hamilton Bulldogs OHL Training Camp Coach (Rookie and Main Camp) 2017 and 2018
·Hamilton Junior Huskies Jr. Blues Director of Player Development
·High Performance 1 Certified Hockey Coach. Course Facilitator/Conductor for the ALLIANCE Hockey
·Team Alliance U-16 Gold Cup Head Coach 2016
· Team Alliance U-16 Gold Cup Asst Coach 2015
· Turek Elite Hockey League Coach
· Several years of experience as an Instructor with Pro Hockey Life Academy
· Winner of the 2018 Wismer Award for High School Coaching Excellence
· Several years as a AAA and AA Head Coach within the Hamilton Huskies.
Player Development
Anthony Herrington
· Golden Horseshoe Scout – Oshawa Generals (OHL)
· High performance 2 Coach Certification
· Hockey Canada Skills Academy Teacher/Operator
· Hockey Canada Certified Skills Coach
· Several years of coaching at the Minor Hockey and High School levels of Hockey
Player Development
Rich Vrataric
· 2nd round Draft OHL Draft pick. Played in the OHL from 1994-1997. C.I.S. - Men’s Varsity Ice Hockey Team Member, Brock University, Jr. B - Niagara Falls Jr. B Sutherland Cup Champion
· NCCP Hockey Instructor with over 20 years of Coaching and Development Experience working with multiple Hockey Associations and players across the City of Hamilton and Golden Horseshoe
· High Performance 1 Coach Certification
· Certified Fitness Instructor
· Hamilton Huskies Alumni
The Hockey Operations Department will oversee the following:
· Coach Recruitment and Selection
· Player Evaluation and Selection
· In Season and out of Season Player Development
· Procurement of Development Resources
· Implementation of coaching and specialty clinics
· The overall player experience from a Hockey Perspective
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Development team that is supporting the Hamilton Huskies for the 2018-2019 season:
Kelly Reed (Kelly Reed Hockey) – Hamilton Huskies AAA Development
Pro Hockey Life Academy – Hamilton Huskies AA Development
Jeremy Bloomfield (3D Hockey Development) – MD Development
Grainger Goaltending Development – AAA, AA and MD Goaltending Development
Mike Walsh – 7 and 8-year old Huskies Development Program and Coach Mentor to our Minor Atom AA and Novice MD programs
Yours in Hockey,
Mike Spadafora
Director of Hockey Operations
General Manager