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MINNESOTA MIRACLE COACHING STAFF

Advisory Staff

Roger Stawski, Program Director

Pete Carlson, Program Advisor

Larry Hendrickson, Program Advisor

Darin Thompson, Program Advisor

Coaching Staff

Ritch Menne, 1999 team head coach

Roger Stawski, staff coach

Eric Knight, staff coach

Rick Wagner, staff coach

Sean Molin, 1998 team heach coach

Dave Larson, staff coach

Chris Johnson, staff coach

 

 

Roger Stawski

Roger is the creator of the Minnesota Miracle program and will serve as the program director. Well versed in all aspects of hockey administration, training and development, he has been active in Centennial youth hockey for many years serving as a referee coordinator, board member and coach. Roger currently serves as the chief financial officer at the National Sports Center and is active in hockey programming and development at the NSC. As a co-founder of the SKI Hockey Clinic, Roger has trained many young skaters on skill development with an emphasis on being a positive role model and mentor. In addition, Roger is a Herb Brooks Training Center Certified Trainer and has coached multiple off-season teams in various leagues and tournaments. Roger played his high school hockey at Columbia Heights where he earned all-conference honors his senior season. A firm believer in a balanced and age appropriate approach to hockey training and development, Roger will oversee the operations and the administration of the Miracle program.

Pete Carlson

Pete is the director of hockey development and arena operations at the National Sports Center/Schwan Super Rink and will serve as a program advisor for the Minnesota Miracle program. In addition to coaching youth hockey, Pete has eight years experience at the high school level. A top level instructor, he spent eight years as a head instructor at the Heartland Hockey Camps before co-founding Peak Performance Hockey Camps and serving as the head instructor of player development. In his role at the NSC, Pete oversees all hockey programming and development at the world’s largest ice arena. Pete played his high school hockey at Eau Claire North earning all-conference and all-Northwest Wisconsin honors. Pete played his college hockey at Brainerd Junior College. A strong advocate of a balanced approach to hockey training and development, Pete will play an instrumental role in the curriculum development for the Miracle program.

Larry Hendrickson

Larry is the program director for the Herb Brooks Foundation and will serve as a program advisor for the Minnesota Miracle program. A long time high school coach, he has taken three different schools to the Minnesota State High School tournament, winning it in 1996 with Apple Valley. Larry currently serves as the USA Hockey Coach in Chief for Dryland Training – Minnkota District. A noted skating and conditioning expert, he has served in this capacity for the University of Minnesota as well as the Minnesota North Stars. Larry also served as the strength and conditioning advisor for the 1980 Miracle on Ice USA Olympic Hockey Team. A national speaker, he has presented workshops on teamwork, motivation and self-defeating behavior. Larry’s two sons, Darby and Dan both played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Darby went on to a successful NHL career with the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche and Dan played professionally as well. A top coach and a long time friend of Herb Brooks, Larry will be instrumental in the curriculum development for the Miracle program.

Darin Thompson

Darin is the manager of hockey development and ice sports programming at the National Sports Center/Schwan Super Rink and will serve as a program advisor for the Minnesota Miracle program. Darin spent ten years as an assistant coach/associate head coach at Bethel University before moving on to Blaine High School where he is currently an assistant coach. Darin has also served as a head coach in the Elite 2 high school program for Section 4. A skilled teacher, Darin serves as an on-ice instructor for the majority of hockey training and development programs at the NSC and is also an on-ice instructor for the Blaine summer training program. Darin played his high school hockey at St. Paul Harding where he earned all-conference honors his senior year. He then went on to Bethel University where he was a four year letter winner and all-conference honorable mention twice. An experienced and versatile instructor, Darin will play a key role in the development of the training curriculum for the Miracle program.

Dave Larson

Dave is a well-known and respected coach with over 20 years of high school coaching experience and will serve as a staff coach, with an emphasis on goaltender development for the Minnesota Miracle program. Dave has worked with many top programs over the years and was a staff coach on the 2001 high school state championship Elk River team. Dave has recently accepted a position with the University of St. Thomas as a staff coach for the women's program. In addition to his coaching experience, Dave is the founder of The Minnesota Goalie Academy and has worked with numerous youth, high school, junior and college goalies. Some of Dave's former students include an USHL MVP and a college All-American.  Dave played his high school hockey at Columbia Heights where he earned all-conference honors his senior season. A strong believer of teaching the fundamentals of the game, Dave will play a key role in the training and development of Miracle goalies and skaters.

Ritch Menne

Ritch is an experienced and versatile coach with over 15 years of coaching experience and will serve as the head coach for the 1999 team. Ritch started coaching in the Centennial Youth Hockey Association at the B bantam level and progressed to the A bantam level where he served four years as head coach.  Ritch then proceeded to the Centennial High School program where he spent six years as a staff coach. Currently, Ritch is coaching for Centennial Youth Hockey at the mite and squirt levels. In addition to his coaching experience, Ritch is active in multiple off-season training and development programs and serves as a lead instructor for many National Sports Center programs. Ritch played his high school hockey at Centennial and also played for Bethel College and the North Suburban Junior Hawks. An USA Certified Level 4 Coach and a strong believer in teaching the fundamentals of the game, Ritch brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Minnesota Miracle program.

Eric Knight

Eric brings over 13 years of coaching experience ranging from mites to high school and will serve as a staff coach for the 1999 team. Eric spent five years with the Totino Grace women’s team as a staff coach and most recently has coached multiple mite level teams within the Centennial Youth Hockey Association. In addition to his coaching experience, Eric is involved with multiple off-season training and development programs and is a Herb Brooks Training Center Certified Instructor. Eric played his high school hockey at St. Bernards and played junior hockey with the North Suburban Junior Hawks and the Rainy River Voyagers. An experienced and versatile coach, Eric brings a technically sound and disciplined coaching approach to the Minnesota Miracle program.

Rick Wagner

Rick brings five years of coaching experience to the Minnesota Miracle program and will serve as a staff coach for the 1999 team. Rick is active in the Centennial Youth Hockey Association and has served as a head coach or staff coach for numerous mite level teams. Along with his coaching experience, Rick has served as a staff instructor for many summer training and development programs. Rick played high school hockey at Centennial and continues to play in various senior leagues in the metro area. A firm believer in teaching the fundamentals of the game, Rick brings a positive yet disciplined coaching approach to the Miracle program.

Sean Molin

Sean brings five years of coaching experience to the Minnesota Miracle program and will serve as a Co-Head Coach for the 1998 team. Sean spent three years as a staff coach with the Bethel University men’s program and for the past two seasons he has served as a head coach at the squirt level in the Centennial Youth Hockey Association. In addition to his coaching experience, Sean is a noted skating instructor and has worked with thousands of youth hockey players on developing a proper skating stride. As a Herb Brooks Training Center Lead Instructor, Sean is also well versed in off-ice training and development. Sean played his high school hockey at Roseville and continued on in college at Bethel University.  A skilled and effective instructor, Sean brings a positive hands-on coaching approach to the 1998 Miracle Team.

Chris Johnson

Chris brings over 15 years of coaching experience to the Miracle program and will serve as a Miracle staff coach with an emphasis on overall player development as well as goaltender development. Chris started his coaching career at Boston University as a coaching assistant winning a NCAA national championship in 1995. Chris then proceeded to the youth level where he was an assistant coach for the Centennial A Bantams. Chris' next stop was Centennial High School where he served as a staff coach as well as the JV head coach. Most recently, Chris coached at the Initiation level for Centennial Youth Hockey. Chris has also been active the past 4 years as an instructor for various youth summer development programs  A goaltender, Chris played his high school hockey at Centennial.  Well-versed in all aspects of the game, Chris brings a strong background of skill training and development to the Miracle program.