The Burlington Eagles are thrilled to announce the Head Coaches for our AAA teams for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The Hockey Committee has worked hard to ensure the best possible candidates are able to lead our teams next season with both new and returning Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches to our AAA roster. The Eagles would like to introduce:
U10 AAA – HEAD COACH – MIKE SMITKO
Mike is a dedicated and
passionate hockey coach with a rich background in the sport. Mike grew up in
the Burlington hockey community, playing his youth hockey for Burlington City
Rep Hockey Club. At the age of 15, he made the jump to play for his hometown
Burlington Cougars for 4 years before continuing his career as a defenseman for
the Potsdam Bears in the NCAA. During his time at Potsdam, Mike graduated with
degrees in Communication and Economics. Mike brings a wealth of experience and
knowledge to his coaching role. His coaching philosophy centers around the “Performance
Equation.” As Mike puts it, “When developing young players, you need to
understand who they are as individuals, identify the right set of skills they
need to work on, and ensure they bring maximum effort with the right attitude
every day. Ensuring the player is in the right role and environment is what
truly creates and develops a high-performance culture.” He emphasizes teamwork,
discipline, and continuous improvement, creating a positive and supportive
environment where players can grow both on and off the ice. Under his guidance,
the Burlington Eagles U9 Tier 1 team has seen significant development and
success. In January 2025, the team competed in its first full-ice tournament
with 32 Tier 1 teams from throughout Ontario and parts of North America,
finishing 2nd in the elite sniper division. Mike is committed to helping each
player reach their full potential, both as athletes and individuals. His
approach is tailored to meet the unique needs of each player, ensuring they
build confidence, improve their skills, and enjoy their hockey journey.
U10 AAA – ASSISTANT HEAD COACH – MICHAEL DALEY
With over a decade of experience coaching elite-level
teams, Mike is returning with our 2016 AAA team for the 2025-26 season, after
coaching the Burlington Eagles U16 AAA team in 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons. Previously
Mike has coached in the OJHL with the Oakville Blades, Toronto Patriots and
Brantford 99er’s. While coaching with Brantford 99er’s, Mike and his coaching
staff were awarded Coach of the Year in the OJHL. Mike’s teams have won
multiple division titles and regular season championships during 2015 - 2018.
While coaching with the Oakville Rangers, Mike’s teams also won three straight
OMHA U18 AAA championships from 2009-2011. Mike takes extreme pride in player
development and helping young athletes achieve their goals. He believes that
players learn best when they are having fun and encourages his athletes to push
beyond their comfort zone. A believer in playing fast starts with thinking
fast, Mike spends a lot of time helping athletes problem solve rather than
provide answers. Since beginning his coaching career Mike has seen 3 of his
former players reach the NHL level while countless more have received NCAA
scholarships or signed with OHL programs. Michael is now circling back to the
younger age group and is looing forward to helping players in his hometown
exceed expectations and achieve their goals.
U11 AAA – HEAD COACH – RYAN HEAD
Ryan was born and raised in Burlington, where his
passion for the game of hockey began as a player for the Burlington City Rep
Hockey Club. After a successful minor hockey career, Ryan took his talents and
skills to play for Brock University. He eventually finished his hockey career
with the Brock University Badgers (USports). Ryan has been a part of the Eagles
Organization as a player, trainer, Assistant Coach and continuing as a Head Coach.
In the last year under Ryan’s leadership, his Eagles’ team has won 5 tournaments:
the Oakville Showdown in O-Town, the Halton Hills March for the Hills, the
Flamborough Sabres Classic, Richmond Hill Mary Parkinson Memorial, and most
recently the Niagara North Front Row Classic. Ryan prides himself on developing
hockey players, not just on the ice, but off the ice as well. Ryan's focus is
developing a high intensity hockey program, while at the same time creating a
fun learning environment, allowing the next generation of Burlington Eagles to
cultivate their passion for hockey.
U11 AAA – ASSISTANT HEAD COACH – KRIS SCHMIDT
Originating from Mississauga,
Ontario, Kris began his hockey path with the Mississauga Senators in the GTHL.
He expanded his experience with teams in the QMJHL, including the
Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Drummondville Voltigeurs, and Prince Edward Island Rocket,
as well as a period with the Mississauga Chargers and North York Rangers in the
OJHL. Transitioning to academia, he played for Brock University while earning
an honors degree in business finance. After enduring career-ending injuries,
Kris shifted to coaching, where he imparts lessons on mental resilience and
prioritizes the well-being of young hockey players. His journey through junior
and university hockey has shaped him into a knowledgeable and passionate mentor
dedicated to player development.
U12 AAA – HEAD COACH – CONNOR JAMES
Connor grew up and played minor hockey in Calgary,
Alberta. He was drafted in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the LA Kings while
playing on scholarship at the University of Denver, where he went on to win the
WCHA Championship in 2002 and the NCAA National Championship and
Student-Athlete of the Year award in 2004. From there, Connor played 12 seasons
professionally in the AHL with the Manchester Monarchs and the Wilkes-Barre
Scranton Penguins and in the NHL with the LA Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins. He
then played 7 seasons in Germany in the DEL before retiring from professional
hockey in 2016. Connor also represented Team Canada at three separate
Deutschland Cup Tournaments. Throughout his career, he was fortunate to play
under several great coaches such as Todd Richards, Dan Bylsma, Mark Messier,
Todd Reirden, Bruce Boudreau, Andy Murray, and Jim Hughes. Connor continues to
pass on the knowledge he gained from his own mentors to the next generation of
hockey players with the 2014 age group. His mission is to help develop his
players' skills while they continue to have fun during their time at the rink.
U12 AAA – ASSISTANT HEAD COACH – JORDAN HENRY
Jordan played his youth and minor hockey in Western
Canada where he was drafted into the Western Hockey League to the Moose Jaw
Warriors. After playing with Moose Jaw and Red Deer, he went on to play 13
years professionally, amassing over 700 games. This included stops in the AHL,
KHL, SM Liiga, Allsvenskan and ECHL. After retiring, Jordan transitioned to
coaching and served 1 year as an assistant coach and 3 years as a head coach of
the Mississauga Reps Hockey Club U16 AAA in the GTHL before joining the U18 AAA
Eagles as an Assistant Coach. In addition to being an Assistant Coach with the
club, Jordan works as a development instructor for Shield Performance and is
the founder of Henry Hockey Ltd. His passion is working with young defensemen
to develop their foundational skills.
U13 AAA – HEAD COACH – KEVIN ELKINS
During Kevin's twenty-years of being involved in coaching, he has
worked at many levels of hockey from U12 AAA minor hockey to the OJHL Junior A
level. Kevin's main focus has always been individual player development and to
provide players with the tools and confidence necessary to continue to grow and
reach their goals both on and off the ice. Kevin’s been fortunate over the 20
plus years to work with many outstanding players that have moved on to higher
levels of hockey including many that have or will move onto a pro career including
this year’s top draft pick Matthew Schaefer. His coaching experience includes
many levels of rep hockey: U17 Team Ontario Regional Programs, Appleby College,
and Junior levels while also being a Hockey Canada Certified High Performance 1
Hockey Coach. Kevin's passion and love for the game is instilled in his players
as they come to the rink with the purpose of becoming a better hockey player
using player development, team play and creating a fun environment.
U13 AAA – ASSISTANT HEAD COACH – PETER LEBLANC
Peter was born and raised in Hamilton Ontario, where he played all
of his minor hockey and junior years. He was offered a scholarship from the
University of New Hampshire at 15 while playing for the Hamilton Reps 15 AAA
team. He played his next two seasons with the Hamilton Red Wings, where Peter
earned Rookie of the Year honours and was named to Team Canada East. He was
drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006 while playing Jr. A, and was one of only
a few players drafted from that league. During his four-year tenure at UNH, he
earned a political science degree and was named captain in his senior year.
Peter was named to the NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament team in 2009. In
2010, he played his first professional season with the Rockford IceHogs of the
AHL and the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, where he was named to the All-Star
team. In his 2nd season as a professional, he led The IceHogs in goals and was
named the team's Unsung Hero for the 2011-12 season. Peter ended up getting
traded to Washington and played for the Hershey Bears where he played an NHL
game with the Washington Capitals. Peter then went to Europe and had seasons in
Sweden, Finland, Austria, UK, and Germany. After his playing career, Peter
became the Head Coach of the 2014 Hamilton Steel team for 2 seasons where the
team participated in the OMHA Championship tournament as well as being
finalists in 6 tournaments through the 2 seasons. Peter has really enjoyed
staying in the game and tries to use his experiences as a player to help
communicate with the players and elevate their game to their full potential.
U14 AAA – HEAD COACH – ALLAN ROURKE; U15 AAA ASSISTANT HEAD COACH
Allan grew up in Mississauga playing in the GTHL for the
Mississauga Reps for 6 years. Allan was drafted in the 3rd round, 1996 OHL
Priority Selection as an underage player to the Kitchener Rangers. He went on
to play there for 4 years and in 1999-2000 led the OHL in goals by a defenseman
with 31 and was a 2nd All Star team. He
was drafted in the 6th round in 1998 by the Toronto Maple Leafs where Allan went on to play 10 years
professionally with 659 career games including NHL/AHL/DEL - NHL stops include
Carolina, New York Islanders and Edmonton. Allan has coached many minor hockey teams in the
Greater Toronto Area from U12 AAA up to U16 AAA for over 10 years and is a
Development 1 Certified and High Performance 1 Certified Coach. Allan uses his playing and
coaching experiences to develop young players in his programs both on and off
the ice. Allan is returning for second year as a Head Coach with the Burlington
Eagles and the 2012 age group.
U15 AAA – HEAD COACH – JASON PINIZZOTTO; U14AAA ASSISTANT HEAD COACH
Jason played minor hockey in the GTHL with the Don Mills Flyers
and Mississauga Reps. He played for the OJHL Oakville Blades before being
drafted to the OHL's Barrie Colts in the 3rd round, 47th overall. He played two
years in the OHL for the Barrie Colts and St. Michael's Majors before returning
to Junior A Couchiching as a 20-year-old, scoring 140 points to lead Canadian
Junior A Hockey, and the third highest point total ever in an OJHL season. He
continued to play at York University for 4 years where his team won the OUA
Championship in 2003 and competed at the CIS National Tournament in 2003 and
2004. Jason then began his professional career in 2005 in Germany, where he
continued to play for a total of 13 seasons in the DEL and DEL2. He won the
DEL2 championship in 2015 and officially ranks 2nd in DEL2 all-time goal
scoring. Jason finished his professional hockey career in 2018 with 717 career
games played and has been coaching rep hockey since. He is returning for his
third season with the 2011 AAA Eagles.
U16 AAA – HEAD COACH – JEFF ADAMS
As a former Eagle and a native of
Burlington, Jeff has spent more than 15 years helping minor hockey players
achieve their hockey goals. Jeff has been involved in the U16 year/program nine
times and has helped over 35 players achieve their goal of being drafted to the
OHL. Jeff has also been involved with the OHL/OHF U16 program as a coach and
evaluator. He is now eager to help prepare and progress the 2010 age group
prior to the OHL draft season. Additionally, his teams have won two OMHA silver
medals, one gold medal, and a GTHL Championship. Jeff brings a wealth of
knowledge in both player and coach development. He has also spent some time
with the Brampton Bombers Jr. B hockey club as an Associate Head Coach. Jeff is
a Hockey Canada High Performance 1 Certified Hockey Coach. In 2009, Jeff was
proud to receive the Coach of the Year award from the Burlington City Rep
Hockey Club.
U16 AAA – ASSISTANT COACH – ZACH LAWRENCE
A native of Burlington, Ontario,
Zach brings a wealth of high-level playing experience to his coaching career.
Zach’s Junior career began in Junior B with the Ancaster Avalanche before moving
on to the St. Catharines Falcons, while continuing to develop his skills at a
high level in the GOJHL. His success in Junior B led to an opportunity to
compete in Junior A with the Burlington Cougars and Toronto Patriots in the
OJHL. His abilities earned him the opportunity to play at the NCAA level for
Marian University, where he was instrumental in helping the team capture a
conference championship. His experience competing at a high level of collegiate
hockey provided him with a deep understanding of the game’s tactical and mental
aspects. Now, a dedicated coach, Zach utilizes his firsthand experience to
develop players both technically and mentally. His ability to translate his
knowledge from Junior and NCAA hockey into effective coaching strategies makes
him a highly sought-after mentor. With a focus on skill development, hockey IQ,
and leadership, Zach is committed to shaping the next generation of elite Eagles
players.
U16 AAA – GOALIE COACH – BRANDON LAUR
Brandon is a
native of London, Ontario but resides now in Burlington. He developed his
passion for goaltending while playing for the London Jr. Knights organization.
Over the past decade, he has dedicated his coaching time to the Burlington
Eagles, specializing in developing goalies as they prepare for their draft
year. Since joining Jeff’s staff, Brandon has played a key role in assisting
goalies reach their full potential, contributing to the success of eight OHL
draft picks and others advancing to U.S. college hockey.
U18 AAA – HEAD COACH – ROSS SLOAN
With years of playing
experience and a profound commitment to his players, Ross brings a high level
of knowledge, passion, and integrity to his coaching career. Growing up in
Oakville, he played with the Oakville Rangers at the AAA level throughout his years
in minor hockey. With his desire to play NCAA hockey, Ross went on to play at the
Junior level with the Mississauga Chargers for one year, followed by returning
to Oakville for 2 years and playing for the Oakville Blades. He then secured a
commitment to play NCAA hockey with Plattsburgh State University, where during
his 4 years with the team, he was named Captain for both his Junior and Senior
years and was also the 2-time recipient of the Chip Grabowski Award for
'demonstrating supreme sportsmanship, leadership, hard work and dedication’. Immediately
following his graduation from Plattsburgh, Ross returned to the Oakville Blades
organization, and spent two years as an assistant coach, which is where he
developed his deep passion for coaching. He then went on to lead the team as
both the Head Coach and General Manager for one season. This past season
Ross was the Head Coach of the Burlington Eagles U16 AAA team, and he looks
forward to the upcoming season with the Eagles U18 AAA. His priority as a coach
is to help his players develop, and truly understand what it takes to play at
the next level. He looks forward to continuing his coaching journey in
Burlington this upcoming season.
U18 AAA – ASSISTANT COACH – SHANE CONACHER
Shane brings a wealth of
playing experience and a deep passion for player development to his coaching
career. A native of Burlington, Ontario, he grew up playing minor hockey with
the Burlington Eagles, competing at the AAA level throughout his youth. He
advanced to Junior hockey with the Burlington Cougars and St. Michael’s
Buzzers, where he played a key role in helping the Buzzers capture the OJHL
Frank L. Buckland Trophy. His strong performance at the Junior level earned him
a commitment to NCAA Division I hockey at Canisius College. After three seasons
at Canisius, Shane took the next step in his career, signing a two-year AHL
contract with the Toronto Marlies. Over the next three seasons, he split time
between the AHL and ECHL, gaining valuable professional experience. Following
his playing career, Shane returned to Canisius to complete his degree and
served as a volunteer Assistant Coach, an experience that ignited his passion
for coaching. This past season, Shane was behind the bench for the U16 AAA Burlington
Eagles, helping develop young talent and instill the skills and mindset needed
for the next level. He is excited to continue growing as a coach and looks
forward to the upcoming season.
U18 AAA – ASSISTANT COACH – GREG CAMPBELL
Greg brings extensive
experience and knowledge to the game, having played at an elite level for over
a decade. He developed through the Oakville minor hockey system, competing at
the AAA level for 10 years before playing an additional year of U18 hockey
alongside fellow coach Ross Sloan. Advancing to Junior A, he spent three
seasons with the Oakville Blades, serving as an assistant captain for two
years. During this time, he earned the honor of representing Team Canada East
at the Junior A World Championships. His dedication and hard work led to a
Division I scholarship at Union College, where he played for four years,
winning two conference championships and making an NCAA tournament championship
appearance. Following his collegiate career, he played three seasons of
professional hockey with the Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL, gaining invaluable
experience that has shaped his coaching philosophy. Last season, he
transitioned behind the bench as an Assistant Coach for the U16 Burlington
Eagles AAA team, bringing his knowledge and leadership to developing young
athletes. Now entering his second season with the coaching staff, Greg is eager
to build on last year’s progress and help lead Burlington to a championship in
the 2025-2026 season.