Coaching Staff - Elite Hockey Academy

PETER ALDEN

18U & 16U ACADEMY | NOTRE DAME-BOYS PROGRAM DIRECTOR
14U BANTAM MAJOR | NATIONAL BOUND

Twelve year coaching veteran and former Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) forward, Peter Alden was named the head coach of the 18U & 16U Elite Hockey Academy teams. He enters his fourth season as head coach of the Elite Hockey Academy along with being the President of the Academy

Before coaching, Alden was a Division 1 hockey player. He played his freshman year at UMass Amherst in Hockey East under the tutelage of the legendary Don “Toot” Cahoon. After a year he transferred home to play for Rand Pecknold and the Quinnipiac University Bobcats. He played three years for the Bobcats and was a part of the first team that played in the ECAC in the history of Quinnipiac.

After college he spent four years at the Choate Rosemary Hall School in Wallingford CT, coaching the boys’ hockey program. As a coach, he has developed three NHL draftees and over 20 Division 1 athletes.

Alden was asked about the strategy on building teams for the future at EHA.

“It’s really mostly about building relationships, creating a strong culture and getting quality players who want to be held to a high standard, everyday.” Said Peter Alden

Peter is married to his wife Elisabeth for 16 years. He has two sets of twins Caiden and Connor 12-years-old, Elise, and Emma 6-years-old.

Dallas Derr

PeeWee Minor

Growing up in New Hope, PA, Dallas attended Princeton Day School where he was a four year varsity player. After highschool Dallas Played for the Trenton Habs in the NSHL where he made the All Star Team that went to AAU Nationals in Vegas where they competed against All Star Teams from the WSHL and MWSHL.

The following year he played for the Jersey Shore Wildcats and won the NSHL again going to Vegas to compete in the AAU Nationals. After Junior hockey Dallas attended High Point University for two years then transferred and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University. After his studies he got back into hockey taking a Assistant Coaching job with all boys prep school Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.

During his five seasons there MBA captured One state title and three regular season titles. While coaching with MBA he also coached in the Nashville Jr Preds organization coaching 8u thru 16u while also working with Total Package Hockey where he was assistant coach with the 2009 overseas team that went to WSI in Prague, Czechia.

TYLER ENGLISH

15U PURE | NATIONAL BOUND

Tyler English, originally from Fairfield, CT, has made significant contributions to the hockey community through his achievements and participation in various leagues and teams. He was part of the National Championship-winning Southern Stars team in the 2015-2016 season and later became one of the first to don an Elite Hockey uniform. Tyler was also recognized as an ECEL (Tier 1) All-Star during the 2016-2017 season. He continued his journey with the NY Apple Core after being acquired in a late edition trade from the Junior Flyers, concluding his tenure with the club in 2019. Following this, he pursued higher education at NCAA Division III Johnson & Wales University, where he competed in the NEHC. Tyler’s dedication to the sport and his team-oriented approach have left a positive impact on the hockey community, having played alongside notable figures in the sport such as Tage Thompson and Trevor Zegras during their formative years in the Fairfield County area. He has transitioned to playing Roller Hockey at the Professional Level, competing for prize pots in tournaments across North America. Tyler’s deep roots in hockey stem from his father, Darren, who played at Plymouth State University and was involved in running the Greater Bridgeport Riverhawks Organization. Growing up in this environment, Tyler began learning to coach at an early age, frequently assisting his father during practices and eventually lending a hand to other teams. During his teen years, he further honed his coaching skills by assisting with the Ice Hawks, under the mentorship of Eric Lind and Chris Seifert. With over 23 years of immersion in the game of hockey and coaching experience since the age of 14, Tyler is eager and enthusiastic about helping players achieve their goals and dreams.

Justin Greene

PeeWee AAA

Justin brings enthusiasm, intensity, & a true desire to develop players in the Elite Hockey family to our organization. Justin’s focuses as a coach and skills trainer are on development, growing confidence & competence on the ice in his players, mentoring & leading off the ice, and building a culture players want to be a part of which includes winning & getting to the next level. Justin has trained players from the Mite-Collegiate & Junior Hockey levels in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut , and Pennsylvania. He brings a power skating & situational skills development background to Elite where he will also help develop all ages within our program. Justin grew up playing hockey & growing as a coach on Long Island, NY, in his hometown where he still lives. He also trains hockey players at CORE Hockey in Freeport NY, where his development company “X-Cel Sports” is based out of. Justin holds the highest priority to building relationships with players & their families, pushing his players to be their best, being approachable & communicative on & off the ice, and bringing skill, energy, and passion onto the ice, and in the building with him. Justin has a background as well in entrepreneurship, sales, and marketing and is extremely passionate about growing the game & giving others in hockey greater opportunities. Off the ice you can find him cruising for a ride listening to classic rock or country, digging into a big Italian meal, or running on the beach back home on LI.

MATT IANNUCCI

Mite AA

I was raised in North Branford, CT, where I played high school hockey with North Branford from ’04 – ‘08. Additionally, I played 16U & 18U AAA hockey for the Southern Stars during my high school years, where we won two New England Championships. I look forward to the opportunity to mentor and develop the future generations of hockey. I am eager to contribute to and benefit from EHA’s program to thrive and advance competitively in the sport of hockey.

DEAN MCGLYNN

18U SPLIT SEASON

Coach Dean McGlynn’s extensive background, see the information below.

EDUCATION:

The King’s College, Briarcliff Manor, NY -1985
Yale University- RA- 1986

RELEVANT PLAYING EXPERIENCE:

Acton Sabres, Acton Ontario, Canada- OHL – 1979
Orangeville Stone Crushers, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada- OHL-1980

COACHING EXPERIENCE:

2017-2018 Elite Hockey Program U18 / U16 Asst. Coach
2017-18 Xavier High Boys JV Coach
2010-12 Hand High of Madison Boys Varsity Coach, SCC Championship
1999 New York Jr. Rangers Select Team for Championnats Mondeauix Pee Wee – Quebec City, PQ – Head Coach
1998-01 Connecticut Coyotes AAA Int’l Select Team- Head Coach and GM (Numerous Tournament Championships)
1996-01 Greater New Haven Youth Hockey- Director of Coaching, BOD
1996-01 Greater New Haven Youth Hockey- Head Coach- State Champions
1993-96 East Haven Youth Hockey- Head Coach – 3 State Championships

NICHOLAS JUNKIN

ACADEMY GOALIE COACH

Nick has over 12 year of playing experience as a goalie. He was the goalie coach at CT Jr. Whalers from 2022-2023 and has coached for CT Crease, John Elkin’s Goalie School.

Nick believes every player has their own unique style, and it is the coaches job to help them reach their full potential using whatever style they fee comfortable.

ROB SALZANO

Squirt AAA
16U SPLIT SEASON

Rob grew up playing local youth hockey in Connecticut. He played for Guilford HS ‘92-‘96 and helped bring his team to a DII State Championship. After high school Rob went on to play at the University of Scranton ‘96-‘00. He has been coaching youth hockey for the last 13 years. In 2019 he further pursued his passion and love for hockey and opened SKATE Training Facility in Hamden, CT. Rob spent his last 3 years working with numerous youth hockey players, Mites through Prep School. His reputation has grown for outstanding individual training and skill development. He will be returning to EHA for his second season in 24-25.

“I am looking forward to returning to EHA and to be able to continue to help the great community of players, learn, build and succeed in the game of hockey”, said Salzano.

LUKAS SAMUELSSON

16U & 18U ACADEMY | NOTRE DAME

Lukas Samuelsson enters his first season as the Head Coach of the Under-18 and Under-16 teams at Elite
Hockey Academy. In this role, he will lead and develop players on and off the ice as well as identify areas both
individually and team that played need to improve to be successful. He plans and implements strategies for
the team to be successful during practices and games.

Prior to joining Elite Hockey Academy, Samuelsson was an Assistant and Video Coach for the Reading Royals in
the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) between 2022-2024. In this role, he ran the defense end on the bench
during games, marked videos, at times clipped live game footage and assisted in recruitment. He was also the
Assistant Director of Youth Player Development with the Reading Royals. He led on-ice practices and organized
drills that nurtured specific skills. Samuelsson was part of the support staff to the head coach of the Reading
Royals for the 2021-22 season, aiding the head coach and learning skills under the guidance of Kirk
MacDonald.

After graduating, Samuelsson was hired as the Head Coach for the Junior Varsity Boys Ice Hockey team at
Upland Country Day School. In that role, he conducted drills during on-ice practices and assessed the abilities
of young hockey players to create a supportive environment for the young men to become better players. At
the same time, Samuelsson was aiding the Senior Advisor to the General Manager and the Director of Player
Development, learning how to better understand how to evaluate areas of strengths and weaknesses of a
player as well as gaining knowledge of how video is used as a tool to coach players.

The native of Voorhees, N.J. got his Bachelor’s degree in Business and Sports Management from Western
Michigan University. He played four years of Division I Hockey in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference
(NCHC), under the tutelage of Andy Murray, Pat Ferschweiler and Dave Shyak. He was awarded the Ross-
Dickie Brown & Gold Award during the 2018-19 season, which is awarded to the players that gives 100% as a
team member, student and community member to make his teammates and Bronco hockey better each day.

While at Western Michigan, Samuelsson interned under Murray and Ferschweiler and routinely studied
scouting reports, videos and took part in in-depth conversations of potential hockey players to recruit as well
as assisted with scheduling and using programs such as Exos and Instat. He was also named to the NCHC
Student Athlete Honor Roll for seven of the eight semesters he attended at Western Michigan University.
Before going to Western Michigan University, Samuelsson spent a year in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey
League (GMHL), tallying 24 goals and 12 assists for 36 points in 40 regular season games for the Toronto
Predators during the 2016-17 season. He posted one assist in three playoff games. He was selected to attend
the GMHL All-Star Game and the East/West Conference game.

Growing up in a hockey family, Samuelsson spent time in and out of hockey rinks, watching his father, Kjell,
play in the National Hockey League (NHL) and coach in the American Hockey League (AHL).

“My goal here is to develop and challenge players, helping them advance to the next level. I’m thrilled to be
joining EHA and look forward to working with the staff and players.”

KEVIN SHAND

16U & 18U ACADEMY | NOTRE DAME

Coach Kevin Shand was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kevin left home at age 15 to attend Cranbrook – Kingswood Preparatory, where he finished his high school career in 2013 by winning a Michigan High School state championship. Kevin played three years of junior hockey for a variety of teams in the NAHL and USHL. After Juniors, Kevin attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering, an NCAA Division III Program, where he was a four-year letter winner. Kevin graduated in May 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Finance Minor. Kevin began his coaching career with the Milwaukee Jr Admirals organization where he was a head coach for their Bantam Major and Midget Minor teams for four seasons before moving on to coach 16U at Victory Honda. Alongside working with Elite Hockey Academy, Kevin currently is a scout for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL, and spends his summers training Pro, College, and NTDP players with NAR Hockey in Plymouth, MI.

EDDIE STROSNICK

Squirt AA

Eddie grew up in East Haven, CT as a multi sport athlete playing with the CT Wolves and East Haven High School leading his team in scoring multiple seasons. Additionally, Ed was an All-American Track and Field Athlete and continued his career as an athlete at University of Connecticut. Following his collegiate career he has worked in sports performance and rehabilitation with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL and recently local professional, college, and high school athletes at Connecticut Orthopedics. He continues his own love for the sport of hockey playing in local men’s leagues and coaching. He has been coaching Mite and learn to skate hockey for the past 3 years and looks forward to bringing his diverse background in high level athletics to the Elite Program.”

PETER ALDEN AND EHA STAFF

LEARN TO PLAY HOCKEY

Eleven year coaching veteran and former Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) forward, Peter Alden was named the head coach of the 18U & 16U Elite Hockey Program teams. He enters his fourth season as head coach of the Elite Hockey Academy along with being the President of the Academy

Before coaching, Alden was a Division 1 hockey player. He played his freshmen year at UMass Amherst in Hockey East under the tutelage of the legendary Don “Toot” Cahoon. After a year he transferred home to play for Rand Pecknold and the Quinnipiac University Bobcats. He played three years for the Bobcats and was apart of the first team that played in the ECAC in the history of Quinnipiac.

Alden was asked the strategy on building teams for the future at EHA.