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• ABOUT US

COACHING STAFF

Meet the coaches who run training at Cutting Edge Ice Academy every day, from private lessons and clinics to camps, goalie work, and player development.

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Hockey Director / On-Ice Instructor

Kevin Geist

  • ​Hockey Director and Head Coach for the Cutting Edge King Cobras

  • Head Varsity Coach for Fair Lawn High School Ice Hockey

  • Offers Private Lessons and Shooting Gallery Instructor

  • 2x Big North Patriot Coach of the Year (2023/24 & 2025/26)

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Senior Instructor

Johnny Hero

  • Trained four NHL Draft picks

    • Including Brandon Crawley (2018 NHL Draft, New York Rangers, 4th Round, 123rd Overall)

  • Helped develop three players who signed NHL/AHL contracts after college

  • Trained more than two dozen NCAA Division I hockey players

  • Former Tier I skills instructor for the NJ Avalanche

  • Has spent the past 10 years helping Tier II players transition to Tier I

  • Played for the Syracuse Stars and Jersey Wildcats

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On-Ice Instructor

Ryan Strapp

  • 15+ Years Coaching at Cutting Edge Ice Academy

  • Jersey Wildcats (EMJHL), 2x All-Star

  • Roxbury High School, 2x 1st Team All-County

  • Plymouth State Ice Hockey (Independent)

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Senior Instructor

Frank Kern

  • High School hockey Coach at Suffern High School, Clarkstown South, Indian Hills, and St Joseph Regional  

  • Two-time Coach of the Year award

  • Hudson Valley Empire State coach - 5 Years

  • Ramapo Saints travel team coach and hockey skills instructor - 27 years.

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Hockey Skating Technique Instructor

Elene Gedevanishvili

  • 3x Olympic Figure Skater for the Country of Georgia (2006, 2010, 2014)

  • 2010 Bronze Medal in European Championships Ladies' Singles

  • 2012 Bronze Medal in European Championships Ladies' Singles

  • Elene specializes in skating technique, balance, and posture, as well as agility, edge work, and explosiveness.

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On-Ice Instructor

Jadon Hoyt

  • Played Juniors for the NJ Wildcats

  • Parsippany High School, 1st Team All-County

  • ​Runs shooting gallery clinics, private lessons, and more.

  • Head Coach for the Cutting Edge King Cobras

  • Coached every Level of Youth Hockey (8U-18U)

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On-Ice Instructor

Stephen Dempsey

  • NJ Rockets (USPL 16U)

  • New Jersey Renegades (EHLP)

  • Connecticut Jr. Rangers (USPL 18U)

  • Connecticut RoughRiders (EHL)

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On-Ice Instructor

Matthew "Buddy" O'Donnell

  • Passaic Valley/Cedar Grove High School (USHS-NJ)

  • Philadelphia Little Flyers (EHL)

  • William Paterson University Ice Hockey (ACHA)

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On-Ice Instructor

Joe Dellapi

  • New Jersey Devils Youth 16U AAA (AYHL)

  • NJ Colonials (MJHL/AYHL 18U/HPHL 18U)

Goaltending Coaches

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Goaltending Instructor

Neil Scancerella

  • Instruct goalies in skill development, create and run drills for clinics for over 10 years

  • Consult with students’ parents on child’s progress and their strengths and weaknesses

  • Discuss with goalies on which paths to take to further their playing career

  • Consult with students and their parents on equipment and equipment sizing

  • Instruct at full day camps which includes on and off ice sessions during summer months

  • Responsible for the safety and welfare of students at all times until parent pick up

  • Head Goaltending Instructor for the Panthers Ice Den and the Florida Jr. Panthers

  • Lead Instructor of Goaltending Clinics and Camps: create daily/weekly lesson plans

  • 1 on 1 Private Lesson Instructor

  • Send weekly emails on goaltending informing/increasing the knowledge of goalies and parents

  • Attend bi-weekly meetings with NHL Florida Panther executives and employees, Youth Hockey Department, etc.

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Goaltending Instructor

Jim Margitich

Coach Jim brings a wealth of knowledge, attention to detail, proper/innovative drills, and an enthusiastic coaching style to every goalie he works with.

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  • Teaching goalies of all ages & abilities in the tri-state area for the past 35 years

  • Owner of Give'em Nothing School for Goaltenders

  • Level 4 USA Hockey Certification

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Goaltending Instructor

Dan Meyers

Dan has helped develop the

tri-state area's best goaltenders since 2010

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  • Owner of IGS, LLC

  • Former Quinnipiac Men's Ice Hockey Goaltending Coach

  • Helped guide Eric Hartzell to be a Hobey Baker finalist in 2013

  • Coached in the Frozen Four national title game 2013

  • Played 4 years at UMass Amherst Hockey East Men's D1

  • Teammate to 2x Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Quick

  • Multiple Hockey East player of the week awards

  • Background in sports psychology

  • EJHL all star 2005

  • Peewee national champion 1999

  • Silver Sticks champion 97 & 99

  • Played professionally for Trenton Titans

Guest Coaches

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Skating Instructor

Besa Tsintsadze

As a professional hockey skating coach, Besa has personally trained over 4,000 NHL, AHL, Minor Pro, Major Junior, High School, and youth players from all over the world.

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  • Skating Coach, Davos HC (Swiss National League) 2014 – Present

  • Boston Bruins (NHL) 2011–2013

  • Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) 2005–2010

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Skating Instructor

Sergey Tartykov

  • Former Skating Instructor, Minnesota Wild (NHL)

  • Former player, USSR Olympic Reserve Team

  • Innovator of advanced training
    methods

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Skills Instructor

Frankie Loftus

Frankie is a specialist skills coach with over 10 years of experience working with Olympians, USHL, Prep School, NCAA D1 and professional hockey players. He specializes in overspeed training and creativity.

Office & Rink Staff

  • Robin Meola - Customer Service

  • Eli Gazarkh - Customer Service

  • Anthony Reyes - Ice Maintenance

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