• 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.

General Manager / On-Ice Instructor
Kevin Geist
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General Manager
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Hockey Director and Head Coach for the Cutting Edge King Cobras
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Head Varsity Coach for Fair Lawn High School Ice Hockey
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Offers Private Lessons and Shooting Gallery Instructor
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2023/24 Big North Patriot Coach of the Year

Senior Instructor
Johnny Hero
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Trained four NHL Draft picks
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Including Brandon Crawley (2018 NHL Draft, New York Rangers, 4th Round, 123rd Overall)
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Helped develop three players who signed NHL/AHL contracts after college
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Trained more than two dozen NCAA Division I hockey players
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Former Tier I skills instructor for the NJ Avalanche
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Has spent the past 10 years helping Tier II players transition to Tier I
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Played for the Syracuse Stars and Jersey Wildcats

On-Ice Instructor
Ryan Strapp
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15+ Years Coaching at Cutting Edge Ice Academy
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Jersey Wildcats (EMJHL), 2x All-Star
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Roxbury High School, 2x 1st Team All-County
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Plymouth State Ice Hockey (Independent)

Senior Instructor
Frank Kern
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High School hockey Coach at Suffern High School, Clarkstown South, Indian Hills, and St Joseph Regional
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Two-time Coach of the Year award
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Hudson Valley Empire State coach - 5 Years
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Ramapo Saints travel team coach and hockey skills instructor - 27 years.

Hockey Skating Technique Instructor
Elene Gedevanishvili
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3x Olympic Figure Skater for the Country of Georgia (2006, 2010, 2014)
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2010 Bronze Medal in European Championships Ladies' Singles
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2012 Bronze Medal in European Championships Ladies' Singles
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Elene specializes in skating technique, balance, and posture, as well as agility, edge work, and explosiveness.

On-Ice Instructor
Jadon Hoyt
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Played Juniors for the NJ Wildcats
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Parsippany High School, 1st Team All-County
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​Runs shooting gallery clinics, private lessons, and more.
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Head Coach for the Cutting Edge King Cobras
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Coached every Level of Youth Hockey (8U-18U)

On-Ice Instructor
Stephen Dempsey
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NJ Rockets (USPL 16U)
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New Jersey Renegades (EHLP)
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Connecticut Jr. Rangers (USPL 18U)
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Connecticut RoughRiders (EHL)

On-Ice Instructor
Matthew "Buddy" O'Donnell
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Passaic Valley/Cedar Grove High School (USHS-NJ)
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Philadelphia Little Flyers (EHL)
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William Paterson University Ice Hockey (ACHA)

On-Ice Instructor
Joe Dellapi
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New Jersey Devils Youth 16U AAA (AYHL)
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NJ Colonials (MJHL/AYHL 18U/HPHL 18U)
Goaltending Coaches

Goaltending Instructor
Neil Scancerella
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Instruct goalies in skill development, create and run drills for clinics for over 10 years
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Consult with students’ parents on child’s progress and their strengths and weaknesses
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Discuss with goalies on which paths to take to further their playing career
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Consult with students and their parents on equipment and equipment sizing
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Instruct at full day camps which includes on and off ice sessions during summer months
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Responsible for the safety and welfare of students at all times until parent pick up
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Head Goaltending Instructor for the Panthers Ice Den and the Florida Jr. Panthers
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Lead Instructor of Goaltending Clinics and Camps: create daily/weekly lesson plans
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1 on 1 Private Lesson Instructor
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Send weekly emails on goaltending informing/increasing the knowledge of goalies and parents
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Attend bi-weekly meetings with NHL Florida Panther executives and employees, Youth Hockey Department, etc.

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
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Owner of Give'em Nothing School for Goaltenders
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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
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Former Quinnipiac Men's Ice Hockey Goaltending Coach
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Helped guide Eric Hartzell to be a Hobey Baker finalist in 2013
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Coached in the Frozen Four national title game 2013
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Played 4 years at UMass Amherst Hockey East Men's D1
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Teammate to 2x Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Quick
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Multiple Hockey East player of the week awards
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Background in sports psychology
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EJHL all star 2005
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Peewee national champion 1999
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Silver Sticks champion 97 & 99
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Played professionally for Trenton Titans
Guest Coaches

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
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Boston Bruins (NHL) 2011–2013
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Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) 2005–2010

Skating Instructor
Sergey Tartykov
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Former Skating Instructor, Minnesota Wild (NHL)
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Former player, USSR Olympic Reserve Team
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Innovator of advanced training
methods

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
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Kevin Geist - General Manager
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Dimitri Gedevanishvilli - Ice Maintenance
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Patrick Coyne - Customer Service & Operations
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Robin Meola - Customer Service
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Eli Gazarkh - Customer Service
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Anthony Reyes - Ice Maintenance
