Coaching Staff

Charice brings a wealth of experience and passion to our Winter Club team. She was a 12-time varsity letter athlete at Lake Forest Academy, and completed an undergraduate degree in elementary and secondary education to earn a K-12 teaching degree. She competed in the NCAA cross country and softball programs while also participating on club lacrosse and hockey teams.

During her time as a classroom teacher, she completed a master’s in instructional technology. Her classroom teaching roles transitioned into a district technology specialist position that served multiple K-4 schools on the North Shore.

Her commitment and love for coaching hockey have been evident through her hard work and dedication in Vernon Hills for 15 years. She has worked closely with the Chicago Blackhawks for 10 years as a grassroots growth specialist by overseeing learn to play initiatives and events that continue to grow the game. Additionally, she has successfully coached field hockey and softball at Stevenson High School for over seven seasons.

Charice’s outstanding contributions have been recognized by accolades from the Blackhawks as an "Outstanding Community Member" and "Community Playmaker." Her membership in the prestigious NHL Coaches Association further highlights her commitment and expertise in the sport.

Charice is widely known as one of the best youth hockey and powerskating coaches in the area. She will provide coaching and technical support across the club's hockey and skating programs, specializing in skill development and personalized training for youth and adult players.

We are extremely excited for Charice to join the Winter Club as she looks forward to sharing her devotion for hockey within our special community.

Matt started playing hockey around 6 years old and played hockey for about 15 years. Matt's two most recent seasons he played for the Chicago Young Americans AAA. This last 2019/2020 hockey season he played junior hockey out in New York, out there he helped coach practices for all the youth teams. Matt is a young coach bringing a lot of experience to the players and will help each player develop and get ready for whatever there next level may be. 

Claude has a Degree in Kinesiology from Laval University Majoring in Biomechanics and Sport Psychology.

This is Claude's 4th season with the Scouts program. Claude has a extensive coaching resume in both Canada and the US and has been a important contributor to the LFHS players individual skills

 1990-1995 owned and operated high altitude training camp in British Columbia 

 1991-1994 Okanagan Hockey school as Director of Hockey Development and Power Skater

 1995-2001 Chicago Young Americans Skills Director and Off-ice Training Director 

  2002-2006 Chicago Young Americans Head Coach 

  2012-2015 Highland Park JV Head Coach 

  2016- 2018 Lake Forest JV Head Coach 

  2019-2020 Lake Forest JV Assistant Coach 

Claude also owns and operates a training facility in Highwood since 2010.

Dave began his coaching career in 1994 working with players from the ages of mites-peewees until 2008 where he then began to coach at Brookfield High school. Dave came to the Winter Club three seasons ago and brings years of experience as well as a positive attitude and a desire to make players reach their potential. Dave has a ton of passion and it shows every single time he touches the ice. Dave played a key role in helping our Peewee White team make a NIHL Championship appearance in the 2020 season and we are lucky to have him on staff. 

Sam grew up playing hockey for the Falcons in Highland Park since he was 6 years old. After that he played at Lake Zurich High School and played for Coach Steve his junior and senior year. Sam attended the University of Iowa and graduated with an accounting degree in 2018. Currently Sam is working as an accountant for a company called Holland which provides welding services to the major railroads. Sam started coaching two years ago for the Rolling Meadows Renegades and am looking forward to his first season at the winter club.

Tristian Malone grew up and played hockey in Skokie, Illinois. Tristian started playing hockey when he was 5 years old and has been in love with it ever since. After graduating high school he went to New York and played for the New York Aviators in the USPHL for 2 years. After that he went on to college where would play hockey at Illinois State University. After earning a degree in Psychology and child developed, he is now a special Education teacher in Glencoe. Tristian has a great attitude while coaching and is a huge asset on both Mite Green and Peewee Green.

Aidan started playing hockey at the Ice Dogs program in Vernon Hills. Once he finished youth he went on to play at Libertyville High School as a defensemen. After high school graduation he played at the University of Dayton as a Flyer for a short time before attending University College of Dublin studying abroad receiving his Masters degree. Aidan is excited most to help fully develop young athletes as better characters and players helping them in their everyday lives.

Mitch played goalie his whole career at the AA level and AAA level. He ended up being the captain of his high school team the first goalie in school history at Notre Dame College Prep to wear the “C”. Mitch ended up playing Junior hockey in Alexandria, Minnesota, and Wausau, Wisconsin where Mitch scored his first goal ever as a goalie. He then played in the NAHL for the Wisconsin Windigo and the Springfield Jr. Blues for a short stint.

As a coach Mitch wants young goaltenders and players to bring their best each and every day and wants to change lives on and off the ice. He brings high energy every day and a confident approach to every practice and game.

Denean has over 20 years of coaching experience. She began coaching and doing choreography at a local rink her senior year of college in De Pere, Wisconsin. Since then, she has coached all levels of children through adult skaters. She has choreographed routines for individuals, pairs, and groups for multiple ice shows and various skating exhibitions. She also has experience as a competitive IS and US figure skating coach. She has been skating since she was 10 and completed her own skating career as a competitive Intermediate Ladies competitor before entering high school. Denean has a passion and love of the ice that emanates as she teaches all levels of skating. Denean also has been an elementary teacher for over 25 years and currently teaches 3rd grade at a local school.