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Michael Agrette (Owner/GM, On-ice Instructor) Michael is the founder of 99Hockey and Niagara Jr. Knights. He has been involved with youth hockey for the past 15 years in the Niagara Region. He has instructed Learn to Skate programs for many years with 99Hockey as well as non-structured fun games. He has also hosted fun tournaments with teams from the Niagara region. Michael has been part of Pool C and the IIHF program since 1993. Michael last coached at the 2007 World Ice Hockey Championships in Ireland. Michael also served as the co-chairman of the Clarkson Cup in 2012. He has a passion to provide a well rounded development model hockey program to create well rounded and confident hockey players on and off the ice. As founder of 99Hockey, he manages both 99Hockey and Niagara Jr. Knights and serves as an on-ice instructor with 99Hockey. |
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Marko Ferlez (On-ice Instructor and Coach )
Marko is a hockey coach who comes from small hockey country Slovenia located in Central Europe. Marko played minor hockey for his hometown and the capital of Slovenia, Hockey Club Olimpija, Ljubljana. In 2002 he continued his career in Czech Republic where he played junior hockey for three years. Being one of the best players in his age group, Marko also participated on World Championships in Categories U18 and U20 for Slovenian National Team, where he had the chance to play with Los Angeles King star Anze Kopitar. In his nine year professional ice hockey career, Marko played for three different teams in Slovenia, starting in 2005. He signed his first professional contract with HC Olimpija, then played for HC Slavija and finished his career in HC Maribor. In Maribor he also started coaching youth hockey players, from Initiation to Midget hockey. Marko coached on many ice hockey camps around Europe like Hockey Talent Academy Camp in Italy and Planet Hockey Camp. Marko also had the honour to coach the Slovenian National Team (year of birth 2001) from 2011 to 2014. Marko currently instructs our Knights during weekly skills sessions. He is known for his fast paced drills and power skating technique. |
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Andrew Attema (On-ice Instructor and Coach)
Andrew is a life long Niagara Resident, who is passionate about sports, coaching, child development and being a positive role model for children. He served the Niagara region for 23 years, through his wholesale produce company, before trading it in to be a full time foster parent. Married to Sophia for 26 years, and sharing the responsibility of raising 3 active, sports loving daughters has given him a variety of coaching experience in hockey, ringette, baseball and soccer. Two of his daughters currently play Varsity Rugby, with a past of also participating in wrestling, running clubs, figure skating, dance, gymnastics, field hockey, basketball and volleyball. Andrew has a balanced understanding of coaching both male and female athletes, with over 27 years of competitive and recreational coaching experience. As a head coach, winning a Bronze medal at the Ontario Ringette A Championships and most recently Gold and Silver medals, as an assistant coach for the OMHA AAA Championships, have been coaching highlights. Growing up as a child he competed in various sports from an early age and appreciated the life lessons of self-discipline, personal achievement, hard work and collaboration. Andrew’s personal values of team camaraderie, positive coaching and skills development, aligns well with the philosophy that 99 Hockey represents. He is known for his animated instruction and demands excellence from all our players. |
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Matt Gillard (On-ice Instructor) Matt Gillard played with the Niagara Ice Dogs in the Ontario Hockey League. Unfortunately, his OHL career was cut short due to a C6 vertebrae facture(broken neck). This change in career birthed his own business with Gillard Elite Hockey. Matt is the head coach for the 2003 Major Bantam Harrow Spring Hockey team and assistant coach for the Major Bantam Southern Tier Admirals AAA. This youngster has a lot of passion for the game and relate well to young hockey players. Matt will be instructing on-ice for selected 99Hockey programs and instructs weekly on-ice skills sessions. He also coaches both the Bantam and Midget Knights teams. He is known for his highly skilled and fast paced drills and for getting the most of every player without having to shout or degrade the player. |
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Todd Clayton (On-ice instructor and Coach)
Todd comes with 24 years of Coaching experience including: 05-06 Dunnville JRC Head Coach 06-07 Dunnville JRC Head Coach & GM 07-08 Chippawa JRC Head Coach 08-09 Welland JRB Head Coach 09-10 Welland JRB Head Coach 10-11 Wheatfield JRB Asst Coach 11-12 Wheatfield JRB Head Coach & GM 12-13 Thorold JRB Asst Coach 13-14 Welland Senior AAA 14-15 Welland Senior AAA 16-17 Ft.Erie JRB Head Coach. Conducted many hockey skills camps, focus on puck management, proper face off techniques, skill development with & without the puck. He focusses on defensive angling and proper positioning. Todd participates in the weekly skills instruction for Knights Rep Hockey teams and serves as a coach for both Bantam and Midget Knights teams. He is known for his pre-game talks and for preparing players to battle during the game. |
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Brian(Bubby) Stapleton (Player Advisor and Team Chaplain) Coach Bubby joined our Knights program as a board member prior to the 2017-2018 season. The following season(2018-2019) he joined our coaching staff as an on-ice instructor and assistant coach to our Bantam team. After sustaining a knee injury, Coach Bubby was appointed advisor to Knights players and team Chaplain. Bubby has experience playing in the NCAA league at Browns University, the IHL with the Dayton Gems and played right wing for the Washington Capitals in the NHL. He enjoys working with the Bantam and Midget aged players and is known for "teaching me how to put the puck in the net". He serves as an advisor and pastor to all our teams |
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Michelle Edgar (On-ice Instructor)
A Niagara Falls native, Michelle Edgar has been playing competitive sports for the majority of her life. She obtained an academic/athletic scholarship from Brock University for both ice hockey and soccer. She furthered her career playing semi-professional soccer for Hamilton and professional hockey in Europe for the Maribor Lisjaki team. She also obtained a gold medal playing for team Canada in the ball hockey World Championship. Recently her AA Senior ice hockey team the St Catharines Jets have brought home their second provincial gold medal. Michelle has been instructing many 99Hockey programs and serves as a Novice Team coach with Niagara Jr. Knights. While coaching she enjoys passing on the many skills, talents and love of the game she has acquired throughout her career. |
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Mickey Clair (On-ice instructor) Coach Mickey began his coaching and development career while still playing for the men's hockey team at Brock University. In those 25+ years he has worked with kids from learn to skate, to high performance AAA programs, to being an assistant coach with Niagara Falls Junior B Canucks. His goal is ensure the kids learn, push themselves out of their comfort zone and continue to enjoy the greatest game on the planet. Coach Mikey currently instructs our skills, drills and shooting sessions as well as learn to play sessions. |
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Jeff Zatorski (On-ice instructor and Coach)
Jeff Zatorski is a native of Welland, Ontario where he played his full minor hockey for the AAA Welland Tigers. He then went on to play Jr.B for the Port Colborne Sailors and Fort Erie Meteors and won the best defenceman award 2 times. From Jr.B Jeff went on to play for the Mississauga Chargers in the OPJHL tier 2 Jr. A League. After junior hockey, Jeff received a scholarship to play for the Potsdam Bears in the NCAA. After university hockey Jeff played for the Louisiana Ice Gators, and Pensacola Ice Flyers in the Southern professional hockey league. Finally, Jeff finished his career playing for the Welland Whalers in the Sr.A Allan Cup hockey league and was the first player signed to the newly expanded team. Jeff is now working as a skills coach and has developed his own hockey development program called Dominance hockey training. |