WHO WE ARE
EAST Hockey Group was founded on relationships, small groups, and skills that matter.
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We have a vision for the consolidation of quality. To unify the typically segmented development domains of an athlete’s on-ice, off-ice, and human performance training under one roof to maximize results.
The levels of the program were designed to equip athletes with the relevant training, guidance, and resources we wish we had during those distinct phases of our playing careers.
Our mission is to go on a 12-15 year development journey with athletes from PeeWee’s to the NHL.​
EDDIE WITTCHOW - 1-ON-1 TRAINER [MN]
Eddie, a Defenseman, recently retired at the conclusion of a Calder Cup Finals run with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) after 7 professional seasons. Prior to turning pro, Eddie captained the University of Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA). He played Junior hockey for the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) and High School hockey for Burnsville. Eddie was drafted by the Florida Panthers 154th overall.
IAN McCOSHEN - 1-ON-1 TRAINER [MN]
Ian is currently a Defenseman for Kunlun (KHL) in his 9th professional season. Prior to turning pro, Ian captained the Boston College Eagles (NCAA) and appeared in the World Junior Championships twice. He played Junior hockey for the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) and Midget hockey for Shattuck St. Mary’s. Ian was drafted by the Florida Panthers 31st overall and has played in 60 NHL games to date.
KYLE GRABOWSKI - LEAD DEVELOPMENT COACH [MN]
Kyle specializes in 1-on-1 and small group environments where he gets the opportunity to deploy his uncanny teaching ability to establish a process unique to each player's skills, habits, and strengths as a starting point. He aims to create a feedback process that allows for constant growth by always giving the player one action item after each interaction, unique to them, to build their game with the use of video analysis, constant dialogue, and time on the ice together. His ice sessions are built around 3 primary principles: (1) high frequency, game-like events, (2) variability within those high frequency events, and (3) the creative use of constraints to potentiate the scenarios degree of difficulty. He has spent the last 5 years with EAST working with a range of players from the Professional to PeeWee ranks, developing their individual skill sets and in-game tactics to advance their performance. Prior to being a skills instructor, Kyle coached Junior hockey for 9 years.
STEVE BRIERE - GOALIE COACH [MN]
Steve is currently the Goaltending Coach for the Seattle Kraken following 7 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to his tenure in the NHL, he was the owner and head instructor of Canadian Professional Goalie Schools along with being a Goalie Coach in the NAHL, USHL, and NCAA Div. 1. As a player, Steve had a 10 year professional career where he spent time in the ECHL, IHL, AHL, and Europe. Steve is excited to help us round out our offerings by launching the goalie-specific branch of the program with an underlying focus on the sports vision part of the game and mindset strengthening.
OFF-ICE TEAM
KARL SCHULTZ CSCS - PERFORMANCE COACH [MN]
Karl is a Sports Performance Coach who specializes in power and speed development techniques for hockey players. Armed with a Bachelor's in Exercise Science and certifications in Reflexive Performance Reset and Triphasic Training, Karl honed his skills working with the University of Minnesota Gophers Men's and Women's Hockey teams under Cal Dietz. Karl has an unparalleled sense of ingenuity in the gym, allowing him to find creative solutions to train the many awkward positions hockey players find themselves in on the ice. He leverages a relationship-based approach with athletes where he spends an extensive amount of time understanding each player as an individual to create a proper action plan specific to their needs. Karl showcases a relentless dedication to helping athletes reach peak performance both on and off the ice. Outside of the weight room, he’s an avid mountain biker riding with Peace Coffee Racing.
CONSULTING TEAM
BOBBY FARNHAM - ADVISOR and MENTOR [MA]
Bobby serves in an advisory and mentorship role with EAST. He is currently attending Harvard Business School and serving as a Graduate Assistant for Harvard Men's Hockey while simultaneously working on the agency side for Global Hockey Consultants as the Director of Player Development & Business Strategy, leveraging his unique understanding of every aspect of the professional hockey world. He provides mentorship and fosters family relationships with empathy and compassion every step of the way, understanding how long the road is to the pinnacle of professional hockey. As a player, Bobby spent 4 years at Brown University before his time in the NHL with Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Montreal, along with over 400 AHL games before concluding his career in the European Elite with the Belfast Giants. He is working to provide professional clients with new and innovative resources and discrete deal flow, while simultaneously working in collaboration on the development of new, interdisciplinary offerings for our clients to access.
HARRY ZOLNIERCZYK - ADVISOR and MENTOR [MA]
Harry serves in an advisory and mentorship role with EAST, while also providing professional clients access to private investment opportunities. He is a Partner at Fourth Line Capital and spent time working on the agency side for Global Hockey Consultants as the Director of Player Recruiting & Business Operations, utilizing a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in the professional hockey world. He provides mentorship and guidance with a sobering honesty, always willing to tell players what they need to hear even if it’s not what they want to hear in order to help them reach the highest level of the game. As a player, Harry spent 4 years at Brown University before his time in the NHL with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, Anaheim, and Nashville during their Stanley Cup Finals run in 2017 along with over 400 AHL games. He is working to provide professional clients with new and innovative resources and discrete deal flow, while simultaneously working in collaboration on the development of new, interdisciplinary offerings for our clients to access.
JOSEPH ZUCKERMAN - ENGINEERING and DESIGN [NY]
Joseph is a fifth-year PhD candidate in the System Level Design group in the Computer Science department at Columbia University. In 2019, he completed a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from Harvard University as Magna Cum Laude with Highest Honors in Field with a specific focus on the design of architectures for machine learning applications. Joseph has spent time working for NVIDIA, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, NoiseAware, and as a research assistant at Columbia and Harvard University. He is actively working on EAST’s Engineering and Design product development.
TONY TURGEON - CONSULTING GROUP DIRECTOR [MN]
Tony oversees day-to-day operations for the Consulting Group with a focus on our transition protocol and assists on the ice whenever the opportunity presents itself. An embodiment of the process, his goal is to leverage his own experiences from youth hockey all the way through his transition to life after hockey to help players realize that becoming the best hockey player and person you can be go hand in hand and that it’s never too early to start creating a framework for what your future will look like after your time in the game. Tony grew up in Grand Forks, ND and played AAA for the Madison Capitols (AAA) before starting his journeyman Junior career that saw him attend 4 different high schools in 4 years; first in Wisconsin at the Junior B level, then with the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL), and finally the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL). He then went on to play 3 years for the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks (NCAA) before turning pro where he spent 6 seasons in the Florida Panthers (NHL) system with their AHL affiliates.
OPERATIONS TEAM
JAKE HORTON
Jake leads innovation and development for EAST Hockey Group leveraging his unique experiences as a player and a person where he has pushed the limits in both sports and the ‘real world.’ He is a Minnesota native, but his path led him to spend many years outside the state playing Juniors in Janesville, WI (NAHL) and Waterloo, IA (USHL), College in Cambridge, MA at Harvard University where he was a captain, and professionally with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) in the US before some time overseas in Herlev, DK, Pontoise, FR and Yokohama, JP. Outside of hockey, he spent time working at The Opus Group (MN), Redbrick Health (MN), dacadoo (SUI), and Tesla (CA). He is constantly looking to improve and expand the quality of training and services provided to EAST clients and their families in search of the ultimate end-to-end experience. He aims to propel players forward by bridging the gap between sports and the business world - creating a lifestyle brand grounded in quality, relationships, and access that will serve them well beyond their athletic years.
MACIE FISK - OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER [MN]
Macie manages all things EAST with an expertise in streamlining operations, managing schedules, and driving organizational efficiency. With her background in Entrepreneurship from Bethel University, she excels at strategic planning, coordinating complex projects, and fostering collaboration across teams. Macie is known for her exceptional organizational skills and proactive mindset ensuring seamless day-to-day operations while supporting leadership and implementing long-term initiatives to achieve company goals. She is a trusted leader and problem-solver passionate about creating efficient systems and delivering results.
BILLY JERRY - 1-ON-1 TRAINER [MN]
Billy is currently a Forward for EV Füssen (DE) in his second professional season. Prior to turning pro, Billy captained the Long Island University Sharks (NCAA) as grad transfer while being selected as Hobey Baker Finalist after concluding 4 years at RPI (NCAA) where he also captained the team as a Senior. He played Junior hockey for the Madison Capitals (USHL) and High School hockey for St. Thomas Academy.
ALEX VOLPICELLI - POWER SKATING COACH [MN]
Alex is the owner of StrideRx with more than 10 years of experience coaching power skating professionally in Massachusetts and Minnesota working with clients of all levels from Mites to the NHL. During her career as a competitive figure skater, she was a two-time New England Regional Champion, Eastern sectional competitor, and three-time US Junior National competitor. Alex is excited to help us take EAST to the next level by adding focused work on the highest use rate skill in the game, skating.