Hockey

everest academy

Everest Academy Hockey & Goaltending Skills programs aim to develop complete players with instinctive habits and skill versatility to maximize performance on their rep team. Through an in-depth daily Hockey curriculum that includes customized fitness programs, on and off-ice assessments, video review and more, student-athletes learn and practice fundamental Hockey skills, develop a love for the game, and a willingness to study and master all of its aspects.

NHL-Bound Athletes

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OHL Draft Picks

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NCAA Commitments

everest academy

hockey staff

director of hockey operations

lindsay hofford

Lindsay Hofford joins Everest Academy with more than 30 years of professional Hockey and business experience. He is the Founder & CEO of Pro Hockey Development Group, which was established in 1992. Pro Hockey Development specializes in hockey development for players of all ages. Hofford is also the founder of NASHA Sports Insurance Company, Highlight Sports Inc. and Bahama Ice. Hofford served as the Director of Amateur Scouting for the London Knights (OHL) from 2010 to 2015 the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) from 2015 to 2019 and most recently as the Assistant GM of the Arizona Coyotes (NHL). Lindsay also coached for six years in the CHL with the London Knights (OHL) and Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL). He has worked with over 200 current or former NHL players, including Rick Nash, Brent Seabrook, Auston Matthews, Corey Perry and Mitch Marner. He has won at every level including Championships at the AHL, OHL, WHL, CJHL and Minor Hockey levels. He has an extensive history in coaching, scouting, management and player development. Hofford graduated with political science and sociology degrees from the University of Guelph.

managing Hockey Director &
general manager of men's prep hockey

Daniel Sisca

As a former player, Daniel Sisca brings a wealth of hockey knowledge, skill, and experience. Daniel spent his entire minor hockey career in the GTHL, followed by five years in the OHL, where he spent one year as the captain of the Mississauga Ice Dogs and one year as captain of the Sarnia Sting. His professional hockey career began in the ECHL and extended to the AHL and three years in Europe. During his time in the ECHL, Daniel was awarded to the ECHL All-Rookie Team. Daniel has worked with players of all age groups and various skill levels. He brings his firsthand hockey experience and genuine understanding of the game to help players improve their skills and perform at their highest level.

hockey instructor

dave d'ammizio

Dave Dammizio is a dedicated skills coach at Everest Academy, specializing in the development of hockey players from beginners all the way to those playing in the NHL. With over 20 years of experience, Dave focuses on enhancing technical skills, game sense, and overall performance on the ice.

Recognized for his exceptional teaching abilities, Dave has a unique talent for breaking down complex skills into manageable components. He creates customized training programs tailored to each player’s needs, ensuring they grasp fundamental techniques while building confidence. His patient and engaging coaching style encourages players to push their limits and embrace continuous improvement, making skill development both effective and enjoyable.

hockey instructor

justin teakle

Justin Teakle brings 19 years of experience working in Hockey Development Programs to Everest Academy. After four seasons playing in the Ontario Provincial Junior League (OPJL), he transitioned into coaching and coached over 1000 games over a 14 season span. That run included one record setting season with the Cobourg Cougars in 2011, where the team finished with a 38-9-3 record. Since 2005 he has served as the Director and Head Instructor of PassHockey and has served as the Head Instructor and Coach for Pro Hockey since 2013. Most recently, he served as Head Coach and General Manager of the Brampton Admiral (2018 to 2020), as Co-Coach of the Markham Majors 06 AAA team (2019), and in 2020 was named Director of Operation for Can-Ice.

Hockey instructor

Anthony Nigro

As a seasoned skills coach at Everest Academy, Anthony Nigro brings a wealth of professional experience and expertise in player development. A former Ontario Hockey League (OHL) standout and NHL draftee by the St. Louis Blues, Anthony’s extensive career includes playing in top leagues across North America and Europe.

Anthony is highly regarded for his technical training methods, designed to sharpen players’ skills, improve game sense, and build confidence on the ice. His time in European leagues broadened his approach, allowing him to integrate diverse techniques and training philosophies into his sessions.

Dedicated to the growth of every athlete he works with, Anthony’s goal is to help each player maximize their potential through targeted, high-quality skill development. His passion and commitment to excellence continue to make him an invaluable member of the Everest Academy team.

Defense Specialist & Skills Coach

Brian McLaughlin

Brian McLaughlin is a defense specialist coach at Everest Academy, bringing extensive experience working with players at elite levels, including the OHL, NCAA, and NHL. Known for his deep understanding of defensive play, Brian focuses on building a strong foundation in positioning, agility, and game awareness, essential for high-level competition.

With a coaching style that emphasizes discipline, resilience, and technical precision, Brian tailors his approach to each player, helping them refine their skills and reach their full potential on the ice. His reputation as a skilled mentor extends beyond fundamentals, inspiring players to sharpen their decision-making and tactical play under pressure.

Brian’s dedication to excellence and his passion for the game make him an invaluable part of the Everest Academy coaching team, preparing athletes to excel in every aspect of defense and beyond.

skating coach

Samantha skene

Samantha is a Skate Canada figuring skating coach as well as a skating coach for the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves. Samantha comes to Everest with expertise honed through training OHL/NHL players. Samantha is also a skating consultant at Quartexx Management. She was also a guest coach at the recent Pittsburgh Penguins development camp, contributing exceptional guidance to aspiring talents. Samantha is a driving force in enhancing skating techniques and performance, consistently leaving a mark on both professional and aspiring athletes.

Defensive specialist coach

matt chiarantano

Matt Chiarantano is currently an Assistant Coach with the Mississauga Steelheads in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Matt works primarily with the defense core of the Steelheads amongst other roles with the club. Prior to his role with the Steelheads, Matt served as an Associate Coach with the North York Rangers in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). Matt played junior hockey in the OJHL for the Georgetown Raiders before moving on to the NCAA. Chiarantano is a graduate of Niagara University and was a member of the Purple Eagles from 2012-2016, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Education. Chiarantano had a brief stint in the ECHL as a member of the Brampton Beast before retiring due to injuries. As a member of Team Canada East, Chiarantano won a Silver Medal in the 2010 World Junior A Challenge. Along with coaching, Chiarantano works with many junior and professional players as a skills development instructor and is the owner of MAC Hockey Development.

goaltending coach

dave franco

Dave has coached some of the world’s most elite goalies in the world throughout the last 20 years. Jordan Binnington, Curtis Joseph, Jamie Storr, Steve Mason and Robb Zepp have all spoken about the difference Dave made in their career. Dave has spent his entire dedicated to excellence in goaltending from his humble beginnings as a young goalie in Toronto to playing pro in Europe through coaching goalies at the NHL, AHL, OHL and European Pro Levels. Dave’s unsurpassed knowledge of the position and proven track record of developing talent for the OHL, NCAA, NHL and European Professional leagues is unrivalled.

goaltending coach

marco franco

Marco’s clients have included numerous NHL stars, CHL stars and European Pros. He has traveled the world and his 20 plus years experience coaching elite level goalies gives FCGS the unique advantage of having two world-class leaders to build the development programs that produce results unlike any other goalie school in the world. Marco is also a fitness expert who understands the physical requirements to play at each level. He also possesses a pro level shooting ability that allows Marco to work with pro goalies on very specific deficiencies.

hockey instructor

vince bellissimo

Vince is a former professional hockey player with over 350 games played pro. He played Division 1 NCAA hockey at Western Michigan University. Vince was selected in the 5th round by the Florida Panthers in the 2002 Entry Draft and eventually signed an NHL contract with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005.

Following his playing career, Vince has been a head coach for 11 years, the last 5 of which spent in the OJHL where he carries a regular season coaching record of 160-39-12. In addition to that, he has guided his teams to multiple deep playoff runs. Vince is currently the Head Coach of the Toronto Patriots Jr. A Hockey Club. Over his 11 year coaching tenure in the GTHL and the OJHL Vince has a reputation for creating positive, high energy environments conducive to maximizing player development. He has developed numerous players who have achieved high success at higher levels of hockey including the NHL, AHL, ECHL, NCAA, CIS, OHL and European Pro.

Vince Tarantino

hockey instructor

With over 20 years of skill development experience in hockey, Vince Tarantino has left an indelible mark in the sport. His contributions include a five-year tenure as a skills coach for the Niagara IceDogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and four years as an area scout. In addition to his coaching role, Vince also held positions as the Director of Player Development and Player Development Coordinator for the Niagara IceDogs. His dedication to player development extends to the American Hockey League (AHL), where he spent two seasons working with both injured and healthy scratch players for the Belleville Senators. Presently, Vince continues to shape the future of hockey as the skills coach for the Trenton Golden Hawks in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).