The CCYHA Coaching Committee has met several times recently and we are happy to announce the "A" Team Head Coaches for 2008 - 2009:
 
MITE A
 
Tom Bivona – Tom brings a wealth of playing experience which has translated well in his two seasons as a coach at Central. Although Tom did not lace up his first pair of skates until he was 12 years old, he developed very quickly and played at the highest levels in youth hockey and won a Division 1 State and Regional Championship as a Bantam before taking his skills to Cushing Academy for three years. Tom continued his development at Cushing and was rewarded for his hard work by receiving a full scholarship at Division 1 Northeastern University in Hockey East. Tom burst onto the Hockey East scene by winning Rookie of the Year and later had his best season in 1998 winning the famed Beanpot Tournament at the Boston Garden, Hockey East Championship and played in the NCAA Tournament as well as serving as an assistant captain. He followed his excellent College career by playing in the Italian Professional League for 2 seasons. Tom has worked his way up the ladder at Central, having coached at the Mite C and B levels. Tom is best known for teaching kids with his skating expertise, his mild mannered approach and excellent ability to communicate with the young players.
 
 
 
SQUIRT A
 
Erik Sundquist – Erik is coming off 2 very successful seasons with the Squirt A team, guiding them to back to back Tier 2 New England Regional Championships. The success Erik had as a youth player has given him the right ingredients to pass on to our players. As a player, Erik won Squirt, Pee Wee and Bantam State Titles as well as Squirt and Pee Wee New England Regional Titles. Erik played Junior Hockey for Gary Dineen and the Springfield Pics organization before accepting a full scholarship to Division 1 Providence College in Hockey East. Erik won a Hockey East Championship in 1996 and played in the NCAA Tournament. At Central Erik has coached the Mite A for two seasons and Squirt A for the past two season. Erik works the kids very hard, implementing challenging drills, pushing to get the maximum development from players of all skill levels. He also serves on the CCYHA Board of Directors as the CCYHA President.
 
 
 
PEE WEE A
 
Anthony "Juice" Giusto – A welcome addition to the Central family, Juice spent countless hours at the rink last winter working with the future of our program in Learn to Skate, In House,  and Mites as well as taking a lead role as an assistant coach on the Squirt A Regional Championship team and the head coach on the PeeWee A team. Juice enjoyed a very successful youth hockey career winning a Division 1 State Championship at the Squirt level. He and Erik Sundquist were teammates playing for Gary Dineen and the Springfield Pics organization. Juice went on to play two seasons at UMASS – Amherst and was on the schools first Hockey East team in 1994. He finished his college career at AIC where he served as team captain his senior year. He is also very active in roller hockey, running numerous youth clinics and is also the team captain for the CT Blaze of the Professional Inline Hockey Association. He is a two time USA Inline National Champion (Pro Division) and has been invited to tryout for the USA National Team. He is also a power skating instructor for Robby Glantz International Power Skating and has run many skills camps all over the Northeast for Glantz. Juice is a very creative mind and brings a lot of new and exciting drills to the rink to challenge the kids to step out of their comfort zone. Look up the word volunteer in the dictionary and you just may see a picture of Juice. This is his third year with the program coaching a travel team as a non parent while also working with his son's teams. Juice also serves on the CCYHA Board of Directors as the Vice President of Development.
 
 
 
BANTAM A
 
Ralph Keleher – Ralph is looking forward to working with the Bantam A team this season. His hockey road has taken him back where it all started. Ralph played goalie in the Inaugural season at Central as a Squirt in 1983 and continued as a backstop with the program through Bantams. 24 years later, Ralph has his son playing goalie as a Squirt in the program. Ralph went on to play 4 years of High School hockey with Wethersfield High School where he was named the team MVP in his junior season and was also named to the state All Senior team. He went on to play for Central Connecticut State University. Ralph has been instrumental in helping out our younger players, having been involved with the Learn to Skate program for the last 4 years. He also was an assistant coach for the Mite C, Mite B, and most recently Mite A teams. If that is not enough volunteering for you, Ralph also has worked the last few seasons as the Goalie Coach for his alma matter at Wethersfield High School and was part of the Div. 3 State Championship with the 2006-2007 team.