We are excited to announce our coaches for the 2023-2024 season!

19U Coaches:

Bill Kerig grew up in Boston, played hockey for Kimball Union Academy and was a two-year captain at St. Michael’s College (NCAA Division 2). Since 2011, he has coached in Salt Lake City at the recreational, travel, tier, and high school levels. Coaching teams from mite to U19 and every level in between, he has helmed Lightning, Lady Lightning, Grizzlies, Lady Grizzlies, Eagles, and East High teams. He is a Level 4 USA Hockey Coach. 

Grace Kerig grew up playing Lady Lightning and Utah Lady Grizzlies. She has played for the University of Utah Women's team for the last two years. 

16U Coaches:

Bryce Mannek grew up in Utah and has been playing since he was 5 years old and coaching competitive hockey for the past 18 years. He has coached for the Utah Jr Grizzlies at every age level, from the Squirts to U-18s. He has been to Nationals four different times with the Jr Grizz, placing as high as 3rd at the U-16 Level in 1a division. Bryce has also been an assistant coach for the West Coast Renegades Tier 1 at the U-14 level for 3 years and recently in the 21/22 season, he was the head coach for the Eagles U-16 AA where they placed 5th in the 2a division (the highest any U-16 team in 2a has placed in Utah). 

Brandon Mannek started playing at a young age for many competitive teams throughout Utah. He has coached for many years, most with the Jr Grizz. His resume is tough to beat. All of the teams he has coached have been very successful on and off the ice. 

Alyssa Fain has been a hockey goalie since 2009. She has participated three times in the youth hockey national championships. Since graduating high school, she has continued her hockey career and has been coaching 2018 in the youth organization (Alyssa is level 2 USA certified). She loves coaching and loves helping kids improve on and off of the ice. 

14U Coaches:

Emily Petersen played in various organizations in North Carolina before going to NC State University where she co-founded the women's ACHA D2 program. She then started coaching, first as a Canes girls-only summer camp counselor and eventually as a Jr Hurricanes Girls full time assistant for the U16/19 travel team and a part time assistant for player development sessions for U14AA/AAA, U16AA, and U19AAA girls teams. She has a minor in Sports Science from NC State and has been a strength and conditioning coach.  She helped coach the 12u Utah Lady Grizzlies team in 2022-23. 

Elissa Dunlop grew up in Los Angeles where she was a late bloomer, starting hockey at the age of 12 with dreams of being the best hockey player ever to play! She played with AAA clubs like CA Wave and Detroit Little Caesar’s. In college, she played NCAA D1 hockey at Long Island University. She went on to be the youngest ever to play professionally in the PWHPA on team Bauer, and then played professionally in the EWHL for Lakers Kärnten.

On the coaching side, she has had experience working with youth teams to NHL teams and tutors player's decision making and skills privately in between. She specializes in incorporating the use of hockey analytics, psychology, and decision making in her sessions, wanting to get her players performing in games as fast as possible.

Skills Coaches:

Brooke Burns started playing hockey when she was about 3 or 4 and grew up playing locally with boys teams, usually the only girl. She played on Lightning A, then moved to Lady Lightning for 2 years on the u14 team. She then played varsity high school hockey for Brighton. After high school, she helped start the University of Utah Women's team where she was captain. She played for the Utes until 2022 when she graduated. Brooke is excited to help out with all teams this season!