Coach Biographies 24-25 Season
Sean “Sully” Sullivan (Hockey Director, Bantam AA)
Sean has played organized hockey for 19 years. Sean played Junior A Hockey in both the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) for the Philadelphia Revolution, as well as the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) for the Collingwood Blackhawks. In his collegiate career, Sean played for SUNY Cortland in the SUNYAC and then went on to play as a member of the Federal Hockey League (FHL) for the Brewster Bulldogs and Cornwall Nationals.
Sean has coached for over 10 years working with all ages and skill levels. Throughout his years of playing and instructing, Sean has gained valuable coaching experience. Sean privately runs lessons, group lessons and clinics on and off the ice. This experience has led Sean to being one of the most sought after coaches in the area. Sean’s passion on the ice translates to the players he coaches, ensuring each player reaches their full potential while having the best on-ice experience.
Prior to SHA, Sean was the Director of Hockey Operations for Bronxville Youth Hockey Association for three years. In this role, Sean was responsible for all coaches on staff and putting together a curriculum and methodology for the coaches to follow. Sean has also served as one of BYHA’s skills coaches. He worked individually with each BYHA team on ice for scheduled skill/skating sessions throughout the season.
Pete Bafundo (Bantam A)
Coach Pete is a staple within the RAHA program. He has experience coaching at the U12, U14, U16 and U18 levels and 6 of those years were in the RAHA program. Coach Pete attended Siena College in Albany NY where he was a 4 year starter. He is a USA Hockey Level 4 Coach and also refereed hockey for 10 years before prior to his coaching career. When asked, Coach Pete will tell you the reason he got into coaching was to make more of an impact on the players development on and off the ice. Coach Pete finds it extremely rewarding to watch someone master a skill or concept and apply them into game situations. When asked about his philosophy, Coach Pete says “I wouldn’t say that I have a specific philosophy, I believe you have to adapt to each season. My motto is Attitude, Effort, and Focus. Three things that each player needs to bring to every practice and game for us to be successful. I don’t judge success as how many wins or losses there are. Is the team better at the end of the year? That is my goal. I am dedicated and committed to the team and families. Coaching is something that is very important to me. I don’t miss practices or games and always show up very prepared for both. I expect the kids to work hard and have fun. Fun while playing hockey is also very important to me. Attendance is also something that is very important for us to be successful as a team.”
Rob Miller (Peewee AA / U18 Tier 2)
Coach Rob has been part of the RAHA coaching staff for three years and brings with him years of hockey experience in many different facets of the game. He played Division III college hockey at Salem State University followed by a career playing professional hockey in the Southern Professional Hockey League. Once his playing career was over, he dedicated his time at the rink to coaching high school hockey in New Jersey, junior hockey in Massachusetts, and was the Head Coach and Team President of the Brooklyn Aviators that competed in the Federal Hockey League (professional). Throughout the summers in his college and professional playing days, he was the Head Hockey Skills Instructor for camps in Minnesota, New York and New Hampshire. Rob lives in Ridgefield with his wife Melissa and their two children, Carson and Sloane.
Andrew Gibian (Peewee A)
Andrew has been involved with hockey for his entire life, having grown up playing in the Mid-Fairfield, Rye Rangers and Greenwich Blues organizations before skating for Greenwich High School and in the NESCAC with Connecticut College. Post-college he coached a university team in Japan and has coached previously for the Darien Youth Hockey Association and RAHA, while watching his children play in youth hockey and on to prep school and beyond. Andrew continues to play hockey, rotating between his original position of defense and his newly adopted role of goaltender.
Adam Chwick (Peewee B)
Adam grew up in Rye Brook, NY, where he played competitive hockey from the age of 7 thru 17. He competed for a number of teams including the White Plains Plainsmen, New Rochelle Lightning, Ramapo Saints and various elite summer teams. Prior to college, Adam played Midget AAA Major for the Saints in the AYHL. During high school, Adam played in the inaugural year of the Rye Town Titans Varsity team and was a member of the undefeated league champions in 2003. Adam grew up in a hockey family, (his 2 siblings also played competitive hockey), and as a result was a true “rink rat”. He is excited to continue that lifestyle and give back to the Lions. He currently lives in Armonk with his wife, and two daughters, who have begun their own hockey adventures.
Billy Casolo (Squirt AA)
Billy grew up playing hockey in CT since he was 4 years old. In high school, Billy was team captain and 1st team All-State and FCIAC selection for both ice hockey and baseball. He graduated from Williams College in 2002 where he was team captain of the baseball team and went on to play baseball professionally in Europe. Billy has coached ice-hockey for over 20 years. He was a lead instructor for the STR hockey department under the tutelage of Mike Backman, former New York Ranger, and he was also an assistant coach for the NC Rams Girls Varsity ice hockey team for 9 years, recently winning an FCIAC and State championship. Billy is well versed in the USA hockey ADM model and has great pleasure in creating fun and creative practice plans to best develop his players skills and confidence. Billy has a masters degree in education and currently resides in Ridgefield with his wife Emily and two hockey playing sons - Drew and Paxson.
Kevin Perlowitz (Squirt A)
Coach Kevin grew up in Westchester County and just recently moved to Ridgefield in 2020. He has played hockey his whole life, started playing mini mites club hockey with the White Plains Plainsman, then the Harvey Cavaliers, Westchester Vipers and finally the Yonkers Kings. He played both forward and defense in high school for the Pleasantville-Westlake Ice Cats (now Mount Pleasant) winning 3 league championships and named league MVP senior year, and still holds the school record for points. Kevin played two years of college club hockey at SUNY Albany, ACHA Division 3, winning a MET conference championship and bids to the national tournament both years. Kevin has been coaching with Ridgefield since 2021 and in 2022 he led the Squirt AA team to win a CT State Tier 3 title, EJEPL Gold Title, and The New England Tier 3 Regional Title. Prior to joining the Lions Kevin coached for the Westchester Vipers and loves the chance to develop young hockey players and teach them about the game he loves. Kevin lives in Ridgefield with his wife and 2 year old daughter.
Michele Gintoli (Squirt B)
Michele comes from a big hockey family with an extensive history of playing and coaching. After graduating Kent School in ‘06, she started coaching youth hockey in ‘07 during sophomore year of college. After gaining years of experience with coaching clinics, youth travel, and girls high school hockey, Michele joined RAHA in 2016 and has been with the squirt level since 2017. In addition to RAHA, Michele was recently promoted to head coach of Wilton/Norwalk/McMahon girls varsity hockey co-op after joining as an assistant coach in 2020.
Michele is also involved with the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association as a coach for the summer hockey school as well as co-captain of the women’s national deaf team since 2017. Michele is also co-captain of her local women’s team, the Danbury Battle Axes, and also plays on various co-ed teams. She resides in Danbury and works for Nuvance as a Physical Therapist Assistant.
TJ Cline (Mite Black)
TJ has over 20 years of coaching experience across all levels and ages. TJ is a premier skill development & shooting coach who focuses on mechanics and fundamentals. Coach Cline is the hockey development director for Top Shelf Hockey in Ridgefield and currently owns and operates the Hockey Shop at the Winter Garden Ice Arena in Ridgefield CT. TJ grew up in Buffalo NY where he played youth & Junior College hockey for the ECC Kats(NJCAA). TJ was recruited to Manhattanville College (NCAA lll) where he played and graduated in 2004. After college TJ played a few years semi-pro for the New England Stars (NEHL), Valley Forge Freedom (MAHL) and the Hudson Valley Bears (EPHL). TJ resides in CT and has been involved in and or around hockey his entire life and continues giving back to the game he loves!
Don Kelly (Mite Yellow)
Coach Donny was born and raised in Ridgefield and started his hockey career as a 6 year old in the Ridgefield Developmental Program. Donny continued to play hockey for RAHA and the RHS Tigers team. Donny joined the Marine Corps after high school, and then went on to a career in law enforcement and private security. After his time in the Marines, Donny returned to Ridgefield to coach with his father, Don Kelly Sr. Donny and his father coached in Ridgefield and in NYC with Joe Espinoza Sports. Donny recently retired and now wishes to give back to the community that gave him a great start in his life. Sports and fitness have been important his whole life, and now he’s ready to help the next generation of hockey stars!
Ashley Trimble (Mite White)
Hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, Ashley brings a wealth of experience as both a player and coach to the Ridgefield Lions. Her impressive playing career includes serving as Team Captain for the National Capitals in Ottawa from 1995 to 1998 and winning the New England Championship with Brewster Academy in 2002. At Manhattanville College, Ashley's talent shone brightly as she earned All-American honors twice and led her team to four ECAC East Championships and two NCAA Division III National Championship finals. As a coach, Ashley has achieved Level 4 USA Hockey certification and guided the Mamaroneck Ice Cats U14 team to a State Championship in 2008-2009. Her coaching experience spans various age groups, including U14, U16, and U19 teams, and she has been involved in prestigious development programs such as the Empire State Games and New York State Camp. Ashley's commitment to hockey extends beyond coaching, as she is also a Level 3 USA Hockey Referee. Her combination of leadership, athletic achievement, and coaching expertise makes her an invaluable asset to our program.
Troy Perlowitz (Bantam AA Asst Coach & U18 Tier 2 Asst Coach)
Coach Troy has been involved with the sport of hockey his entire life having grown up playing with the White Plains Plainsman, then the Harvey Cavaliers and finally the Westchester Vipers where he captained the 2004 Bantam team to the New York State Tier III championship. He played in high school for the Ossining Riverhawks winning 2 league championships and earning Section I First-Team honors as both a junior and senior. Troy played both defense and forward for two seasons of college club hockey at the University of Maryland where he also worked in the athletic department. A career with ESPN’s Stats & Information Group brought him to Connecticut where he now works for Stathletes, a hockey analytics company that statistically breaks down multiple facets of a player's game, providing unique and accurate insights into their performance. Troy and his fiancée Sara, who is a Spanish teacher at Guilford High School, reside in Middletown CT.
Cathie Bonner (Skating Coach)
Cathie has been a professional skating instructor for more than thirty years, teaching everyone from young children to children with special needs to adults. Cathie is also a hockey coach for the development program at Rippowam School. Skating is her passion and she has taught and directed at numerous rinks in both New York and Connecticut. Her three children all played hockey; her son played his entire career with RAHA and her two daughters played throughout prep school and college. Cathie lives in Ridgefield with her family, where her son is a Ridgefield firefighter. She enjoys spending time with her children and defrosting at the lake.
Matt Grogan (Goaltending Coach)
Coach Matt is a 2014 UCONN Grad where he played on their division 1 hockey team. Matt earned goaltending champion in 2012-2013 and was also named third team all-league. In 2013 he was named Goalie Consultant Group Goaltender of the Year for his Division 1 performance. Following his collegiate career, Matt played professionally in the ECHL and SPHL. Coach Matt builds an excitement for hockey. Always engaged and interactive with each goalie he works with working through positive and encouragement to build confidence and enthusiasm for the game.