RMHS Staff
 
Staffing Philosophy
First and foremost, our staff members are educators. RMHS instructors are all accomplished coaches, trainers, and teachers who are responsible for youth hockey associations, professional hockey clubs, college clubs, and even third grade classrooms. As a result, we are well trained to be able to listen, observe and talk with each camper to determine what they NEED to work on, and what they WANT to work on. This builds a solid developmental foundation for the rest of the camp and allows us to determine the best way to work with, reach, and educate each of our students on an individual level.Coach Talking 1.jpg
 
Many camps post decisive student:teacher ratios, even going so far as hiring high school aged players with little or no teaching experience to meet these stated numbers. We take a different approach. We do not believe it is the NUMBER of staff that is important, but the QUALITY of the staff that truly dictates the success of any program. RMHS utilizes its Instructor Training Protocol to train and prepare its staff to teach the RMHS Skill Development Camp Progressions, properly manage all on-ice sessions, and to effectively and individually communicate with each camper. As a result of this commitment, our camps are staffed by Head and Lead Instructors only, all of whom are highly trained, more experienced, and better suited to the management and teaching needs inherent in an RMHS camp.
 
Join the RMHS Staff!
Please review the staff bios listed below for information on our professional coaching staff. 
 
Want to become an RMHS Staff Member? Please send an email to Bryan.Smith@RMHShockey.com. In this email please include a hockey resume along with all of your contact info.

 

BRYAN SMITH, President/Director of Operations
  •  President, RMHS Director of Hockey Operations
  • USA Regional Scout-Colorado, Victoria Royals, WHL
  • Arvada Bantam AA, CCYHL, Assistant Coach, 2011-2012
  •  Team Rocky Mountain, U16 AAA, Assistant Coach, 2009- current 
  •  Summit High School Head Coach 2004-2007
  •  Team Wyoming, U19, Head Coach 2009
  •  Founder, Summit Hockey Schools
  •  USA Hockey Level 4 Certified coach
  •  USA Hockey Coaching Education Program Instructor
  •  USA Hockey Rocky Mountain District Evaluation Camp Staff
  •  USA Hockey Montana State Evaluation Camp On Ice Evaluator
  •  USA Hockey Colorado State Evaluation Camp On Ice Evaluator 
  •  Former Robby Glantz Powerskating Head Instructor

 

MIKE GEMPELER
  •  Gustavus Adolphus College, B.A., Management, Education, Coaching 
  •  Player, Dayton Bombers, Knoxville Cherokees, ECHL
  •  University of Denver (WCHA) Video Coordinator, 1999-2002
  •  EV Zug, Switzerland, Pro & Junior Elite Team Powerskating Coach
  •  Founder, Rocky Mountain Hockey Schools
  •  Founder/President, U.S. Junior Development Program
  •  Founder/President, Under Armour Hockey Showcase
  • Skelaton Eye Wear, Director of Business Development

 

CHRIS RUHLY
  •  Lawrence University Assistant Coach, 1999-2004
  •  Summit High School, CHASA, Head Coach, 2008-current
  •  RMHS Lead Instructor 1996-Current 
  •  USA Hockey Level 4 Certified coach
  •  Appleton Acceleration Head Instructor
  •  USA Hockey Montana State Evaluation Camp On Ice Evaluator
  •  USA Hockey Colorado State Evaluation Camp On Ice Evaluator 
  •  USJDP Junior Prep Camp Staff

 

JOHN PARIS, Jr.
  •  Team Rocky Mountatin, U16 AAA, Head Coach, 2009-current 
  •  Restigouche Tigers Head Coach, MJAHL Jr. A 
  •  IMG Hockey Academy AAA Director/Head Coach, 2000-2003
  •  Macon Whoopee, CHL, Head Coach, GM, Vice-President, 1996-2000
  •  Atlanta Knights, IHL, Head Coach/Asst GM, 1993-96
  •  1994 Turner Cup Champion
  •  Nashville Knights, Assistant GM, ECHL, 1990-93
  •  St. Louis Blues, NHL, Scout, 1985-90
  •  Canadian Major Junior Hockey League: 
  •  Head Coach, St. Jean Lynx, 1992
  •  Head Coach/GM, Granby Bison, 1989-92
  •  Head Coach/GM, Trois Rivieres Draveurs, 1987
  •  Assistant Coach/Asst GM, Sorel Black Hawks, 1981-86
  •  Coach, Speaker & Consultant, Swedish Ice Hockey Federation
  •  Coach, Speaker & Consultant, Finnish Ice Hockey Federation
  •  Coach, Speaker & Consultant, French Ice Hockey Federation
  •  Coach, Speaker & Consultant, English Ice Hockey Federation
  •  Quebec U17 Excellency Program, Head Coach/General Manager
  •  1986 & 87 Esso Cup Champions
  •  Quebec Midget AAA Development Program, VP, 1979-87
  •  USJDP Selects Head Coach, Switzerland Tour 2004
  •  USJDP Junior Prep Camp Lead Instructor
  •  RMHS certified Level I Lead Instructor
  •  Former Head Instructor/Director, Mario Lemieux Hockey Schools Director
  •  Former Head Instructor, Okanagan Hockey Schools
  •  Former Head Instructor, Pierre Mondou Canadian Hockey Schools, Montreal
  •  Former Head Instructor, Atlanta Knights Hockey School
  •  Former Head Instructor, Can-Am Hockey Schools Lake Placid

 

LEWIE KELLIN
  •  RMHS Head Instructor 2005-current
  •  USA Hockey Level 4 Certified coach
  •  Private powerskating instructor 
  •  Lead Instructor for several hockey camps in Minnesota 
  •  USA Hockey Montana State Evaluation Camp On Ice Evaluator

 

Chad MacLoud
  • Nipawin Hawks, SJHL, Junior A Tier III, Assistant Coach, current
  • Tulsa Rampage, WSHL, Junior A Tier III, Head Coach, 2008-2010
  • RMHS Goaltending Camps, Director of Development, 2011-current
  • Head USA Hockey Development Camp goaltending coach, Rocky Mountain District & High Plains District
  • USJDP, Head Goaltending Coach
  • Private Goalie instruction, 10+ years


Sean Fish

  • Alaska Avalanche, NAHL Jr. A, Tier II, Assistant Coach, 2009-current
  • USJDP, Head on-ice staff, 2009-current
  • U15 Select National Festival, USA Hockey, Head Coach, 2010
  • Stephens Point, NCAA DIII, player, two time captain




Steven Fletcher

  • Calgary Flames, NHL, Draft Pick, 1980
  • 15 year pro career, NHL, IHL, AHL, & UHL
  • Current AAA assistant coach

 

ZAC DESJARDINS
  • San Antonio Diablos, WSHL, Head Coach, 2009-2010
  •  Kenai River Brown Bears, NAHL, Assistant Coach, 2008-2009
  •  Restigouche Jr A Tiger, MJAHL, Assistant Coach, 2007-2008
  •  USA Hockey Level 4 Certified coach
  •  Fargo-Moorehead Jets Scout, NAHL 
  •  RMHS Lead Instructor, 1997-present
  •  USA Hockey Montana State Evaluation Camp On Ice Evaluator
  •  USJDP Junior Prep Camp Instructor & Housing Director 
  •  USA Hockey Central District Coaching Clinic Director
  •  USA Hockey Central District Player Development Camp Staff

 

GRAHAM JOHNSON
  • Colorado Thunderbirds U15 AAA, Tier 1, Head Coach, 2011/2012
  • Colorado Thunderbirds U12 AAA, Tier 1, Head Coach, 2010/2011
  • Denver Junior Pioneers Youth Hockey Association Director of Player Development (Oct 2007- Jan 2010) 
  • Director of Hockey operations, Providence Predators 2005-2007
  •  RMHS Selects, Recruiter & Coach
  •  Private powerskating instructor 
  •  RMHS Lead Instructor 2002-current
  •  USJDP Junior Prep Camp Instructor
  • Las Vegas THunder, IHL 1999
  • Chicago Freeze, NAHL 1998
  • Brampton Capitals, OPHL 1997-1998
  • Level 4 USA Hockey Instructor
  • USA Hockey Coaching education program instructor 
  • Head Coach Colorado Thunderbirds "AAA" 




  Alex Weisenburger

  • Grand Valley State, ACHA D2, Head Coach, 2009
  • Central Michigan University, ACHA D2, Head Coach, 2005-2007
  • Florida Gulf Coast University, ACHA D2, Head Coach
  • USA Hockey, Level III
  • Camp Director & Owner of several hockey camps across the USA




  Tony Swedburg

  • USA Hockey, Level V, Master Coach
  • High Country Hockey League/Camp, Founder
  • Wyoming USA Hockey Player Development Camp, On-ice Staff Member
  • Private Powerskating Coach
  • RMYHL, All Star Coach, 2004, 2005, & 2006
  • Gunnison Youth Hockey Director, RMYHL, Former
  • Youth Hockey Coach, all levels and ages, 1995-current
  • Designer of off-ice pre and post season dryland training programs for several program in the RMYHL

 

DAN ROSENTHAL
  •  Missoula Bruins, U16 boys, Head Coach 
  •  Missoula Bruins, Bantam A, Head Coach, 2003-2005
  •  USA Hockey Montana State Evaluation Camp On Ice Evaluator
  •  Missoula Youth Hockey Pre-Season Development Director 
  •  RMHS Head Instructor 2003-current

 

KEVIN WEST 
  • Phoenix Coyotes, NHL, Youth Hockey Director
  • USA Hockey Montana State Evaluation Camp On Ice Evaluator
  •  Private powerskating instructor 
  •  RMHS Head Instructor 2003-current
  •  USA Hockey Level 4 Certified coach

 

Dell Truax
  • USA Hockey Level 5 Masters Coach
  • Wyoming USA Hockey Player Development Camp, On-ice Staff Member
  • Private Powerskating Instructor
  • Durango Youth Hockey, RMYHL, Midget & U14 Girls, Head Coach, current
  • Former AAA Coach, Long Island New York
  • 10+ years hockey camp experience 


  Peter Gavinski

  • USA Hockey Level IV Coach
  • Durango Youth Hockey, Head Goaltending Coach
  • Private Goaltender Instructor
  • Cleveland Lumberjacks, CSHL, Tier III Junior A, Player 2003-2004
  • St. Paul Lakers, MJHL, Tier III Junior A, Player 2004-2006
  • Bozeman Blackhawks, Nor-Pac, Tier III Junior A, Player 2005-2006
  • RMHS Head Goaltending Instructor, 2009-current




  Austin Oakes

 
  • Easton Hockey, Tech Specialist
  • Colorado Thunderbirds, Tier I, AAA, player
  • Cleveland Lumberjack, NAHL, Junior A, player
  • Kent State, ACHA, D1, player