All Conference in Hockey for 2 years with Centennial High School, All State Team in Hockey his senior year.  Played one year with the St. Paul Vulcan's then went to Mankato State University where he was named Captain of the hockey team for two years.  Named All Conference for two years and earned All American honor his senior year.  After finishing his hockey career he coached the MSU Junior Varsity team.  Has coached association hockey at several levels including the initiation, squirt and U8 Girls.  Coached summer AAA hockey teams since 2000 at the squirt, pee wee and bantam levels with different organizations.  Also has coached in the following post season tournament for several years, Super Series (Squirts and Pee Wee's), The Selects (Squirts,Pee Wee's and Bantams), and the Elite Classic (Squirts and Pee Wee's).  Founded the Skate to Excellence clinic in 2002.

Played high school hockey at Centennial High School.  Skated with the St. Paul Vulcan's in which he played in the Top Prospects Tournament, 4 Nations Tournament and won the USHL National Championship with the Vulcans.  As a member of the St. Cloud State University hockey team he went on to play in 3 NCAA hockey tournaments and won the WCHA Final FIVE Playoff Championship.  Joel has coached the upper B1 Bantam team for CYHA for the last 3 years to 2 state tournaments in which they finished 2nd and 4th.  Joel will be coaching the Centennial A Pee Wee team this season.

Skate to Excellence would like to welcome Ritch Menne as the newest member of our coaching staff.  Ritch will coach the STE 2000 Boys AAA hockey team and help out with some of our other clinics.  Ritch's two assistant coaches helping  with the STE 2000 boys team will be Jim Hillman and Paul Harrington.

Ritch played High School hockey for Centennial High School where he was a 2 year All-Conference player.  He went on to play a year of junior hockey for the North Suburban Jr. Hawks before playing college hockey at Bethel College.  After his playing days were done, Ritch spent 18 years in the Centennial Youth Hockey Association.  Ritch has been a head coach at all levels from A Initiation to A Bantam.  Ritch was also head coach for the CHS boys JV team for 6 years.

Six years ago, Ritch founded the Initiation Summer Skate where he is the head instructor.  Also, during the past 4 years, he has been a lead hockey instructor at the National Sports Center.  This winter Ritch will be the head coach for the Centennial A Squirt team and will be helping his son's A mite team as an assistant coach.

 Chris McAlpine will coach the STE 1996 AAA hockey team and help out in other STE clinics.  Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Chris graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science Degree.  Chris was a captain and played four seasons at the University of Minnesota.  Chris helped the Gophers earn four NCAA tournament appearances, one WCHA title and one NCAA Frozen Four appearance.  In his four year career Chris broke the all time penalty minute record at U of M set by former teammate and now colleague Ben Hankinson.  In his senior year Chris earned All-WCHA honors, WCHA Playoff MVP, team MVP, and was an All American.

Chris was drafted by the New Jersey Devils and played 10 professional season 9 in the NHL with New Jersey Devils, St Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks, and Los Angeles Kings and won a Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 1995.  After retiring from the NHL Chris took a scouting position with the Carolina Hurricanes and was on staff for the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup championship in 2006.

Chris is involved in hockey community and coaches the North East team in the Minnesota High School Elite league in the fall along with various hockey camps.  Chris uses his knowledge and experience of the game at ever level to help players achieve their goals. 

 Paul Wolfe will be the STE 2001 Boys hockey coach and help out with other clinics for STE.   Paul was a goalie for Blaine High School and graduate in 1983.  He palyed junior hockey  for the Tri-Metro Whalers from 1984 to 1986.  Paul coached  hockey at Andover High School from 2000 - 2008 where he was an assistant varsity hockey coach and goalie coach.  Currently he is the assistant coach and goalie coach for St. Francis boys High School team. Paul is a current board member for SFYHA and an active member of the coummunity to head up a outdoor skating rink and facility in the city of Oak Grove. Paul also coaches at the youth level for SFYHA. 

 Jim Hillman  will  help coach the STE 2000 AAA hockey team and help out in other STE clinics.  Jim  played high school hockey at Blaine HS, then played 2 years of junior hockey with the St. Paul Vulcans where he played on the 1991 National Championship team coached by Mike Geuntzel. Jim then went on to  play his college hockey at the University of Minnesota.  While a Gopher he played on two WCHA Final Five Championship teams and competed in two Frozen Four NCAA tournaments.  After his playing days were done, Jim got into coaching with the Twin Cities Vulcans as an assistant coach for two years then took over as the Vulcans Head Coach.  In his second year as head coach Jim lead the Vulcans to the National Championship.  When the team moved to Kearney, NE and became the Tri-City Storm Jim went on to become the teams Head coach and General Manager for three seasons.  After coaching Jim became a amateur scout with the New York Islanders and Director of Scouting and Player Development with the Sioux Falls Stampede.  Jim  also has intentional coaching experience, as an assistant coach in 2000 with the Under 17 National team in Previzda, Slovikia where they won the Gold Medal. He also has be an assistant coach in the US Four Nation Tournament.  Jim is currently coaching his son's team in the Coon Rapids Hockey association at the Squirt level.

Mike was a 3 year letter winner in hockey at Columbia Heights High School where he earned All-Conference honors.  He played Jr. A hockey with the North Hennepin Nordiekes and Bloomington Jr. Stars before playing college hockey at St. Thomas.  After Mike was done playing he coached and ran the traveling program for Tri City.  He has coached association hockey at the squirt, pee wee and bantam levels. 

Mike's AAA background includes being President of the Minnesota Lightning AAA organization from 2002 to 2007.  He coached the 1990  and 1993 AAA Lightning teams.  Mike's 1990 team went undefeated for 2 years and has 14 of his players playing D1 hockey or major juniors from the 1990 AAA team.  On his 1993 Lightning team all 15 players were selected for the advanced 15 Selects Festival with 2 of those players getting selected for the US Development team in Ann Arbor, MI.  Also, Mike was the Minnesota Selects West teams head coach from 2003 to 2008. 

Mike will help coach the 2001 STE AAA hockey team and help out with some of our hockey and skating clinics. 

Centennial High School (Team Captain/All Conference (2) and All State his senior year).  Played for St. John's University where he helped win 3 MIAC Regular Season Championship and a MIAC Final Five Championship. Skated in 2 NCAA Tournaments with St. John's.  Played Junior A hockey in the American West Hockey League for the Bozeman Ice Dogs where he played in the 2001 AWHL Finals.

Captain of the 2004 Centennial High School State Hockey Championship Team. Currently playing D1 hockey.

Centennial High School Girls Head Hockey Coach. Lead the Cougars to their first State Tournament appearance in 2004/2005 season.  Named Conference Coach of the Year twice during his 8 years of coaching at Centennial.

Centennial High School (Team Captain/All Conference) Played for St John"s University where he helped win one regular season championship and two MIAC Final Five Championships.  Skated in 2 NCAA Tournaments.

Maple Grove High School.  Also played at St. John's University where he helped win one regular season championship and two MIAC Final Five Championships.  Skated in 2 NCAA Tournaments.

Pete Coenen - Bob Auman - John Olmschenk - Tom Berg - Steve Klien - Tom Hildebrandt - Beth Corliss - Mike Kueppers - Trey Hughes - Joey Hess