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Our Coaches

Team Head Coach Associate/Assistant Coaches
18U AA Keith Krem
16U AA Phil Natosi
16U A Chris Schache
16U A Louie Greco
15U AA Alec Weiss
14U AA John Musella Guy Laurin, Dan Withrow
14U AA2 Nick Phillips
13U AA Ryan Bertelsen Michael Jinks, Andrew Wigfield, Matt Kalamar
12U AA Austin Mininger
12U John Snyder
11U AA Jamie Reider
10U AYHL Josh Hartlein Brendan Gertz
10U AA Mark Gallagher
10U A Jay Glenn TK Long, Rob Adams, and Matt Piripavel
9U AA Dave Spielman
8U Developmental Nick Andreychak, Mark Gallagher
Girls 16U Cody Ruff
Girls 14U James Pierson
Girls 10U Louie Greco

18U AA Staff

Keith Krem - Krem has spent the last 17 years coaching for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth and is the longest-tenured head coach in the organization. He has been a head coach at the U8 Boys, U8 Girls, U10 Tier 1, U12, U14 Tier 1, U16 Girls, U16 Boys, and U18 levels. Krem currently serves as a Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Organization and is the current head coach of both the U16 and U18 AA teams.


16U AA Staff

Phil Natosi - Phil began coaching hockey in the Valley from 2013 to 2017 as a Coach for the Salisbury Scholastic Organization

Pivoting to the Phantoms, Phil took over the Girls U16/U19 teams in 2018 

In 2020, he was asked to lead the  Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth Girls Program. As VicePresident of Hockey Operations, growing the girls organization to its current level of success. 

In 2021 Phil made the move to the boys team as an assistant coach for the u14A team

In 2022 Phil was named head coach of the u16AA boys Team Orange 

Phil is entering his 10th year of coaching youth hockey


16U A Staff

Chris Schache - Chris is a coach with various coaching experience in various sports but none more passionate than hockey. He came to the Phantoms youth 2 seasons ago and has been the head coach both seasons at the 18 u level and helped out as an assistant at times at the 18AA and 16uAA levels.

Prior to coming to the Phantoms Youth he spent 5 seasons with the Lehigh Valley Rebels as both an assistant and head coach positions from peewee to midget. Of those 5 seasons, 4 teams went to playoffs, with 1 team finishing in second place and 2 teams winning DVHL championships. From running checking clinics to free hockey programs, he has shown a passion to help teach h players about the sport that has given him so much . He is not only a coach but has played hockey at various levels for over 30 years.

He has a drive and a passion for helping players reach their potential to get to the next level not only in their hockey careers, but also in building a strong foundation to be successful in life.

his philosophy and principles are strongly on team play and cohesion to work as a unit. You’ll often hear him reiterate one of his favorite quotes “play for the crest on the front and they will remember the name on the back!”


16U A Staff

Louie Greco - Louis Greco has been coaching for over 13 years. Last year coaching the U16-1A

Louis has coached all levels from U8-U18 ,Varsity and JV as well as Adult instructional and Women tournament team .

Through the years winning a State Championship two State runner ups , District Championship and a Conference Championship.

Coach  Greco was a level 3 USA hockey official for 13 years. In the past while coaching was the director of hockey for two different High School hockey programs.

When not on the ice Louis has a family of 5 living in the Poconos as well as a daughter and 2 grandkids in Fort Wort Texas


15U AA Staff

Alec Weiss - Alec Weiss has been involved in hockey for over 45 years as a player, coach and administrator.  Alec has been involved with Phantoms Youth since its inception as a Parent, Coach and also served as the Club's President for multiple terms.  He has coached all levels with Phantoms Youth as either a head coach or assistant coach from Mites Through 18's. 


14U AA Staff

John Musella Sr - Coach John Musella Sr has been with the Phantoms organization for over 15 years, through the transitions from Blast to Flames to Phantoms.  Over the years he has assumed increasing responsibilities within the organization.  As a Phantoms Youth Coach for many years, he has taken several teams to the Playoffs and Districts.  In 2014, he joined Hockey Operations as the Head of Coaches, becoming the VP of Hockey Operations in 2019.

During his tenure in Hockey Operations, the Phantoms have grown from approximately 250 players to nearly 500 players. It is John’s personal mission to provide guidance and assistance to any player that wants to advance beyond youth hockey and ensuring they find their path. Another key element of success and rebuild of the Organization is the implementation of the Mite development program. 

John is devoted to growing and developing hockey players in our area and has expanded his responsibilities outside of the Phantoms Organization acting as an Assistant Coach and Scout for Lehigh University, ACHA D1 Hockey as well as a regional scout for the Charlotte Rush of the USPHL.  In addition, these roles and his Hockey Operations responsibilities, he is the Head Coach for 13AA and Assistant Coach of 18AA teams for the 2022-2023 Season.

Dan Withrow - Played hockey in Michigan as a youth and through college.
Coached hockey since 1997 at various levels.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth
· Head Coach Bantam A American (15-16)
· Head Coach Pee-Wee A (14-15)
East Coast Hockey Association-Lehigh University
· Assistant Coach Goalies and Game Day Strategy (12-15)
Mid-West High School League-Des Moines Oak Leafs
· Assistant Coach Goalies Varsity & JV (11-12)
Des Moines Youth Hockey Association-Des Moines, Iowa
· Head Coach Select Mites (10-11)
· Head Coach Select Squirts (11-12)
Wisconsin High School League-Stevens Point High School
· Assistant Coach Goalies Varsity-(08-09)
Wisconsin Area Hockey Association-Stevens Point, Wisconsin
· Assistant Coach House Mites (07-08)
· Assistant Coach Travel Mites (08-09)
Mid-West High School League-Ames Little Cyclones
· Head Coach Junior Varsity (97-00)
· Assistant Coach Varsity (97-00)
Ames Minor Hockey Association-Ames, Iowa
· Assistant Coach House Squirts (97-98)
· Head Coach Travel Bantams (97-00)
I have been married for 31 years with three children ages 30, 28 and 18. I am employed at the The Hotel Bethlehem as Director of Catering Sales and I serve or served on a variety of community projects, boards, and philanthropic organizations.
Our children have been successful athletes; they were part high school cross-country teams, college soccer and ice hockey. However, as parents we always reminded our kids to “work hard, have fun and enjoy your sport.”


14U AA2 Staff

Nick Phillips -  Coach Nick has been involved with hockey (Player/Coach) for over 36 years. Nick began coaching as an assistant coach for Parkland Ice Hockey Club in 2019
(Developmental and Youth). He moved into a Head Coach role for the Parkland Middle School Team and the Nazareth Selects Tournament Team from 2020-2022.

Nick joined the Phantoms Youth organization in 2021 as a Peewee B Head Coach. In that first
year the team finished 2 nd in the DVHL Peewee B division, took home a Bronze medal from the Can/Am Lake Placid Tournament, and finished second in a local tournament. Last year Coach
Nick moved up to head coach the Bantam A team and managed to finish 2 nd in a tournament in Rochester, NY and won the AHF Championship for the Bantam A Bronze division. With an
average roster of only 11 skaters due to injuries.


Along with coaching, Nick has been a board member for the Parkland Ice Hockey Club as well as the organizations Head of Coaches for the last 2 years. In his spare time he plays in the
Geezer Hockey league and several charity tournaments throughout the year.


13U AA Staff

Ryan Bertelsen: Known as “Berts”, Ryan is the youngest head coach in the organization at 21 years old. He played for the Flames/Phantoms for 7 years, at the AA level from U12 to U18. Ryan’s coaching experience includes 2 years assistant coaching the U10AA and U12AA levels, and head coaching U12A National in 2022-23. 

With an emphasis on teaching today’s style of hockey, Ryan is constantly coaching new techniques and systems to help kids adapt to the ever evolving game. Aside from Phantoms, Ryan offers private lessons and group instruction at Steel Ice.

Ryan will be a graduate of Moravian University in the Summer of 2023, with a degree in Sports Management.

Michael Jinks: Michael played for the Phantoms for 3 years during his Bantam and U16 seasons before playing one season of U18 for the NJ Titans. He finished his playing career at Rider University where he was a 2 year President and Assistant Captain of the team. He previously coached as an assistant for the Phantoms U12 A National 2022/23.

As a former defenseman, Michael focuses on the defensive side of the game and teaching the kids skills from today's game.

Michael graduated from Rider University in 2021 with a degree in Accounting and in 2022 with an MBA. He currently works in Public Accounting.

Andrew Wigfield: Andrew played seven seasons for the Lehigh Valley Comets/Flames/Phantoms and one season of U18 AAA for the VF Minutemen. He has experience dating back to 2016 working as an instructor for Denike Goaltending Development. He also assists Phantoms Youth Goalie Coach James Pierson with Phantoms goalie clinics. 

He encourages his goalies to play aggressive and true to their style, while having strong skating and positional fundamentals. Andrew also focuses on helping his goalies to become stronger mentally on and off the ice with the unique challenges goaltenders face. 

Andrew graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology in 2022 with a degree in construction management and is currently a project manager in the institutional construction industry. 

Matt Kalamar: Matt played for the Lehigh Valley organization (Blast, Flames, and Phantoms) for 13 years. 

After graduating high school and moving on to college, Matt continued his passion for hockey at Gettysburg College. He was the president and captain of the Gettysburg Ice Hockey team for 3 years, as well as the captain of the Gettysburg Men’s Golf team in his senior year. During his time at college, he was the strength training coach of the Men’s and Women’s golf team. 

Aside from playing, Matt has coached kids at all ages for the past 5 years at KSP Fitness as a Fitness coach. He is very excited to get involved back in the Lehigh Valley organization on a coaching side, rather than playing!


12U AA Staff

Austin Mininger - My name is Coach Austin, born and raised 30 minutes south of Bethlehem I first started playing hockey at the age of 4. Through time spent playing as a member of the Lehigh Valley Flames before the Phantoms came to be, along with a lot of off ice work, I was fortunate enough to play junior hockey following my tenure in Bethlehem. Having played in Walpole, MA for my first year of junior hockey in the MJHL, I then moved onto the EHL the following season as I was being recruited from the QMJHL and the NAHL the season prior and felt like I needed to advance my development. After a couple more years playing through the junior ranks my competitive career ended due to a malformation of my brain that forced me to have surgery. However, nothing could keep me from the game that I love and I got back on the ice after and continue to play in men’s leagues with my former teammates and consistently skate with former professionals and current college players. I feel very fortunate for the opportunities that I had to play hockey at a very high level and now look forward to continuing my participation of the game, by passing on my knowledge and experience to the next generation of players. 


12U Staff

John Snyder - John started playing competitive ice hockey at the age of eleven on a team that would eventually become the Lehigh Valley Comets. His hockey experience had him playing at the college level for Susquehanna University. John started coaching about fourteen years ago when his oldest son played for Liberty’s middle school squad. Through the years, John has coached for Nazareth and Liberty and is currently the head coach for Bethlehem’s Varsity and JV teams. He also enjoys playing in the
Geezer League. When not at the rink, John is either teaching 3rd grade or with his family. John and his wife Heather reside in Bethlehem with their son.


11U AA Staff

Jamie Reider - James Rieder - Jamie is a Level 4 USA Hockey Coach, Jamie started coaching as an assistant in 2007 for both The Bethlehem Blast and Emmaus Youth Hockey Teams. He served as the Head Coach for Emmaus High School Varsity Team from 2014-2018. Jamie has been with the Phantoms since 2014 and was instrumental in starting the developmental Program for Mites. Over the years, he has coached the Mite’s lite travel through 8U AA, 10U A and AA teams. Along with coaching, he has been a referee for the past 15 years and in his spare time Jamie plays in the Original 6 Men’s League and Geezer Hockey league and has been a board member for the GHL for the past 15 years


10U AYHL Staff

Josh Hartlein - I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan and started playing hockey at 3 years old. I played upper-level travel through freshman year of high school where I attended Grand Rapids Christian High and played 3 years of varsity hockey. Following this, I committed to Calvin University to play ACHA D1 for 4 years. During high school and college, I assisted on numerous high level travel teams with USA Hockey Level 5 coaches for the Grand Rapids Blades, as well as assisted with skill development, learn to skate, and learn to play sessions. Graduating in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, I moved to Pennsylvania and am now an engineer in the Bethlehem area.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2022-2023
ASSISTANT COACH, LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS YOUTH
Bantam B
2016-2021
ASSISTANT COACH, GRAND RAPIDS BLADES
Bantam AA, Bantam A, PeeWee AA, PeeWee A, Squirt AA
2019
ASSISTANT COACH, MEIJER STATE GAMES OF MICHIGAN
High School Division
2016-2021
ASSISTANT COACH, GRAND RAPIDS BLADES
Skill Development, Learn to Skate, and Learn to Play for ages Mite-Midget
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
2017-2021
DEFENSEMAN, CALVIN UNIVERSITY (ACHA D1)
2014-2017
DEFENSEMAN/FORWARD, GRAND RAPIDS CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL (MHSAA)

 

Brendan Gertz - I grew up in the Lehigh Valley and have been around the organization as a player for all but two of my youth hockey years. I have been on the ice since I was 3 and basically grew up at the rink watching my brother play or my dad ref. I love the game of hockey and I am incredibly excited to help coach this year. I recently graduated from Penn State with a BS in Economics, and I am currently working in Allentown for ADP. I have only had a little coaching experience in the past, other than helping out with clinics and volunteering with learn to play throughout my time at school. However, growing up with my dad as my coach for many years, I learned how the game should be played the right way. This allowed me to understand how to be professional, and with that, I earned many leadership roles as a player. Captaining my high school team for 3 years, as well as the PSU Altoona club team my freshman and sophomore year before going to State College. 

PLAYING EXPERIENCE 

PSU - ACHA D2 

2019-2022 

Made Districts Each Season. 

PSU Altoona - ACHA D3 - Captain 

2017-2019 

Led League scoring 2017-18 

Won CHE League Championship 2018 

Valley Forge Minutemen 18uAAA-AYHL - Alternate Captain 

2016-2017 

Alternate Captain first year playing AAA 

Southern Lehigh HS - LVSHL - Captain 

2014-2017 

Led League Scoring 2016-17 

Led Team Scoring 2015-17 

Varsity all 4 years 

Bethlehem Blast, LV Flames, LV Phantoms 

U8-First Year Midget 18 


10U AA Staff

Mark Gallagher - Mark has been coaching youth hockey in the Lehigh Valley since 2018. He has coached at various U8 levels, and had his first U10 campaign in the '22-'23 season. Mark has also worked with the LVPY D-League players since Fall of 2020. Recent coaching achievements include 2021 Hershey Columbus Day Mites A tournament champion, 2022 Pepsi Buffalo Invitational Mite AA tournament champion, and 2022 Hershey St. Patrick's Day Mites A tournament runner up. 


10U A Staff

Jay Glenn - I have coached in the Flames/Phantoms Youth organization for 11 years from u8-U16. I have also been head coach for Nazareth JV and assistant coach for Nazareth Varsity for 5 years. I enjoy helping kids learn the game and try to create and environment that kids want to show up and have fun while learning to compete. The most important thing to me is skill development and that they have fun and want come back next year. When I’m not behind the bench I enjoy getting yelled at as an on-ice official. 


9U AA Staff

David Spielman - David Spielman has over 8 years of coaching experience. He has coached all levels of hockey from learn-to-skate to U18 in both Maryland and Pennsylvania.
David’s coaching career began on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where he coached teams at the U8, U12, and U14 level. He also had a stint as the head coach of a middle school team that included children in grades 6 th -8 th grades.
Currently, David serves as an assistant coach for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth U10AA team as well as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Mites Developmental Program. This past summer, David served as an assistant coach for the Steele Ice Alliance’s U18AA Summer Tournament team. In addition to that, David served as head coach and founder of a new tournament team, the Bay East Selects, that brought together his former players from across the Mid-Atlantic Region. This team competed at the U18AA level with players from the 2004 and 2005 age groups.
Through his coaching and commitment to his players he has successfully guided players to bigger and brighter things and has several players currently playing at the AAA, Tier 2 Juniors, and prep school level.
Prior to coaching, David had a successful playing career that has spanned 25 years and included two seasons with Salisbury University’s ACHA D3 team as well as one season with Long Island University’s ACHA D2 program.
David lives in New Jersey with his wife and three children, Aiden, Sawyer, and Teaghan.


8U Developmental Staff

Nick Andreychak - Nick is in his third year of coaching for the Phantoms, but has been involved with hockey in the Tri-state area for almost 30 years. Nick began playing for the Allentown Thunder and then the Bethlehem Blast before playing four years at the University of Scranton. After college hockey, Nick spent time coaching in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights and Bridgewater Bears organizations.

Mark Gallagher - Mark has been coaching youth hockey in the Lehigh Valley since 2018. He has coached at various U8 levels, and had his first U10 campaign in the '22-'23 season. Mark has also worked with the LVPY D-League players since Fall of 2020. Recent coaching achievements include 2021 Hershey Columbus Day Mites A tournament champion, 2022 Pepsi Buffalo Invitational Mite AA tournament champion, and 2022 Hershey St. Patrick's Day Mites A tournament runner up. 


Girls 16U Staff

Cody Ruff - Cody started as a head coach for the Lehigh Valley Comets in 2008. Since then Cody has been an assistant coach for Whitehall High School’s varsity team, head coach for Northampton High School’s Junior Varsity and Varsity teams. Cody coached the Lehigh Valley Rebels from 2014-2022 where he was head coach at U10 moving up to U16, winning multiple DVHL Championships along the way. This past season, he shifted his focus and coached U16 Girls for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Youth.

In between coaching stints, he attended and played for Kutztown University (ACHA DII) from 2010-2013, where he served as an alternate captain his junior and senior year, as well as winning a championship in 2013. Before college, Cody went to Northampton High School.

Cody has been working with and teaching skill development for over 15 years ranging anywhere from 5 years old to adults playing at the international level.


Girls 14U Staff

James Pierson - Coach James Pierson has been coaching and developing athletes for the past 18 years.  In 2016, Coach Pierson was named Director of Goaltending Development for the Phantoms Youth, and is still serving in that position.  During that time, he developed a training program for the Phantoms Youth that helped increase volume and quality in depth charts year over year. The success over the first 2 years of programming led to the inception of PPG which provides structured development, camps, lessons & clinics for goaltenders of all ages.  He and his team of coaches have had tremendous success in moving many athletes along to the higher levels, including NCAA, ACHA, JR's and the Tier 1 Levels.
Pierson has spent countless hours translating several training manuals from various European Hockey Schools for a contrasting thesis on various countries development models.  The literature and education that came from the study sharpened Pierson's knowledgebase and shaped his developmental philosophy.
In addition to the Phantoms, Pierson served as a USPHL & NCDC Goaltending Coach during the 2021 & 2022 seasons, additionally he served as an NCAA D3 Women's Goaltending Coach during the 2022 Season.
Coach Pierson will bring a Strong, Supportive & Structured environment to the Girls U14 Team.  He is excited to use his tactical and technical understanding of the game to elevate the girls physical, mental and emotional skillsets to turn them into leaders both on and off the ice.


Girls 10U Staff

Louis Greco - Louis Greco has been coaching for over 13 years. Last year coaching the U16-1A

Louis has coached all levels from U8-U18 ,Varsity and JV as well as Adult instructional and Women tournament team .

Through the years winning a State Championship two State runner ups , District Championship and a Conference Championship.

Coach  Greco was a level 3 USA hockey official for 13 years. In the past while coaching was the director of hockey for two different High School hockey programs.

When not on the ice Louis has a family of 5 living in the Poconos as well as a daughter and 2 grandkids in Fort Wort Texas