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Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Girls Head Coaches

05/28/2019, 2:30pm EDT
By Alex Roessler

Shaun Suisham - 10U

Shaun was raised in Wallaceburg, Ontario and played junior hockey before accepting a scholarship to Bowling Green State University to play football. That began a 16 year football journey that included 11 years in the NFL. Following his retirement in 2016, Shaun has immersed himself back into the game of hockey. As a father of two young hockey players, he is driven to create a positive team experience in the most competitive environment possible.


Steph Moon - 10U

Steph is originally from Pittsburgh and played amateur hockey with the Ohio Flames 19U team. She graduated from North Allegheny High School in 2007 and went on to play college hockey at Division III Plattsburgh State where she helped the team make NCAA Tournament appearances in 3 out of 4 seasons and captured the National Championship in 2008. She was named team captain in 2010-11 and was All-Conference Second Team. Last season, Steph served as the assistant coach for the Girls 12U team.


Brian Mueller - 12U

Brian played college hockey at Clarkson University where he was a two time All-American and Hobey Baker finalist. He was drafted by the Hartford Whalers and played five and a half seasons of professional hockey. Brian has been coaching youth hockey for over 20 years including his time with in Chicago with the Chicago Mission Hockey Club. While in Chicago, he also served as the Vice President of 200x85, a program that trained and developed over 15,000 student athletes. Brian’s extensive coaching resume includes three National Championship teams. In 2019, he was the coach of the Boys 16U Pittsburgh Penguins Elite team that won the Tier 1 Elite championship and the USA Hockey National Championship. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Hockey Development and Programing at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.


Danny MacKinnon - 12U

Prior to joining the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite as Director of Elite Hockey, Danny was the Hockey Director at Maritime Varsity Academy in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He also served as the Head Coach for the Cole Harbour Major Midgets out of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League. Danny has experience at all levels as he was a Graduate Assistant Coach at Bemidji State University and has helped develop numerous players into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League during his time at Maritime Varsity Academy. Furthermore, Danny has spent time working within Hockey Nova Scotia’s program of excellence and most recently with Hockey Canada’s U17 Developmental program. Danny coached the 2007 and 2008 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Teams in 2018 and is currently the Head Coach for our 15U Midgets. Danny finished his playing career at Acadia University and earned an Undergraduate Degree in Kinesiology. After Acadia, he moved to Bemidji, to complete a Master’s of Science degree at Bemidji State University.


Kate Binnie - 14U

Kate grew up in the Sewickley area playing hockey for the Quaker Valley boy’s teams as well as several boys and girls travel teams. She played Division I hockey at St. Lawrence University in New York. Kate played four seasons for the Saints and was named co-captain her senior year. During her time at St. Lawrence, she helped the team reach the Frozen Four on three occasions. This will be Kate’s tenth season coaching girls AAA hockey in Pittsburgh. Last season, she coached the 14U team that won the USA Hockey National Championship. She has also been coaching for nine seasons with the Shady Side Academy Girls Prep hockey program.


Ashley Vesci - 16U

Ashley is a Pittsburgh native who grew up playing in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite organization. She left home to attend Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts for three years but returned to Pittsburgh to play NCAA Division I hockey at Robert Morris University. Ashley played for RMU for four seasons and served as an assistant captain during her junior year and captain her senior year. After graduation, she began coaching in the Pens Elite organization and also played the 2016-17 NWHL season for the Buffalo Beauts and helped the team win the Isobel Cup. Since retiring from playing, Ashley has focused on her passion of coaching and has spent the last three seasons working with the 10U, 16U and 19U teams.


Chris Stern - 19U

Chris has been successful coaching youth hockey at every age level. His accolades include Tier 1 championships and coaching teams that participated in USA Hockey National Championships in 8 of his final 11 seasons. He has developed players that have reached all levels of hockey including Division I, Division III and NHL players. Chris has been active as a scout over the years having worked in both the USHL and NAHL. He has served as a coach and evaluator for USA Hockey player development camps and as a presenter at USA Hockey coaching clinics. A Pittsburgh native, “Sluggo” played college hockey at Duquesne and is also a practicing attorney.


Tag(s): Home  19U Girls  16U Girls  14U Girls  10U Girls Gastgeb  10U Girls Kerr