Shayne Bingham (Mite B Yellow)
Returning to Connecticut to coach the mites in the Ridgefield hockey program, Coach Bingham is excited to improve his coaching footprint in the youth hockey community. Bingham's knowledge of the game, provided through two decades of hockey teams, development camps, and coaching has led him back to the greatest game in the world. From his time growing up with the Westchester Express, playing amongst Division I caliber players in the ECHL with the CT Oilers, and training with future NHL players at Miami of Ohio, he has curated a great understanding for the game. Shayne coached both the Peewees and Mites in his first season with RAHA last year.
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.
Billy Casolo (Mite A Black)
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 15 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 tuned 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.
TJ Cline (Bantam A, Mite C White)
TJ has 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!
Jeffrey Crupi - (Bantam A1)
Growing up in Greenwich, Jeffrey played multiple sports including youth hockey with the Greenwich Blues. In college, Jeffrey played football and club hockey. Most notably Jeffrey played for the NFL from 1987-1990. Jeffrey presently owns Peak Personal Fitness LLC in Westport where he helps individuals of all ages reach their fitness goals.
Jeffrey has been a head hockey coach since 2016. He has coached the Brewster Bulldogs and Applecore as well as the Western Junior Colonials. He has worked with players to develop their game play skills and to learn the importance of teamwork. Jeffrey is highly motivated to work with players to produce a team that is constantly evolving and improving. He is excited to be a part of the Ridgefield Lions Association.
Mike DeRienzo - (Peewee B)
Coach Mike grew up in Massachusetts playing youth hockey and was a four-year high school varsity player and was sole captain his senior year. Despite offers from D3 schools, a knee injury and the knowledge he'd never make it in the NHL was enough for him to focus on his education. He graduated with a BS in Business Management from Bentley University and a J.D. from Villanova University. After law school, he began his career working in high stakes litigation in New York City before he moved out to Connecticut with his wife and wanted to get back into coaching the game he loves.
Mike has coached at many different levels including head coaching positions for both public and private high schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts, head and assistant coaching for various squirt and peewee travel teams, helping to run a house program in Westchester, and consulting for junior programs in Utah. He also provides private lessons to everyone from those just learning to skate all the way to college kids. Mike and his wife are new residents of Ridgefield and looking forward to getting to know the community better through working with the future leaders of the game.
Lyle Gal (Midget 16U)
Lyle comes to RAHA with a solid background in hockey and athletics. He attended Tabor Academy in Marion, MA playing hockey in the very competitive and fast paced New England Prep School league. From there he played in the Eastern Junior Hockey League and then moved on to the United States Military Academy at West Point, playing for their Division I hockey team.
The military took him away from competitive hockey serving in South Korea and Afghanistan. After the military he moved to Princeton, NJ and was able to get back into hockey coaching the18U AA in their youth hockey program.
Lyle has recently become a resident of Connecticut and has been helping coach at the Canterbury School. When he is not on the ice, he finds time playing lacrosse and looks forward to getting back on the golf course in 20 years when his children move out.
Andrew Gibian (Peewee AA)
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.
Michele Gintoli (Squirt B)
Michele graduated from Kent School in 2006 and then Sacred Heart Univ in 2010. This is her 14th year coaching, 6th at RAHA, and she has her Level 4 CEP. In addition to RAHA, Michele coaches with the Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the USA Disabled Hockey Festival every year. She also co-captained the first ever US women's deaf national team. She currently plays on several teams in the Danbury area including co-captaining a women's travel team called the Danbury Battle Axes. Michele resides in Danbury where she works as a physical therapist assistant for Nuvance Health home care.
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.
Rob Miller - (Squirt A)
Coach Rob joins the RAHA coaching staff with 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.
Tyler Noseworthy (Midget 18U)
Tyler is currently the head coach of the Danbury Hat Tricks NA3 team. As a player, Noseworthy made his way around North America including stops in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Maritime Junior Hockey League, the Southern Professional Hockey League, and the ECHL. His journey also included stops with both the Danbury Whalers and Titans of the Federal Hockey League. Most recently Noseworthy found himself playing for the Sydney Bears in the Australian Ice Hockey League in 2017. While in Danbury, Noseworthy racked up 60 points (28G+32A) in 50 games over two seasons, including a Federal Hockey league Championship with the Whalers in 2013.
Noseworthy, a native of St. John’s, Newfoundland, most recently served as an assistant coach for the Pictou County Crushers in the Maritime Junior Hockey League. He is a highly motivated individual who has a passion for developing and preparing players for the next level.
Kevin Perlowitz (Squirt AA)
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 was coaching the Westchester Vipers for the past three seasons 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 8 month old daughter.
Sean “Sully” Sullivan (Hockey Director, Bantam AA, Midget 18U Asst Coach)
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. Collegiality 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.
Mike Zarro (Peewee A)
Growing up in Putnam County NY Mike Zarro played his youth hockey in the area. Since graduating college, he has coached hockey for multiple programs at all levels from Learn to Play through High School Varsity. Beginning in 2000, Mike coached the John Jay East Fishkill JV team to 7 Championship appearances in 8 years, bringing home the title 5 times. In 2010, Mike was part of the varsity coaching staff that led the program to a NYS Championship in 2010. As his children began taking interest in hockey Mike transitioned from coaching the high school level and started coaching Learn to Play, 8U, 10U and 12U hockey. Mike is excited to be part of the Lions coaching staff.
