Coaches

Paul Kelly

NCDC Head Coach

Coach Kelly becomes the first ever Stars' NCDC coach after success in his second year at the helm of the Stars Premier team. In the Stars second season at the Premier level, they jumped from an eighth place finish in the debut campaign to a fourth place finish in 2016-2017.

A finalist for Coach of the Year for the Premier division in 2017, Coach Kelly was awarded Coach of the Year USPHL Elite Division for his efforts in the 2014-2015 season. Prior to the Syracuse Stars Kelly coached the 1000 Islands Privateers of the Federal Hockey League.

Coach Kelly played in over 400 professional games over the span of eight seasons in the Central Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League, and in Europe. Kelly played at Boston College for one season before transferring to Plattsburgh State. Prior to attending college, Kelly played his Junior hockey in the USHL for the Tri-City Storm.

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Louie Educate

Head Premier Coach

The Utica Jr Cometes are pleased to welcome Louis Educate to their coaching staff. Coach Educate will be the head coach of the Comets’ Premier team. He will also assist with the NCDC team.

“We are very excited to have Louis come on board with us. His experience of playing and then coaching with a top program like Utica College makes him an invaluable resource for our players. We will look forward to Louis’ contributions to many facets of our program,” commented Jr Comets’ General Manager, Nicole Kirnan Kelly.

Educate is a 2015 graduate of Utica College where he earned his B.S. in Risk Management and Insurance. He was a three-year member of the UC men’s hockey team, where he helped guide the Pioneers to their first ever NCAA tournament berth and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Frozen Four in 2013. During that season, he was named the ECAC West Player of the Year and a first team All-American after finishing with 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 28 games. Educate spent his freshman season at Nichols College, where he led the NCAA with 27 goals in route to being named the ECAC Northeast Rookie of the Year.

After graduation, Educate played professionally for VfE Ulm/Neu-Ulm Germany, posting 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 16 games. In 2016-17, he suited up for the Huntsville Havoc, of the Southern Professional Hockey League, where he was named an SPHL All-Star after scoring 20 goals and adding 11 assists in 38 games.

Educate was the assistant coach of the 2017-18 Utica College Hockey team and guided them to their first UCHC regular season and postseason championship alongside long-time head coach Gary Heenan. Educate helped with all facets of the program, including day-to-day operations, scouting, recruiting, as well as game and practice preparation.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Educate has been involved in youth hockey for several years. During the summers he coached tournament teams, ran power skating sessions and skill camps with the Above and Beyond Hockey program. He now resides in New Hartford, NY.

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Jesse Cornell

Midget and Junior Recruiting Coordinator

Nick Palmieri

18U Head Coach

Palmieri, a native of the Mohawk Valley, started his hockey journey playing for Clinton youth hockey and the former Syracuse Stars. In 2004, he left the Mohawk Valley to attend Northwood Prep School in Lake Placid, NY. After one season at Northwood, he transitioned his game to the OHL where he played four seasons between the Erie Otters and Belleville Bulls.

After his second season in the OHL, Palmieri was drafted 79th overall in the 2007 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils. He then went on to skate in 87 NHL games with both the New Jersey Devils and the Minnesota Wild tallying 13 goals and 12 assists (13-12-25). He also appeared in 212 AHL games from 2007 to 2013 tallying 49 goals and 46 assists. At the conclusion of the 2013 season, Palmieri elected to play in the DEL in Germany for two seasons and then in the EBEL in Austria where he finished his playing career in 2017.

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Adam Pawlick

Head Coach 16U

Adam played three years of professional hockey for the Pensacola Ice Flyers in the Southern Professional Hockey League. Prior to playing professionally, Adam played collegiately for four years at Clarkson University, an NCAA Division 1 program competing in the ECAC.

Before College, Adam spent two years at Salisbury Prep School and one year playing for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL.

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Scott Kurdziolek

16U

Scott played college hockey at RIT for 1 year in the ECAC-West and then played 3 years at Assumption College in the ECAC –NS.

Scott has been coaching for 12 years, 3 of those years were at the High School level and 9 coaching youth hockey, he is a level 5 coach.

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Jon Ames

16U

Jon played two years of professional hockey in the ECHL and CHL. Prior to playing professionally, Jon played two years of division one college hockey at the University of Connecticut before transferring to play two seasons at Utica College.

Jon served as the assistant coach for the Utica College Pioneers during the 2017-2018 season. He has coached the Midget team for the Jr. Comets the past two seasons.

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Patrice Robitaille

2005

Patrice played five years of professional hockey in the IHL and UHL. Before turning pro, Robitaille had an outstanding four-year career at Division one Clarkson University where he is still the 8^th all-time scorer at the university.

His senior year he served as the team Captain and finished in the top 10 scoring for all of Division 1. Patrice has been coaching various levels of youth hockey for over 20 years.

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Robert Esche

2005

Esche is a former NHL goaltender who played for the Phoenix Coyotes from 1998 – 2002 and the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002 – 2007. Esche also represented the United States in several world championships as well as the 2006 Olympics in Torino.

He completed his professional career with teams in Russia and Switzerland. Esche has been coaching youth hockey for over 6 years with the Utica Jr. Comet organization.

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Rich Russel

2006

Rich started coaching hockey when his son started Learn to Play at CenterState in 2010. He continued to coach there for 4 years all the way through Squirts.

In 2014, his son switched to the Syracuse Nationals where he became an assistant coach. Russel coached there for 3 years and then in 2017 he moved to the Comets and became an assistant coach where he has continued to this day. He runs warmups before each game and off ice training with the boys after each of their practices. Rich is working on acquiring his Level 5 next year. When he is not coaching hockey, he coaches soccer which he has done for the past 7 years.

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Vincent Stefan

2007 Head Coach

Stefan begins his coaching career after graduating from Utica College in 2018, where he finished a four-year collegiate career. His senior year he served as an assistant captain of the Pioneers, leading his team to a championship in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC). Before playing Division 3 hockey for the Pioneers, Stefan played 3 seasons of Juniors for Kanai River (Soldotna, AK) in the North American Hockey League.

Stefen, originally from Pittsburgh, grew up playing youth hockey for the Jr. Penguins before moving to Michigan where he played for Little Caesars and Motor City.

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Scott Rey

2007

Rey is a USA Hockey Level 4 coach. He played youth hockey in Clinton and was a member of the 1995-96 Clinton High School State Championship team and was a captain for the 1997-98 Clinton Warriors.

He served on the board for the CNY Bobcats Girls hockey organization as both ACE Director and President. Rey has coached both boys and girls teams at LTP to 12U. His coaching philosophy is one of discipline, teamwork, skill development and fun. Rey is committed to excellence as a coach and strives to get the best out of every single player.

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Dan McCraith

2009/2010

Dan played high school hockey for Clinton where he won a State Championship in 1995.

He also spent his youth hockey career playing for Clinton. He has been coaching for eight years now, spending time coaching Clinton Peewees and Midgets as well as coaching in New Hartford youth hockey. Dan has his Level 4 coaching certificate.

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Vinny Nucci

2009 Asst. Coach

Nucci grew up in Rochester, NY playing for the Rochester Americans Tier 1 Youth Hockey Association and was captain throughout his years. Nucci then played high school hockey for Aquinas Institution and was named captain for junior and senior year. After high school, Nucci played 2 years in the EJHL for the Capital District Select. Nucci then played Division III for 4 years for the Utica College Pioneers in the ECAC West division. Following his college career at Utica, he continued on and played 1 season for the semi-professional Rome Frenzy in the FHL where he was assistant captain.

Nucci's coaching career started while he was attending Utica College for the Ferroni Hockey Academy during the summer months coaching the age level of 10-12 year olds. He then began with the Utica Jr. Comets in 2013 for the Learn-to-Play group and has advanced from mite to squirt level. Nucci holds a level 4 USA hockey coaching certificate.

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Shawn Weiman

2010 Head Coach

Shawn Weiman is a native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After playing four years in the SJHL were he was named SJHL Top Defenseman in 1999, he was awarded a 4-year scholarship to Providence College. After completing his college career, he attended Florida Panthers training camp. Shawn spent 3 years playing in the ECHL and CHL before his interests shifted to coaching. He spent four years as an assistant coach at Utica College. Most recently he has helped develop and train a variety of age groups and skill levels in the Mohawk Valley area. Shawn is also a Level 3 certified coach for the PowerEdge Pro Brand.