Northeast Wisconsin Jr. Gamblers AAA Hockey

John grew up playing hockey from a young age in northeastern Wisconsin. He began coaching some 30+ years ago as a student coach while playing high school hockey in Marinette and has coached ever since. He has coached youth hockey at all levels mite through high school winning numerous state championships. His AAA experience includes coaching in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League for the Wisconsin Wild at the U14 and U16 levels and most recently, coached the Green Bay Bobcats U19 team in the 2010 Tier 1 national championships.

When John isn’t at the hockey rink, is probably fishing for walleye. In 2007, John and his brother Joe won the Cabelas National Team Walleye Championship.

John, a career educator, is currently the Special Education Coordinator for Menominee County Intermediate School District.

John and his wife Lori have been married for 25 years and live in Menominee, Michigan. They have two sons, Hunter (12) and Andrew (24).

     My family consists of my wife Beth, two sons (Zach and Jett), one daughter (Niah) and two step children (Alex and Madison). I am presently employed by Executive Air and have been General Manager for past 13 years.

    My hockey playing background consists of youth and high school hockey at De Pere; Division One hockey for Northern Arizona University; and two years with the De Pere Deacons. Prior coaching experience includes: assistant coach De Pere Varsity, head coach De Pere Mites and De Pere Squirt A’s. Also helped with the initiation program for a few years. My son Zach went through Jr. Gambler program, played for the El Paso Rhinos, and is currently at St. Norbert’s. My son Jett will be entering his third year with the Jr. Gambler program.

     I have very strong leadership skills, and great communication abilities for teaching young kids. I try to establish a positive attitude for all coaches and players, and stress strong team work tactics.

Mike grew up playing youth and high school hockey in Chippewa Falls, WI. After high school Mike played College football at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Due to a knee injury Mike started coaching varsity football and varsity hockey at his high school alma mater, Chippewa Falls Senior High.

Mike was hired by Neenah Joint School District and started teaching during the 1995-1996 school year. Shortly after being hired, he had the luxury of being named the first head varsity hockey coach at Neenah High School, which he held for nine years. He led the Neenah Rockets to two sectional finals and one Badgerland conference championship. Mike was recognized twice as the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year. Mike also served as the Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association President for one term and participated as a Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association board member for three years. Over the years Mike coached 14 seasons of Varsity Hockey and 13 seasons of Varsity Football to gain a very good understanding of what athletes need to be successful.

Mike decided in the spring of 2003 that it was time to dedicate his time to the youth hockey level. Mike shortly became the ACE Director for Fox Valley Youth Hockey and the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association Region 3 ACE Director. Mike implemented a successful cross-ice program at FVYHA that focuses on skill development and fun. Mike received the USA Hockey New Leader Award for the State of Wisconsin in 2006. In the fall of 2006, Mike was named the ACE Director for USA Hockey in the Central District, which includes the following states WI, IL, MO, KS, NE, and IA. During the last five seasons, Mike coached at the “A” level with Fox Valley Youth Hockey.

Mike and his wife Dana live in Neenah with their two sons Alec (99’) and Luke (02’)
 

Dennis' athletic background includes growing up playing travel hockey in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  After graduating from high school, he ran track and field at Ferris State University and still ranks among the University's all-time top 5 in several events. After graduating, he was the Assistant coach for FSU's track and field teams from 1993-94.

Dennis’ youth coaching experience includes several years with the Dickinson Amateur Hockey Association (Iron Mountain). He was the Head Coach of Escanaba Area Junior Hockey Association's Squirt AA team in 2009-10. He received the 2009-10 James G. Ward Memorial Coach of the Year award for the Escanaba Junior Hockey Association (EAJHA). He has been the Head Coach of the 2000 Northern Michigan Chill AAA team - one of the Midwest's top summer AAA teams for the last 3 years. Last season, he was an Assistant Coach for the Jr. Gambler Squirt Major team.

Dennis lives in the country near Vulcan, MI with his wife, Jen, 5 children (Joe - '98, Nick -'00, Anna - '02, Will - '07, and Maria - '09), and 2 Golden Retrievers (Moose and Maggie).  When he isn't at the rink he is usually hunting or fishing, whatever is in season with his kids and dad. He enjoys spending time at his family's homes in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

He is a chiropractor and runs his own clinic in Norway, MI.

His sons Joe and Nick both played for the Jr. Gamblers at the PeeWee Major and Squirt Major levels during the 2010-11 season.

Matt grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and played AAA hockey with Team Illinois.   After high school graduation, he played one year of junior hockey for the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL.   He then joined the Green Bay Gamblers where he played the 96'-97' season.  He was the part of the team that won the Anderson Cup and the National Championship that season.   Matt earned a full scholarship to Ferris State University in the CCHA, where he played one season.   After his Freshman year, he signed a minor league contract with the Columbus Chill of the ECHL.   Following Columbus, he had stops in Little Rock Arkansas and Jacksonville Florida before being traded to the Peoria Rivermen where they won the Kelly Cup.  He played several season with Peoria including captaining the Rivermen in his final year.

Matt and his wife Angela live in Green Bay with their son Liam and daughter Flynn.
 

Derek Lalonde enters his first season as the Head Coach/General Manager of the Green Bay Gamblers.   Lalonde is the 6th head coach in the 18-year history of the Green Bay Gamblers.

Prior to coming to the Gamblers, Lalonde spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Denver.  While at Denver, Lalonde assisted in all aspects with the DU program, including recruiting, video breakdown, goaltending and skill development. Lalonde helped the Pioneers to two WCHA Championships (2008 & 2010), four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and 122-63-19 record in five seasons as assistant coach.

Lalonde helped recruit six nationally-ranked recruiting classes. He recruited 11 NHL draft picks, including first round picks Beau Bennett and Joe Colborne. Lalonde also recruited second round selections Jason Zucker, Patrick Wiercioch, Drew Shore and William Wrenn, and non-drafted recruits Tyler Bozak and Anthony Maiani.

Prior to his time at Denver, Lalonde was an assistant coach at Ferris State.  While at Ferris State, Lalonde helped the Bulldogs to a 76-67-12 record during his four-year tenure. Ferris State captured its first Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Championship and CCHA Super Six Championship appearance during a record-setting 31-10-1 season in 2002-03.

A native of Brasher Falls, N.Y., Lalonde arrived at Ferris State after serving two seasons (2000-02) as an assistant coach at Hamilton College. Lalonde held the same position at Lebanon Valley College from 1998-2000. The team went 19-6-1 in the program’s first year of competition. Lalonde was a graduate assistant coach at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts from 1995-98.

Lalonde was a four-year member (1990-95) of SUNY Cortland State University’s men’s ice hockey team. He was the recipient of the team’s Red Letter Award in recognition of being selected the Red Dragons’ MVP during his senior season and concluded his career as the program’s holder of four goaltending records.

Lalonde graduated in 1995 from Cortland State with a degree in education and earned a master’s degree in education administration from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in 1998.

Derek’s wife, Melissa, is the former head coach of the Ferris State women’s soccer team. They have two sons, Alex (5) and Luke (3), and a daughter, Abby (1).

In September of 2008, Lalonde was inducted into the St. Lawrence Central High School Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a hockey, football and baseball player. He was the youngest person inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame.