Kevin Angert

Jeff Angert has 18 years of hockey experience including two district playoff appearances with the Mercer Chiefs Midget AA Team. Jeff played junior hockey for the Jersey Wildcats of the CHA League, and was a player on the league all-star team that won the league championship. His team made back-to-back appearances at the Junior C USA Hockey national championships. He skated for the Richard Stockton College ACHA D3 Team, and he was the team captain during his final two seasons. During this time, he played in two all-star games. This is Jeff's third season with the New Jersey Rockets. In 2009-10, he helped coach the NJ Rockets 1997 Peewee Major AAA Team to an AYHL league championship, AAHA district championship and qualified for the 2010 USA hockey national championship. Last season, he assistant coached the 2000 Squirt Major team to a 2011 AYHL playoff appearance.

Kevin Angert is entering his third season with the NJ Rockets. As the assistant head coach of the 1997 Peewee Major AAA team, they became the 2010 AYHL league and AAHA district champions, and qualified for the USA Hockey Nationals. He played hockey on travel, high school, and college club teams and, in 1998, earned the advanced level 4 USA hockey certification. Kevin has more than 17 years of experience and has coached over 2000 youth hockey games at every level, including house league, travel club, juniors, and college club. He has numerous tournament experiences, is a three time all-star team coach, four time Atlantic district playoff qualifier, and has made three USA hockey national appearances. Kevin has a keen understanding of player and parent needs concerning the sport of ice hockey.

Coach George Bosak enters his fifth consecutive season with the NJ Rockets, 7th overall. Coach Bosak has been the Goaltending coach in all seven and begins his second season co-coaching the '99 Rocketa program. George, along with the Rockets organization, has been proud to develop accomplished goaltender, such as Geordan Murphy (Bentley, DI), John Yanchek (Middlebury), Kevin Doyle (U-Mass Amherst, Hockey East, full scholarship), Colin Brennan (Chicago Steel- USHL), and several others. Coach Bosak has also helped develop several players that have progressed onto the Rockets Junior program. Coach Bosak played his junior hockey with the Philadelphia Little Flyers and Springfield Olympics, under the late Coach Garry Dineen. He played college hockey for the University of Scranton, the ECAC West Div III. He set the NCAA record for saves in a season for Div III in 1994 with 1,095. Coach Bosak then played three seasons as a backup goalie in the Southern, Western Professional, and East Coast Hockey leagues. Coach Bosak, along with the NJ Rockets, is committed to providing the areas hockey players an excellent foundation to develop into the best players they can become!

Rob Broderick begins his seventh season with the Rockets. Over the last three years, his Rocket teams have averaged twenty wins per regular season in the very tough '96 Division, and his teams have made the playoffs for the past four years. Rob was drafted by the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL and played there. He was captain of his ECAC hockey team in his junior and senior years. Before he coached for the NJ Rockets, Rob was the head coach of Team Carolina for four years, and that team was the first in the organization's history to win the AAA Regionals. "We prepare, and play, to win every time out, and that preparation is a big part of development. But at the end of the day, it is about player development and more so about team development and putting the team first. The goal is to have the team outgrow individual performances and learn that the only way we can achieve true success is to put the team first. In the end, success is not about statistics or wins, rather, they are the friendships, lessons and maturing that are the result of effort, selfless commitment to the team and dedication to personal betterment."

Dick Carlson, a native of Massachusetts, joined the NJ Rockets in 1998, and has over thirty years of hockey experience as both player and coach. As a player, he was a two time MVP, a captain of his high school team, and a captain and all star selectee for his ECAC D-III champion college team. He began his coaching career with the NJ Rockets as head coach of the Mite team. He successfully coached this team for seven years, and several of his players moved on to become successful New Jersey high school, New England prep school, NCAA Div-I and Div-III, and professional players. While head coach, Dick's teams have qualified for the International Silver Stick finals numerous times and have won several league and playoff championships, including a bronze medal at USA Nationals in 2005. As an accomplished coach, Dick stresses the fundamentals of hockey, team play and individual skill development. Before joining the Rockets organization, he coached at the high school and collegiate level in Massachusetts and was a skating instructor for a local youth hockey program.

Charlie Crispino joins the NJ Rockets with a wealth of hockey experience. As head coach of the Wagner College hockey team from 1999-2009, Charlie recruited high school and junior hockey players throughout the country, scheduled games, coordinated road trips and practices, and was responsible for fundraising and budgeting. His teams won the coveted MCHC championships in 2001 and 02, MDHC in 2002, 03 and 04, MACHA in 2004, 06, 07 and 08, and placed in Nationals in 04 and 06. In 2010, Charlie was the New Jersey Devils Youth Bantam A head coach. He plans to utilize his experience within a professional hockey organization to further develop his players.

Anthony Del Gaizo is an original Rocket; at that time, his team played at Ice World in Totowa. During his Rocket career, his teams made numerous national appearances. He then played hockey at Merrimack College. He was a two-time NJ all-state selection in high school. Anthony has been coach of the NJ Rocket 1998 team for the past five years. Anthony stresses skills, discipline and a strong work ethic with his teams to get the most out of his players.

Eddie Deresky is entering his twelfth year with the NJ Rockets. His experience includes coaching our Mites, Squirts, Peewees and Bantams. His playing experience includes Squirt, Peewee, Bantam, Midget, High School, Junior B and College hockey. Ed was captain of the Livingston High School hockey team. He played all four years at Kean College, and was the team's captain in his junior and senior years. He played for the North Jersey Astros, and that team went to Nationals during his first year there. Eddie continues to play hockey on a men's competitive travel team.

Randy Deresky returns for his twelfth year with the NJ Rockets, and has over 45 years of experience as a head coach, assistant coach and player. Randy had played for the NJ Rockets when it was a men's semi-pro team. At that time, he was coached by former New York Ranger player and Hockey Hall of Famer Camille Henry. He played Junior in the Metropolitan League and was selected to be on the First Team All-Stars. Randy played varsity hockey for four years at Morris Hills High School and was the team captain for two years. He is the only player to win the "Halvorsen Most Valuable Player Award" for two consecutive years. In his senior year, he was recruited by the Kitchener Rangers, the top team in the Ontario Junior League and directly associated with the New York Rangers. In 2000, he was awarded a spot on the NJ Star Ledger's "Team of the Century" as one of the top ten ice hockey players of the decade. On March 28, 2010, Randy was awarded a place in the NJ High School Hockey Hall of Fame, along with many prestigious players and coaches such as Jim Dowd and Derek McGuire.

Marco Escalona has been coaching youth hockey players and goalies for ten years. He is a Level 4 USA Hockey certified coach. During those years, he has been a head coach, goalie coach, and assistant coach for the VSK Wings spring tournament team, various youth organizations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and, most recently, the NJ Rockets. In 2010, he joined the Rockets coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 16U AAA National team. He was also on the staff of the Bridgewater Bears 16U AA team as an assistant coach and goalie coach. Marco spent five years as a head goalie instructor for Floyd Hall Arena providing goaltending lessons to youths and adults of all ages and skill levels. During that time, he also had the privilege of coaching some children with learning disabilities, an experience from which he felt he gained as much as he taught. Most recently, he has joined Fusion Goalie Development as one of the company's leading goalie instructors. For the upcoming season, Marco will serve as assistant coach of the Rockets 2000 Peewee Minor team.

The NJ Rockets are thrilled that Art Femenella has returned to his early roots. Art is a NJ Rocket alumni, who participated in the US National U18 teams from 1998-2000. He played for the USHL Sioux City Musketeers 2000-2003, went on to play for Division One University of Vermont from 2003-2007, and for the ECHL August Lynx in 2008. Art was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning team in 2001.

Fred Hedengren has been involved with the NJ Rockets 1996 team for three seasons. He brings extensive coaching experience serving as the Pingry School varsity assistant coach from 2004 to the present, and the Pingry Middle School head coach from 2002-03. He has teamed with Coach Broderick with a goal to develop a strong group of 1996 Rockets. Coach Hedengren previously coached the NJ Colonials on the AAA and AA levels.

Originally from Garden City, NY, Doug Holewa played youth hockey for the Long Island Gulls organization. After graduating from Garden City High School, he attended Connecticut College (NESCAC), where he played both hockey and lacrosse at the NCAA D-III level. Upon commencement in 2006, he accepted a commission as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served four years as an Infantry officer, and completed a combat tour during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008. He left the Marine Corps in January 2010. He joined the NJ Rocket Junior organization in April 2010. Doug and his wife, Kelly, currently reside in New York City where he attends graduate school at Columbia University.

Wayne Kircher began his hockey career as a defenseman for the Long Island Gulls and went on to play in the New England Prep League for Tabor Academy. After high school, he was an alternate for the Northeastern University Hockey team and also played for the Junior Bruins in Boston, MA. His coaching career began as a skating instructor for Paul Vincent's Dynamic Skating in Boston, MA. He was an assistant coach for both the NJ Penguins and Bridgewater Bears Mite teams. Most recently, he completed the 2010-11 season as head coach of the NJ Rockets Mite team.

Keith Knightly is a proud NJ Rockets alumni, who played high school hockey at Morristown Beard and the Berkshire School, and then went on to play college hockey at the University of Dayton. He served as an assistant coach for Morristown Beard from 1990-1994 and also organized the Basking Ridge Youth Hockey Program. Keith has coached with the Rockets organization for the past four years.

Paul Losik is a Level-5 Master USA Hockey certified coach. Paul has coached youth hockey for the last twelve years at all levels from Mite to Midget. He attended Roger Neilson's coaching symposiums in Windsor, Ontario, in 2007, 08 and 09. Currently, Coach Losik runs the day-to-day operations of the ice arena in Woodbridge, NJ, and manages the Hockey Essentials summer select teams and camps. A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Paul played four years on the IUP ACHA Hockey team which included an appearance at Nationals in 2001. In his first year with the NJ Rockets, he was the head coach of the 1997 Peewee Major team that went on to accomplish three goals: Atlantic Youth League championship, AAHA District championship, and qualifier for USA Hockey Nationals 2010 in Buffalo, NY. Before joining the NJ Rockets, Paul lead three teams to the Atlantic District championships and to four first place finishes in the NJYHL, including a Mite team undefeated season and league championship in 2008. Coach Losik’s philosophy involves teamwork, skill development, and character development of the player, both on and off ice.

Vic Masanko will be entering his third season with the NJ Rockets. A former hockey player, Vic skated in the Metropolitan Hockey League while in college. He coached the Morris Knolls High School, winning a state championship during the 2004-05 season. Under his coaching expertise, his midget team advanced to Nationals in 2004.

Tony Samms honed his hockey skills as a NJ Rockets youth team player. In high school, he earned the Gordon Cup championship freshman year, a state championship during sophomore year, and was captain of his high school team in junior and senior years, as well as an all-state selectee. After high school, he skated for Northeastern and earned a business degree from the university. Tony is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach and will return for his sixth season with the Rockets organization. He will coach and instruct junior players and will direct his efforts and knowledge toward off-ice/on-ice conditioning as well as defensive player development.

Sean Saunders played for four seasons with the NJ Rockets and on the Atlantic District Festival team. He competed at the USA Hockey Festival in St. Cloud, MN, and was one of the top one hundred fifty players in the nation for the 1986 birth year level. Sean also played junior hockey on a local New Jersey team. Unfortunately, an injury did not afford the opportunity to play college hockey although he had been accepted at Clarkson University, St. Lawrence College, SUNY Cortland and Utica College. Sean has three years of coaching experience and was the assistant coach of the NJ Rockets 1997 Bantam Minor team in 2010-11.

Bob Thornton is entering his seventh year with the NJ Rockets Junior program as director and head coach of the Junior A and B teams. He was an assistant coach of Roanoke Express (ECHL), and played in the USHL, OHL and ECHL throughout his ten year career as a hockey player. Bob is also the manager of the USHL Combines and Player Development program.

New Jersey Rockets Girls Program

2011-2012