Staff

Owner & Director, Hockey Operations dakota@northstarelitehockey.com

Dakota joined Northstar Elite as the Director of Hockey Operations in 2020 and took over as an owner in 2021. Outside of Northstar Elite, Dakota is the Manager of Amateur Scouting Operations for the New Jersey Devils.

Before joining the New Jersey Devils, Dakota held several positions within the hockey operations realm. He was the Coordinator of Hockey Operations for the American Hockey League, a Hockey Operations intern for the National Women’s Hockey League, a Video Scouting intern for the Arizona Coyotes, a Hockey Data Analyst intern for the St. Louis Blues, and a Hockey Operations assistant for the Men’s Ice Hockey team at Harvard University.

Dakota was a 2020 graduate of UMass Boston, where he was a member and Captain of the Men’s Ice Hockey team and a finalist for the 2019-2020 Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Owner & Director, Player Personnel justin@northstarelitehockey.com

Justin is the co-owner of NorthStar Elite Hockey. He is also the Director of Scouting for the USHL Madison Capitals and the NAHL New Hampshire Mountain Kings.

Previously, Justin was a part of creating the New Jersey 87s of the Eastern Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League Premier. While he was on the staff, the organization had success at both levels, including promotion to the top Division of the Eastern Hockey League after one season. Justin has also been an Assistant Coach for the Mercer Cheifs (NCDC), a Scout for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), and a Scout for the New Jersey Titans (NAHL).

Assistant Director, Player Personnel briangratz@northstarelitehockey.com

After a playing career as a goaltender with multiple national championships for Penn State and stops in the ECHL and AHL, Coach Gratz began in the ECHL as an assistant with the Reading Royals. He went on to be a Head Coach at numerous levels of pro hockey. He spent three years in the CHL as Head Coach and GM of the Dayton Gems and Bloomington Blaze. He was a part of the transition to the SPHL in the same role with the Bloomington Thunder. 

After his time in Central Illinois, he got his break in the ECHL as an assistant with Greenville. From 2015 to 2018, Brian led the Swamp Rabbits as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations setting two franchise records for the best regular season record and longest winning streak in franchise history. 

After Greenville, Brian joined KRS-ORG Beijing (KHL/VHL) as Assistant Coach. His primary duties were working with the team’s forwards and goaltenders. When the 2019-2020 season was cut short due to the COVID pandemic, Coach Gratz came home to Indiana and joined the Trine University NCAA division 3 staff as assistant coach and primary recruiter. Recruiting NCAA caliber student athletes has immersed him into the junior and youth hockey world and created a fantastic network to help educate and promote amateur players. 

Duante Abercrombie

• Playing Experience: Steel City Warriors and Brewster Bulldogs (FHL)
• Coaching Experience: Washington Little Caps (AYHL), Stevenson University (NCAA), and Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
• Current Position: Toronto Maple Leafs, Coaching Development Associate (NHL)

Cam Robichaud

• Playing Experience: University of New England (NCAA), Robert Morris University (ACHA)
• Coaching Experience: L/A Nordiques (NA3HL), Maine Nordiques (NAHL), and Twin City Thunder (NCDC)
• Current Position: Head Coach New Hampshire Mountain Kings (NAHL)

Trevor Simonson

• Playing Experience: Daniel Webster College
• Coaching Experience: Daniel Webster College, Binghamton Jr. Senators, Elmira Jr. Soaring Eagles, Bay State Bobcats
• Current Position: New Hampshire Mountain Kings Assistant Coach (NAHL)

Thomas Frazee

• Playing Experience: Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL), Norfolk Admirals (ECHL), Allen Americans (ECHL)
• Coaching Experience: Atlanta Phoenix (SYTHL)
• Current Position: Atlanta Phoenix (SYTHL)

Gary Biggs

• Director of Scouting, New Jersey Titans NAHL

Craig Doremus

• Coaching Experience: New York Bobcats (EHL), Metro Moose (MET), New York Rangers (NHL)
• Current Position: Head Coach New Jersey Titans (NAHL)

James Marcou

• Playing Experience: Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL), UMass-Amherst (NCAA), and Worcester Sharks (AHL)
• Coaching Experience: UMass-Amherst, Brown University, and Harvard University (NCAA)
• Current Position: Assistant Coach Harvard University (NCAA)

Cole Bell

• Playing Experience: Lebanon Valley College (NCAA), Danville Dashers (FHL)
• Coaching Experience: Indy Fuel (ECHL), Maine Nordiques (BEAST)
• Current Position: Assistant Coach, Stevenson University (NCAA), Madison Capitals Scout (USHL)

Sean Freeman

• Coaching Experience: Head Coach Chicago Young Americans and Head Coach Windy City Storm
• Current Position: President & Hockey Director, Team Illinois

Joey Ferriss

• Playing Experience: Michigan Warriors (NAHL) and University of Connecticut (NCAA)
• Coaching Experience: University of Connecticut (NCAA) and Wesleyan University (NCAA)
• Current Position: Director of Hockey Operations University of Connecticut (NCAA)

Kirk MacDonald

• Playing Experience: Victoria Salsa (BCHL), RPI (NCAA), Florida Everblades and Reading Royals (ECHL), Albany River Rats, Providence Bruins, Iowa Chops, Houston Aeros (AHL), and Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
• Current Position: Head Coach Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

Kyle Earley

• Playing Experience: Philadelphia Revolution (EJHL/Empire JHL)
• Coaching Experience: New Jersey Jr Titans (AYHL and NJYHL), St. John VIanney HS (NJSIAA)
• Current Position: New Jersey Jr Titans (AYHL) and St. John Vianney HS (NJSIAA)

Shawn Pauly

• Playing Experience: Missouri Mavericks and Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL)
• Coaching Experience: UMass- Boston (NCAA)
• Current Position: TPH Chicago Director

Colin Merrill

• Playing Experience: Hobart University and the University of Southern Maine (NCAA)
• Coaching Experience: Director of Player Development Maine Nordiques

Sean Walsh

• Coaching Experience: University of Maine (NCAA), Omaha Lancers (USHL)
• Current Position: Assistant Coach, Bowdoin College (NCAA)

Alec Thieda

• Assistant Coach Victory Honda U18, Scout Cedar Rapids Roughriders USHL, New Jersey Titans NAHL

Mark Tagg

• Queen City Royals Head Coach, former Tier I Coach in Michigan and North Carolina with over 20 years of experience.