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© FGCU Hockey Team 2008.
This is an official Florida Gulf Coast University Hockey Team webpage.
The FGCU Hockey Team is a proud member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
20301 Grande Oaks Boulevard, Suite #118, Box #26, Estero, Florida, 33928
E-mail Address: hockey@eagle.fgcu.edu     Website Development: eMCee Productions
In 2005, Matthew Maida was elected as the President of the FGCU Hockey Team. Matt serves as the organization's representative at all Student Services related events and activities, serves as primary team spokesperson for FGCU Hockey, proposes disciplinary sanctions, and conducts sanction hearings as required. He serves as an unbiased representative for every member of the student organization in any situation requiring disciplinary sanctions. Additionally, the president is responsible for organization compliance with any restrictions or sanctions ordained by teh FGCU Student Government Association or Florida Gulf Coast University. Maida acts as a representative of the organization when meeting with corporate affiliations, and serves on the Office of Student Life Advisory Board for University Life (ABUL). Since becomming team president in 2005, Maida has successfully transitioned the FGCU Hockey program from Division 3 to Division 2 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
Elected to this position in 2005, Kate serves as the team's secretary. Some of her duties under this position include acting as a liaison with the Office of Student Activities at FGCU, scheduling monthly board meetings, recording and submitting the official minutes of the monthly board meetings, and being on hand to record minutes during player meetings. She also serves on the Board of Directors as the Director of Volunteers, Public Relations, and Game Day Operations and keeps the rest of the board informed and involved concerning her various departments.  Kate is double majoring in Communications and History as well as pursuing a minor in Philosophy. Wyatt will graduate in 2006 and then pursue a Master's degree in History at FGCU.
Richard Snizek comes to FGCU Hockey as a former college hockey player originally from Rhode Island. After recently retiring to Fort Myers, Florida it didn't take long for Snizek to find the closest college hockey team to his new home and it just happened to be FGCU's Hockey Team. As general manager, Richard Snizek is responsible for the day to day operations of the team. He serves as a volunteer coordinator for all sponsor recruiting and fulfillment efforts for the FGCU Hockey Team, coordinates the development of the annual Team Guide, and serves as a liason with FGCU Hockey and the guide production staff. Snizek also assists in all aspects of travel arrangements. As general manager, Richard often represents the organization when team officers are not available. Richard has been involved with the FGCU Hockey Team since 2003 and has become a landmark behind the scenes. Richard is supported by his loving wife Cindy and daughter Ashley.
- BIO COMING SOON -
- BIO COMING SOON -
Jeff Healey enters his second full season as the play-by-play commentator for the FGCU Hockey Team and was also recently named the Director of Broadcasting. A 2004 graduate of Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA, Healey hails from Sharon, MA. Currently a junior at Florida Gulf Coast University, Jeff is majoring in Business Finance. Healey works at the Germain Arena Pro Shop and also spends his time coaching clinics for minor hockey players. With many years of hockey playing experience in Massachusetts, Jeff brings experience and knowledge of the game with him into every broadcast. As he did last year, Healey will again be traveling with the team to broadcast every game, home and away, to ensure that Eagle fans won't miss a minute of the action. In 2006, Healey was also assigned to be the Director of Broadcasting. Healey is responsible for developing the live broadcasts and monitoring all on air activity. Healey also coordinates with sponsors for the broadcasts and manages the broadcast team.
- BIO COMING SOON -
Miranda Hickel is brand-new to the FGCU Hockey organization this year, interning with the broadcasting crew.  She is a Junior, majoring in Communications and minoring in Psychology. Miranda was born and raised in Naples, Florida, where she grew to LOVE hockey by becoming a huge fan of the Everblades when they started in 1998. Miranda always loved listening to the away games with her grandfather, and that is truly where her interest grew to become a sports broadcaster and commentator. Miranda plans on graduating from FGCU in 2008 and seeking a career with ESPN. She is up for the challenges that she will have to face and knows that this field is not an easy one...but one Miranda will conquer! Miranda is thrilled about this internship opportunity and looks forward to joining the FGCU hockey team for an exciting season!
Ty Martin is a senior majoring in Political Science (Pi Sigma Alpha) and has been an Eagle Radio disc jockey/hype man working with Eagle Hockey since fall 2005.  He transferred to Florida Gulf Coast that same semester from a Saint Leo University satellite campus after having spent several years on active duty with the United States Marine Corps, ready to make an impact.  With that said, Ty is a former FGCU student senator and he is highly involved with the current student government and other student organizations.  He is originally from the British Commonwealth of Jamaica but now resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  In the future, Ty hopes to do much of the things that he is engaged in now, but just on a broader scale-success is in his future! Gooooooaaaal!
Peter Lechler is a 22 year old senior from Naples, Florida.  He has been working with the hockey team for his third consecutive year as one of the team's broadcasters and hype DJs. Peter is also very involved with the school as the Eagle Radio Station Manager, Vice President of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (Pike), a member of Student Government as well as a student committee representative for Student Affairs. Peter is currently majoring in Public Relations but is also receiving minors in, not only advertising, but marketing and philosophy.  He plans to go to graduate school here, at Florida Gulf Coast University, in the fall of 2007 after graduation this spring.  Peter would like to work for a public relations firm but he has aspirations of staring his own entertainment and promotions business with several work associates (BC Rhone Entertainment Group and AKT Studios). During the summer Lechler commented "I look forward to a great and busy year with the hockey team.  I've been waiting for the season to start since last spring."
A resident of Lehigh Acres for twenty-six years, originally from Akron, Ohio, Walt started announcing for the Ice Eagles half way through their first season in 2002-2003.  Walt has been announcing youth sports and High School football since 1985.  He was on the Jones High School Football Game of the week for four years.  Walt saw the need for an announcer on the Eagles web site and he could not pass up the opportunity to try out.  He has seen the program grow and watched the team get better and better.  The move to Division II is going to be exciting and the competition great.  With his famous tagline of "The Eagles soar and score," Walt is a memorable fixture of the FGCU Hockey staff.  He is a dedicated volunteer and even makes it a family affair, often bringing his grandchildren to the games - the next generation of FGCU Hockey fans.

GO EAGLES!
Originally from Middlebury, Vermont, Dick Sullivan arrived in Estero, Florida as an avid fan of college hockey. His first contact with the team was through current General Manager, Richard Snizek. He approached Richard at a team practice at Germain Arena in the fall of 2004. Dick expressed his desire to assist the hockey team wherever they could use him. The next thing he knew, Dick was being contacted by the Director of Officials, Mike Eckhart, who proceeded to tell him to show up for games and possibly there would be something there for him to assist with. Once Dick's dedication to the sport and the team was realized, the rest is history and he has been the team scorekeeper ever since he showed up for his first FGCU hockey game two years ago. Dick looks forward to the new season in Division II, another step in the future of hockey at FGCU. In 2006, Sullivan was appointed to the Director of Officating position. Sullivan is directly responsible for coordinating and organizing all officials for FGCU Hockey home games.
The FGCU Hockey team is happy to welcome Dr. David Kakkuri as the team's new faculty advisor. Kakkuri was born in Hancock, Michigan and grew up in the Detroit area. Throughout his high school and collegiate careers, he played club hockey on a number of levels and also coached Peewee and Midget hockey, both in Michigan and in Texas. Dr. Kakkuri attended Western Michigan University where he played college football and was a member of the 1966 MAC Championship Team, while maintaining a large involvement with their hockey club. Dr. Kakkuri graduated from WMU with a B.A. in Public Administration and his Master's degree in Education.  He then pursued his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois. After an extensive academic career, Dr. Kakkuri worked in the human resources department at Kraft Foods from 1980 until his retirement in 2002. Currently, Dr. Kakkuri is the Director of the Center for Leadership and Innovation at the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University.
In her fourth season with the team, Rachael Abrams is excited to be starting a new season in Division II.  Rachael joined the FGCU Hockey organization in the fall of 2003 with her high school friends, Kate Wyatt and Elizabeth Aubuchon.  Rachael fulfills many different roles with the hockey team including ticket and merchandise sales, on-campus promotions, time clock, penalty box, and the most important, videography.  Rachael films all of the home games at Germain Arena and edits them for review by the coaches and players.  She also assists with the breakdown of the tables at the end of the games.  Rachael is also working on producing a highlight reel of last season's footage showcasing some of the team's best games.  Rachael spent four years in high school in the television production class and has first-hand experience with digital editors and production methods.A Florida native, with roots in Florida history from the turn of the century, Rachael is a double major in Communications and Environmental Science.
- BIO COMING SOON -
- BIO COMING SOON -
Kailey Harris joined the FGCU Hockey organization in the fall of 2005.  She is an ardent fan who joined the volunteer staff after cheering on  the team in the stands for a year.  This will be Kailey's second season with the team and she is excited to come back for another year.  Kailey is a cheerful volunteer who always has a smile on her face.  She works at the ticket and merchandise sales table and also assists with the set-up and take-down of the game day tables at Germain Arena.  On short notice, Kailey has also pitched in and filmed a few games.
 
Originally from Clearwater, Florida, Kailey is a junior at FGCU.  She will graduate in 2008 with a degree in Community Health and Recreational Therapy.  After graduation, Kailey wants to have a career in recreational therapy working with special needs children.
Holly Kline, originally from Hampton, Virginia, came to FGCU in the fall of 2003 to start her collegiate career.  She has been with the team for three years and will start her fourth season this October. As a volunteer, Holly sells tickets and merchandise, promotes the team on campus at events like the Eagle Expo, and performs the National Anthem at games, splitting the duty with Jennifer Belbeck. She also helps set up before the games with banners and signs around the rink.  When needed, Holly can also work as the time clock operator or scorekeeper.  Holly originally joined the team with her roommate, Catherine Zito, who was a hockey fanatic (and played in the women's league) in 2003.  She played field hockey in Virginia and was excited to be involved in ice sports once again when she moved to Florida. Holly is a senior undergraduate studying as a Marine Science major and Anthropology minor and plans to graduate in the spring of 2008. After graduating, Holly hopes to work on her Master's degree in marine science.
- BIO COMING SOON -
- BIO COMING SOON -
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Katherine Scott is one of the newest additions to the FGCU Hockey family. Scott is no stranger to travel as she has moved over eight times since being born in Atlanta. Recently, Katherine became involved in hockey while she attended high school in Blaine, Minnesota. Katherine serves as the team manager for the varsity hockey prorgam at the Blaine High School in Minnesota. Upon Scott's arrival to Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall of 2006, she was immediately interested in getting involved with the hockey program. Scott has already made an impact with the team recording all team stats during the home games including, plus/minues, turnovers, and shots on net. Katherine's favorite team in the National Hockey League is the Dallas Stars. Scott is currently a Sports Marketing Major at FGCU and plans to stay involved wit the FGCU Hockey program for her entire stay in Fort Myers, Florida. FGCU Hockey is proud to welcome Katherine to the program in 2006.
Cindy has been an ice hockey fan for many years, beginning with attending Flyers' games in her hometown of Philadelphia, and then watching her future husband playing for his college team.  She brings unique skills to this position, including professional pieces written for a variety of publications; and having worked with educators and students through a Pew Grant with the purpose of improving language and writing skills.  Her duties cover all areas of print publications that relate to the team.  It is thanks to her daughter, Ashley, a volunteer for the team, that she has been involved with FGCU Hockey for the past three years.  Cindy anticipates a great year, and hopes to reflect the professional attitude of the team and its members in every written piece.
- BIO COMING SOON -
- BIO COMING SOON -
Matt Young is another of the staff's Florida natives.  He was born at Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers and has lived in Cape Coral all of his life. Matt has been with the team since his freshman year, so the 2006-2007 season will be his third year. While with the team, Matt has helped with the very important duties with the penalty box, score-keeping, time-keeping and the various on-ice activities that are scheduled for each game.  He was one of the first volunteers to be trained on the score- and time-keeping jobs and cheerfully freezes in the box week after week.  He plans on graduating at the end of the Fall 2008 semester with a Business Degree with a concentration in Sports Management, and Matt is currently undecided on what he wants to do once he graduates.
Elizabeth Aubuchon, originally from Royal Oak, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, moved to Florida when she was eight years old.  Leaving the frigid North behind didn't diminish her passion for hockey, however, as she and her whole family are die-hard Red Wings fans.  They still play pick-up games with the family every winter when they go back to Michigan for Christmas.  Elizabeth became involved with the team in November 2003, at the suggestion of her friend and fellow volunteer, Kate Wyatt.  Elizabeth came to watch one game and she was forever hooked.  This will be her fourth season with the team and each one is better than the last.  Elizabeth works with a variety of different jobs with the hockey team.  She helps with on-campus promotions and on game days she handles the front doors and ticket sales.  The volunteer corps is a pretty flexible group and everyone is qualified to handle all the jobs. Elizabeth also sometimes helps out in the penalty box or as a scorekeeper during home games. 
Randy Penney joins the program in 2007 as the Director of Canadian Player Development. After a successful stint behind the bench for the Eagles during the 2007 ACHA Division 2 National Championship Tournament, the Board of Directors was quick to add Penney to the staff. Randy has coached minor hockey in Canada for the past 31 years and owns an Advanced Coaching Certificate from Hockey Canada. During the past four seasons, Coach Penney has made his mark behind the bench of the Mississauga Hornets Juvenile "AAA" Team which competes in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. In his capacity as Director of Canadian Player Development, Coach Penney will help the FGCU coaching staff with potential Canadian prospects by providing scouting reports and aiding in their on and off ice development before they make the trip down south to join the FGCU roster. Randy currently resides in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and is supported by his loving wife Heather to which he has been married for 26 years.