Steve Novodor is a National Champion Coach for the Junior Bulldogs. Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Coach Novodor spent numerous seasons in the Junior Bobcats/Wolf Pack organization, coaching at the Pee-Wee, Bantam, and Midget levels. In 2013, Coach Novodor led his team to the USA Hockey U16 National Championship game, falling just short against the Chicago Mission and returned in and 2017 to bring home the championship. Steve is one of the premier hockey coaches in the country. His knowledge, integrity, and passion for developing players is invaluable in elevating the Youth Hockey experience for all of our membership.” In addition to his work at the youth hockey level, Coach Novodor also is an Assistant Coach at Loomis Chaffee Prep School, helping build the Pelicans into the powerhouse that they currently are. He also serves as a scout for the USHL Central Scouting, the only Tier 1 Junior Hockey League in the United States

Jon is a coach for the Junior Bulldogs Midget Program, serving as a coach of the U-16 Tier 1 Split Season team. Coach Bellonio has extensive experience throughout prep, junior, and college hockey. From 2011-2014, Bellonio spent three years as an assistant coach at Wesleyan College. Prior to joining the Cardinals, Coach Bellonio spent time in the USHL as a coach for the Lincoln Stars. He also coached in the EJHL with the Philadelphia Revolution and began his career as an Assistant Coach at South Kent Prep School. Jon was inducted into the inaugural class of the Connecticut High School Hall of Fame. Jon has exceptional coaching experience at all levels and does remarkable job connecting with, developing, and motivating players to help them reach their full potential on and off the ice.

A native of Connecticut, Shawn has over 20 years of hockey experience Shawn currently coaches the U18 National team for the Junior Bulldogs In addition to his coaching and administrative responsibilities Shawn is the Head Scout for the Northeast Generals of the North American Hockey League. Before coming to the Bulldogs Shawn spent three seasons with Mid Fairfield. During his time there, Shawn served as Head Coach for the U18 team as well as an Assistant Coach for the U16 team. Shawn’s teams qualified for the USA Hockey National Championships each season and in 2017 the U18 team was the USA Hockey National Champions. Over his 20 plus seasons of coaching Shawn has coached all levels including youth, high school, junior and college. In the past 10 season's Shawn has assisted with placing over 100 of his players into college and some of the top junior programs in the country. Shawn currently works for the State of Connecticut and resides in Vernon, CT with his wife Amy and their daughter Mackenzie.

Brian has been a member of the JR Bulldogs staff for over 13 years coaching the u12 AAA and the u14 AAA. With the Bulldogs Brian has won two New England Regionals and a State Championship. Since joining the JR Bulldogs many of Brian’s former players went on to college and prep school hockey. 

Brian has coached Hamden Hall and West Haven High School in the past. Brian attended West Haven High school. He continued his playing career at Western Connecticut State University. During his freshman year, Brian received ACHA’s Academic All-American award. After his freshman year, Brian finished his college career playing club at the University of New Haven. Brian currently works for ACES as a teacher. 

Frank has been a member of the Bulldogs staff the last several years coaching the bantam level. Frank has a wealth of hockey experience both on and off the ice. Frank is currently the Director of Player Personnel for the USHL and within that role he is responsible for educating players and families about the USA Hockey Development Model and how to navigate the youth and junior hockey process. The East Haven, CT native formerly a forward at NCAA Division III Nichols College, Butler served as Captain his senior season and was a three-time member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast Academic All-Conference Team. Butler's junior and senior season included a spot on the ECAC Northeast First Team and Frank finished his career 3rd all time in goals and 10th all time in points in Nichols College history. Frank rounded out his career with a brief stint in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) for the Fayetteville FireAntz.

Phil has been coaching hockey at all levels from Learn to Play to Midget for 15 years. He is currently coaching the Junior Bulldogs 2009 AAA team and is one of Yale Youth Hockey’s longest tenured coaches. Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Phil spent two years as an assistant coach at Notre Dame West Haven, winning a state championship in 2012. Before beginning his coaching career, Phil was a captain at Notre Dame West Haven, before moving on to play at Northfield Mount Hermon. He then played junior hockey with the Jr. Wolfpack. He is currently working as the U.S. scout for the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL. He is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach who also works as a physical education and health teacher

Playing Career: Lyman Hall (2005) & SCSU (2010)

Coaching:

Head Coach: Daniel Hand High School 20024-Present

Assistant Coach at SCSU from 2011-2013

Head Coach Lyman Hall from 2013-2019 (2015 SCC Coach of the Year & 2019 State Champions).

Head Coach Notre Dame of Fairfield from 2019-2022 (2020 SCC Coach of the Year).

Wonderland Wizards from 2011-2023: Coached every age group in the organization.

Rosenkrantz has coached for both the Wonderland Wizards and Southern Stars organizations and has won 2 state championships. 

Steve grew up playing roller hockey in California from age 7-15 and began playing ice hockey at 12 years old. In high school, Steve led the league in scoring in 2 of his 3 seasons in Long Island and attended the Long Island all-star game. 

In college, Steve attended Southern Connecticut State University and played for the ACHA DIII team. The team was ranked in top 4 in the country in 2011-2012 while Steve was named to the U.S. Select Team, recognized as a finalist for National Player of the Year, and named to the 2nd team All-American. 

Jay Creatore comes to Yale with extensive hockey experience. Creatore played at Notre Dame of Fairfield from 1989-1993 and was a team Captain his Senior year. He moved on to play 4 years of ACHA at SCSU Creatore completed his collegiate career, and transitioned to coaching with Hamden Youth Hockey, from 1998-2002, winning 2 State Championships at the PeeWee A level, as well as appearances in the USA Hockey Regional Championships.  From 1998-2008, Coach Jay was an Assistant Varsity Coach at North Haven High School. The team won a Div. II State Title in 2003. Jay coached all levels with Greater New Haven 2016-2022. Before joining the Jr. Bulldogs coaching staff. One of Coach Jay’s proudest Coaching achievements is his development of the Stratford Police Department PAL Hockey program.

Frank has been a member of the Bulldogs staff the last several years coaching the bantam level. Frank has a wealth of hockey experience both on and off the ice. Frank is currently the Director of Player Personnel for the USHL and within that role he is responsible for educating players and families about the USA Hockey Development Model and how to navigate the youth and junior hockey process. The East Haven, CT native formerly a forward at NCAA Division III Nichols College, Butler served as Captain his senior season and was a three-time member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast Academic All-Conference Team. Butler's junior and senior season included a spot on the ECAC Northeast First Team and Frank finished his career 3rd all time in goals and 10th all time in points in Nichols College history. Frank rounded out his career with a brief stint in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) for the Fayetteville FireAntz.

Dylan will be entering his 3^rd season coaching with the Bulldog’s organization. Dylan grew up playing youth hockey in East Haven CT. He then went on to play 4 years of Division 1 High School hockey for East Haven where he was a Captain his senior year in 2014.

After High School, Dylan attended College at Southern Connecticut State University and played for the ACHA DIII team. While playing there, Dylan was a 2-year captain in his junior and senior year, he was selected 3^rd team all-conference 2 years in a row 2017 and 2018, and also selected for the Empire Conference All-Star team in 2018.

Joe began playing hockey for West Haven Youth Hockey until Peewee Major’s when he joined the AAA Connecticut Wolves. He played for the AAA CT Wolves from peewees, thru Juniors for the Wolves where he won a league championship and played at the 2006 Junior B National Championships. Joe then played NCAA Division III hockey for Salve Regina University. After completing his playing career, he began coaching as an Assistant Coach for West Haven Youth Hockey and then moved on to Midgets with the CT Wolfpack. Joe then joined Yale Youth Hockey as a head coach in 2016. Joe is a USA Hockey level 4 certified coach and has coached at the peewee and bantam levels for Yale including the Tier 1 AAA Bantam Major team and various AA teams.

Playing Career: Lyman Hall (2005) & SCSU (2010)

Coaching:

Head Coach: Daniel Hand High School 20024-Present

Assistant at SCSU from 2011-2013

Head Coach Lyman Hall from 2013-2019 (2015 SCC Coach of the Year & 2019 State Champions).

Head Coach Notre Dame of Fairfield from 2019-2022 (2020 SCC Coach of the Year).

Wonderland Wizards from 2011-2023: Coached every age group in the organization.

Rosenkrantz has coached for both the Wonderland Wizards and Southern Stars organizations and has won 2 state championships. 

Steve grew up playing roller hockey in California from age 7-15 and began playing ice hockey at 12 years old. In high school, Steve led the league in scoring in 2 of his 3 seasons in Long Island and attended the Long Island all-star game. 

In college, Steve attended Southern Connecticut State University and played for the ACHA DIII team. The team was ranked in top 4 in the country in 2011-2012 while Steve was named to the U.S. Select Team, recognized as a finalist for National Player of the Year, and named to the 2nd team All-American. 

Sagnella joined Yale Youth Hockey in 2014. Playing career: East Haven High School (2005), Winchendon Prep School (2006) and NCAA DIII at Western New England University (2010).

Coaching: Assistant at Daniel Hand High School from 2013-2017, Assistant at Lyman Hall 2017-2019. Head coach Lyman Hall 2019-present. Won a state championship with Daniel Hand High School in 2013 and Lyman Hall in 2019. CT Assistant Coach of the Year in 2019 and SCC Head Coach of the year in 2020.

Since joining Yale, I've coached at the A1 level and AA levels. 2009AA’s Squirt State Championship Tier 2 in 2019

Eric Gateman was born and raised outside Detroit, aka Hockeytown, where he played youth and junior hockey.  His playing career continued at Elmira College where he served 3 years as a captain of the JV team.  Gateman’s coaching career started in 2010 with Methuen Youth Hockey in Massachusetts. The 2025-26 season marks Coach Gateman’s 12th year with Yale Youth Hockey, where he has coached at every level from Learn to Play through Midgets. Eric also currently serves as an assistant coach at Hand High School.   Eric serves as the Vice President and the Director of Operations and Coaching for Yale Youth Hockey. Coach Gateman, his wife and two sons live in Cheshire

Jon is a coach for the Junior Bulldogs Midget Program, serving as a coach of the U-16 Tier 1 Split Season team. Coach Bellonio has extensive experience throughout prep, junior, and college hockey. From 2011-2014, Bellonio spent three years as an assistant coach at Wesleyan College. Prior to joining the Cardinals, Coach Bellonio spent time in the USHL as a coach for the Lincoln Stars. He also coached in the EJHL with the Philadelphia Revolution and began his career as an Assistant Coach at South Kent Prep School. Jon was inducted into the inaugural class of the Connecticut High School Hall of Fame. Jon has exceptional coaching experience at all levels and does remarkable job connecting with, developing, and motivating players to help them reach their full potential on and off the ice.

Phil has been coaching hockey at all levels from Learn to Play to Midget for 15 years. He is currently coaching the Junior Bulldogs 2009 AAA team and is one of Yale Youth Hockey’s longest tenured coaches. Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Phil spent two years as an assistant coach at Notre Dame West Haven, winning a state championship in 2012. Before beginning his coaching career, Phil was a captain at Notre Dame West Haven, before moving on to play at Northfield Mount Hermon. He then played junior hockey with the Jr. Wolfpack. He is currently working as the U.S. scout for the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL. He is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach who also works as a physical education and health teacher

Gil Schaper began playing with Yale Youth Hockey at age 4 and progressed through varsity high school hockey at Guilford High('02) and collegiate club hockey at St. Lawrence University ('06.) Schaper's coaching career began in 2007 as the boy's assistant coach at Guilford High where he helped the team to Division III State Championship in 2010 and a Division II State Finals appearance in 2011. In 2014, as Head Coach of Guilford girls' ice hockey team, he guided them to the Division I State Finals. Schaper continues to impact youth hockey through his volunteer work with Yale Youth Hockey programs, where he coaches various levels from learn-to-play through mites, demonstrating his commitment to developing young players and growing the sport. He also has coached a wide variety of levels in both boys and girls soccer since 2006 and has been teaching public school science to middle and high school students for 10 years.