Brian was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He played 3 years of professional hockey with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) and Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL). Prior to his professional career, Brian played for Boston University from 2004-2008 serving as captain in 2008. Brian has 3 Beanpot Championships and a Hockey East Championship to his credit, scoring a memorable overtime game winner in 2007. Brian attended Governor’s Academy where he played with Benn and graduated in 2004. During his time at Governors Academy, Brian also played on U17 & U18 US National Teams. Brian was also a member of the first Top Gun team with Benn, making it 4 NHL draft picks from a single youth team. Brian is the coaching director for Top Gun.
Cody is a Top Gun and New England Fall Prep Hockey League alumni. He is a Governors Academy graduate 2010 where he lettered in baseball and hockey. He was an All ISL Hockey selection in 2009 and 2010 and ALL ISL Baseball selection in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was a multiple year captain in both sports. Cody was drafted 127th in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the San Joes Sharks. Cody played 4 years at Northeastern University 2010-2014, where he was awarded Northeastern Most Exciting Player Award (2012-2013). Cody went on to play 2 years in the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush and the Utah Grizzlies. Cody was voted to the ECHL’s Dream Team for the 2014-2015 season in which he averaged 1.25 points per game as a rookie.
Benn is a graduate of Governors Academy where he lettered for 4 years in both baseball and hockey. He also earned the Bruins John Carleton award given annually to an Eastern Mass student athlete combining exceptional athletic skills and academic excellence. Benn proceeded to Boston College playing in 3 National Championship games while winning an NCAA Championship in 2008 before graduating in 2009. Benn was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes but signed with the San Jose Sharks upon graduation from BC. Benn played 100+ NHLgames along with stints in the AHL and the Austrian Elite League before retiring in 2015. Until this year, Benn was the only NHL player in history to score a game winning overtime goal in the playoffs on his birthday.
Nathan is a Top Gun and NEFPHL alumni. After graduating from Governor's academy in 2013, Nathan played at Northeastern University and Mercyhurst University before graduating from Mercyhurst University in 2018. Nathan played one year in the Southern Professional Hockey League for the Pensacola Ice Flyers and the Evansville Thunderbolts. Nathan is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Performance Enhancement Specialist.
Goal!!! 🚨🚨🚨by Nathan Ferriero & assisted @ToddZ8 pic.twitter.com/UqXOxCtmLF
— Mercyhurst Men’s Hockey (@HurstMensHockey) October 15, 2017
Ben is an Avon Old Farms ('16) and Providence College ('22) graduate. Between Avon and Providence Ben played 1 year of junior hockey where he won a USHL Clark Cup with the Chicago Steel in 2017. He was drafted 77th overall in the 2017 draft. Ben played 149 games for Providence including the 2019 NCAA Frozen Four in 2019. Ben has a master's degree in higher education and sports administration from Providence College.
Good rush by Riley Duran to gain the line and leave it for Mirageas, who wrists home his second of the night and third of the season! Davis Bunz gets the other assist on the play.#GoFriars pic.twitter.com/xHXNhsHrUV
— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) December 11, 2021
Nick is a NEFPHL alumni who played prep school hockey at Kimball Union Academy. This led to his collegiate career as a Division 1 scholarship hockey player at Boston University. Nick played two years in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. In addition to his work with the NEFPHL and Real Speed, Nick was hired as an assistant coach at Suffolk University.
Welcome your newest Worcester Railer to the city, Nick Roberto! 🏒🙌 pic.twitter.com/dWwBDwqwQr
— Worcester Railers HC (@RailersHC) January 11, 2019
Brett was named the inaugural head coach of LIU men's ice hockey in May 2020. He served as an assistant coach at Colgate, head coach at Albany Academy, and built the Wilkes University program from scratch. Brett has a lengthy history of success, including leading Wilkes University to a Top-15 national ranking and earning conference coach of the year. He has developed numerous NHL draft picks. Riley's family boasts a strong hockey pedigree, with his father, Rob, coaching at Army West Point, and his grandfather, Jack, coaching the United States to Olympic gold. A graduate of Hobart College, Riley brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to Real Speed.
Ryan was appointed Head Coach of the Sioux Falls Stampede for the 24-25 season and boasts a decorated career as a player with stints in the ECHL and AHL, along with collegiate experience at West Point and Robert Morris University. After his playing career, his coaching achievements include leading USHL, NAHL, and USPHL teams to playoff success, including 2 national titles with the Charolotte Rush. We are excited to have Ryan’s experience and knowledge to develop Real Speed players.
Dave is a St John’s Prep graduate where he lettered all 4 years in hockey. During his time there, they won the state championship. Dave was named a Catholic Conference all star and was team captain his senior year at St. John’s. Dave attended college at Quinnipiac. While playing at Quinnipiac as a defenseman, Dave was a 2 time captain, 2 time leading scorer, and 2 time MVP. The NCAA also awarded him a National Student Athlete Award, combining academic and athletic excellence. Dave’s passion for hockey lead to a passion for fitness as well. As a result, he has been a personal trainer for 15 years.
Ryan played Hockey and Baseball at Salem State University and served as Captain his senior year. Prior to Salem, Ryan attended Danvers High School, where he played 4 years of Varsity Golf, Hockey, and Baseball. He won the 2001 Division II State Championship in both Hockey and Baseball and amassed 160 points in his hockey career. Ryan also attended a post-graduate year at Phillips Exeter Academy, playing both hockey and baseball. With a passion for fitness and sports, Ryan has been a Physical Education and Health Teacher at Danvers High School since 2010 and also coaches golf, hockey, and baseball.
Tim is a Top Gun youth hockey alumni. He attended Governor’s Academy 2010 where he lettered in football, hockey, and lacrosse. Tim played Lacrosse at Widener University and graduated in 2014. In 2017, Tim was named the Head Lacrosse Coach at Governor’s. Moving to Eaglebrook School in 2019, Tim is the Assistant Athletic Director & Head Varsity Hockey Coach. Tim has been coaching with Real Speed Sports since 2020.
Shamus has been here with Real Speed off and on for 8 years. He trained throughout high school where he is a graduate of St. John’s Prep (2018), and continued to work hard in our summer program throughout his four years playing for the UMass Amherst ACHA team. His senior year he was a captain and a conference all star. While at UMass, he pursued a degree in Kinesiology while interning with the Men’s Division 1 hockey team as a strength and conditioning coach. After graduating, he played one season of professional hockey in the FPHL for the Danbury Hat Tricks and Delaware Thunder. Shamus has spent the past year as a personal trainer in the Boston area, using his lengthy background and education in strength and conditioning to train a number of high level performers.
Alex hails from Nitra, Slovakia, where he played for the U16 and U17 Slovakian National Team and later professionally for HK Nitra Slovakia. Alex attended Salem State College, where he was a 4-year player. Alex has been coaching youth hockey programs for over a decade, including the Islanders Hockey Club, Seacoast Spartans, and Assabet Valley Girls as a skills coach. Alex has won multiple EHF championships and captured a bronze medal in the 2022 USA Hockey National Championship. In addition to his contributions to Team Real Speed, Alex will also be coaching our Top Gun Fed Futures Hockey Team.
Mrs. Coach is what the athletes have named me here in Salem or Micki. So blessed to do what I love each day. My belief is that I was born to be a teacher. I have worked in education for over 25 years as a mathematics teacher. Along the way, I discovered the amazing benefits of yoga in my own life, and started using it to give students a movement break throughout my math classes. Fast forward, I earned my yoga teacher trainings for both 200 hour and 300 hour advanced teaching and began teaching yoga in a studio setting. More than three years ago now I was asked to help the athletes and coaches by adding a yoga practice to their existing hockey program. It’s an honor to design classes, playlists, and exercises specific to the needs of the hockey players. Their focus, attention, and attitude towards life on and off the mat is shifted with continued regular practice. Each class I approach with the mindset of having the students slow down in their day, connect with their breath through movement to create space in their bodies and minds. It is a gift each time I work with these teams.
