Erick Echeverria
đź“Ś Coaching Director
🏒 Peewee Head Coach
Erick has been coaching for the NJ Icedogs for 10 years. He was a key component along with others in creating a successful Mite program back in 2014. After 7 years establishing the Mite program, Erick moved onto coaching at the Peewee level leading our team to multiple tournament championships and the HVHL 12U A1 league championship during the '23-'24 season. Erick found his love for coaching and developing athletes after discovering CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting. He spent a number of years creating programming and personal training/nutrition programs for Crossfit gyms in New Jersey and Oregon and is a former Fair Lawn High School hockey player himself.
Adam Dale
🏒 Squirt White Head Coach
Coach Adam brings over 14 years of coaching experience with athletes of all levels to the Icedogs in his first year with the Squirt White team. With a strong focus on developing leadership, fundamentals, and player growth both on and off of the ice.
Chase Hausler
🏒 Squirt Blue Head Coach
🥅 Goalie Developmental Coach (Mite, Squirt, Peewee)
Coach Chase is our Squirt coach this year and is an Icedog through and through. He is a former member of the first ever Icedogs team and takes great pride in coaching the next generation of Icedogs. Chase began his hockey career at Paramus High School as a freshman goaltender and became team MVP in 2009. He then went on to play hockey for William Paterson University. Chase has spent time as the Paramus High School Goalie Coach and has been a head coach for the Icedogs for 7 seasons at the Squirt level where he won one HVHL Championship (B).
Tom Tabacci
🏒 Mite Head Coach
Coach Tom joins us this season as the head coach of the Mite Blue and White teams. As our resident “kit man”, Tom brings experience coaching younger early development skaters on hockey fundamentals.
Mark Schaefer
🏒 Midget 16U Head Coach
Mark played hockey with the NJ Icedogs for 10 seasons as a player and played High School hockey for River Dell HS all 4 years. Mark has been coaching for 9 years with the Icedogs and has taken on many roles during that time which have included Mites, Squirts and Midgets. Mark has also coached Fair Lawn High School Spring Seasons. Coach Mark is energetic and has built a great rapport with his players through the years – some whom he worked with in their first years at Squirt and their final in Midgets.
Developmental Ethos:
Mites
Mite hockey is about falling in love with the game. At the Mite level, our primary focus is on creating a fun, positive, and inclusive environment where young players build confidence, curiosity, and joy on the ice. Skill development matters, but the love of the game comes first. As the season progresses and the coaches get a better feel for the kid's level of play, we may also begin to introduce the concept of how important it is to work hard to earn your ice time.
Squirts
At the Squirt level, we focus on teaching kids the changing rules of the game as they graduate from Mite to Squirt, as well as teaching them how to win and move the puck as a team. Our goal is to equip them with the tactical tools to play at a faster pace as they graduate to Peewee, all the while continuing to develop their individual skills and hockey IQ.
Peewee
At the Peewee level, we seek to teach kids more advanced team tactics as well as how to move the puck more quickly and effectively to assist in the transition to the hitting game. Ice time is earned and the concept of "doing your job" and "contributing to the team" becomes more and more important. We encourage creativity on the ice as well as install an overall sense of team play.
Bantam
Bantam hockey is where foundations meet accountability. At the Bantam level, players transition from learning how to play hockey to learning how to compete. Our focus is on developing strong habits, hockey IQ, and personal responsibility—while maintaining a positive environment that challenges players to grow. Competing hard is non-negotiable, and the concept of checking is taught to not only use as an in-game tactic, but to emphasize safety and responsibility on the ice.
Midget
At the Midget level, our goal is for players to improve their instincts and decision making while keeping skills fresh as they move in to the high school season. Athletes are expected to apply everything they’ve learned—technically, tactically, and mentally—while preparing for the demands of high school, junior, and competitive adult hockey. The focus shifts from instruction to execution, accountability, and performance.