The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders announce the 2019-2020 Coaching staff.  The RoughRiders Coaching Staff brings a vast amount of hockey knowledge from both their playing and coaching experience.   The RoughRiders have an experienced elite staff from top to bottom that is built to develop each player and provide them a developmental path to become an elite level player.

12U:
The Rocky Mountain RoughRiders are pleased to announce Tim Knox as the Head Coach for the 2019-2020 12U RoughRiders team.  Coach Knox, after serving time in the United States Marine Corps, has spent the last 25 years coaching hockey. 

Over the past 25 years, Coach Knox has been a Director at the Squirt/Pee Wee levels and has coached at the College, Junior, High School and Youth levels.   Coach Knox has coached for successful programs in North Dakota, Nebraska and Colorado winning multiple state championships at the Pee Wee and Bantam levels.   Coach Knox has an extensive background in player development and enjoys helping players further their Junior and Collegiate careers.   Coach Knox’s mixed military experience and coaching techniques create a fun, discipline and respectful environment for his players.

13U:
Coach Chris Delaney will head up the 13U Rocky Mountain RoughRiders for the 2019-20 Season.  Coach Delaney was born and raised in Boston, MA.  Delaney attended power prep St. Sebastian’s School where he was named ISL All League 3 years in a row for hockey and baseball. Heavily recruited by most division I schools, Delaney accepted a full scholarship to Boston College where he played hockey and baseball.  Prior to his freshman year, he participated in the US Jr. National team trials in Colorado Springs.  An NHL draft pick by the St. Louis Blues, Coach Delaney decided to start his professional career overseas playing in Sweden.  He attended NHL training camps with the Boston Bruins and Hartford Whalers and finished out his career in the ECHL with the Winston Salem Thunderbirds. Coach Delaney maintains many relationships with top New England prep schools as well as division I and Division III college coaches and is a valuable resource in the recruiting process.

Coach Delaney currently coaches at both the Pee Wee and Midget levels and helps run several local and international camps. In August of 2018, he coached the 2006 Team WEST to a Silver Medal in The Czech Challenge Cup held in Prague, CZ.  Coach Delaney has a true passion for developing young hockey talent on and off the ice.

14U:
Coach Paul DePuydt will head up the 14U Rocky Mountain RoughRiders for the 2019-20 Season.  Coach DePuydt joined the RoughRiders organization in 2012 as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Superior RoughRiders.  During the 2018-19 season, Coach DePuydt was the Head Coach for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders 13U AAA team.

Coach DePuydt moved to Colorado after coaching for St. Olaf College in Minnesota.  He has coached at various youth levels including Midget AAA and High School in both Colorado and Michigan.  Prior to coaching, DePuydt had a 10-year career as a professional referee and instructor. He worked for several leagues during his career including the American Hockey League, ECHL, Central Hockey League, United States Hockey League and the North American Hockey League. DePuydt was licensed by the IIHF and worked internationally at the professional level in Japan and Holland.  DePuydt was also responsible for referee education and development in Holland. He holds a B.S. Degree in Physical Education and Health Education from Northern Michigan University where he was a member of the Wildcats NCAA Division 1 hockey team from 1996-99. 

15U:
Leeor Shtrom will head up the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders 15U team.  Coach Shtrom began his coaching career with the Lac St-Louis Lions, one of the top programs in Montreal.  Most recently, Coach Shtrom has been coaching for the Arizona Bobcats where he has coached 11U through 16U AAA teams.  Coach Shtrom has worked and played with many NHL players, carefully watching and learning certain traits and characteristics which have led to their successes.  Shtrom has worked with and been coached by some of the best coaches in the sport, which has shown him what is effective and ineffective in working with young players.  Players move, react, and see the game in many different ways, so he strives to tailor his coaching to the individual player and team as a whole. 

Shtrom’s playing career involved Championship teams in the SJHL, Division I Hockey for Union College, ECHL, and AHL training camps prior to a career ending hip injury.  

Leeor is excited to join the RoughRiders organization to help continue the tradition of development and success for its players both on and off the ice. 

16U:
Greg Vanover will once again lead the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders 16U in his 4th season with the RoughRiders.  This will be Coach Vanover's 15th season coaching at the AAA level.  Coach Vanover is recognized as being a top player development coach and instructor at the Tier I level.

18U:
Doug Smail will continue to head coach the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders 18U in his 10th season with the RoughRiders. Coach Smail played 16 years at the professional level, 13 of them in the NHL.  Coach Smail has been coaching AAA for the past 12 years.

Timm Lorenz will continue to be the Goalie Coach for the RoughRiders program.  Coach Lorenz has 18 years of playing experience and over 15 years of coaching experience.  Coach Lorenz has been with the RoughRiders organization for the past 9 seasons.

Tim Naiman will be starting his 5th season as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders.  Coach Naiman has designed and implemented hockey programs for players and teams of all levels across the hockey world. A former two sport athlete in college, Tim understands the physical and mental demands it takes to keep your body in peak condition and optimum performance.

Jay Thooft is the Founder of PERC (Performance Excellence Recover Consulting).  Jay began working with many of our teams and athletes this season and will have an even larger role next season with our teams.  The success of athletes and teams is not only reliant on doing their jobs well, but having the tools to manage their psyche and overall attitude.