OUR STAFF
RYAN GALT
Development Coach
Ryan has experienced hockey at all different levels with a playing career that has included AAA, USHL, NCAA Division 1, and professional hockey. He has shifted his hockey path to committing to youth hockey in the Kansas City area and beyond. Ryan wants to create an exciting and fun atmosphere while focusing on the development of youth players to grow the game further!
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Quote from Ryan, "I can honestly say that there are no other opportunities in the Midwest that offer the caliber of coaches that are invested in the Kansas City youth currently, that are a part of Pure Edge. I'm very excited to see where these players end up after a consistent training experience, and we have the staff to move players to the next level whether that be the better house team, A team, AA team, or a AAA team!"
JOHN SCOTT DICKSON
Development Coordinator
Originally from NorthYork, Ontario, John-Scott has been involved in hockey for 21 years. With a 5 year OHL career, 4 year college career, and 6 years playing professionally, John-Scott has an elite hockey mind.
Known around Kansas City as the head coach of the Mavericks for 4 years, John-Scott has given his time to the youth in the area throughout his KC coaching career. Coach Dickson is a huge asset to the hockey community being a youth instructor in all of his stops with hockey. With 3 of his young kids making him run around, he understands the importance of balancing structure and fun into young ones lives and brings a lot of insight to the players!
JARED BRANDT
Skills Instructor
Jared Brandt is a current Professional Hockey defenseman for the Reading Royals in the ECHL. Growing up in St. Louis and now living in Kansas City, he's worked with youth hockey players for 5 years growing the game. His youth experiences consist of 3 years of skills development for the Minot youth program, and also two years developing players in the Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles organization. Jared's knowledge and expertise on skill development, defensive techniques, and hockey habits allows him to teach the youth at an elite level.
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Jared played for 3 years in the NAHL for the Minot Minotauros, captaining the team his last year. Following his junior career, he has played for Miami University for two seasons and is now in his senior campaign for Niagara University, both Division 1 hockey schools. Kansas City is very fortunate to have Jared and is a massive asset to grow the game the correct way!
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NATE KNOEPKE
Skills Instructor
Originally from Burnsville, MN, Kansas City is very fortunate to have Nate and his family move to KC a year ago. Currently playing his senior season at University of Nebraska-Omaha, Nate has taken stops at every high level. He played junior hockey at the US National program before moving on to play at the University of Minnesota and Nebraska-Omaha. While in Minnesota, Nate worked at various development clinics in the area helping out their youth players.
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He brings tremendous value to Kansas City and can't wait for our kids to utilize his knowledge!
MATT STEPHENSON
Skills Instructor
Originally from Midland, Ontario, Matt has made Kansas City home for 9 years thus far. He started off playing youth and junior hockey in Canada before eventually playing Division 1 hockey at St. Cloud State. In his four years as a defenseman, he played 141 games and served as the team Captain his senior year. After college, Matt moved on to play 7 years professionally with the Iowa Stars (AHL), Texas Stars (AHL), Sheffield Steelers (EIHL), and the Kansas City Mavericks (ECHL). With a squirt growing up in Kansas City, we're very lucky to have a coach with his caliber of expertise and care level for the youth in the Kansas City.
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Quote from Matt, "After making stops at so many levels of hockey from Junior C to the AHL, I'm truly blessed and fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be involved with such an outstanding coaching staff. The level and attention to detail each coach brings compliments each other making the academy one of the best development programs I have come across in the country:"
Dominic Zombo
Development Coach
Dominic is the current U16/U18 Madison Capitols AAA director. Zombo has coached hockey players in a wide range of cities after retiring from a 4 year Professional career. He comes from a hockey family with his father playing in the NHL and is the currently Lindenwood University head coach - Division 1. He has a passion for coaching and is eager to make a difference.
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We are fortunate to have Dom on our staff!
Dominic Zombo
Development Coach
Dominic is the current U16/U18 Madison Capitols AAA director. Zombo has coached hockey players in a wide range of cities after retiring from a 4 year Professional career. He comes from a hockey family with his father playing in the NHL and is the currently Lindenwood University head coach - Division 1. He has a passion for coaching and is eager to make a difference.
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We are fortunate to have Dom on our staff!
CODY WILLIAMS
Skills Instructor
Cody was brought onto the staff towards the end of 2022. He's had multiple years of success coaching skill development at a variety of ages. He started his teenage career playing for Rusell Stover AAA before moving onto various junior leagues. After that, he played 4 years of college hockey before moving overseas to play 2 years of Professional hockey in France.
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We are super excited to have Cody apart of the team to develop Pure Edge players at a consistent basis. Welcome Cody!