Director & Coaches
NICK FINA – HOCKEY COORDINATOR
Nick Fina previously coached with the Admirals Hockey Club in a Director role, having served 2021-2022 season as Hockey Director and the 2017-19 season as our Skills Director. He continues to have an expanded role this upcoming spring and fall season throughout the organization, while continuing to assist players with skill development and hockey knowledge. Coach Nick has a winning history with Admirals teams, most recently his 2018-2019 8U AA team won the NIHL Championship and enjoyed an undefeated season. Coach Nick’s patience, encouragement and commitment to develop his players has earned him the Coach of the Year Award for 2019-2020.
Nick grew up playing youth hockey for the Chicago Flames out of Center Ice of DuPage. After youth hockey, he joined the former Chicago Force junior program out of West Meadows Ice Arena. During his second season he was voted team captain by his fellow teammates and selected to the league’s all-star team to play against top players from other junior leagues across the United States. Following junior hockey, Nick played collegiate hockey at Robert Morris University which helped him gain a much greater understanding of skill development and team dynamics, which ultimately helped drive his passion for teaching and coaching.
Coaching Career
He currently holds the highest Level 5 USA Hockey coaching certification. He served as an assistant coach for the RMU-IL Hockey program while obtaining his Master’s Degree in Business Administration. During his coaching tenure at Robert Morris University, he helped carve out the winningest season for the Black team, as well as helping the Maroon team reach the regional tournament and falling one game short of the national tournament. Nick currently resides in Glen Ellyn with his wife Katie, son, newborn twins and considers himself a “lifelong rink rat”.
JOE TOMASEK – EARLY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
My hockey experiences began at Center Ice when I was 6 years old. I grew up in Glen Ellyn and went to Glenbard South High School, while also playing for the Glenbard Hockey Team. In 2010 I was named as the first ever Glenbard player to the All State Team. Along with playing for Glenbard, I also played at the AAA and CSDHL level. After high school, I attended Illinois State University where I played on their Club Hockey Team for 4 years.
I have coached with the Admirals Hockey Club for six years, and I am excited to be a part of the Flames Hockey organization and to carry on the tradition! I have spent all seasons working with the 10u level and now the early hockey development level. Along with coaching, I also am a Elementary Physical Education Teacher in Lemont. At the 10u level I believe it is important to focus on skating, skill development, and team concepts to allow the kids to continue learning how to play the game of hockey. I am excited to get the season underway!
MIKE ROHDENBERG – MIDGET DIRECTOR
Mike Rohdenberg (Coach Rodie)
Mike Rohdenburg is an Illinois Hockey Hall of Famer and our pinnacle team leader for Midget Major U18 AA and Midget U15 AA. Coach Rodie leads by example and teaches his players to embrace responsibility of representing the club in a manner worthy of its top teams. His detailed preparation for practice and games is unequaled. His passion for the game is second only to his interest in developing fine young men who represent their club and themselves well in hockey and in life. Rodie has coached for the last 26 years. With his 26th year in hand, he has made 21 Final Four appearances and won 14 of his 15 state championship appearances. Michael has coached his way to two national championships, along with one runner up and three third-place finishes.
Please click the link below for Rodie’s Full Bio
Current and former players will tell you, they love playing for Rodie!
GIRLS HOCKEY INFORMATION
Click here for more information on our nationally recognized Girls Hockey program.
LAURIE MARKOWSKI – BRUINS GIRLS DIRECTOR
Coach Laurie Markowski started playing hockey in the Chicagoland area playing both Tier I and Tier II hockey, which helped lead her to play ACHA Division 1 hockey at Northern Michigan University (NMU). She served as the Alternate Captain in both her Junior and Senior years playing at NMU. Laurie was thrice ranked in the top 50 players of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), as well as being on the All-American Team in 2005.
Laurie has spent the past ten seasons coaching girls hockey at the U12-U19 levels on both the Tier II and Tier I side. During that time she helped lead the Bruins to clinch several tournament championships, Midwest Heartland Girls Hockey League Championship, NIHL League Championships, several Illinois State Championships that resulted in two trips to the USA Hockey National Tournament, where the team finished as one of the National Quarter Finalists.
Laurie has built a coaching staff whom all have experience at the AAA and college level so we understand what it takes for those that wish to continue to play but also understand the need to have fun and have a desire to come to the rink on a continued basis. Our girls coaches have a strong focus of development of skills and with that comes success.
JAY ZITO – NWHL DIRECTOR
Coach Zito started playing hockey when he was 4 years old for the Bloomingdale Hockey Club. He won State in 1993 with his High School Team Addison Trail. He continued to play after HS and even played Roller Hockey. He joined the Bruins in Year one and won Coach of the Year in 2015. He has coached many Teams at various levels with great success off and on the ice. He will serve as the Flames North West Hockey League Director and has 3 boys that play.
