Info@youngstownphantoms.com
229 E. Front Street
Youngstown, OH 44503
Front Office
For info call:
Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m
Phone: (330) 747-PUCK (7825)
Fax: (330) 746-5175
Meet the team behind the Youngstown Phantoms. From the General Managers to the Training Coach, each component of the coaching staff and hockey operations team for the Youngstown Phantoms is crucial to maintaining this team at peak performance during each game.
Learn about each person and their position within the team of the Youngstown Phantoms.
KEITH PRIMEAU- PRESIDENT OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS
Mr. Primeau serves as President of Hockey Operations for the Phantoms, overseeing scouting, coaching, and strategy.
Keith is a former NHL player who spent 15 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers. Drafted 3rd overall in 1990, Keith played in two NHL All-Star games and finished his career as captain of the Philadelphia Flyers. Mr. Primeau is also the Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Black Bears’ NAHL affiliate, the Maryland Black Bears.
BRUCE J. ZOLDAN- CO-OWNER
Bruce J. Zoldan founded B.J. Alan Company, a nationally recognized industry leader in the importing, distribution, and sales of consumer fireworks, and is a member and Co-Owner of the Youngstown Phantoms, LLC.
Bruce J. Zoldan, serves as the President, CEO, and Board Chairman of the B.J. Allan Company/Phantom Fireworks. Mr. Zoldan is a member of the Youngstown Phantoms LLC. which is a tier one franchise of the USHL playing out of the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown.
Mr. Zoldan, a thoroughbred racing enthusiast for over 25 years, is a partner in Team Valor, owner of among other horses, Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby and 2013 Dubai World Cup.
Mr. Zoldan graduated from Boardman High School and attended Youngstown State University. He is a member of numerous organizations including The Better Business Bureau, Inc. (Past President of the Board), Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, Ohev Tzedek Temple (Board member), Western Reserve Port Authority, Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce, Youngstown Country Club and the Zionist Organization of America.
Regional and national organizations with which Mr. Zoldan is involved include the American Pyrotechnics Association (Past President of the Board – 3 terms, current Director Emeritus), Northeast Ohio Regional Business Coalition, Ohio State Pyrotechnics Association (Past President), American Fireworks Standards Laboratory, Pyrotechnics Guild International, United States Hockey League (former member of the Board of Governors), and North American Hockey League (former member of the Board of Governors).
Mr. Zoldan’s awards and recognition include the Venture Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year (1987), City of Hope “the Spirit of Life” Award (1993), American Pyrotechnics Association prestigious Dropo Award (2004), WYTV Entrepreneur of the Month (May, 2004), Tri-County Golf Classic – American Cancer Society (Honorary Chair) (2005), Mahoning Valley Dr, Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award (2006), American Red Cross (Mahoning Chapter) Community Impact Award (2006), Inside Business Ohio Power 100 (2007), and was the inaugural recipient of the Litian Medal of the Global Fireworks Industry as Outstanding Fireworks Entrepreneur presented by the International Fireworks Association (2011).
MURRY GUNTY- CO-OWNER AND GOVERNOR
Murry Gunty is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Black Bear Sports Group, Inc., the Phantoms’ co-ownership group. Gunty is also CEO and founder of Blackstreet Capital Holdings, LLC and Blackstreet Capital Management. Gunty graduated from Harvard College, where he received an A.B. in Economics, and Harvard Business School, where he received an M.B.A. A lifelong hockey fan, Mr. Gunty grew up in Portland, Maine, where he spent countless hours playing hockey and watching the former Maine Mariners of the American Hockey League. He has coached and managed his sons’ AA and AAA hockey teams from Mite through Bantam and is passionate about growing the game. His vision for Black Bear was to combine his turnaround experience with his passion for the sport to bring professional management to the hockey and ice rink industry, turning around poorly run facilities and investing badly-needed capital in 20-30-year-old rinks thereby saving them for their respective communities.
JASON DESKINS- CO-GENERAL MANAGER/VP OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS
Jason Deskins returns with the Youngstown Phantoms as Co-General Manager and Vice President of Hockey Operations.
Jason Deskins spent previous seasons with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL as their Assistant General Manager and Director of Scouting. His responsibilities in Omaha included oversight of all scouting and evaluating efforts as well as running the teams’ drafts.
Jason grew up in Warren, MI, and played much of his youth and junior hockey in the state. A former Miami Redhawk and All-CCHA member, Jason was a four-year letter-winner, three-year Captain, and was elected Miami’s offensive player of the year in 1998-1999 and 2000-2001. Jason played four years of professional hockey and concluded his playing career in 2006.
After retiring, Jason decided to pursue a career in hockey as a coach, scout, and executive. He was a regional scout for the Port Huron Fighting Falcons (NAHL) and the Sarnia Sting (OHL), the Assistant GM and Head Scout for the Maryland Black Bears (NAHL), and the Assistant GM and Director of Scouting for the Omaha Lancers (USHL). He has coached at various levels of youth hockey in Michigan and is currently the head coach for the Little Caesars Midget Minor program in Detroit.
Jason resides in Michigan with his wife, Christine, and sons, Andrew and Jacob.
To contact, please email Jason at jdeskins@youngstownphantoms.com
RYAN KOSECKI- CO-GENERAL MANAGER/VP OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS
Ryan Kosecki returns to the Youngstown Phantoms as Co-General Manager and Vice President of Hockey Operations.
Kosecki is also the Assistant General Manager with the Maryland Black Bears, the Head Coach for the Fox Motors ’05 U16 AAA team, and the on-ice Hockey Director for TPH Grand Rapids. Prior to joining Black Bear Sports group, Ryan spent two seasons (2018-2020) as an assistant coach with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, where they won the regular season Eastern Conference Championship in his first season.
He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife Megan, daughter Cooper (11), and son Harrison (9).
To contact, please email Ryan at rkosecki@youngstownphantoms.com
JEFF COX – ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
Jeff Cox returns to the Youngstown Phantoms as the Assistant General Manager. The Lynnfield, Mass., native came to Youngstown after serving as Assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel from June 2018 through November 2021.
In addition to his responsibilities with the Phantoms, Cox serves as the Program Director for the Neponset Valley River Rats. He oversees the scouting, recruiting, and rosters for the organization’s four Tier 1 national-bound teams. He is the head coach of the River Rats 16-U team.
Cox has coached in various summer tournaments and showcases over the past four years with Boston Hockey Club, TPH, and in the Foxboro Summer Prep League.
Cox is also employed by the New England Hockey Journal where he can be seen on print, web, and television covering amateur hockey throughout that region. He has worked in hockey media since 2012.
ROBBIE MURDEN – ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
Robbie Murden joined the Youngstown Phantoms in the 2022-2023 season as Assistant General Manager & Assistant General Manager of Junior Hockey for Black Bear Sports Group.
Prior to joining Youngstown, Robbie Murden worked with the Tri-City Storm USHL organization in scouting, drafting, and player personnel capacities. He currently serves as the Hockey Director for Team Maryland AAA organization and has previously served as a Midget coach and Director of Player Personnel with Windy City Storm, BK Selects & South Kent Selects Academy AAA programs.
Robbie was born and raised in Georgetown, Ontario, and played his youth and junior hockey in Ontario. After a 4 year junior career, Robbie played NCAA hockey at Hamilton College where he helped lead his team to the programs first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and win in their 100+ year history while earning his BA in Economics. Since graduating in 2017, Robbie has worked full-time in the hockey industry.
Robbie currently resides in Maryland with his wife Liza.
TIM PARKOS – ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER/DIRECTOR OF SCOUTING
Tim Parkos is joining the Phantoms for another season as the Assistant General Manager and the Director of Scouting
Tim Parkos (Apple Valley, MN) has been involved in hockey over the past 20 years in Minnesota at multiple levels and facets that include youth hockey up through high school. Tim is entering his 6th season as the Head Coach at Totino-Grace High School which competes in the top division in Minnesota. Tim also has been the owner of Elite 1 Training for the past 12 years which specializes in small group strength & conditioning training for hockey players. Tim also serves as the Co-Owner of Team Minnesota AAA Hockey Club.
RYAN WARD – HEAD COACH
Ryan Ward was introduced as the sixth head coach in team history on May 17, 2022.
Ward spent the last two seasons as the Director of Player Personnel for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm, working with former Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen.
A native of Assonet, Massachusetts, Ward also spent time with the Soo Greyhounds (OHL), San Antonio Rampage (AHL), Toronto Marlies (AHL), Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Islanders.
Ward currently resides in Chicago with his wife, Jessica, and their three children.
ANDY CONTOIS – ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH
Andy Contois joined the Youngstown Phantoms during the 2021-2022 season as our Associate Head Coach.
Andy has spent two previous seasons with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL. As a part of the Fuel, the team qualified for the playoffs in both seasons and led the league in having its players called up to the AHL. Prior to his time in Indy, Andy spent two seasons with the Central Illinois Flying Aces of the USHL. While working for the Flying Aces Andy coached 7 players who were taken in the NHL Draft and had an additional 45 players move on to play major Division I hockey. Before his coaching career, Andy had a 10-year professional playing career, spending 3 seasons in North America in the AHL and ECHL and 7 seasons in Europe. Andy played college hockey at Northern Michigan University of the CCHA, graduating with a degree in Finance, and is a native of Marquette, MI. He currently resides in Columbiana with his girlfriend Taylor and his dog Sonny.
BRANDON GOTKIN – ASSISTANT COACH
Brandon Gotkin joined the Youngstown Phantoms during the 2021 – 2022 season as their Assistant Coach. Brandon came to the Phantoms from the Maryland Black Bears of the NAHL, who are an affiliate of Black Bear Sports Group. Brandon spent three seasons with the Black Bears under the mentorship of Head Coach and GM, Clint Mylymok.
In his time in Maryland, the team made considerable strides leading up to their first NAHL Eastern Conference playoff appearance and first-round win vs the Johnstown Tomahawks. Brandon has been with Maryland since their inception and was an integral piece of their team’s success on and off the ice.
BRANDON DENNIS – ASSISTANT COACH
Brandon Dennis joined the Youngstown Phantoms during the 2022-23 season as an Assistant Coach and Director of Business Development. He spent the previous three years as Business Development Manager at USA Hockey and a scout with the Chicago Steel of the USHL.
KARL LINDEN – PLAYER DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Karl Linden is joining the Phantoms for the 2023-2024 season as our player development director, of “Konquer Hockey”. He spent previous seasons with the South Kent Selects and the Windy City Storm youth programs.
Karl works with our players individually, and in small groups that are specific to their position, which will compartmentalize and specialize in each player’s personal development.
