Christian Long, Head Coach, Division II
Before attending Colgate, Christian wasΒ a two-time Ohio High School State Champion for St. Edward HS (Freshman & Sophomore years). As a Sophomore,Β ChristianΒ led St. Edward HS in Goals, Assists, Points, Game Winning Goals and +/- during the 2004-2005 season enroute to an Ohio First-Team All-State selection. The following season,Β ChristianΒ moved to Junior ‘A’ hockey in Brockville, Ont. for the Brockville Braves, recording over a point-per-game in his Jr. A career before earning a scholarship to Colgate University.
ChristianΒ earned his Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University in 2013,Β Double-majoring in Economics & Sociology.Β In early 2021,Β ChristianΒ founded and is the current CEO of Ace The Text, an education technology company.
Mark Renner, Assistant Coach, Division II
Originally from Smithtown, New York, Mark played high school hockey and graduated as the varsity team captain with all-county honors in 1987. Mark moved to Florida and attended Broward Community College and first began coaching youth hockey in 1988, while working at the Sunrise Ice Skating Center. He Later attended and obtained a bachelorβs degree in criminal justice from FAU in December of 1991. Mark played for FAUβs club hockey team in β90-β91 when they played in the menβs league at the Gold Coast Ice Arena in Pompano Beach. After graduation, he was hired by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department where he has worked for the last 31 plus years. He as remained active in the South Florida hockey community as both a player and coach. Mark raised a son through local hockey who achieved his goal of playing NCAA Division III for Kingβs College, in Wilkes-Barre, PA.Β Mark obtained his USA Hockeyβs Level 4 coaching certificate and has coached various age groups in recreation and AA travel hockey. Throughout his hockey and professional career, he has pursued his passion for helping hard-working players and employees who are not blessed with top-tier talent and/or connections. Mark believes that helping amazing people achieve their goals is what coaching and mentoring is all about. Mark hopes to contribute to the bright future of Owls Hockey.Β
Erik Kirtman, Assistant Coach, Division II
Born and raised in South Florida, Kirtman has over 30 years of experience in the game of hockey. Kirtman began playing youth hockey for the Sunrise Golden Blades and South Florida Golden Wolves.
From 1998-2005, Kirtman was a member of the Miami Dolphins Equipment Staff where he learned how to responsibly organize, repair and distribute various pieces of sporting equipment for a professional sports team.
From 2002-2005, Kirtman played defense for the FAU Owls during their first season in the American College Hockey Association. Β Following college, Kirtman began a career in law enforcement with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in late 2005. During his 18-year career, Kirtman has worked as a patrol officer, served as a detection K-9 handler, and currently a Detective assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit.
Coach Kirtman is entering his third year as a member of the FAU Owls coaching staff prior to joining the Owls, Kirtman served as an assistant coach with the North Broward Preparatory School where he began his coaching career while learning under Ray Sheppard and Marco Sturm. During his tenure at North Broward, he coached middle school students and eventually moved up to high school where the team earned a state title in 2019.
Kirtman resides in Palm Beach, FL with his wife and three children.
Josh Haverstrom, Assistant Coach, Division II
Josh Haverstrom grew up playing hockey in Orlando Florida. Josh went on to play in the WSHL and NAHL for the Idaho Junior Steelheads and Wichita Falls Wildcats. Winning a National Championship in Idaho. Josh continued by playing collegiate hockey at the University of Massachusetts Boston where they went onto play in the 2015-2016 NCAA Frozen Four.
Pasquale (Patrick) Pasquale Spano, Goaltending Coach
Patrick Spano is a native of Montreal, Quebec. He played his minor hockey in Canada until the age of 15, at which point he received a scholarship to attend the Westminster Prep School in Simsbury, Connecticut. After a successful prep school career, Patrick played Division 1 College Hockey at Yale University. Upon graduating in 2017, Patrick played 3 seasons of professional hockey: 1 season in the SPHL and 2 seasons overseas (France and Belgium). He retired in 2020 and moved to Florida in 2021, where he has been coaching goalies ever since. Patrick has over 15 years of goalie coaching experience at every age level; he enjoys sharing all the knowledge and expertise he has amassed over his playing career and also has a passion for helping the next generation of young goalies.”
Andrew Yagoda, Co-Head Coach, Division III
After graduating from New Hampshire College in 1989, Andrew attended St. Thomas University School of Law earning his degree in 1996. Shortly after, he began his law career with Yagoga & Lehrman Law Firm in Coral Gables, FL where is still practices.
Andrew began his coaching career with NJ Devils Youth program in West Orange, NJ as a Head Coach, 1989 to 1991. Since moving to Florida, Andrew has mainly been involved as the Head Coach and Director of the Miami-Dade Scholastic Hockey Alliance, in Miami from 2011 to the present day. In 2023 Andrew became the Director of the Florida Panthers Scholastic Hockey League in Sunrise Florida.
Kevin Hoy, Co-Head Coach, Division III
Kevin grew up playing hockey in South Florida. At the age of 15, he moved to the Northeast with opportunities to play Junior Hockey in the EMJHL, EJHL, AJHL, MJHL mostly with the Bay State Breakers and had a short minor league career with the Danbury Whalers of the FHL. Kevin started his coaching career as a goalie coach before taking on a full time coaching role where he helped develop the Miami Toros Hockey program. After many seasons with the Miami Toros Hockey program, Kevin relocated to Michigan to serve as the Hockey Director at Suburban Ice Macomb this past season before moving back to Florida. Kevin is the Coordinator of Operations & Programming for TPH Ft. Lauderdale and a Head Coach with the Florida Junior Panthers. Kevin loves the competitive edge that sports help you develop and the effect it has on your ability to progress and improve daily.Β
Mike Flaherty, Trainer
Mike had completed his USA Hockey 4 certification and is currently a firefighter/paramedic with an AS in EMS and has spent two seasons as the Medic/Trainer for the Palm Beach Hawks Junior Hockey program. Mike began coaching roller hockey 8 years ago and progressed to recreational ice hockey and finally youth travel hockey. Knowing the importance of physical fitness in high level, competitive hockey, Mike focused his efforts on coaching strength, speed, and conditioning; creating off ice workouts, dynamic game day warm ups and intense full-day beach workout programs. Mike is excited to be part of FAU Hockey organization!