Coaches

Vincent Morris, Head Coach
USA Hockey Level 4 Certified
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Vinny grew up and played most of his youth and high school hockey in New England. After graduating from Matignon High School, Vinny spent the next 3 years playing Junior hockey for the Valley Jr. Warriors, El Paso Rhinos, and NY Apple Core where he won a national championship. He then attended Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts where he played NCAA Division III hockey before moving back to Florida and beginning his coaching career. USA Hockey Level 4 certified, Vinny is the Youth Hockey Director at Pines Ice Arena where he trains players from 3-24 years old, from beginner to NCAA level and has spent the last 8 years coaching with the South Florida Golden Wolves travel program. 
Erik Kirtman, Assistant Coach
USA Hockey Level 3 Certified
Born in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Erik grew up playing travel hockey in the South Florida area at the age of 10. After graduating from Plantation High School in 2002, he spent the next three years playing for FAU from 2002-2005, including their inaugural season in the ACHA – American Collegiate Hockey Association.  Erik began his coaching career in 2016 at the North Broward Preparatory School. He served as an assistant coach in the middle school hockey program where he focused on developing middle school students in their transition to playing high school hockey. After two years coaching in the middle school program, he moved up to the high school program and won the state title in 2019. Erik is looking forward to returning to his roots at FAU.  

Dan Bouganim, Assistant Coach
USA Hockey Level 4 Certified
Dan started playing youth travel hockey and continued through high school in Marlborough, MA. Dan’s coaching career began as a volunteer at a “learn to play” clinic in Yonkers, NY. Soon after, he started coaching recreational hockey, followed by 10 years at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY. During that time he also coached Tier 1 youth travel for 3 years for the Westchester Express. After relocating to Florida in 2013, he spent 5 seasons years with the Palm Beach Hawks. The use of innovative team systems and individual player video analysis are his hallmarks as a coach.

Aaron Burri, Assistant Coach
USA Hockey Level 2 Certified
FAU Hockey Alumni Aaron Burri, Class of ’17, will be returning to the Team this year as an Assistant Coach. In his fifth year of coaching College Hockey, Aaron spent the 2016-2017 Season as an Assistant Coach for the Lynn University Hockey Team. Having played for the Owls in the past, Aaron graduated from FAU with a BBA in International Business and Trade. Aside from Coaching at FAU, Aaron has been assisting at the Palm Beach Skate Zone Adult Hockey Clinic since 2015.

Brett Schaffer, Goaltending Coach
USA Hockey Level 3 Certified
Coach Schaffer is entering his fourth year with the Florida Atlantic University Ice Hockey Club. In addition to coaching with FAU, he runs his own goaltending school in Florida, The Puck Stops Here. Brett also works as a coach with the Huntsville Havoc (SPHL) and is the USA Hockey Goalie Development Coordinator for the State of Florida.  Brett frequently works with NHL goalie coaches and professionals such as Frantz Jean, Jeff Lerg, George Bosak, and others.

Mike Flaherty, Team Medic/Trainer
USA Hockey Level 4 Certified
Mike 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 this season…his professionalism and dedication are second to none.