David McGowan

Founder & Skills Instructor

An avid athlete, teacher, and mentor, Coach Dave has spent more than 30 years coaching hockey, speed-skating and lacrosse. Dave finds incredible fulfillment in working with kids and helping them grow into strong, healthy leaders who believe in doing good for others, on and off the ice and field. A renowned and respected hockey coach and instructor in both the US and Canada, and a former AA, AAA, and Juniors player, Dave has coached locally for the Falcons, Chicago Young Americans (Pee Wee Majors), Team Illinois (Pee Wee Majors), Chicago Blues, and various high school and club teams in Chicago’s suburbs including Winnetka, Wilmette, Barrington, and Lake Forest. While any coach knows that winning isn’t everything, Coach Dave’s teams have won State and NIHL Championships, with several former players currently playing in the NHL, NCAA Division 1 and 3, NAHL, USHL, and OHL.

Dave takes the time to get to know each player and design his coaching strategy from scratch with each new team. Coach Dave’s teams have always recognized that his strict rules and expectations contribute to the team’s culture, camaraderie, and sportsmanship. He strikes a unique balance between challenging and fun. Throughout his career, Dave has made a difference in his players’ lives.

Dave began his career in sales and served as Director of Sales for Apple in Cupertino, California. From the sales floor to the hockey rink and with four beautiful kids and two golden retrievers Bauer and Crosby, Dave is enjoys coaching the next generation of young athletes.

Levi Velick

Skills Assistant

COMING SOON!

Jack Hickey

Goalie Instructor

For the past several years Jack has served as an assistant coach for Team Illinois u18 and has helped the goalie program grow at Team Illinois helping run clinics and attending practices. During the day Jack also works with Bridgedale Academy as a goalie instructor. Since 2015, Jack has been a goalie coach for GDI USA, a national goalie institution that puts on goalie camps and offers services for other hockey camps or for hockey clubs all around North America. Jack grew up playing a majority of his youth hockey years at Team Illinois then moving on to Jr hockey, experiencing time spent in some of the top Junior leagues like the USHL. After juniors Jack got right into goalie coaching and has been giving a modern insight to young goaltenders today. Helping them with the technical and mental aspects of what it takes to be a good goaltender in today's game!

Oliver Freij

Goalie Instructor

Oliver has been coaching goalies since 2007 after his own retirement. He spent four year as Falcons Goaltending Director for the CSDHL Falcons Hockey Association. In his four seasons as a Director, he moved 19 goalies on to higher levels (Tier 1, Prep, Juniors) and had two goalies make the Chicago Brick team. He helped the Falcons win their first USA Hockey National Championship and finish as finalist two other times. Oliver is currently the Goaltending Development Coordinator for USA Hockey in Illinois to help grow goaltending in the State. His other coaching responsibilities include Serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Mission Bantam Major team (2006) and Pee Wee Major’s (2008). He helps various high schools including Highland Park and Lake Forest High School. His teaching philosophy is driven by building a strong detailed technical foundation and using situational examples based on his experience at the Minor Pro, Collegiate, and Junior level. He is keen on a relationship building approach to help teach the goalies as individuals and maximize their potential. Over the past six seasons in Chicago more than 10 of his private students have been selected to the Tier 1 level and various Junior levels including the OHL.

Eric Schlomann

Media Coach