Bio Submissions for 2020 IYHL Board Election

Karey Circosta

I am Karey Circosta. My husband, Nic, and I have a son, Dominic who has played in the IYHL for the last three years. Most recently he played 8U Select . He fell in love (as did we) quickly and has participated in every program offered for his age. We have loved every minute of being part of the IYHL and the families we’ve met along the way. We learned quickly that hockey families truly are the best!

My day job is Associate Publisher and Director of Marketing and Sales at Ave Maria Press. I’d love to use my marketing experience to help promote IYHL to new families and really focus on growing our 6U and 8U programs. Having a young skater that will be in 8U for one to two more years, I want to be on the board to be a voice and grow these levels which will in turn help strengthen our older level House, Select, and Rover teams.  I can also help develop an overall communication plan for IYHL to promote the game of hockey to our area which is definitely needed.  I have experience being on the board of ECDC, which offer LTS for their preschoolers and have many connections in the early childhood market to develop partners to promote our programs. I’ve also been involved in other non-profit boards including being the President of the Junior League of South Bend last year. I would love to serve on the IYHL board.

 

Anne Clifford

Anne is a current board member up for re-election after serving for 6-months as a board elected member to fill a vacancy.  During this time, she has organized the winter LTP program, operated the Facebook page, and arranged the Kleven family helmet stickers distributed through the league.  As a parent of 2 league players (6 yo girl and 9 yo boy), she has experienced multiple league levels including LTP, House, Select, and Rover league plays.  She has also worked behind the scenes operating as a team manager for a 10U Rover’s team. 

Personally, Anne has participated for 6 years as a district secretary for the American Physical Therapy Association- Indiana’s North Central District, including operation of district Facebook page.  While ice hockey is not something she had experience with prior to having children play, she is no stranger to sports.  Anne played as a 4 year starter for division I volleyball at Tennessee Tech University and was a 3 sport HS athlete for volleyball, basketball, and track.  She has experience with coaching JV boys volleyball for Roncalli HS in Indianapolis. 

Anne is seeking re-election for an at-large member position to continue to work to grow the league and foster an environment of creating positive experience as we get new families into the league through LTP.  As a parent who has had to learn about the various league experiences, she feels she can provide insight into how board decisions will impact a variety of levels of play.  Thank you for your consideration.

 

TJ Collins

My name is TJ Collins and I would like to be considered for a position on the IYHL Board.  My family and I have lived in the Michiana area for 6 years and have been involved with the IYHL since our arrival.  We have three boys (Zachary, 11; Evan, 8; Jackson,2).  I have served as a volunteer “coach”, when time permits over the past 6 years.  I have enjoyed watching all of the children grow and develop their skills and confidence through hockey.  I am confident I can contribute to the continued growth of the league given that I have had the opportunity be a part of all 3 levels of play (house, select and rovers) in the league.  I feel this is of great value as a board member considering the different expectations of both players and parents at each level.  One area I feel we can improve as a league is our visibility in the community.  I would like to work on educating our community more on the opportunities the IYHL has to offer in an effort to continue the growth of the league at all levels.  Thank you for the opportunity to be considered for this position.  

 

Sylvain ‘Sly’ Daigle

To the IYHL Board,

I, Sylvain Daigle would like to give my nomination to the Board.

I’ve been involved in Hockey my whole life, first by playing then by coaching my son. I’ve been on the board for the last two years and would like a chance to be involved for another term. I was a part of all the goalie clinics and player development. 

I believe my experience and passion for the game could be beneficial to the kids.  I am always looking for ways of improving this great game we call HOCKEY.

Best Regards,

Sylvain ‘Sly’ Daigle

 

Nick Dames

My name is Nick Dames, and I would be honored to be re-elected to the IYHL board.  I currently have two children playing in the league.  My daughter is a 10U and my son will be a 14U.  

I have been involved with the IYHL as a volunteer/coach for the last 9 years.  I am currently USA Hockey Coaching CEP level 4.  My priorities as a coach are to help create and grow a love for hockey and to emphasize respect for peers on and off the ice.  For the past 9 years, I have been a member of the Senior League at the Icebox and I believe that hockey is a sport that a person can enjoy throughout their life.

My last 4 years on the IYHL Board have been a very enlightening experience and I was able to see firsthand what it takes to run a volunteer organization like the IYHL.  There is an incredible dedication required by the volunteers to make the IYHL function.  I served the last 2 years as IYHL Vice President and the previous year as the IYHL Secretary.  My current responsibilities include running the IYHL Website along as the acting Scheduler of the league.  Previously I had ran the Rental Gear program for Learn to Play for 2 years and I have served as a member of the IYHL Disciplinary Committee.  

I believe next year will be another great year for the IYHL, but it will require a lot of hard work.  I feel I can continue to make a positive contribution to the board and continue to improve the IYHL experience for all.

 

Anthony Glenn

Members of the Board and the IYHL Community, 

My name is Anthony Glenn and I am submitting my name for your consideration and approval to join the IYHL Board for the next two years. My son Oliver Glenn is currently completing his fourth year in the IYHL as part of the 8u Red Division and the 8u Select. I currently work for DLZ as a Project Manager in the Civil/Highway Department. My wife and I have both lived in South Bend all our lives. Outside of the IYHL, I have been involved in coaching baseball for both our children at Chet Waggoner Little League and I recently completed a shift as a board member for the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Throughout Oliver’s time at the IYHL, I have been involved in many different capacities from a parent helper to stepping in as a head coach. Recently, as part of the select program, I have had the opportunity to expand beyond coaching and help with managing practice schedules, working with the parents, distributing information on drills and opportunities for the kids, and tournament coordination. I have thoroughly enjoyed each role I've undertaken in the past four years and am excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the program in a new way. 

I fully appreciate the time and effort provided by all the volunteers in the league and I would like to join the board because I am committed to building on the positive future of the IYHL that they have started. Aside from stepping in wherever I was needed in the past, my strong organizational and communication skills would make me a dependable board member. I also believe I can help to make sound choices that will benefit this league moving forward. I am very interested in working with the other board members to learn about the current functions of the league, build upon the positive paths that have been taken, and work with the group to help fill in any existing gaps that may be present. More than anything, I'm committed to building our program to be the best that it can be for our children and those who compete against us. 

Thank you, 

Anthony Glenn 

 

Thomas J. (Tom) Nevala {Nev-uhh-laa}

Sr. Associate AD and General Manager, Compton Family Ice Arena

Tom Nevala is in his 28th year as member of the athletics administration at Notre Dame, and he currently serves as senior associate athletics director as well as general manager of the Compton Family Ice Arena. In his present role, he serves on the department’s leadership team and provides business analysis for the Notre Dame athletics department, serves as the sport administrator for Notre Dame Hockey and he also oversees the operations, programming and financial matters of the Compton Family Ice Arena. 

Nevala previously spent five years as associate athletics director, from 2005 to 2009, while spending the five years before that as assistant athletics director for business operations. Nevala played a key role for the Athletics Department from 2008 through 2011 as member of the team that developed the concept, the final design and then oversaw the construction, opening and operation of the Compton Family Ice Arena. 

Nevala serves as the day-to-day administrative contact for Notre Dame Hockey. He oversees both the game operations team and the performance/care team for the Irish program, while serving as a valued advisor to head coach, Jeff Jackson, and liaison to Vice President and Director of Athletics, Jack Swarbrick. He represents Notre Dame on the Big Ten Conference sport administrator group for Hockey. In 2016, Nevala successfully negotiated Notre Dame’s affiliation agreement with the Big Ten Conference for Hockey. 

From 2013-14 through 2016-17, he served on the Hockey East Board of Directors. In partnership with the Chicago Sports Commission, the United Center and the Chicago Blackhawks, he helped develop the successful bid to host the NCAA Frozen Four in Chicago in 2017. Under his direction, Notre Dame also hosted the 2015 NCAA Midwest Regional at the Compton Family Ice Arena, the first on campus facility to do so in several years. Previously Nevala served in a similar capacity for the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. He served as chair of the CCHA's executive committee in 2006-07, and also served on the CCHA's strategic planning committee. During the realignment of college hockey in 2011, Nevala led Notre Dame’s efforts to determine its future conference alignment that culminated in the decision to join Hockey East for 2013-14. He also led the effort for Notre Dame to partner with Fort Wayne’s Memorial Coliseum to host the NCAA Midwest Regional during the 2010 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. Nevala served a four- year term as the CCHA's representative on the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee. He served as the chair of that committee for 2012-13, which concluded with the NCAA Frozen Four in Pittsburgh, Penn. 

Nevala spent five years as the business manager for athletics, following time as business manager of the Joyce Center and two years as director of the Varsity Shop and ice rink manager for that facility. 

A 1990 Notre Dame graduate with a degree in aerospace engineering, Nevala returned to the university in the fall of that year to attend graduate school and work in athletics business office. He earned his MBA in interdisciplinary studies from Notre Dame in May of 1992. He is married to Jen (Turgeon) Nevala, and they have two children, Sofia (14) and Ben (12) 

 

Jay Rizzi

My name is Jay Rizzi, and I’d like to submit my name for consideration for a term on the IYHL board. I grew up in the south, and hockey was not available to me until the Nashville Predators expansion brought hockey to my area. Since then I have played for the past 20 years as a goalie. My hockey coaching experience has been 6u and 8u in the past two years, and 8u select this past year. I also coach girls softball and basketball. What I lack in early life hockey experience I make up for with enthusiasm I bring to practice everyday, knowing I can potentially impact a child positively for life on or off the ice. thank you for your consideration.

 

Ben Smith

I’ve had the privilege to grow up playing in the IYHL and have now been able to coach my own children as they embark on their hockey journeys. I have thoroughly enjoyed becoming a part of the IYHL league again and would like to ask your consideration to continue serving on the board. Currently, I have 3 sons participating in the league with another younger daughter and son who will be lacing their skates up in the near future. The IYHL has a tremendous reputation in the hockey community and as a board member my goal is to continue building on that foundation to grow our sport locally. Through coaching I hope to instill a passion for the game in our young players and most importantly to develop them into great young people on and off the ice. Much can be learned from Hockey...that’s why it’s the greatest game on earth!