Program announces 2022-23 boys head coaches

February 21, 2022

The Ohio AAA Blue Jackets have announced its 2022-23 boys head coaching lineup which includes the addition of former pro and college hockey standout Pat Cannone (16U) to an already accomplished veteran staff.

"We could not be more proud of the coaching lineup that is in place for next season," said President Ed Gingher. "The strength of our program has always been in the people. This group is committed to the every day process of development and is focused on teaching and challenging our players to reach their potential both on and off the ice."

After coaching more than 1,100 games in 18 seasons, President Ed Gingher will be transitioning out of a head coaching role to focus on initiatives that will continue to elevate the program to new heights. He will also be serving as an assistant coach and spend more time being present for all teams and coaches in the organization. As a head coach, Gingher has helped hundreds of players advance to next levels of hockey, including 6 NHL players and more than 30 professionals. He has led teams to the national tournament on three occasions and guided the 2014-15 18U team to a Tier I Elite League championship.

18U Head Coach - Darryl Noren
Darryl Noren returns for his third season as a bench boss in the organization after leading the 16U team this past season. In his first season, Noren led the 18U squad to a Mid-Am district championship and the quarterfinals in the national tournament.

Prior to joining the program, Noren served as the head coach and general manager of the USPHL's Columbus Mavericks in 2019-20. He also spent five seasons coaching professionally, including time as an assistant coach in the ECHL with the Pensacola Ice Pilots and head coach and assistant general manager of the St. Pete Parrots in the SPHL.

As a player, Noren's impressive resume includes more than 700 professional games played. He ranks 3rd all-time on the ECHL's scoring list with 685 points and was elected to the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2010. In 1996, he helped lead the Charlotte Checkers to a playoff championship. He was inducted into the Charlotte Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008. Noren played his college hockey at the University of Illinois at Chicago and was a 2-sport athlete (hockey and baseball). He was 1st team all conference in baseball and 2nd team all-CCHA in hockey. Noren also helped lead the USHL's Rochester Mustangs to a Junior A national championship in 1987. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL supplemental draft.

16U Head Coach - Pat Cannone
Pat Cannone will enter his first season as a head coach after spending the past year as an assistant coach with the 15O team. He also spends significant time working as a skills coach with all ages groups in the program and as an individual video coach for our national bound teams.

Pat's distinguished playing career included 10 professional seasons highlighted by making his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild in 2016-17. He was team captain for the AHL's Chicago Wolves and spent two seasons playing professionally in Germany.

A native of Bayport, New York, Cannone played his college hockey at Miami University where he tallied 133 career points, served as captain and helped lead the team to 2 Frozen Fours, 2 league championships and 4 NCAA Tournaments during his 4-year career.

15O Head Coach - Fedor Tyutin
Fedor Tyutin will return for the third season as head coach of the 2007 birth year. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Tyutin played 872 NHL games with the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche over 14 seasons. He also served as a professional scout with the Blue Jackets in 2018-19.

A native of Izhevsk, Russia, Tyutin's accomplished resume includes an impressive amount of success in international play. A veteran of three Olympic Games, Tyutin helped lead Russia to a gold medal at the 2008 World Championship. He also won gold at the U20 World Junior Championship and U18 World Championship. Prior to turning pro, Fedor played one season with the Guelph Storm (OHL) where he played in the Memorial Cup and was named to the CHL's all-rookie team. He was a 2nd round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

14U Head Coach - Kyle Althen
Kyle Althen enters his second season as a head coach in the program after leading our 2011 team to successful season in 2021-22. Prior to being a head coach, Althen served time as an assistant coach at the 15O level. He also serves as the hockey director at the Battery Hockey Academy.

Prior to moving to Columbus, Althen spent two seasons as the associate head coach and director of scouting for the Oswego Stampede (NA3HL). He also served as a scout for the Amarillo Bulls in the NAHL.

A native of Cleveland, OH, Kyle played college hockey at the University of Akron (ACHA) where he served as team president for all four seasons. Althen's junior career was spent with the Wooster Oilers and Central Wisconsin Saints of the GLJHL. In his final season, he captained the Oilers and tallied 63 points in 41 games. He played his high school hockey at Padua Franciscan in Parma.

2009 Head Coach - James Nash
James Nash enters in his seventh season coaching in the program and fourth as a head coach. For the past two seasons, he led our 2008 team. In all, he has 10 years of coaching experience and has spent considerable time as a professional skills coach working with elite players of all ages.

A native of Brampton, Ontario, Nash grew up playing AAA hockey in Toronto for the Mississauga Rebels of the GTHL (formerly MTHL). He also won an all-Ontario championship with the Brampton Maroons. Nash went on to play his junior hockey for the Mississauga Chargers (OPJHL) and college hockey for Humber College.

2010 Head Coach - Todd Ehrie
Todd Ehrie has been an integral part of the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets for the past 14 years. In 2022-23, he will return to the pee-wee level and lead our 12U team after spending this past season as the 15O head coach and the previous two years with the 2004 birth year.

With 28 years of coaching experience, Todd has been a long time head coach in our program including several years leading the pee-wee age group. In 2014, he led the 2001 birth year to the prestigious Quebec PeeWee Tournament championship. He also coached the 1997 team that included Jack Roslovic, Kole Sherwood and Carson Meyer for several years.

2011 Head Coach - Clay Thomas
Clay Thomas enters his 11th year coaching in the program and second season at the 11U level. For the past two seasons, Thomas served as head coach of the 2010 team. A native of Westerville, OH, Clay wore the OBJ jersey for four seasons with our 14U, 16U and 18U teams from 2007-2011. Following his AAA career, Thomas played his junior hockey with the Texas Tornado (NAHL) where he was a member of the national championship team in 2011-12.

A valedictorian at Westerville South, Clay began his coaching career during his freshman year at Ohio State. He spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the 14U team before moving to the 10U level. 

2012 Head Coach - Dale Jordan
Dale Jordan enters his 17th season with the program and has over 19 years of coaching experience at all youth levels. As hockey director, Jordan assists with the oversight of the administrative aspect of the program and is responsible for managing teams in the 10U-13U age groups.

Dale has over 19 years of coaching experience at all different levels and has been a head coach in our program since 2007. Prior to joining the AAA Blue Jackets, he served as the varsity coach at St. Charles High School for 5 seasons from 2002-2006. During that time he also was a head coach for multiple bantam and pee wee AA travel teams at CCYHA. Jordan also spends time as a private hockey instructor and helps manage the program's camps, clinics and on-ice skills training sessions.

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Jordan played his junior hockey for the Columbus Crush and has playing experience at both the Junior A and Junior B levels.

Tryouts will occur between April 5-April 12, 2022 at the OhioHealth Ice Haus. CLICK HERE for more information and to register. 

We are fortunate to have a deep pool of assistant coaches for the 2022-23 season. Assistant coaching assignments will be announced at a later date. If you are interested in applying to serve as an assistant coach, please email us at info@aaabluejackets.com.

The program is currently in the interview process and is still accepting applications for the new girls hockey director and 14U girls head coach. To learn more about this position and our hiring process, please CLICK HERE.

The Ohio AAA Blue Jackets program prides itself on being the premier youth hockey program in Ohio. With an every day mission to develop our student-athletes to reach their potential on and off of the ice, the program aims to provide a healthy and safe environment for the elite player to grow as a player, person and teammate through the great game of hockey.