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The South Kent School Hockey Experience
The South Kent School Hockey 16U National team offers the opportunity for elite level players to participate in a program that combines the highest level hockey with above-par academics. While attending school, players receive the premier-level coaching, exposure and training available and they play a AAA schedule that is not limited to the traditional 33-game prep schedule. The 16U National program provides a competitive 50-60 game, AAA level schedule consisting of highly recruited showcases, elite tournaments and competitive, independent non-league games across the U.S. and Canada. Eligible to compete for the USA Hockey Tier I national championships, our players regularly receive attention and college commitments from some of the top Division I NCAA schools, along with players being drafted into the USHL.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach
Jamie Russell
Director of Hockey Operations
and 15O Head Coach
Contact Coach
A native of Kamloops, British Columbia, Coach Russell started his career as Assistant Coach at Ferris State University (1994-1999) and then at Cornell University (1999-2003). He returned to his alma mater and spent eight seasons at Michigan Tech as Head Coach (2003-2011) and was named the 2007 WCHA Coach of the Year.
Coach Russell spent three seasons at Providence College (2011-2014) as Assistant Coach. He went on to become the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL (2014-2016). Most recently, Coach Russell served as General Manager and Head Coach of the Worcester Railers Hockey Club of the ECHL (2016-2019) where he oversaw all elements of hockey operations including coaching, recruiting, negotiations with the New York Islanders and Bridgeport Sound Tigers affiliates, media, and community outreach.
Prior to his coaching career, Coach Russell played collegiate hockey at Michigan Tech where he was assistant captain, winner of the Outstanding Leadership Award, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He played professionally in both the ECHL and AHL after his NCAA career and earned a Master of Business Administration from Lake Superior State University.
Assistant Coach
Matt Beck
16U Hockey Assistant Coach
Director of Goaltending Development
Matt, from Westport, CT, was a four-year goaltender for the University of Vermont Catamounts at the Division I level. While at Vermont, he was Vice-Chair of Community Engagement for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Matt is one of 13 nationwide finalists for the 2020 NCAA Hockey Humanitarian Award; presented annually to the student-athlete who makes significant contributions to his or her team and the community-at-large through leadership in volunteerism. He is also the winner of the 2020 Jeff Stone Memorial Award for excellent community service and campus leadership contribution amongst all male athletes at the University of Vermont. He was honored as the 2021 Seamus Award Winner at Vermont, which earned him respect and regard from fellow students for leadership, loyalty, and service to the University, in addition to his athletic success. He is a three-time All Hockey East Academic team member.
Matt’s hockey career started at the Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport, CT, before going to Fairfield Prep High School, where he helped his team win three State Championships. He played one year of Junior Hockey for the Bay State Breakers in the USPHL in Marshfield, MA, and played two years of Juniors for the Philadelphia Flyers Elite in the USPHL.
He began his coaching career with Procrease Goaltending, coaching camps, clinics and offering private lessons for the last 7 years.
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Patrick Bonis
Coach Bonis has extensive experience with both hockey and athletic conditioning. He played both at Proctor Academy and in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL). He is a USA certified swim coach, lifeguard, lifeguard instructor and is the Connecticut Trainer for Heroes of Tomorrow, run by former Navy Seal Stewart Smith.
Coach Bonis was a competitive cyclist and now competes as an open water swimmer, conquering the 2018 Lake Champlain Open Water Race and the 2019 Peaks to Portland open water swim. Whether it is climbing the tallest peak in the Rocky Mountains, swimming across the largest lake in New England, clinging to a rock face, or pushing impressive weight in various directions, Coach Bonis has spent the better part of his life connecting with people through fitness.
Coach Bonis has a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health and has taught anatomy, physiology and philosophy. He has been mentoring student-athletes both inside and outside the weight room at South Kent School since 2005. The classes he has taught, as well as the training programs he has designed, always take the mind and body connection into account. An excellent motivator, Coach Bonis knows that it takes self-reliance to accomplish anything, “Working out is not always the hardest thing, it’s sometimes just getting to the gym that is the most challenging part.”
Goalie Coach
Ryan Goodliffe
Ryan Goodliffe joined South Kent School as the Assistant Hockey Coach/Goalie Coach in 2023. Born and raised in Brewster, NY, Goodliffe became a goaltender at a young age. Goodliffe played three years of Junior Hockey and, in 2023, signed a professional tryout contract with the FPHL Elmira Mammoth.
Goodliffe has spent the last year coaching for Prime Goaltending, training young goaltenders to enhance their skills. Previous to working as a goaltending coach, Coach Goodliffe worked with equipment suppliers as a Goalie Sales Assistant for Wesco Sports and as a Customer Service Representative for Cooke’s Skate Supply.
Coach Goodliffe joins South Kent to continue to inspire and develop young athletes so they are prepared for the next level. In his free time, he enjoys the health and fitness space.