Jerry’s Bio
Originally from Duluth, MN, Jerry grew up playing in the Glen Avon Hockey Association and for the Duluth Stewarts AAA PW and Bantam Teams. He won City Championships and participated in three State Youth Hockey Tournaments – two as a PW a one as a Bantam. He finished his youth hockey playing high school for the perennial powerhouse, Duluth East High Greyhounds. Continue reading to meet the full team of coaches at the Upper Midwest Elite Goalie Academy.
Following high school, Jerry was recruited to play NCAA Div. III for The College St. Scholastica Saints. At the end of his freshmen year, he pursued his dream of playing NCAA Div. I, and enrolled at Northern Michigan University, making the Wildcat’s hockey team as a walk-on goalie. Following his playing time in Marquette, Jerry moved back to Duluth where he graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Superior.
In 1990, Jerry moved to Seattle, WA, and was one of the original founding coaches of the Everett Youth Hockey Association in 2004, helping develop and instruct learn-to-skate and learn-to-play-hockey programs. He has been head goalie coach at the Everett Youth Hockey and Seattle Junior Hockey Associations. He also helped develop the Washington Hockey Select Hornets Spring development program, served on the Board of Directors, and was Chairman of the Board of the NW Selects Girls program where the mission was to create a development model for girls to attain their goals on and off the ice. Jerry has studied and taught alongside goalie coaches Shane Clifford (Pittsburgh Penguins and WHL Everett Silvertips, OHL, USHL), Jordan Sigalet (Calgary Flames, Everett Silvertips WHL), Brady Robinson (WHL Victoria & Philadelphia Flyers), Lynden Sammartino (WHL Victoria), Zach Sikich (Pro-Hybrid).
Since returning to Duluth in 2019, Jerry has coached with the Minnesota Wilderness 18U and 16U fall NAPHL league teams as well as goalie instructor with the Goalies Matter brand. Since returning to Duluth in 2019, Jerry has coached with the Minnesota Wilderness 18U and 16U fall NAPHL league teams as well as goalie instructor with the Goalies Matter brand. He was also the Associate Head Coach in 2020-2021 and Head Coach in 2021-2022, of the Duluth East Bantam AA team.