It's that time of year again when we unveil the coaches for the upcoming season After a thorough evaluation process, we're excited to announce the individuals who will lead our teams to new heights.
U10 - Scott Barnes
Scott began his minor hockey in Dunnville and moved on to AAA Welland Tigers which became the Southern Tier organization. He then moved on to play Jr B for 4 years where he played in 2 all star games and was awarded GHL Player of the year his last season. After playing a season in the U.S. in Alabama he played 3 years of College Hockey playing for Humber College. Scott then moved to pro leagues in Belgium and Scotland, winning championships in both countries, before moving back to the U.S. to play in the United and Central Hockey Leagues. Scott began his coaching career with the Port Colborne Sailors of the GOJHL.
He then moved to the Southern Tier Admirals AAA organization where he coached the 95,97 and 99 birth years through their U16 draft years where his teams had 18 OHL draft picks including two 1st rounders and three 2nd rounders and a 3rd. 11 of his players played in the OHL and another 6 players played in the NCAA. Between these 3 age groups they had 3 OMHA appearances winning 1 OMHA Championship and made 2 OHL Cup appearances. Scott has been the owner and operator of the Port Colborne Sailors Jr organization for the past 8 seasons winning Coach of the Year in 2020 and helping on average 8 players a year move on to higher levels.
Scott has also been running his own hockey development business for the past 17 years where he has worked with 100s of players who have played Major Jr, NCAA and Pro including the NHL. Scott is looking forward to rejoining the Southern Tier Admirals and excited to help guide and watch the development of our U10 players.
U11 - Cory Hutchinson
Cory began his minor hockey career in Gravenhurst and progressed to play AAA with the Kawartha Canadians. He participated in and later worked at the Kris King Hockey School and the Craig Billington Goalie School. Cory played junior hockey for six years with several teams, including the Muskoka Bears Jr. A, Welland Cougars Jr. B, and Port Colborne Jr B.Sailors.
After his playing career, he coached high school hockey at St. Francis High School and is an Instructor with Barnes Hockey School. Over the past 15 years, he has held various coaching positions in youth hockey, including roles in Pelham, West Niagara, and Premier Hockey. Notably, he co-coached the 2012 West Niagara Flying Aces AA to an OMHA championship in 2023. His main goal is to help players develop their skills and hockey intelligence from a young age and is committed to fulfilling this role with enthusiasm.
Over this past season Cory was our Head Coach for the U10 Southern Tier Admirals AAA team and we are excited to welcome him back for the U11 AAA Season. Cory has assembled a dedicated and experienced coaching staff to guide his players through the 2025-26 hockey season.
U12 - Josh Oort
Josh is an accomplished coach and former player whose hockey journey began in the St.Catharines AAA minor hockey system. He then played hockey at Denis Morris Catholic High School and was a member of the 1991-92 St. Catharines Jr. B Falcons Golden Horseshoe Championship team. Josh went on to play NCAA hockey at Canisius University (1994-1998), where his contributions to the Golden Griffin program earned him an induction into the Canisius Athletics Hall of Fame (2010), as well as an Academic All-American nomination in 1997. Josh went on to play semi-professional hockey in Europe between 1999-2005 (Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, Germany) winning League/National Championships four times (3x Netherlands, 1 Belgium). As a member of the Dutch National Team, Josh won a Bronze Medal in Oslo, Norway at the 2004 IIHF Division 1 Group A World Championships.
As a coach, Josh has spent nearly 20 years guiding high school hockey athletes within the Niagara Catholic District School Board, winning a number of Zone championships, five SOSSA championships, and three OFSAA tournament appearances. The past two seasons, Josh has taken on the head coaching responsibilities for the U10 & 11 Southern Tier Admirals. He also served as a non-parent head coach for the 2007 Admirals during the 2015-16 season.
With a focus on teamwork, developing technical skills and hockey IQ, Josh's priority as a coach is to help players reach their full potential towards playing at the next level.
U13 - Pat Sica
Pat played his whole minor hockey career in Niagara Falls with the NFMHA. He graduated to the Chippawa Merchants winning a league championship and moving on to the Niagara Falls Canucks where he won a Sutherland Cup. He has coached minor hockey for 15+ years.
Pat was president of the Niagara Girls Hockey Association for 7 years and is currently a co-owner and director of the PJHL Niagara Riverhawks. Pat looks forward to next season to continue to develop the U13 team not only into becoming better hockey players but also becoming even better young men.
U14 - John Noonan
John began his minor hockey career with theChinguacousyBlues association, and played throughout while winning an All Ontario Championship in his later years. After minor hockey John started with the OMHA obtaining coach instructor status, a role he still has to this day.
John started coaching in Brampton after his minor hockey career, coaching different levels and ages.Once obtaining his Advanced certification many years ago John was brought on board by Oakville minor hockey association to assist ahigh profile team that played for an OMHA title.
Once John moved to Niagara, he started with the Riverman then moving to the Admirals. John has beenhead coach or assistant head coach on some of the very best Admirals teams over the last decade which have went to theOMHA finals andOHL Cup on several occasions.He has enjoyed coaching, instructing and guiding many players move on to the next level including OHL, NCAA and or the NHL.
U15 - Nick Milasincic
Nick began his minor hockey career with Grimsby Minor Hockey where he played until aging out, Nick has built a deep understanding and passion for the game. His dedication to hockey continued even after his playing days, as he attended Brock University and focused on academics while staying closely connected to the sport he loves.
For over a decade, Nick has been a fixture behind the bench, contributing his knowledge and leadership to developing players and teams. His coaching philosophy centers on player development and structured systems, with a commitment to building on the strong foundation established during the 2024-2025 season. Nick's approach is all about assembling a group of players who align with shared values and a unified vision of the game, fostering both personal growth and team success.
Nick is dedicated to providing a high-caliber hockey environment and leads a completely non-parent coaching staff. He emphasizes development, accountability, and a deep commitment to the team’s progress. With the upcoming season on the horizon, Nick is incredibly excited to work with a dedicated group of players and staff. He looks forward to the growth they can achieve together and the success they will bring to the team.
U16 - Marcus Quinlin
Marcus, originally from Niagara Falls, comes back to Southern Tier AAA after being in Ottawa for two years working full time for the Ottawa Senators as a Head Hockey Instructor for the Ottawa Senators Hockey Programs. In this role, Marcus taught hockey skills to many players of all ages and calibres from the Ottawa-Gatineau region and helped lead weekly skills sessions for every AAA team with Ottawa Myers Automotive AAA and Eastern Ontario Wild AAA. Marcus is also a Hockey Canada skills coach and has led Hockey Canada skills sessions and evaluations for Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO).
Prior to Ottawa, Marcus was the Head Coach with the 2006 age group for Southern Tier AAA for four years coaching U14, U15, U16, and U18. Multiple players from those STA teams are still currently playing at a high level in the OHL, OJHL (Jr A), AJHL (Jr A), GOJHL (Jr B), and Prep School in the US.
Marcus is a driven and dedicated hockey coach with a proven history of helping players get to the next level. Marcus is also keen on teaching his players high-performance habits to help prepare them for Junior hockey as well as teaching them life skills to become better people.
U18 - Scott Lisko
Scott Lisko is returning for his second season at the helm of the Admirals U18 program. Scott is well known in the Niagara area hockey community as he has been coaching in the Golden Horseshoe area at various levels for over 35 years.
After a five year junior hockey career in the Hamilton area, Scott began coaching elite level hockey at the junior level. From OMHA U13AAA to OHL Major Junior, Scott has spent countless seasons in the rinks, helping players develop both as hockey players and young men.
This next season he will continue to develop players and provide opportunities for more 16-17 year old players to continue with their hockey dreams and aspirations. Along with Scott, Jesse Parker and Matt Sommerville will return as associate and assistant coaches respectively to continue to build the Southern Tier Admirals U18 program.