BUFFALO, N.Y. (February 9, 2016) — The Buffalo Jr. Sabres Youth Hockey Organization today announced the head coaches of its squirt and pee wee teams for the 2016-2017 season.
9U Squirt Minor (2007 birth year): Kevyn Adams
10U Squirt Major (2006 birth year): Tristan Musser
11U Pee Wee Minor (2005 birth year): Mike Ansell
12U Pee Wee Major (2004 birth year): Craig Rivet
Kevyn Adams, the President of the Jr. Sabres organization and director of the Academy of Hockey, will coach the Jr. Sabres 9U squirt minor team. Adams helped found the Academy of Hockey in 2013 after spending four years on the Buffalo Sabres coaching staff. Prior to coaching, Adams played 11 years in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Phoenix Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks, scoring 59 goals and 136 points in 540 games. Adams won the Stanley Cup as an alternate captain for Carolina in 2006. The Clarence native played NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Miami and is currently fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list. Adams has twice represented USA Hockey on the international stage: in the 2005 World Hockey Championship and in the 1994 World Junior Championship, where he led the team in scoring.
Tristan Musser is currently an instructor with the Academy of Hockey and a member of the Canisius College hockey operations staff. He currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Jr. Sabres 20U team and will lead the 10U squirt major team in 2016-2017. Musser is an alumnus of Adrian College, where he graduated summa cum laude in 2014 with a degree in business administration. He is now pursuing a master of sport administration degree at Canisius College while serving as graduate manager for the Griffs hockey department. As graduate manager at Canisius, Musser manages the hockey operations staff, coordinates video analysis and scouting, and aids the coaching staff in on ice instruction. Musser played his junior hockey for the Dubuque Thunderbirds Junior A Tier III program before moving on to play ACHA Division I hockey at Adrian College, where he served as assistant team captain for the 2013-2014 season.
Mike Ansell, a development coach with the Academy of Hockey, enters his second season as a head coach in the Jr. Sabres organization, now leading the 11U pee wee minor team. Ansell has spent the 2015-2016 season as head coach of the Jr. Sabres pee wee major team. He serves as the Academy’s head skating development coach, creating and executing programs that help each athlete maximize his or her skating ability.
Prior to joining the Academy, Ansell compiled a wealth of experience, working with multiple developmental hockey organizations including ColdRush Hockey, Ashburn Extreme, DC Capitals and the Washington Little Capitals, where he held the role of director of player development. Ansell played his college hockey at Buffalo State, where he earned a degree in health and wellness.
Former Buffalo Sabres captain Craig Rivet enters his second season as a coach in the Jr. Sabres organization and will lead the 12U pee wee major team in 2016-2017. After wrapping up a 16-year NHL playing career in 2011, the Ontario native chose to remain in Buffalo and began his involvement with youth hockey immediately. Rivet joined the Jr. Sabres organization for the 2015-2016 season as coach of the pee wee minor team. His squad is currently ranked seventh in the nation by MyHockeyRankings.com. Rivet was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 1992 NHL Draft and made his debut with the organization in 1994. He became a full-time member of the Canadiens in 1997 and played in Montreal until 2007. Following a stint with the San Jose Sharks, Rivet joined the Buffalo Sabres in 2008 and served as team captain from his arrival until his departure in 2011. In all, the defenseman totaled 923 NHL games with 50 goals, 237 points and 1,171 penalty minutes. Rivet won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2003 World Hockey Championship in Finland.
Head coaches for the Jr. Sabres 18U, 16U, 15U, 14U and 13U teams will be announced in the coming weeks.
