john@wisconsinjuniorhockey.com
John Mitchell joined the Windigo as its second head coach in franchise history effective May 16, 2024. Prior to taking the helm for the Windigo, John served as the associate head coach during the 2023-24 season for the St. Cloud Norsemen of the NAHL. He served as their bench boss for the entire 2023-24 season, while the Norsemen’s head coach served a season long suspension. Mitchell hails from Neenah, WI, and played four seasons of NCAA D-I hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While with the Badgers, Mitchell brought home the NCAA National Championship in 2006 and was the runner-up at the 2010 National Championships. He was named the Otto Breitenbach Most Improved Player of the Year for his play during the 2009-2010 season. Mitchell continued his playing career after college, signing an NHL contract with the Anaheim Ducks. John played 207 games over four seasons in the AHL. His final season as a pro was split between the EIHL and ECHL. Mitchell transitioned to coaching in 2015, with the Team Wisconsin 18U program. He moved on to the University School of Milwaukee in 2018. John joined the Milwaukee Power of the NA3HL as its assistant coach for the 2021-22 season and was the head coach of the Power during the 2022-23 season.
Anthony Rohde – Assistant & Skills Coach
arohde@wisconsinjuniorhockey.com
Rohde officially joined the coaching staff on Aug. 5. Rohde, 33, is from Villa Park, IL and most recently held the roles of General Manager & Head Coach with the Chicago Cougars of the USPHL Elite. He also served as an Associate Head Coach with the Cougars’ USPHL Premier squad during the 2024-25 season. Prior to his stint in Chicago, Rohde spent three seasons with the Dells Ducks of the USPHL Premier. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach before being named the Head Coach ahead of the 2023-24 season. Rohde also has coached at the high school level, making his coaching debut at Prosper High in Texas. Before taking on a role behind the bench, the Illinois-native played at the collegiate level with Aurora University. He also has a history in junior hockey, playing with the Minnesota Owls and Dells Ducks of the MNJHL. With the Owls, he tallied over 100 points in the 2012-13 campaign. In addition to his time as a head coach and a player, Rohde developed his background as a skills coach while leading multiple hockey camps. He served as the head instructor for both the Turcotte stickhandling and C2 hockey camps. He has also been a skating coach at the Elev802 camp in Vermont.
Graydon Skok – Assistant & Goaltending Coach
graydon@wisconsinjuniorhockey.com
Graydon was a four year varsity letter winner as a goaltender for New Prague high school in New Prague, MN. He went on to compete for four years in ACHA D-II hockey for the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire. Graydon has been the goaltender coach for Northland Pines High School in Eagle River, WI, for two seasons. He joined the Windigo staff for the 2024-25 season to assist the staff with on ice instruction and to facilitate goaltender skill development. He will also support the Windigo staff with various logistical responsibilities.
Originally from Philadelphia, Connelly possesses experience at the collegiate and junior level as both player and coach. He played in the USHL with the Chicago Steel for two seasons from 2003-2005, where he recorded a record of 34-30-4, a goals against average of 2.75, and a save percentage of .914. Following his time in the USHL, Connelly competed for the University of Wisconsin commencing in the 2005-06 season, where he won a national championship in his freshman season. This marked the beginning of an outstanding career with the Badgers. Connelly played in four seasons with Wisconsin registering a record of 41-36-11, a goals against average of 2.39, and a save percentage of .913. Connelly played two seasons professionally in the AHL and ECHL before starting his coaching journey in 2011 with Bowling Green State University as the team’s Director of Hockey Operations. Shane would serve two seasons with the Falcons before being brought on by Cedar Rapids of the USHL in 2014 as an assistant coach. While in Cedar Rapids, he helped the RoughRiders capture the 2015-16 Anderson Cup. After his third season with the team, Connelly accepted a role to come back to his alma mater. During his time with the Badgers, Connelly served as the team’s Director of Hockey Operations and helped the goaltenders as well. While at Wisconsin, he served on two Team USA teams including the 2018-19 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which was played in Edmonton.
m_callahan24@yahoo.ca
Mitch is a native of Whitter, CA, and had a distinguished career as an amateur and professional hockey player. Mitch played three seasons in the WHL for the Kelowna Rockets and capped his Junior carrier as a member of the USA World Junior team in 2010-11. Mitch signed a professional contract with the Detroit Red Wings and was a member of their organization for 6 seasons, playing 5 games with the NHL Red Wings and 434 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. Mitch then signed a contract with the Edmonton Oilers and played 2 seasons with the Oilers AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, CA, competing in 106 games for the Bakersfield Condors. Mitch concluded his professional career in Europe, playing in Germany and Denmark. Since retirement as a player, Mitch has been an assistant coach for the LA Jr. Kings 18UAAA team.
Phil Bushbacher – Illinois and 15U/16U/18U Tier 1 Scout
Phil is currently the strength and conditioning coach for the Chicago Reapers AAA organization. He is a former professional hockey player with experience in the ECHL, CHL, and SPHL and various European levels. He holds an number of certifications including: NSCA-CPT, NASM TSAC-F, NASM-CNC, NASM PES, PN-1. He is a hockey trainer in the Chicagoland area. He has 15+ years of coaching experience with players ranging from beginners to professional. He works with clients of all fitness levels. He is passionate about working with people, and seeing them reach their goals, whether that is on the ice or in the gym . He prides himself on being able to use his experiences to help those he works with to develop as athletes, and promote a healthy lifestyle. He is a firm believer that coaches can improve every day by learning from their athletes and clients, and that respect is the most important aspect of any coach-athlete dynamic.
Rick Gadwa – Michigan Scout
Rick Gadwa, a native of Brighton, Mich., is the Manager of Hockey Operations & Programming at the TPH Center of Excellence in Detroit. He graduated from Hartland High School, where he currently coaches the varsity boys hockey team. Rick was named the Herrington Coach of the Year for guiding his Michigan High School alma mater to its third state title in March or 2022. Gadwa is a graduate of Davenport University where he played three years of college hockey. He then went on to play semi-professional hockey for the Battle Creek Revolution in the AAHL. The father of three children resides in Brighton, Michigan.
Bob Jacobson – Midwest Regional Scout
Bob joins the Windigo staff as a Regional Scout for their inaugural season of 2022-23. Bob retired from coaching after 30 years, the last 17 of which he was the GM & Head Coach of the Cleveland Jr Lumberjacks Junior team who were a member of the CSHL and then the NA3HL. Since retiring from coaching he has been staying involved with the game as a scout for both Kenai River, NAHL, and Granite City, NA3HL. He graduated from Kent State University in 1978 where he played 4 years for their ACHA team
robertejacobsonjr@gmail.com | 216-407-3057
Taylor Carey – Midwest Regional Scout
Taylor Carey joined the Wisconsin Windigo in 2022 during their inaugural season. He’s currently serving as an Assistant Coach & Goaltending Coach for Central Michigan University, ACHA D2 team. He also scouts for the Granite City Lumberjacks in the NA3HL. Before working for CMU, Carey worked with Gaylord Blue Devils (USHS-MI) varsity hockey program the last nine years as an Associate Head Coach and Goaltending Development Coach. During that time, he also worked as a Goaltending Development Coach for Carey Goaltending Development, LLC and MI Crease Goaltending primarily working with goaltenders at every level privately including: AHL, ECHL, NCAA DI, NCAA DIII, USHL, NAHL and NA3HL. Taylor currently resides in Gaylord, MI with his wife and one year old daughter, Millie. Prior, he attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette where he obtained a B.S. in Management of Health & Fitness. During his free time, he likes to travel the country and study under various coaches at any level and position due to his drive to develop himself as a coach and better understand the game.
tcarey90@icloud.com | 989-858-6076
Cameron Isabelle – Eastern Regional Scout
Hailing from Leominster, Massachusetts, Cameron Isabelle joins the Wisconsin Windigo as an Eastern Region Hockey Scout with a rich background in goaltending and coaching. A former goalie for both Eastern Michigan University and Fitchburg State University, Isabelle has honed a deep understanding of the position through firsthand experience at the collegiate level. Cam’s expertise extends beyond playing, as he currently serves as the Director of Goalie Development for Solid State Goalie. Additionally, he is set to begin his journey as a volunteer goalie coach for Fitchburg State, where he will continue to build on his coaching acumen and engage with the next generation of college hockey players while giving back to his school. His dedication to the sport and passion for coaching highlight his goal of pursuing a full-time career in coaching hockey. With a comprehensive background in both playing and coaching, Cam is eager to contribute his expertise to the Wisconsin Windigo, helping to scout and develop talent in the Eastern region and drive the team’s success.
cameronpisabelle@gmail.com
Zane Kalemba – Eastern Regional Scout
Currently head of Zero Klub Hockey – Formerly Princeton University’s Director of Hockey Operations and Asst Coach and USA Hockey’s Goaltending Director for the Atlantic District, Zane Kalemba grew up in Saddle Brook, New Jersey and attended was drafted in the first round in the USHL.
Prior to a six year pro career in Europe and the minor leagues in North America, Kalemba attended Princeton University where he played four seasons with the Princeton Tigers. During his time there, Zane played an essential role in capturing Princeton’s 2nd ECAC title, as well as leading the team to two NCAA appearances. During his college career he was named an All-American, Hobey Baker Award Finalist, Ken Dryden Award Winner, and both the Ivy League and ECAC Player of the Year.
zane.kalemba@gmail.com | 201.407.2844
Shea Walters – Northern Minnesota Scout
Walters is currently the head coach of the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton High School Boys Hockey Team. He was the former assistant coach at Hibbing High School and Volunteer Coach at St. Scholastica
University. Walters grew up and played hockey in Hibbing, MN where he played four years of high school
hockey from 2001-2005. Walters was drafted in the first round of the USHL to Green Bay and played
two seasons. He was also drafted in the first round of the NAHL to the now defunct North Iowa
Outlaws where he served as a captain and was recognized as NAHL Forward of the Year, First
Team ALL-NAHL, and an All Star selection. Following his junior career, Walters played four years at
Bemidji State University in the WCHA, where they made it to two NCAA Tournaments and one
Frozen Four. He wrapped up his playing career with the South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL.
Walters now resides in Cloquet with his wife, Steph, and three kids, Archer, Iris, and Nolan. There, he also
serves to help develop the youth program and sit on the Coach and Player Development Board. Walters
is extremely passionate about the development of young players and finding talent in the region of
Minnesota.
