Team Personnel, Roster, U18 AA, U18 Rep, 2022-2023, REP (Central York Girls Hockey Association)

The U18AA Panther High Performance Program is pleased to announce the return of Coach Ryan Essex for the 2022-23 season after playing an integral role in the success of our 2021-22 season. 2022/23 will be Ryan’s 14th season as a coach within the Panther organization.

His coaching philosophy is centered on instilling confidence within each athlete to reach their best within an inspiring family & team environment.

On and off the ice, respect, speed, hard work and discipline form the foundation of Ryan’s teams and will again for the U18AA team in the 2022/23 season. These attributes have garnered much success for his teams as players develop and learn the game by being given the opportunity to play in all game situations. Hockey is a game of mistakes - learning from them takes time, patience and a determined level of “compete.”

Ryan believes in open and transparent communication with the players and their parents to ensure expectations of each other are known and aligned to ensure a positive experience for everyone. Making a positive experience the #1 priority has led to improved player development, a strong team culture and a very high player retention rate.

Ryan has spent the last 26 plus years with the Miller Group as a Professional Engineer within Canada and the U.S. and holds an MBA.

The U18AA Panther High Performance Program is pleased to announce the return of Coach Brittany Crago for the 2022-23 season after playing an integral role in the success of our 2021-22 season.

Coach Britt has spent the previous 4 years coaching at the U15AA and U18AA levels at CYGHA. In addition Coach Britt has extensive experience as a player and strength and conditioning coach that has proven invaluable as part of our Panther High Performance Program.

While earning her Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology & Minor in Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University, she won two OUA Hockey Championships in 2010 & 2012, a National Bronze place finish in 2010, and was the team’s leading scorer in 2013. Brittany went on to complete her Bachelor of Education and Masters-of-Education at Nipissing University, where she was an Assistant Captain, and helped the Nipissing Lakers Women’s Hockey team establish a National Ranking in the USport League, while earning the PRIDE Award and CIS All-Canadian Athletic/Academic awards. While completing her degrees, Brittany worked as an on-ice Hockey Instructor and Strength and Conditioning Coach where she helped develop specialized strength and conditioning programs for athletes to maximize their performance.

Brittany was also an Assistant Coach with the Markham-Stouffville Stars MAA in 2016.

Looking on to the 2022-2023 season, Brittany’s goals are to create a positive learning environment that encourages players to learn and develop on and off the ice with a strong focus on communication, responsibility and accountability.

Brittany is a secondary school teacher in the York Region District School Board where she also coaches hockey and a variety of other high-school sports.

The U18AA Panther High Performance Program is pleased to announce the return of Coach Kevin Dutcher for the 2022-23 season after playing an integral role in the success of our 2021-22 season.

Kevin grew up and played minor hockey in Mississauga. He attended the University of Waterloo and played Varsity Football. He also played hockey in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) for one year while attending University.

Kevin started coaching boys minor hockey in 2006. He also has eight years of coaching experience in the CYGHA as both a head coach and associate coach at both the AA and A levels. He has coached teams which have earned a Silver Medal and placed 4th at the OWHA provincial championships.

Kevin’s focus will be on individual skill development and team tactics to set the players up to succeed in their positions and roles.

The U22AA Panther High Performance Program is pleased to announce the return of Coach Breanne Grant for the 2023-24 season after playing an integral role in the success of our U18 programs from 2021-2023.

Bree began her hockey career playing boys minor hockey in New Liskeard, Ontario where she was born and raised. Bree played Minor Hockey with the Toronto Aeros in the PWHL and was invited to Team Canada U18 Selection Camp where she attended August Camp/Fall Festival. Along with that she was a member of the OWHA Team Ontario Red Program in her senior year of high school where she attended PEAC School for Elite Athletes. Bree went on to play NCAA Division 1 on a full scholarship at The Ohio State University (2013-2017) and completed her senior year as Captain.

After graduating from Ohio State, Bree went on to complete her MBA at University of Kentucky (2018-2020).  Bree is excited to share her knowledge about the recruitment process for NCAA hockey, on and off ice player development as well as working with our athletes towards achieving their goals. 

Christina began her hockey career during the inaugural season of the CYGHA and continued to play with the organization until playing in the NCAA for Plattsburgh State from 2001-2005.

After university, Christina continued to play and coach for the CYGHA along with charity tournaments and men’s leagues. Christina has been to the provincial tournament many times bringing home the gold five times and went to the NCAA final four twice throughout her university career.

Christina has coached for many years with many different age groups including the Fundamental program, U11, U13, and U18.  She is also the founder and coordinator of a local co-ed charity tournament which benefits a different charity each year.

Christina believes sport is such a great tool for all athletes to learn so many valuable life lessons to use in every aspect of their lives.