Regular-season game schedule

The Sabers play a 44 regular-season game schedule with a college showcase in Boston, MA. During the showcase, the vast majority of the NCDC, Premier, and Elite teams join together for an exciting competition. These tournaments are a great way for various scouts representing colleges at the NCAA Division 1, 3, and ACHA D1 levels to recruit talent.

The San Diego Sabers’ home games will be at the beautiful Icetown Carlsbad located in Carlsbad, California. Carlsbad is your gateway to California’s most charming and unforgettable escapes. Athletes can experience world-class resorts, shopping, golf, restaurants, or even take surf lessons and learn to ride the waves. And a short drive brings visitors to the biggest and the best of entertainment with California’s premier theme parks, such as Disneyland, waiting to be explored.

At away games, athletes can expect to explore much of Southern California, the Central Valley, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains while traveling on the official team bus. Our local rivals include the Long Beach Shredders and Ontario Jr. Reign, both within an hour's drive from the Icetown rink. The Fresno Monsters, Lake Tahoe Lakers, and Las Vegas Thunderbirds make up the remaining USPHL Pacific Division. All travel costs associated with away games and travel, including lodge and food, are paid for by the San Diego Sabers.

Meet the Staff

TOMAS KAPUSTA

DIRECTOR, HOCKEY OPERATIONS

Tomas was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in round 5 (No.104 overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and also had the opportunity to play at three Junior World Championships from 1985-87.

Tomas was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in round 5 (No.104 overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and also had the opportunity to play at three Junior World Championships from 1985-87.

During his professional career, which spans more than 20 years, Tomas represented the Czech Republic in the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, and the World Championship in Germany in 1993. That same year he also won the scoring title in the Elite Finnish League while also participating in three championship teams in the Czech Republic Extra League.

For the last ten years, Tomas has coached youth hockey for the Junior Kings organization and is also coaching currently for the Junior Reign and St. John Bosco HS. After Tomas earned his BA and teaching credentials in social science at CSULA, he took the position of teacher of Record at Excel Academy Charter School.

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TYLER CASILLO

HEAD COACH

Coach Casillo began his journey in junior hockey by playing in the GOJHL before progressing to Junior A where he was named Assistant Captain for the Niagara Whalers. Afterward, Coach Casillo started his coaching career at the 18U level before moving to the varsity level, where he helped advance his team to a sectional final.

Coach Casillo began his journey in junior hockey by playing in the GOJHL before progressing to Junior A where he was named Assistant Captain for the Niagara Whalers. Afterward, Coach Casillo started his coaching career at the 18U level before moving to the varsity level, where he helped advance his team to a sectional final.

Shortly afterward, Coach Casillo then shifted to the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he was named Head Coach of the Buffalo Regals Jr.B team. While there, he led the Regals to their best record in franchise history and led the GOJHL in NCAA DIII commitments as over ten student-athletes committed to play collegiate hockey at the end of his first season.

Coach Casillo was named a finalist for Coach of the Year in 2020, thanks to his knowledge of the game, team management, and comprehensive variety of experience in junior hockey.

Coach Casillo stated that he is excited to bring his wealth of knowledge and experiences to San Diego and looks to continue developing a winning culture and focus on player advancement.

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REED KINSEY

GOALIE COACH

Reed started competitive play at the age of seven on a B team, before moving onto the Pee Wee level - where he won a State Championship. During his Midget AAA years, Reed was chosen as the Pacific Region's top goalie to represent at Nationals and received various other prestigious honors. At the Jr Hockey level, Reed played in the USPHL, WSHL, and NAHL.

Reed started competitive play at the age of seven on a B team, before moving onto the Pee Wee level - where he won a State Championship. During his Midget AAA years, Reed was chosen as the Pacific Region's top goalie to represent at Nationals and received various other prestigious honors. At the Jr Hockey level, Reed played in the USPHL, WSHL, and NAHL.

After his time in the NAHL, Reed began his journey to becoming a coach back by his experience as a player, refereeing, and volunteering at camps.

Reed currently operates out of the MCT Training and Research Facility - a 3,000 sq ft hockey training facility with synthetic ice.

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SCOTT HANSEN

HEAD STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH

Building champions in life through sport is Scott’s mission, and for the last 16 years, he’s helped hundreds of athletes from all sports reach their highest potential.

Building champions in life through sport is Scott’s mission, and for the last 16 years, he’s helped hundreds of athletes from all sports reach their highest potential.

Prior to Resilient, Scott trained private clients at Equinox and was an educator in their Trainer curriculum for 10 years, while also working as a strength and conditioning coach at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, which was voted the #1 Gym in America by Men’s Health. He also served as the strength and conditioning coach of the Valley Junior Warriors (Haverhill, MA) of the EHL.

Scott graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a Certified Functional Strength Coach, and a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified Coach.

Scott has been coaching high school wrestling at La Costa Canyon High School for the last 4 years, and previously was the head wrestling coach for Malden Catholic High School in Malden, MA.

Scott resides in Carlsbad with his wife Shannon and, when he’s not coaching, you can probably find him at Beacon’s Beach, hiking, or watching the Patriots, Bruins, or Red Sox win championships.

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TAL S. DAVID, M.D.

TEAM PHYSICIAN

Tal S. David, M.D. is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in arthroscopic and sports medicine surgery and is certified in both Orthopedic Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine. He practices in San Diego, CA as part of the Synergy Specialists Medical Group and the San Diego Stem Cell Treatment Center.

Tal S. David, M.D. is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in arthroscopic and sports medicine surgery and is certified in both Orthopedic Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine. He practices in San Diego, CA as part of the Synergy Specialists Medical Group and the San Diego Stem Cell Treatment Center.

He has been involved in the care of the injured athlete for 15 years and has served on the medical staff of various professional sports teams including more than 10 years as an NFL team physician.

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DR. NATASHA HASTINGS

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Dr. Natasha Hastings of Athletic Edge has 9 years experience as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, with a 15+ year history of sports involvement. She specializes in orthopedic & sports rehab, combined with strength and conditioning coaching.

CHRIS PHILLIPS

HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

Chris is the Founder and Owner of Compete Sports Performance & Rehab and sets the standard for Compete’s performance training and sports medicine programs. He is a recognized board-certified Athletic Trainer (NATA) and Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA) that possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of performance training and sports rehabilitation. Chris is also an Integrative Corrective Exercise Specialist, Certified Power Plate Trainer, certified Sports Safety Specialist, a member of the Medical Fitness Network, and a preferred provider for US Figure Skating’s National Network of Sports Medicine.

Chris is the Founder and Owner of Compete Sports Performance & Rehab and sets the standard for Compete’s performance training and sports medicine programs. He is a recognized board-certified Athletic Trainer (NATA) and Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA) that possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of performance training and sports rehabilitation. Chris is also an Integrative Corrective Exercise Specialist, Certified Power Plate Trainer, certified Sports Safety Specialist, a member of the Medical Fitness Network, and a preferred provider for US Figure Skating’s National Network of Sports Medicine.

With more than 20 years of experience in professional sports, Chris has served as the Athletic Trainer for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League, The Los Angeles Sol of the Women's Professional Soccer League, and has served as both the Head Athletic Trainer and Head Strength Coach for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League. More recently, Chris has supervised the sports medicine and performance training programs for the Orange County Blues of the Men’s USL Pro League and Anaheim Bolts of the Professional Indoor Soccer League. Chris is also one of the Co-Founders for 90strong.com, a soccer performance training website where Chris frequently contributes his knowledge of sports medicine and strength & conditioning. He has written for High School Illustrated Magazine, Cali Rubber Magazine, OC Parenting, and Men’s Journal.

While working in the NHL, Chris’s proudest moment was being a member of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finalist, Mighty Ducks. He was also selected as the Head Athletic Trainer for the 2002 Men’s USA Hockey National Team that competed in Sweden. Throughout his career, Chris has worked with elite athletes including Alex Ovechkin, Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya, JS Giguere, Joy Fawcett, Marta, Shannon Boxx, and Mariah Bell.

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MIKE HANNEGAN

ATHLETIC TRAINER

Mike Hannegan comes to Compete following 15 years as an Athletic Trainer in the National Hockey League. An Orange County native, his resume includes over 17 years of experience as a Certified Athletic Trainer in professional sports including over 1000 Professional Hockey games worked.

Mike Hannegan comes to Compete following 15 years as an Athletic Trainer in the National Hockey League. An Orange County native, his resume includes over 17 years of experience as a Certified Athletic Trainer in professional sports including over 1000 Professional Hockey games worked.

Hannegan received his B.S. in Movement and Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology from Chapman University and went on to complete his Masters of Science degree in Athletic Training from the California University of Pennsylvania. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength Coaches Association, Level 1 Precision Nutrition Coach, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Performance Enhancement Specialist with the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

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JASON MARBLE-SMITH

HEAD EQUIPMENT MANAGER

Jason “Smitty” is a native of New Mexico and has lived in the Canadian Atlantic provinces as well as Utah, Arizona, Oregon and now resides in San Diego, CA.

Jason “Smitty” is a native of New Mexico and has lived in the Canadian Atlantic provinces as well as Utah, Arizona, Oregon and now resides in San Diego, CA.

Jason joined the Sabers during the 2020-2021 season after taking a hiatus from sports. Previously he worked with a variety of professional sports teams in various capacities. He worked in MLB for the LA Angels Baseball as a Clubhouse Manager in the minor leagues (Pioneer League and AAA visiting Clubhouse Manager) and also at Spring Training in AZ.

He worked in the NBA for the Utah Jazz as security.

He also worked in the WSHL as a trainer/equipment manager for the Utah Valley Golden Eagles Jr B team.

Jason is excited to be back in hockey and here in Southern California.

“My heart belongs to hockey. The rink is where I have always wanted to be. It is my zen place. It is where I feel most comfortable.”

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Resilient Strength & Conditioning is a high-performance training facility designed to take you to the next level, in both sports and life.

EXPERT COACHing THROUGH:

Soft tissue work and proper active stretching to identify and correct muscular imbalances and safely prepare the athlete for the workout ahead.
A dynamic warm-up with a focus on improving movement quality to minimize injury risks associated with hockey.
Speed Development with an emphasis on acceleration, deceleration, linear and lateral speed, running mechanics, and footwork.
Building explosive jumping and throwing power through a blend of plyometrics, medicine ball throws, and Olympic lifts.
Building functional strength in the upper body, lower body, and core.
Conditioning to make sure all our athletes are ready to compete hard from the first whistle to the last.

President's message

Ben Frank

President

As President of the San Diego Sabers, I'm excited to introduce you to our organization. With over two decades of experience in hockey, I believe that a successful junior hockey program must possess both the drive to win a championship and the core value of creating better people as a result of the team experience.

The San Diego Sabers are supported by a professional staff including experienced educational consultants, physical therapists, certified strength and conditioning coaches, the marketing department, and, of course, hockey coaches. We have the infrastructure in place to help our athletes navigate the junior-hockey experience with a tremendous amount of support, setting them up for success.

We look forward to welcoming you to the San Diego Sabers!

Benjamin Frank,

President

Meet our General Manager

Domenick DiCicco

General Manager

Emaildomenick@sandiegosabershockey.com

Domenick has over 25 years of hockey experience and played for Penn State where he graduated with a bachelor's in finance. Shortly after, he took over as Head Coach for the Penn State Harrisburg hockey team where he quickly built the program into one of the top teams in the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference, which was ranked in the top 25 in the country.

Before joining the San Diego Sabers, Domenick spent the former season building the New York Bridgemen of the Eastern Hockey League, a new program for the New Jersey Titans.

Domenick is excited to carry over that winning culture to the West Coast and has designed a comprehensive development model for our athletes to pursue their academic and hockey career goals.

About the USPHL

Founded in 2012, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) comprises more than 550 teams, fielding more than 11,000 athletes in more than 100 organizations, with player ages ranging from 6 to 21. Teams are geographically diverse, ranging from North and South to the Midwest and West Coast.

The Structure

The USPHL is uniquely positioned to facilitate a clear pathway for players graduating from Bantam who is looking to progress through Midget and Junior Hockey on to college and professional hockey. Each division provides a critical step in the progression to fulfilling a player’s ultimate goal of becoming a collegiate or professional hockey player.

Teams have been selected to participate in specific USPHL divisions based upon geography, strong player pools, rink ownership, financial strength, and history of success and integrity at the highest level.

THE MISSION

The ultimate goal of the USPHL is to prepare and develop players for college hockey (and beyond) through a tiered development program.

Unlike any other league in North America, within the USPHL it is possible for a player to advance through an organization starting at mites and ending in junior hockey.

THE RESULTS

The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), which operates in 24 of the 50 United States, is the Nation’s largest amateur ice hockey league. The league is comprised of more than 600 teams. Players in the USPHL Premier are 16 to 21 years of age. Overall, the USPHL has had over 2,500 players advance to the collegiate level and NHL.

WHY CHOOSE THE NCAA ROUTE?

For more than 100 years, college hockey has been a breeding ground for outstanding hockey players and people. Today, college hockey players have a larger impact in the NHL than ever before, with more than 30% of the league coming from the U.S. college ranks.

NCAA Division I men's hockey consists of 60 member schools across six conferences: Atlantic Hockey, Big Ten, ECAC Hockey, Hockey East, the NCHC, and the WCHA. The member teams range as far west as Alaska and as far south as Alabama.

There are several reasons to consider the college hockey path:

NHL OPPORTUNITIES

From Charlie Coyle to Jack Eichel, college hockey consistently produces NHL stars as its presence in the league continues to grow.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

With its style of play, emphasis on practice, and opportunity for strength and conditioning, college hockey provides an unparalleled environment for player development.

EDUCATION

Some of the finest institutions in the world offer college hockey, providing young players exposure to elite educational programs while pursuing their hockey careers. Division I men's hockey players have a 92% graduation rate, best of all Division I men's sports - and invaluable in today's working world.

STUDENT LIFE

The off-ice experience of life on campus, surrounded by fellow students in a supportive environment, is unmatched and often considered the best time of a person's life.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Holiday tournaments, conference championships, outdoor games, the Beanpot, and the NCAA Frozen Four provide college hockey players the opportunity to play in intense, high-profile special events.

HISTORY

With traditions unique to each school and a history that traces back to the 1800s, today's college hockey players carry on a proud legacy.

Welcome home

Locker Room

The San Diego Sabers have their own dedicated locker room that is equipped with music, wall-to-wall carpet, refrigerator, wifi, video/tv system, and individual stalls for each player. Our athletes have access to onsite showers, a workout facility, and a storage room for gear.

Treadmill Room

Push the limits of speed and power through high speeds, incline, and resistance on the skating treadmill located upstairs from the locker room. This area will help you master your skating stride, efficiency, and technique.

Carlsbad, CA

Known as “The Village by the Sea,” the city of Carlsbad offers the charm of a European town with the conveniences of a large city. As you wander streets lined with antique stores, boutique shops, and sidewalk cafes, you’ll soon discover much more, including miles of coastline, beautiful flower gardens, and world-class resorts.

With a perfectly mild climate, each season offers a variety of unique events and activities, from street fairs to art walks. Steps away sit clean, uncrowded beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and surfing as well as beautiful lagoons for fishing, bird-watching and nature trail hikes. Venture further to discover the unique destinations of LEGOLAND® California and SEA LIFE Aquarium or the nearby attractions of San Diego and Los Angeles.

Having only 103,000 residents, the city of Carlsbad has also been able to maintain its gorgeous open spaces, while providing a friendly small-town atmosphere and unmatched amenities. No matter what you choose to do, Carlsbad, California, promises to offer up special experiences and fun-filled memories that will last a lifetime.

Billet Families

Families (Billet Families) who open their homes and hearts to our student-athletes play a vital role in our success on and off the ice. Billet Families enable our athletes to pursue their dreams by providing them with a place to live and creating an environment where they can thrive physically, academically, and emotionally. Meanwhile, the essential values and principles to become a successful member of the San Diego Sabers will come from the rink, home, school, and the community.