Staff - San Diego Sabers

Hockey Operations

James Spaargaren

Head Coach

James Spaargaren, a native of Southern California hailing from Escondido, currently serves as the Lead Trainer at HDC San Diego. In this role, he mentors players ranging from the age of 6 to professional AHL players affiliated with the San Diego Gulls. Despite his hockey journey commencing at the relatively late age of 13, Spaargaren's dedication propelled him to compete at various levels, including Jr. Hockey in the NA3HL, NCDC, and NAHL circuits. These experiences culminated in his commitment to NCAA D3 Hockey at Arcadia University.

Opting for Arcadia University, Spaargaren was drawn by the opportunity to contribute to the establishment of a culture of triumph from the inaugural season onward. His freshman year proved monumental as he clinched the first-ever MVP award, a distinction that forever enshrined his name in the annals of school history.

Juha Kanervisto

Goalie Coach

Juha Kanervisto hails from Lahti, Finland, where his passion for hockey ignited at the tender age of 7 when he first stepped onto the ice as a goalie. Progressing through the junior ranks of his hometown team, he eventually secured a spot on the men's squad, now known as Lahti Pelicans in the Finnish League. At just 19 years old, in 1985, Juha earned his place as one of the three goalies for Team Finland's U20 squad.

Throughout the years, Juha has remained deeply involved in the hockey community, coaching goalies with various teams in San Diego, including a stint with the Sabers hockey club. Armed with a Level 4 USA Hockey coaching certificate, he eagerly anticipates the opportunity to help goalies enhance their skills and make more saves.

Tomas Kapusta

Director of Player Development, Associate Coach

Tomas served as a coach with the Jr Kings organization for eleven years and is currently the High-Performance Director for the Jr Reign in Riverside, Carlsbad, and Paramount. Tomas is regarded as one of Southern California's best youth coaches among his contemporaries.

He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers with the 104th overall pick in the fifth round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and competed in all three Junior World Championships between 1985 and 1987.

Throughout his 20-year professional career, Tomas represented the Czech Republic, notably at the 1993 World Championship in Germany and the 1994 Olympics in Norway. In 1993, He took home the Elite Finnish League scoring title. Tomas was also a part of each three winning teams in the Czech Republic Extra League.

He graduated from CSULA with a Degree in social science and from CSULB with a teaching credential. Tomas currently teaches at Excel Charter School Academy as an educational specialist.

Through his passion and love for the game, Tomas strives to help each player reach their full potential.

Jeremy Blumes

Executive Director

Jeremy Blumes serves as the Executive Director while also holding the positions of Head Coach and General Manager for the Ontario Jr Reign. With over 20 seasons of hockey experience, Blumes has demonstrated prowess in various capacities and is adept at building programs from scratch.

His remarkable journey includes leading the Wheatland Kings as Head Coach, where he orchestrated a notable turnaround story. Following a U18 Alberta provincial championship and earning the Hockey Calgary Coach of the Year award in 2014, Blumes took charge of the Kings, revitalizing the team and guiding them to a captivating playoff run.

Transitioning to the SJHL with the Nipawin Hawks and later serving as the HC and GM of the Golden Rockets, Blumes engineered significant successes. Notably, he transformed the Rockets from a struggling team to a formidable force, achieving milestones such as the club's first playoff appearance in four years and facilitating player advancement to higher levels of competition.

In his tenure with the Ontario Jr Reign, Blumes has overseen a rapid evolution, propelling the team from its inaugural season as a playoff-bound expansion team to becoming Pacific Division champions. Under his guidance, the Reign boasts an impressive record, ranked among the top 5 teams in the USPHL. Recently, the team clinched a Pacific Division title and secured a National Championship berth, showcasing Blumes' exceptional leadership and coaching prowess.

Scott Hansen

Strength and 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.

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.

Dr. Matthew Perry

Physical Therapist

Dr. Perry graduated with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) and also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology (human movement). He has worked with and trained various populations, ranging from general fitness enthusiasts to athletes to the elderly, in a diverse array of sports and rehabilitation settings since 2014.

With a fervent interest in exercise science, Dr. Perry employs a functional, hands-on approach to movement, aiming to enhance the overall health of community members.

Specializing in functional movement, Dr. Perry integrates real-world movements tailored to individual goals, aiming for immediate applicability to everyday life. He believes that anyone experiencing pain-free movement is capable of enjoying a high quality of life.

Sydney Kinder

Athletic Trainer

Front Office

Austin Alegre

Broadcasting

Hailing from San Diego, Austin's upbringing was steeped in the vibrant local sports culture, where he passionately supported teams such as the San Diego Padres, San Diego Gulls, and later, the San Diego Sabers. Since 2017, Austin has played a pivotal role within the Sabers' gameday staff, actively contributing to their operations and broadcast endeavors.

Seeking new challenges, Austin has recently embarked on a journey into the world of baseball, taking on the role of PA Announcer for the Lake Elsinore Storm, the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

Greg Siller

Photographer