Hockey Operations

DOMENICK DICICCO

General Manager

Domenick DiCicco has over 25 years of hockey experience and played for Penn State University, where he graduated with a BS in finance. Soon after, he accepted the position of head coach of the hockey team at Penn State Harrisburg. While there, Domenick swiftly transformed the club into one of the best in the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference and one of the top 25 teams in the nation.

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

Under Domenick, the Sabers have been growing into one of the top Junior A programs on the West Coast. This last season the Sabers had a successful season achieving a 33-11-2 winning record and advancing to the playoffs. Domenick has already moved players from the Sabers onto higher levels of hockey, including collegiate and pro hockey. He looks to continue developing a winning culture and focusing on player advancement.

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TOMAS KAPUSTA

DIRECTOR, HOCKEY OPERATIONS

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.

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Nick Perez

Head Coach

Emailnick@sandiegosabershockey.com

Nick Perez, a hockey coach with over 26 years of experience, began his career with the Norwalk Knights before traveling to St. Louis to play for the St. Louis Selects and later the Rocky Mountains in Denver, Colorado.

Coach Perez played hockey for the Surrey Eagles in the BCHL for a while before continuing his career with the Beaver Valley NiteHawks in the KIJHL of British Columbia. While there, Nick was named assistant captain and contributed to the team's league-winning season.

Nick soon received a hockey scholarship from Adrian College in Michigan. While there, he helped the team advance twice to the ACHA National Championships.

After graduating from college, Coach Perez returned to California and began working as an assistant coach with the California Wave 18AA. Recently, Coach Perez has served as an assistant coach with the Long Beach Shredders in the USPHL’s Pacific Division for the past two seasons.

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Scott Hommel

Assistant Coach

SCOTT HANSEN

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.

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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JASON MARBLE-SMITH

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 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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Mason Riley

New Jersey/Philadelphia Scout

Mason comes to the Sabers scouting staff with a big focus on goaltending recruiting. Mason ended his playing career at the University of New England NCAA DIII and began goal coaching in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area along with the now-defunct Maine Eclipse.

GREG FRENCH II

Arizona Scout

Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, Greg French II spent his formative years skating by the sea. He played junior hockey for five years in New England and Canada before deciding to end his playing career after sustaining numerous injuries. Shortly after, Greg began working in the strength and conditioning industry, which ultimately led him into coaching with the intention of producing the best hockey players possible.

Greg is a Master Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has a master's degree in exercise science.

Greg oversees a High School Hockey Program in Arizona and assists hockey players from all around the nation in realizing their full potential.

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Dillon Scheur

Arizona Scout

Dillon Scheur was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he played hockey from a young age. Last year, Dillon competed in junior hockey in the USPHL. Following the season, he decided to begin a career in hockey, beginning as a scout.

Dillon is passionate about scouting and is confident in his ability to pursue it professionally. He has always had a high hockey IQ and the ability to see things that many other people are unable to.

At the 2022 Arizona Coyotes development camp, Dillon had the pleasure of speaking with Bill Armstrong, general manager of the Arizona Coyotes, and Ryan Jankoski, associate director of amateur scouting for the Arizona Coyotes.

His exposure to an NHL team early in life while growing up in Arizona has aided his career in hockey and allowed him to truly learn the game in a unique way.

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Joe Caldarone

Vancouver Scout

Joe Caldarone is a qualified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and National Skills Coach for Hockey Canada. Joe has played and coached in the sport of hockey for more than 35 years.

He was born and raised in Powell River, British Columbia, where he played minor hockey before moving on to play junior hockey for 5 years in the KIJHL (British Columbia) and NWJHL (Northern Alberta).

Following his junior career, he played senior men's hockey for the Powell River Regals for 16 seasons, culminating in his home-ice Allan Cup National Championship title in 2006 and his representation of Canada in the Polish Cup the following year in Russia.

He channeled his passion for hockey into a focus on player development after his playing days. Working with kids from U7 to U18 since 2011, he has played a significant role in assisting Powell River's minor hockey association's young hockey players in developing their skills both on and off the ice.

Joe recently re-branded as Elite Edges Hockey, and he is eager to share his passion and expertise in the sport throughout the West Coast, including Southern California and the Sabers organization.

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MICHAEL MCKNIGHT

Motivational Coach

Front Office

JAMES KARR

OPERATIONS, MARKETING

James Karr is a native of Fresno, CA. In 2012, James began working in junior hockey for the Fresno Monsters in the Western States Hockey League. Shortly after, James also began working in Minor League Baseball for the then; San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate, Fresno Grizzlies.

In 2015, James left the Fresno Grizzlies to work for the Fresno Monsters full-time as the Director of Operations before being promoted to General Manager in 2016.

After three years as General manager for the Fresno Monsters, James departed the team to take over as Director of Marketing for a strength and conditioning facility, Bullett Performance Training.

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AUSTIN ALEGRE

Gameday Operations, Broadcasting

Austin is a native of San Diego County where he grew up watching the San Diego Gulls and eventually the San Diego Sabers.

"I've followed hockey in San Diego since I was six years old and followed each team through thick and thin. It's an honor to now be giving back to this sport that I love so dearly and I look forward to the opportunity of working with the Sabers as Director of Gameday Operations."

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GREG SILLER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Courtney Duplouy

Facility Supervisor