Ed Gingher enters his 22nd season with the AAA Blue Jackets after founding the program in 2004. Under his leadership, the program has become one of the most respected in the country. As president, Gingher oversees all aspects of the program and focuses on the management of all national bound teams.

As a head coach for 18 seasons, he coached more than 1,100 games and helped hundreds of players advance to next levels of hockey, including 6 NHL players and more than 30 professionals. He has led teams to the national tournament on three occasions and guided the 2014-15 18U team to a Tier I Elite League championship.

Prior to starting the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, he spent six years with the the ECHL's Dayton Bombers. In 2000, he became one of the youngest general managers in professional hockey history. Gingher also served the Bombers as a scout, assistant coach and assistant general manager.

Gingher sits on the Tier 1 Elite League, USA Hockey and Mid-Am District executive boards. He is active with USA Hockey coaching at a variety of national development camps. Gingher has also been a guest coach at numerous NHL development camps and training camps.

After his playing career, he enrolled at the University of Dayton and earned bachelor’s degrees in management and marketing in 1999. He, his wife (Betsy), their son (Ryan), and daughter (Allie) reside in Dublin.

Nick Petraglia is currently in his sixth season with the AAA Blue Jackets after being hired as the Executive Vice President in the summer of 2020. Petraglia assists with the oversight of all operations of the program. On the ice, he works closely with our entire coaching staff. In 2025-26, he will lead the 13U (2012) team as head coach after spending the previous 2 seasons as an assistant coach with the birth year.

Prior to his arrival in Columbus, Petraglia spent 20 years at Miami University as a student-athlete, coach and administrator. He was part of teams that won 5 conference championships, participated in 10 NCAA Tournaments and advanced to 2 Frozen Fours. Petraglia has recruited/coached more than 20 players with NHL experience, 12 all-Americans, 32 all-conference selections, 3 conference players of the year and one Hobey Baker Award winner and Olympic captain. At Miami, Petraglia recruited and/or coached several prominent OBJ alumni including Trent Vogelhuber, Sean Kuraly, Connor Murphy, Jack Roslovic, Kiefer Sherwood and Carson Meyer.

A certified USA Hockey Level IV coach, Petraglia works extensively with USA Hockey, coaching national development camps and assisting with the evaluation and selection of national teams for the National Team Development Program, Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 4 Nations tournaments. He was a charter member and mentor for USA Hockey’s Warren Strelow Program, which is responsible for identifying and developing the nation’s elite level goaltenders.

As a player, the Faribault, MN native helped lead Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep to prominence and was in goal for the program’s first ever USA Hockey National Championship in 1999. At Miami, he posted a .902 career save percentage and a 2.21 goals-against average from 2000-04 and helped the RedHawks qualify for the NCAA Tournament as a senior.

Petraglia received his bachelor's degree in sport organization from Miami in 2004 and his master's degree in sport behavior and performance in 2007. He currently resides in Galena with his wife (Becky) and children (Rocco and Athena).

Dale Jordan is currently in 19th season with the program and has over 20 years of coaching experience at all youth levels. As hockey director, Jordan assists with the oversight of the administrative aspect of the program and is responsible for managing teams in the 10U-13U age groups. He will also be serving as the head coach of our 2014 age group in the 2024-25 season.

Dale has over 20 years of coaching experience at all different levels and has been a head coach in our program since 2007. Prior to joining the AAA Blue Jackets, he served as the varsity coach at St. Charles High School for 5 seasons from 2002-2006. During that time he also was a head coach for multiple bantam and pee wee AA travel teams at CCYHA. Jordan also spends time as a private hockey instructor and helps manage the program's camps, clinics and on-ice skills training sessions.

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Jordan played his junior hockey for the Columbus Crush and has playing experience at both the Junior A and Junior B levels.

He resides in Dublin and has four children (Mark, Ellie, Zoahelen and Sloan).

Kerry Bowman enters his fourth season as our program's girls hockey director and has played a integral role in the program's development, which saw its first team advance to the national tournament this year. Next season, he will once again serve as the head coach of the 16U girls team. An accomplished player, teacher and coach with a well-rounded resume, Bowman came to Columbus after coaching the Washington Pride in the Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL) at the 19U and 16U levels from 2018-20. Prior to his time in Washington, DC, Bowman was the head coach for the AAA Sun County Panthers in the Ontario Hockey Federation from 2011-17 where he coached the 12U-15U levels. During this time, he also worked full-time as an educator, teaching French as a second language to students in grades 3-8. He has also served as a lead instructor with the CAN/AM Hockey group since 2001.

As a player, Bowman played Division I hockey at Mercyhurst College where he helped lead the Lakers to the Atlantic Hockey championship and NCAA Tournament in 2005. A two-time Atlantic Hockey Scholar Athlete, Kerry was the recipient of the Bill Smith Memorial Senior Award and served as team captain in 2008. Upon graduating with a bachelors degree in sports medicine, he went on to play two seasons professionally with the IHL's Port Huron Icehawks.

He resides in Powell with his wife (Jessica) and two sons (Knox and Bennett).

Nate Handrahan returns as the bench boss of 18U team after guiding it to a Mid-Am district championship in his first season. Nate brings over 25 years of experience at the elite levels of hockey. His coaching resume includes 14 seasons at the Division I level of college hockey including five years as assistant coach at the Division I level with Niagara University (2001-2004) and Robert Morris University (2004-2006), as well as nine seasons as a head coach for the women's programs at Robert Morris (2006-2011) and Ohio State (2011-2015). Handrahan served as the head coach and general manager of the Columbus Mavericks (USPHL) from 2020-2023. He is also the owner and head coach of Hammer Hockey Development, which works to teach and develop the skill and sense for the the committed player to reach their potential.

As player, Handrahan was a standout defenseman and assistant captain for Niagara University (DI) where he was a two-time all-league player and helped lead the Purple Eagles to a pair of playoff championships in his 4-year career. Upon graduation, Handrahan played professionally for the Roanoke Express (ECHL).

Handrahan resides in Hilliard with his wife (Kim) and three daughters (Haylee, Mara and Lila)

Josh Harrold enters his second season as a head coach after spending the previous five seasons as a head coach of the Cleveland Barons at the 15O and 16U levels. A native of Kirtland Hills, OH, Harrold brings a wealth of experience, including two years as an assistant coach here in Columbus with the USHL's Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets from 2006-08. He was also an assistant coach at the professional level with the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) and junior level with the NAHL's Cleveland Barons and Alpena IceDiggers. Harrold has a significant amount of connections to help connect and guide players into the next levels of hockey.

Following a 4-year career at Miami University (DI), Harrold was signed to his first professional contract by current OBJ president Ed Gingher, who was the general manger of the Dayton Bombers (ECHL) at the time. Harrold would go on to play six seasons professionally, including more than 300 games in the AHL, IHL and ECHL. In 1994-95, he was named the NAHL defenseman of the year and a member of the league's first all-star team.

Harrold lives in Clintonville with his wife Nora.

Kyle Althen enters his fifth season as a head coach in the program, and second with the 2010's after leading this squad to the district championship game in 2024-25. Previously, Althen was the head coach of the 2008 birth year for the two seasons at the 14U and 15O levels. Prior to being a head coach, Althen served time as an assistant coach at the 15O level. He also worked as the hockey director at the Battery Hockey Academy for 5 years and now owns Althen Hockey Development, which focuses on elite level training and development throughout the Midwest. Prior to moving to Columbus, Althen spent two seasons as the associate head coach and director of scouting for the Oswego Stampede (NA3HL) and a scout for the Amarillo Bulls in the NAHL.

A native of Cleveland, OH, Kyle played college hockey at the University of Akron (ACHA) where he served as team president for all four seasons. Althen's junior career was spent with the Wooster Oilers and Central Wisconsin Saints of the GLJHL. In his final season, he captained the Oilers and tallied 63 points in 41 games. He played his high school hockey at Padua Franciscan in Parma.

Althen earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Akron in 2016 while also minoring in business management. Kyle currently resides in Worthington.

Ed McGrane enters his first season as a head coach in the program after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the 2011 birth year. This past season, he helped the team to an incredible 49-17-3 season, a district championship and a berth in the upcoming USA Hockey National Championships. McGrane has 14 years of coaching experience at numerous levels of youth hockey.

A native of Hamilton, Ontario, McGrane was a four year standout and captain at UMass-Lowell (DI), where he led the River Hawks all four seasons, tallying 70 goals and 138 points in 144 career games. He was a 2-time member of the All-Hockey East Team and was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. Following college, he signed an NHL free agent contract with the Minnesota Wild. In 11 seasons playing professionally, McGrane racked up 286 goals and 701 points in 598 games in the AHL, ECHL, CHL and Europe. In 2009, McGrane led the Colorado Eagles to a CHL championship while leading the league in goals (44). 

He resides in Marysville with his wife (Natalie) and their three sons (Liam, Logan and Lachlan).

Michael Darr enters his third season as a head coach in the program and 2nd straight as head coach of the 14U Girls. This past season, Darr helped make program history as he led the squad to a Mid Am district championship and berth in the National Tournament, which were first time accomplishments since the girls program was re-introduced in 2022-23. Darr led the 12U Girls team in its inaugural season in 2023-24.

Darr has 19 years of coaching experience and has played an integral role in the growth of girls hockey since 2017. Previously, he has spent six seasons helping lead Central Ohio Girls Hockey where he helped develop the organization from beginner developmental programs to elite training camps during the spring and summer months. Furthermore, he helped the EYHA Lady Dragons program expand from one team to six teams at the 8U, 10U select, 12U select, 12U elite and 14U tier 2 levels. While with the Lady Dragons, he was a head coach or assistant coach and helped lead the team's progression of player development.

Todd Ehrie returns for his 17th season coaching in the program. Next season will mark the 7th season as a head coach at the 12U level. For the past 2 seasons, Ehrie coached to the 2012 team to a 78-47-5 record. In 2024-25, he led the team to an impressive 6-1 record at the Quebec International Pee Wee Tournament. In 2014, he coached the 2001 birth year to a championship at the prestigious tournament. With more than 30 years of coaching experience, he has been an integral part of the growth of our program and the entire Columbus hockey market. 

Ehrie has coached nearly every player that has come through the program at some point, highlighted by the 1997 team that included future NHLers Jack Roslovic, Kole Sherwood and Carson Meyer for several years. He has also spent time as an assistant coach at the 15O, 16U and 18U levels and was the head coach of the 2006 team at the 15O level.

Todd currently resides in Lewis Center with his wife (Terri) and their two sons (Trevin and Cohen).

Nick McCreary returns as a head coach to the program after spending last season as an assistant coach with the 12U Girls. Previously, McCreary was a head coach of the boys 13U team and assistant at the 16U level. With 12 years of coaching experience, McCreary's resume also includes coaching the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers at both the Jr. A and Jr. B levels. In 2021, McCreary began his work in girls hockey, as head coach with the EYHA Lady Dragons and then assistant with the Columbus Mavericks.

A native of Philadelphia, PA, Nick played college hockey at Lebanon Valley College (DIII), where he helped the Dutchmen win two league championships and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to college, he captained the Wyoming Seminary Prep Academy and played travel and varsity hockey in Philadelphia.

McCreary resides in Galena with his wife (Sierra) and daugher (Anya)

James Nash enters in his tenth season coaching in the program and seventh as a head coach. This will be his second consecutive season at the 11U level after guiding the 2013 squad to a successful season in 2024-25. For the previous three seasons, Nash served as head coach at the 13U level. In all, he has more than 15 years of coaching experience and has spent considerable time as a professional skills coach working with elite players of all ages.

A native of Brampton, Ontario, Nash grew up playing AAA hockey in Toronto for the Mississauga Rebels of the GTHL (formerly MTHL). He also won an all-Ontario championship with the Brampton Maroons. Nash went on to play his junior hockey for the Mississauga Chargers (OPJHL) and college hockey for Humber College.

After earning an associates degree in marketing from Humber, Nash moved to Columbus and went on to earn a bachelors degree from Ohio State. He currently resides in Powell with his wife (Kristy) and sons (James and Arie).

Pat Cannone enters his fifth season with the program. After spending two seasons as head coach at the 16U level, he serves as an assistant coach at the 16U level as well as a skills coach for the program. Off of the ice, Cannone helps oversee the program's player development and advancement initiatives.

Cannone works as a player advisor with Lakonic Sports Agency based in Kelowna, British Columbia. He was represented by Lakonic at the end of his playing career and will serve as a player representative, dedicated to guiding athletes throughout their hockey careers.

Pat's distinguished playing career included 10 professional seasons highlighted by making his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild in 2016-17. He was team captain for the AHL's Chicago Wolves and spent two seasons playing in Germany.

A native of Bayport, New York, Cannone played his college hockey at Miami University where he tallied 133 career points, served as captain and helped lead the team to 2 Frozen Fours, 2 league championships and 4 NCAA Tournaments during his 4-year career.

Pat currently resides in Dublin with his wife (Natalie) and two daughters (Collins and Perry).

Fedor Tyutin enters his seventh season as a coach in the program. In 2025-26, he will serve as an assistant coach after leading the 16U team last season. He had also previously held the post as the head coach for 2007 birth year for three seasons at the 13U, 14U and 15O levels.

Prior to getting into coaching, Tyutin played 872 NHL games with the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche over 14 seasons. He also served as a professional scout with the Blue Jackets in 2018-19. In 2025, he was named to the Blue Jackets Quarter Century Team.

A native of Izhevsk, Russia, Tyutin's accomplished resume includes an impressive amount of success in international play. A veteran of three Olympic Games, Tyutin helped lead Russia to a gold medal at the 2008 World Championship. He also won gold at the U20 World Junior Championship and U18 World Championship. Prior to turning pro, Fedor played one season with the Guelph Storm (OHL) where he played in the Memorial Cup and was named to the CHL's all-rookie team. He was a 2nd round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Tyutin currently resides in Plain City with his wife (Sarah) and three daughters (Leeza, Nina and Danika).

Lee Harris is currently in his 9th season as a professional skating coach with the AAA Blue Jackets program. During that time, he has also served as the skating coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters. In his role with the Blue Jackets, he oversees the organizations skating skill development, handles on-ice conditioning and rehabilitation and provides CBJ scouts with video analysis and skating assessments for draft prospects. Lee is also the owner of Lee Harris Skating System which focuses on a deep understanding of edges, power and the technical side of skating. In all, Harris has 21 years of coaching experience.

Born in Harrow, Ontario, Harris played four years of junior hockey with the Belle River Canadians and Kingsville Comets and was the OMHA scoring champion. At 18 years old, he began skating internationally in figure skating. In 2002, he won the national championship and competed at the Junior World Championships in Norway.

Lee lives in Delaware with his wife (Chelsea) and three children (Sadie, Lana and Blake).

Bailey Seagraves is in his 8th season as the program's goaltending coach. In addition to being the founder and owner of Seagraves Goaltending, he serves as the director of goaltending development for the Battery Hockey Academy and is the volunteer goaltending coach for the Ohio State women's DI team. In 2021-22, Seagraves helped the Buckeyes claim the WCHA playoff title and the program's first ever national championship.

A native of Hilliard, OH, Seagraves is one of the most accomplished goaltenders in AAA Blue Jackets history and was a member of the 2014-15 T1EHL playoff championship team. During his time with the AAA Jackets, he earned multiple invites to national development camps and attended the final tryout camp for the National Team Development Program. In 2013, he was selected 55th overall by the Chicago Steel in the USHL Futures Draft.

He would go on to play his junior hockey career in the USHL, NAHL & USPHL before moving onto become the emergency back-up goaltender with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He currently resides in Marysville.

A Division I captain and coach, Topher Scott created the Hockey Think Tank as a resource to educate and inspire players, parents and coaches as they navigate through their personal hockey journey. Topher combines his knowledge and experience with his passion for youth hockey to provide educational and inspirational services to the program. He works closely with our coaches to provide insight on hockey development and building team culture. With our teams, he conducts team building exercises that strengthen team camaraderie and individual hockey/life skills. He also provides parent education seminars for our parents on navigating the youth hockey pathway. Topher brings great perspective and new ideas to strengthen not only our player development model, but our ability to teach our kids the life skills to succeed on and off the ice.

A native of Buffalo Grove, IL, Scott captained both the USHL's Chicago Steel and Cornell University. After tallying 107 career points in college, Scott spent 2 seasons playing professionally. Following his playing career, Topher spent 7 seasons as a Division I coach at Miami, Cornell and Michigan and also served as a youth hockey director and coach.

A certified professional coach and motivational speaker, Chuck Thuss provides a unique set of coaching skills that support every individual and team that he works with. His primary focus is developing the necessary tools and life skills to help his clients create and achieve their dreams. He is dedicated to helping every person become the best version of themselves while empowering them to learn how to handle every day challenges and adversity. In working with our teams, Chuck opens himself to receive insights from others and creates a safe space for all individuals to share their thoughts and feelings. The process involves an array of topics such as living in the now, living with anxiety and depression, being accountable and taking responsibility for your life and honoring one's self by gearing down and disconnecting to recharge your batteries.

A native of Arkona, Ontario, Thuss was an all-American goaltender at Miami University and the recipient of the Terry Flanagan Award that honors a player for perseverance, dedication and and courage while overcoming severe adversity. He also played professionally for 7 seasons which included a Kelly Cup championship with the ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves in 1999.

Donskov Strength & Conditioning (DSC) serves as the organizations official Off-Ice Performance Specialists. Since 2005, the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets have partnered with DSC to provide all facets of off-ice performance training. The performance coaches at DSC support the mission & vision of the organization by establishing/implementing protocol, performance measurables, nutritional guidance and data analytics reporting. 

Anthony Donskov is the founder of Donskov Strength and Conditioning Inc. (www.donskovsc.com) located in Columbus, OH where he serves as the Director of Sports Performance. He currently oversees all facets of physical preparation including assessment, program design, exercise protocol, monitoring, and continuing education. Donskov earned a PhD at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario Canada. His research interests include biomechanics, ice hockey performance, and return to play after musculoskeletal injury. In addition, Anthony attained master’s degree in Exercise Science from Cal U of PA and his BSc at Miami (OH) University. Anthony served as an assistant strength coach for the USA Women’s National Ice Hockey team (2010-2014) and has participated as a guest coach for several National Hockey League development camps.

Donskov is a Head Instructor/Director of off-ice Training at Donskov Hockey Development. DHD (donskovhockey.com) is a family run hockey school with a renowned reputation for developing young players. Anthony played two years of minor professional hockey (2001-2003) for the Lubbock Cotton Kings of the Central Hockey League. He was named the 2003 Central Hockey League’s “Man of the Year” for his leadership both on the ice and in the community. Donskov played his collegiate hockey at Miami (OH) University (1997-2001), where he served as an assistant captain his senior year. Anthony is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCS) and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (PES). He resides in Columbus with his wife Aurora. 

Matthew Donskov serves as Director of Operations at DSC, Inc. His responsibilities include defining, implementing, and managing operational policies and guidelines for the organization. He is also a liaison for client support services.  Prior to joining DSC, he spent 6 years with Cardinal Health as a Medical Device Sales Consultant in Jacksonville, Fl.  Additionally, Donskov is involved as Head Instructor/Director Operations at Donskov Hockey Development, providing hockey specific instructional services since its inception in ‘00.  Matthew holds a USA Hockey Level IV Advanced Coaching Certification.

Donskov graduated Summa Cum Laude earning BSc. in Business Economics from SUNY Cortland.  While attending Cortland, Donskov played four years of college hockey where he was a two-time captain, earned Verizon Academic All-American honors and was the national leader in power play goals (2002). He currently sits sixth all-time on the school scoring list. Prior to playing at Cortland, Matthew played three years of junior hockey in Canada where he was a 1998 draft choice of the North Bay Centennials of the Ontario Hockey League.

Matthew currently resides in New Albany, Ohio with his wife Megan and three children (Alexander, Amelia & Anastajia).