Brad Thompson
Director of Girls MAP/Monarchs
Brad is a Minnesota native, born and raised in St. Louis Park. Brad attended St. Louis Park High School where is helped the Orioles to the State Tournament in 1998. Brad was also a two-time all-conference selection in his high school career.
Upon graduating, Brad went on to play two seasons in the USHL with the Twin Cities Vulcans and the Tri-City Storm. While with the Vulcans Brad was a part of the National Championship team in 1999-2000. Brad’s performance during his Junior A career earned him a spot with Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Brad enjoyed a great Division I hockey experience, playing all four years with Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks. After his collegiate career ended, Brad continued his career professionally with stints in the ECHL, UHL, and CHL. In total he tallied 5 years as a professional player.
Brad has been with MAP hockey for the past 6 years and has additional coaching experience with the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Bantam Tier 1 team and also with Mounds View JV as the Head Coach in 2011.
Brad believes that consistency and adaptability are two key ingredients in being successful as a hockey player. He is excited to be a part of the FHIT hockey team and looks forward to the challenges is helping players reach their ultimate potential. He takes great pride in passing his knowledge and the experience he has gained on to aspiring hockey players.
Sam Hanson
Sam Hanson is from Hugo, Minnesota and grew up playing her youth and high school hockey in White Bear Lake. She herself participated in MAP and FHIT programs prior to playing Division I hockey for the University of North Dakota.
As a 2016 graduate of the University of North Dakota she was successful both on and off the ice. She was a 4-year starter and letter winner, made the UND Athletics Academic Honor Roll, earned WCHA All-Academic Team Honors, and was a WCHA Scholar Athlete. Samantha obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and a minor in sports business from UND. In addition to being a student athlete while attending UND, Samantha worked as an instructor at the REA Hockey Academy and assisted Veritas Hockey with website and media applications.
Samantha had the opportunity to play professional hockey in Stockholm, Sweden with the Djurgården Dam hockey team. There she led the team's defense in goals and helped win SM-Guld along with the team's first Swedish Championship in the SDHL.
The experience and knowledge that Samantha has gained from playing hockey have made her the person she is today. A person with a passion for hockey. She has the know-how and realizes the importance and value to support and inspire every individual we work with through the sport of hockey.
Erin Sheehan
Strength Director, Girls
Erin grew up playing hockey in Willmar, MN. She began skating at age four and played throughout high school. While in high school, Erin was a three-sport athlete participating in Cross Country, Hockey, and Track and field, earning three all-conference titles during her four years. During her senior year, Erin was selected to be the Captain of her hockey and track and field teams.
After high school, Erin attended the University of Saint Thomas. She was a member of the track and field team for four years, earning eight Conference champion titles with her team over the four years. Erin graduated from the University of Saint Thomas in 2015 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Exercise Science. She aspires to attend Graduate school to obtain a degree in Physical Therapy.
After many years of training programs in both hockey and track and field, Erin has grown to appreciate everything that is required in order to become a better athlete. She is passionate about bringing athletes to the next level through off-ice training, as her past mentors have done for her. She understands and shows that players can work their hardest everyday yet enjoy becoming a better athlete.
Noora Räty
Director of Goaltender Development, Girls
Noora has been a member of the Finnish Women’s National Team since she was only 15-years-old and has almost 200 games in international play. She has participated in three Olympic Games (’06, ’10, ’14), winning a bronze medal in 2010. She has also played in nine IIHF World Women’s Championships, winning four bronze medals in ’08, ’09, ’11. She has been named the tournament's best goalie four times (’07,’08, ’11, and ’17). She also earned the most valuable player award in 2008. Räty is currently preparing for her fourth Olympics under Justin Johnson’s and Andy Kent’s coaching.
Noora grew up playing boys youth hockey in Espoo, Finland. While in high school, she played for Espoo Blues women’s team in the Finnish women’s national league, winning three National Championships in four years. She also received several individual awards while playing in the Finnish women’s national league.
After graduating high school, Räty went on to play college hockey with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. During her four seasons at the University of Minnesota, she won two National Championships, was a three-time 1st team All-American, a three-time Patty Kazmaier Award Finalist (presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey), Capital One Academic All-American, a two-time Frozen Four MVP, etc. She also holds NCAA records for career wins (114), career save percentage (94.9%), wins in a single season (38), and winning percentage in a single season (1.000). Räty graduated from the University of Minnesota in the August of 2013 with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, minoring in Sport Management.
Along with Noora’s playing experience, she brings a wealth of coaching experience to the MEGA Goaltending staff. She has a big passion of giving back to the youth, and wants to help each MEGA Goaltender to be the best they can be on- and off the ice.
Andrew Kent
Director of Goaltender Development, North Campus
Andrew grew up playing youth hockey in Lakeville, MN. Graduating from Lakeville High School in 2002, Andrew went on to play junior hockey with the Twin Cities Northern Lights, where he was selected as an All League Goaltender. Kent continued his playing career at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
Kent was a four-year letter winner at Augsburg, playing from 2005-09. Kent is listed among Augsburg’s all-time top 10 in career saves, career save percentage, and career average saves per game. Kent was an M.I.A.C. All-Conference award winner in 2007 and earned M.I.A.C All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2009. He was also an assistant captain for the Auggies as a senior in 2008-09. Kent graduated from Augsburg in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and a minor in management information systems.
Along with his playing experience Kent brings a wealth of coaching experience to the MEGA Goaltending staff. Kent coached in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Games for the Women's Finnish National team. Along with coaching in the Olympics Kent is currently the Goalie coach for the U of M Gophers Women’s hockey team as well as the Augsburg University’s Men’s hockey team. Under his watch with the gophers his goalies have broken numerous records and received many awards. He started coaching the gophers in 2012 and has won 4 NCAA National Champions in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
Kent returned to Augsburg College in 2013 and currently serves as the goalie coach for their men's team. Under his watch at Augsburg his goalies have received numerous awards such as All American and All Conference. The team has also won back-to-back MIAC league championships 2016 and 2017.
Kent started coaching with MEGA in 2010 and during his tenure he has also served as the boys' goalie coach at Roseville High School and consulted with various teams, associations, and camps ranging from the youth levels up to Professional Goalies.
Andrew has taken this extensive experience, both as a player and as an instructor, and developed some of the most effective techniques for developing both young and experienced goaltenders.