Erin Sheehan
Director of Strength and Conditioning Blaine Campus
Erin grew up playing hockey in Willmar, MN. She began skating at age four and played throughout high school. While in Willmar, 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 Bachelor’s of Science degree in Exercise Science and has since earned the title of a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
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, including but not limited to training, adequate effort, proper nutrition, and passion for the sport. 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. Erin joined FHIT in 2014 and has been a key member of the strength and condition team since then.
Josh Yue
Director of Strength and Conditioning Plymouth
Josh is a 2006 Minnetonka High School graduate, where he played varsity lacrosse his junior and senior years; earning All-Conference 2ndTeam Honors as a senior and helping Minnetonka reach its first State Tournament.
After high school, Josh played lacrosse at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the MCLA for 4 years. While at Moorhead Josh recorded over 100 career points and earned Rookie of the Year, Offensive player of the Year 3x, All Conference Honorable Mention 3x and served as Team Captain as a junior and senior.
In 2011 graduated with a Major in Exercise Science and Minors in Strength and Conditioning program design, Coaching and History.
Since graduation, Josh has been coaching lacrosse in Minnetonka at multiple levels for over 10 years, from U12 to Varsity. As Head Coach he has led the U15A teams to back to back State Championships (2015 and 2016). As the Offensive Coordinator for the Varsity Lacrosse team, the team finished 3rd in the state in 2018 and Josh was nominated for Assistant Coach of the Year. He has been the Facility Director at Acceleration NW in Plymouth since 2012.
Steve Alford
Lead Strength Coach Blaine Campus
Participating in high school football, wrestling and golf, Steve grew up as a multi-sport athlete in
Southern California. After high school, Steve played football at the collegiate level as an offensive lineman and was a 4-year starter with a highlighted junior year at Minot State University where his team made it to the NAIA’s Elite 8.
Steve has since coached football on multiple levels, from youth to college, most recently lending his talents to the Centennial High School football teams as one of the offensive
line coaches.
In 2013, Steve made a career change and earned his certification as a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach from NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). Shortly after Steve also earned his certification for TRX suspension training and combined those disciplines together in order to pursue his passion of helping youth athletes achieve great physical development.
Steve has been the Centennial Cougar Boy’s Hockey strength coach since 2014 and the Centennial Youth Hockey Association strength coach since 2016. Steve’s mission is to help youth athletes get to the next level and take ownership of their own development though proper form, nutrition, hydration and recovery.
Steve brings high energy and motivation to his training sessions and takes great pride in
ensuring his athletes get stronger, faster and more explosive!
Kean Paxton
Lead Instructor
Kean Paxton grew up in Brooklyn Park, MN. Kean attended Osseo high school where he played 3 years of Varsity hockey and baseball. After graduating in 2010, he attended Waldorf College in Forest City IA to play baseball. From there he went north to play baseball at Bemidji State University.
Kean grew up in Brooklyn Park, MN. He attended Osseo high school where he played 3 years of Varsity hockey and baseball. After graduating in 2010, he attended Waldorf College in Forest City IA to play baseball. From there he went north to compete in the NSIC at Bemidji State University. Kean has been training athletes since 2013. He has worked with the Wayzata, Coon Rapids, Anoka, and Champlain Park youth hockey associations over those years. Additionally, he has led the Champlin Park boys high school hockey pre-season strength program from 2015-2017. Kean joined the FHIT team in 2017 and has been a Lead Instructor.
Abby O’Reilly
Lead Instructor
Born in MN and has lived in Circle Pines her entire life. Abby’s love for the game of hockey began at a young age, watching her dad play. Started playing hockey for Centennial at age 4 where she continued to play through high school.
She graduated from Centennial High School in 2013. After graduation, Abby began her coaching career with the Centennial Youth Hockey Association at the start of the 2013-14 hockey season. Abby has been the Head Coach of U15A girls’ teams and Assistant Coach for the Centennial High School and U12A Girls hockey team.
It wasn’t until after she graduated and no longer playing hockey herself, that her interest in fitness and nutrition began. Learning about the important connection between athletes on ice performance in relation to how they keep their body healthy giving them the ability to perform at high levels both on and off the ice due to their commitment to nutrition/recovery.
After earning her associate’s degree Abby became an owner and operator at age 21, of Stillwater Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping, but remained heavily active as a hockey coach and strength & conditioning coach with multiple Centennial Hockey teams.
From 2014-Current; Abby has worked with both boys and girls hockey teams in the Centennial Youth Hockey Association, from squirts to bantam during co-facilitating their off ice training with No Excuses Training. She also assisted the Centennial Boy’s High School Hockey team with their in & off season training and trained with Centennial’s Girl’s High School Lacrosse team.
In 2019, Abby began working for MAP/FHIT Hockey as a lead instructor and a consult for MEGA Goaltending off ice skill development. She is continuously building her knowledge base to be able to educate athletes as they train so they have the tools they need to be a well-rounded athlete and the ability to reach higher and higher successes. Abby is a NASM Certified Trainer, Level 4 USA Hockey Coach, TRX Certified, and Level 1 Precision Nutrition Certified.
Abby’s had a variety of experiences over the past 8 years, but the one thing that has remained consistent has been her love for hockey. Abby feels very fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to impact & inspire the next generation of hockey players and to still be surrounded by hockey every day that she goes to work.