Hockey Operations

– Jim Montgomery, Head Coach / General Manager
– Joe Coombs, Associate Head Coach
– Bobby Kinsella, Assistant Coach / Director of Scouting
– Adam Micheletti, Director of Hockey and Business Operations
- Tyler Sleeper, Athletic Trainer / Equipment Manager
- Bart Hobbs, Hockey Operations Assistant & Community Relations Representative
– Grant Standbrook, Goaltender Consultant
- Jim Romagna, Strength and Conditioning Coach
– Brad Clayton, Scout

Jim Montgomery
Head Coach / General Manager
Email

Jim Montgomery was named the Dubuque Fighting Saints Head Coach and General Manager in April of 2010. In his first season, he guided the Fighting Saints to a Clark Cup championship and was voted USHL GM of the Year by his peers. The Montreal native spent the four years prior to his time in Dubuque as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and played a critical role in upgrading RPI's talent level during his tenure. Montgomery began his college coaching career as a volunteer assistant under Jeff Jackson at the University of Notre Dame before moving on to RPI in 2006.

Montgomery played college hockey at the University of Maine. He is one of only three players to have his jersey (No. 19) retired at Alfond Arena. Montgomery is the University of Maine's all-time leading scorer with 301 points on 103 goals and 198 assists in 170 career games. He captained the 1992–93 team to the school's first NCAA championship as the Black Bears went 42-1-2. That year, Montgomery was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, the annual award which recognizes the top NCAA men's ice hockey player. The winner of the award that year was his linemate and longtime NHL forward Paul Kariya.

Prior to becoming a coach, Montgomery played professional hockey from 1993–2005. He spent parts of six seasons in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues (1993–94 season), Montreal Canadiens (1994–95 season), Philadelphia Flyers (1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons), San Jose Sharks (2000–01 season) and Dallas Stars (2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons). In addition, he played professionally in Russia and Germany as well as in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League and United Hockey League. Montgomery resides in Dubuque with his wife Emily and sons JP and Colin.

Joe Coombs
Associate Head Coach
Email

Coombs joined the Fighting Saints in 2010 after a very successful tenure as the Head Coach of the Dubuque Thunderbirds of the Central States Hockey League (USA Hockey Tier III Junior A). Over five years at the helm of Dubuque hockey, the Brantford, Ontario, native led the Thunderbirds to a regular season record of 151-23-4-5 and three Hurster Cup Championships (2007, 2008 and 2009). Prior to joining the Thunderbirds in 2005, Coombs served as the Head Coach of the Topeka Tarantulas of the Central Hockey League during the 2004-05 season. From 2001–2004, Coombs served as an Assistant Coach in the USHL – first for the Topeka Scarecrows and then for the St. Louis Heartland Eagles when the team moved to St. Louis prior to the 2003–04 season.

Prior to beginning his coaching career in 2001, Coombs played professionally from 1996–2001 in the IHL, ECHL, CHL and WPHL. From 1992–1996, Coombs played in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the three major junior leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League – first for the Kitchener Rangers and then for the Belleville Bulls.

Coombs lives in Dubuque with his wife Shannon, two daughters Regan and Rylan, and son Ritter.

Bobby Kinsella
Assistant Coach / Director of Scouting
Email

Bobby Kinsella was named the Dubuque Fighting Saints Assistant Coach and Director of Scouting in April, 2010. The Brockton, Massachusetts, native joined the Fighting Saints after spending his last two seasons as the General Manager / Head Coach of the Boston Junior Rangers (Midget AAA-U18) of the North American Prospects Hockey League. During his two seasons with the Junior Rangers, Kinsella led the team to over 30 wins each season. During his time with the Rangers, Kinsella also served as an amateur scout for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League.

Prior to joining the Boston Junior Rangers, Kinsella spent five years with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL (2003–2008) – first as a scout (2003–2005) and then as Assistant Coach /Director of Scouting and Recruiting (2005–2008). During Kinsella's three years as Assistant Coach, the Musketeers had over a half dozen NHL draft picks, including two players selected in the first round. In addition, over 50 players received scholarships to play hockey for NCAA Division I colleges and universities. In 2007 and 2008, Kinsella was selected to coach the Western Conference All-Stars at the USHL All-Star Game.

Kinsella played hockey, football and baseball at New Hampton Prep. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Tennessee, where he played club hockey, and earned a B.S. in Business Administration.

Kinsella, his wife Jenny, and their daughter Shelby reside in Dubuque.

Adam Micheletti
Director of Hockey and Business Operations
Email

Adam Micheletti joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints in December of 2009. As Director of Hockey and Business Operations, Micheletti's responsibilities pertain to on-ice and off-ice issues. He works closely with the coaching staff, supporting them in scouting, recruiting, and player personnel decisions. He also helps oversee the overall budget and manages the day-to-day hockey administrative functions. On the business side, he is responsible for youth hockey and fan development initiatives, developing partnerships with local businesses, and he works closely with the sales and marketing departments of the Fighting Saints.

Prior to joining the Saints, Micheletti interned with the Washington Capitals, where he worked closely with the Hockey Operations Staff, including General Manager George McPhee. He was involved in many different areas, including data analysis, salary cap analysis, organizing contract violations that occurred throughout the NHL, and other areas that pertain to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Micheletti graduated from Boston College in 2007 with a B.S. in Business Management and Leadership. Upon graduation, he worked as an account manager for two and a half years for the Tom Lange Company, a fresh-produce distributor. He is the son of former NHL player and coach Joe Micheletti, who is currently the New York Rangers' television analyst.

Micheletti and his wife Rachel reside in Dubuque.

Tyler Sleeper
Athletic Trainer / Equipment Manager
Email

Tyler joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints as the Athletic Trainer and Equipment Manager in September, 2011. Tyler's responsibilities include the care and prevention of athletic injuries, rehabilitation of injuries, as well as maintaining all equipment, sharpening skates, and doing the team laundry.

Prior to coming to the Dubuque Fighting Saints, Tyler spent two years in Wayne, Nebraska, earning his master's degree in Sport Management at Wayne State College. Prior to pursuing his master's, Tyler spent 3 years as the Equipment Manager for the Dubuque Thunderbirds.

Tyler is a 2006 graduate from Loras College with a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training. Tyler is originally from Topeka, KS and now resides in Dubuque.

Bart Hobbs
Hockey Operations Assistant & Community Relations Representative
Email

Bart Hobbs joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints as an intern December, 2010. As Hockey Operations and Community Relations Representative, Bart's primary responsibilities include handling donation requests, organizing player and coaches appearances in the community, and serving as the team's assistant equipment manager.

Prior to working with the Fighting Saints, Bart spent two years as a manager at Pizza My Heat in San Jose, California.

Hobbs is originally from Saratoga, California, and now resides in Dubuque.

Jim Romagna
Strength and Conditioning Coach

Jim Romagna enters his second season with the Fighting Saints as an established Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach and a Certified Personal Trainer. Romagna is a full time Instructor at The University of Dubuque in the Health Wellness and Recreation program and owns and operates Natural Fit Fitness Training and Consulting, and Romagna Performance with his wife Jennifer. Romagna has competed nationally in more than 20 bodybuilding competitions, appeared on the cover of Muscle and Magazine, free-lance writes for many national magazines, and is currently the face of Labrada Nutrition's ad campaign. A Loras College alumnus, Romagna worked as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Loras College from 2000 to 2007. He and his wife Jennifer and four children, Jade, Angelo, Ava and Beatrice, reside in Dubuque.

Grant Standbrook
Goaltending Consultant

Grant Standbrook returns for his second season with the Fighting Saints organization, serving as the team's goaltending consultant. Standbrook has been on coaching staffs that have won five NCAA Championships and been in the title game three other occasions. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, he is a 1961 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he averaged better than a point-per-game for the Bulldogs hockey team, while also competing in track and field.

Brad Clayton
Scout

Brad Clayton joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints in November 2009 with the responsibility of scouting future USHL talent.

Prior to joining the Fighting Saints, Brad coached five seasons of youth hockey in Grand Rapids, MN at the Pee Wee level, and he remains a coach with the Iron Range All-Stars at the Pee Wee and Bantam levels, as he has been for the past three seasons.

Brad ran cross country, played baseball and hockey at Grand Rapids High School. After high school he attended HCC where he played hockey and was the team's leading scorer, play-off leading scorer, voted to the all-tournament team and was also awarded the Frank Catani MVP award.

Brad, his wife Amber and their son Dylan reside in Northern Minnesota.


© 2011 DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.	CONTACT THE FIGHTING SAINTS 563.583.6880