Originally from Hamilton, Ontario. Chris Crombie played minor hockey for the Hamilton AA Huskies before being drafted to the OHL by the London Knights. He spent 3 years playing for the Knights where he recorded 100 points in his 3rd season.
He was named 2nd team All Star for the 1990-1991 season where he went on to be drafted by the Boston Bruins of the NHL. He went on to play 15 years professionally in North America and Europe.
In his final season as a player, he was asked to become the Head Coach of the Pee Dee Cyclones before retiring to Tampa, Florida where he stayed actively involved in the youth hockey community. He was previously the Head Coach of the Flames 2021 U16AA State Championship team and most recently served as Head Coach of our U8 program.
Originally from the Detroit Metro area of Michigan. Mike Bridges is a graduate of Northern Michigan University. Spending time coaching Mite & Midget hockey with the Southfield Indians in Michigan before moving to the Sarasota / Lakewood Ranch area. Locally has previously coached for the Ellenton Eels and Brandon Jr. Bulls before joining the Flames organization over a decade ago, coaching at the U10 to U18 levels within the program over the years. Currently a USA Hockey level 5 Coach & a USA Hockey Silver Level Goaltending Coach. Last season coached the Flames U10 2014's.
Native to Alberta, Canada. Matt Yeats played minor hockey for his hometown A team. He was drafted by the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL. He played a season of AA hockey in Lethbridge before going to the Olds Grizzly's of the AJHL.
He went on to play for the University of Maine Black Bears (NCAA D1) where he won a National Championship in 1999. After college, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL where he went on to play for 7 years in North America and Europe. He was previously the Head Coach of the Squirt A Gulf Coast Flames team that went on to win the State Championship in 2022. Last year Coach Matt served as Head Coach of our U12AA White team.
Native to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Tony played youth hockey at the AAA level. In high school hockey, he played at the Lawrenceville School, which competed in the New England Prep School League. Tony culminated his playing career for the College of the Holy Cross (NCAA D1) from 1999-2002.
He enlisted into the US Army upon his graduation from Holy Cross, and served for over 20 years in United States Special Forces. During his time in the Army, Tony continued to stay close to the game, coaching hockey wherever he was able in both Tennessee and Florida. He is currently a member of the Hockey Staff at Florida Southern College and assisted our 12UAA team in the 2023-2024 season.
A Rhode Island native Jason played AA/AAA Hockey out of Woonsocket R.I. As a Bantam Jason was selected to attend Junior Olympic Camp two years in a row at Bowdoin College Brunswick Maine. At the age of fourteen Jason was accepted to Mount Saint Charles Academy College Prep School in Rhode Island. While at Mount Jason played All State Soccer and Varsity Hockey. He played hockey under Legendary Coach Bill Belisle capturing multiple state and national titles, while playing with fellow teammates, outgoing Brian Lawton (Minnesota North Stars), Brendan Whittet (Brown University Head Coach), Keith Carney (Buffalo Sabres), Garth Snow (Quebec Nordiques), Mathieu Schneider (Montreal Canadiens), and David Capuano (Pittsburgh Penguins). When Jason graduated from Mount, he was ranked in the top 1% of fastest skaters in all of New England. After graduating from Mount he played ECAC DIII Hockey for Roger Williams College. Jason has coached for the Gulf Coast Flames, the Manatee Admirals, and the Ellenton Rec League. He has worked one on one with multiple players and conducted speed development clinics for ages U10 through U18.
As a native of New Hampshire, Andrew Mathieu played 4 years of Junior Hockey before attending Framingham State University where he played college hockey. After college, he served as an assistant coach for the Acton-Boxborough High School team and taught learn to play at the city rink. After moving to Tampa in 2021, he served as assistant coach for the Tampa Jr. Bulls before taking the head coach position at the Flames. He most recently served as Head Coach of our U14AA team.
Native of Westchester County, New York. Coach Dave Collins began coaching in 1996. He has coached various levels in New York and Stamford, Connecticut. He coached for the North Jersey Avalanche program from 2002-04 before relocating to the Tampa Bay Area to coach the Brandon Jr. Bulls from 2008-2021. He has coached squirt thru U16AA at the Brandon Jr. Bulls as well as coached Newsome High School for eight years. Most recently, Coach Collins led his U16A Flames team to the 2023/2024 Florida State Championship!
He played youth hockey at White Plains High School (NY) before going on to played a year of junior hockey with Ramapo Rangers New York. He played collegiately at SUNY Canton New York then a year at SUNY Potsdam. He also played two years of lacrosse with the Canton College team that won the 1992 NJCAA national championship. He most recently served as Head Coach of our U16A State Championship team in 2023-2024.
Justin Koepke began coaching for the Tampa Elite Hockey Club located in Brandon, Florida. There he served as the Assistant Coach to the U16A and U16AA team from 2013 - 2015. After the completion of the 2015 season, Tampa Elite merged with the Tampa Scorpions where he served as a Head Coach and Assistant for multiple teams from 2015 - 2017.
In 2017 he joined the Brandon Jr. Bulls for 2 seasons before joining the Gulf Coast Flames in 2019. He has served as an Assistant Coach and Head Coach for multiple teams. He currently serves as the Gulf Coast Flames Hockey Director.