Leigh Dean, the new Rink Director at Chelsea Piers Connecticut. Contributed photo
Chelsea Piers Connecticut is pleased to announce that Leigh Dean will be coming on board as Rink Director.
Dean brings a wealth of knowledge about hockey to his role as Rinks Director.
In his most recent post, Dean served as Deputy Commissioner and Director of Hockey for the United States Premier Hockey League overseeing all operations, teams and league development. Prior to that, Dean assisted in building and managing a dual rink facility at Merrimack College (D1). Dean has also developed and ran a youth Club Team comprised of more than 500 athletes, served as Camp Director and Lead Instructor for a prestigious national Boarding Camp program and played collegiate hockey at Providence College and professional hockey in the ECHL for a combined eight years.
“Leigh is an outstanding, well rounded, former athlete turned business professional,” said Jim Bugenhagen, Director of Rinks, Chelsea Piers Connecticut. “Leigh has more than two decades of experience in every area of the hockey business – including summer camp, youth and adult play, rink maintenance and operations and collegiate and professional play. We are thrilled to welcome such a seasoned and experienced individual to our team.”
Dean plans to further develop the Chelsea Piers Connecticut programming such as Learn to Skate and Learn to Play Hockey, both of which serve as feeders for the Mite Development Program and figure skating freestyles. Dean also plans to enhance the hockey clinic offerings throughout the year along with expanded summer camp options for players of all ages and abilities. Dean’s hockey connections will result in young players being exposed to the best coaches in the area and players with collegiate and professional hockey experience.
Chelsea Piers Athletic Club provides an unprecedented opportunity for student-athletes across eight sports to train and compete under one unified banner.
Chelsea Piers Athletic Club athletes have full access to both off-surface training, led by certified personal trainers in our dedicated Competitive Team Training Center, and on-surface coaching in their sport of choice. Our world-class facilities attract top-level instructors from around the world, including seasoned and certified youth coaches with Olympic, NCAA and professional backgrounds.
Their goal is to prepare athletes for success, not only in their sport of choice through age-appropriate goal setting and training, but also in their lives through the development of essential teamwork and leadership skills.