Staff

Owner & Director, Hockey Operations dakota@northstarelitehockey.com

Dakota joined Northstar Elite as the Director of Hockey Operations in 2020 and took over as an owner in 2021. Outside of Northstar Elite, Dakota is the Manager of Amateur Scouting Operations for the New Jersey Devils.

Before joining the New Jersey Devils, Dakota held several positions within the hockey operations realm. He was the Coordinator of Hockey Operations for the American Hockey League, a Hockey Operations intern for the National Women’s Hockey League, a Video Scout for the Arizona Coyotes, a Hockey Data Analyst for the St. Louis Blues, and a Hockey Operations assistant for the Men’s Ice Hockey team at Harvard University.

Dakota was a 2020 graduate of UMass Boston, where he was a member and Captain of the Men’s Ice Hockey team and a finalist for the 2019-2020 Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Owner & Director, Player Personnel justin@northstarelitehockey.com

Justin is the co-owner of NorthStar Elite Hockey. He is also the Director of Scouting for the USHL Madison Capitals and the NAHL New Hampshire Mountain Kings.

Previously, Justin was a part of creating the New Jersey 87s of the Eastern Hockey League and Eastern Hockey League Premier. While he was on the staff, the organization had success at both levels, including promotion to the top Division of the Eastern Hockey League after one season. Justin has also been an Assistant Coach for the Mercer Cheifs (NCDC), a Scout for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), and a Scout for the New Jersey Titans (NAHL).

Assistant Director, Player Personnel briangratz@northstarelitehockey.com

After a playing career as a goaltender with multiple national championships for Penn State and stops in the ECHL and AHL, Coach Gratz began in the ECHL as an assistant with the Reading Royals. He went on to be a Head Coach at numerous levels of pro hockey. He spent three years in the CHL as Head Coach and GM of the Dayton Gems and Bloomington Blaze. He was a part of the transition to the SPHL in the same role with the Bloomington Thunder. 

After his time in Central Illinois, he got his break in the ECHL as an assistant with Greenville. From 2015 to 2018, Brian led the Swamp Rabbits as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations setting two franchise records for the best regular season record and longest winning streak in franchise history. 

After Greenville, Brian joined KRS-ORG Beijing (KHL/VHL) as Assistant Coach. His primary duties were working with the team’s forwards and goaltenders. When the 2019-2020 season was cut short due to the COVID pandemic, Coach Gratz came home to Indiana and joined the Trine University NCAA division 3 staff as assistant coach and primary recruiter. Recruiting NCAA caliber student athletes has immersed him into the junior and youth hockey world and created a fantastic network to help educate and promote amateur players. 

Youth Coordinator brennan@northstarelitehockey.com

Brennan Churchill joins NorthStar Elite as our Youth Hockey Coordinator, bringing both high-level playing experience and a passion for developing young talent. A former goalie in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with the Danbury Hat Tricks, Brennan knows firsthand what it takes to compete at the next level.

Now a coach with the Little Caesars Hockey Club, he continues to stay immersed in elite-level youth development. His strong hockey IQ, ability to connect with players, and dedication to the game make him an incredible asset to our program. Brennan’s role focuses on supporting and enhancing the development path for our 2013–2015 age groups, building strong rosters, and maintaining meaningful communication with players and families.

Kirk MacDonald: Head Coach, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)

Duante Abercrombie: Head Coach, Tennessee State University (NCAA DI)

James Marcou: Assistant Coach, Harvard University (NCAA DI)

Joey Ferriss: Director of Hockey Operations, University of Connecticut (NCAA DI)

Cole Bell: Scout, Madison Capitols (USHL)

Shane Harvey: Scout, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Gary Biggs: Director of Scouting, Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL) & Scout, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

Cam Robichaud: Head Coach, New Hampshire Mountain Kings (NAHL)

Trevor Simonson: Assistant Coach, New Hampshire Mountain Kings (NAHL)

Craig Doremus: Director of Player Personnel, Rochester Jr. Americans (NAHL)

Colin Merrill: Owner, Cerebral Sports

Thomas Frazee: Head Coach, Atlanta Phoenix (SYTHL)