MANAGEMENT & STAFF

Coach: Matt Johnson

Matt brings a wealth of experience to the rink, both as a former player and a seasoned coach. His journey in hockey began at Tilton Prep School and continued through an impressive collegiate career at Norwich University, Salem State University, and Providence College. His transition from NCAA Division III to Division I play at Providence College showcases his adaptability and deep understanding of the game.

In the realm of coaching, Matt has demonstrated his expertise across various levels. Notably, he served as the Head Coach for the Islanders Hockey Club in the USPHL and the East Coast Spartans U18 AAA. His tenure as an Assistant Coach at Tufts University and the Las Vegas Storm, along with his recent roles with the VGK U14 and 16U AAA teams, highlight his ability to develop young talent. Matt’s experience is further enriched by his scouting roles in the NAHL and his educational background, holding a Masters of Education in Athletic Administration from Endicott College.

Matt’s diverse experience and dedication to hockey make him an invaluable asset to any team, combining strategic insight with a passion for nurturing young athletes.

Contact Matt at matt@tbirds.vegas

Coach: Landon Quinney

Landon Quinney, a Las Vegas native, brings a rich playing history to his coaching role. Born on April 27, 1998, Quinney showcased his talent as a center, most notably with the Yarmouth Mariners in the MJAHL, where he contributed to their championship win in the 2018-19 season.

Quinney’s career spans several leagues, including the NAHL with the Corpus Christi Ice Rays and the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors. His time in the QMJHL with the Saint John Sea Dogs and later with the Valley Wildcats in the MJAHL further highlights his diverse experience. Landon was known for his robust style and effective right-handed shot.

Landon comes from a distinguished hockey family in Las Vegas, brings a wealth of experience to his coaching role. His father, Ken Quinney, is a former NHL player, and his older brother, Gage Quinney, holds the distinction of being the first Vegas-born player to play in the NHL with the Vegas Golden Knights and is currently playing in the AHL for the Henderson Silver Knights.

Landon’s hockey DNA and journey through various competitive levels of hockey equips him with valuable insights, making him a great asset to our coaching team and a mentor to aspiring players.

Goalie Coach: Joe Delia

Joe Delia was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. He grew up playing hockey in the AAA ranks of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). After playing in the GTHL, he went on to play three years of Junior Hockey in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), where he spent his final season playing for the St. Michael’s Buzzers.

Upon completing his Junior career, Joe moved on to star in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA). In his freshman season, he suited up for the Davenport University Panthers where he won the 2011 ACHA DI National Championship. In his sophomore season, he decided to make a change and transferred to Arizona State University. At ASU, he led the program to a monumental win over NCAA DI Penn State University, a semifinal berth in the 2013 ACHA DI National Tournament, and capped his career off with another ACHA DI National Championship in 2014.

Joe has a strong passion for coaching goalies and growing the game of hockey in Las Vegas. Currently, he works with the majority of travel hockey teams within the Vegas Junior Golden Knights organization.

Team Manager: Charla Schaefer

Charla steps into the rink with a unique blend of warmth and professionalism that’s rare in the fast-paced world of hockey. As a liaison for our billet families, she’s the cornerstone of the support system for our players off the ice. Imagine her as the ultimate coordinator, ensuring that these families have everything they need to turn their homes into a nurturing environment for our rising stars. It’s not just about beds and meals; it’s about creating a space where our players can unwind, study, and feel a sense of belonging. And it doesn’t stop there. Charla extends this nurturing touch to the players’ families as well. She’s their main contact, their source of updates, reassurance, and support. In the emotional rollercoaster that is junior hockey, she’s the steady voice on the other end of the line, keeping families connected and informed, whether it’s celebrating a big win or navigating a tough loss.

But Charla’s role is more than just a familial liaison; she’s also the backbone of our players’ day-to-day experience, both at home and on the road. When it comes to ensuring our players’ welfare, think of her as the team’s guardian angel. She coordinates everything from travel arrangements to equipment needs, ensuring that our players can focus solely on their performance. Her presence means that our team can glide through travel schedules, hotel bookings, and meal plans without a hitch, keeping their minds clear and their spirits high. On the road, she’s the orchestrator of logistics, a master of details who ensures that each trip is as smooth as a freshly Zambonied ice rink. In short, Charla is more than just a team manager; she’s a pivotal player in the Thunderbirds’ quest for excellence, handling the intricacies of team management with the grace and precision of a top-line center making the perfect pass for a game-winning goal.

Contact Charla at charla@tbirds.vegas

Social Media & Game Day Ops: Hallie Roberts

Hallie Roberts has a passion for aviation, marketing, and sports. She holds a private pilot’s license, which she earned through rigorous training and dedication. Flying has always been a dream of hers, and obtaining her pilot’s license was a major milestone in her life.

Alongside her aviation pursuits, Hallie also possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing. She graduated from UNLV where she honed her skills in strategic marketing, branding, and digital advertising.

Currently, Hallie works for the Las Vegas Thunderbirds, where she holds the positions of Social Media Coordinator and Game Day Operations Specialist. Her role involves managing the team’s social media presence, crafting engaging content, and implementing marketing strategies to boost fan engagement and increase brand awareness. Additionally, Hallie ensures smooth and efficient operations during game days, coordinating various aspects of the event to create an enjoyable experience for both players and spectators. With her youthful energy and knowledge, Hallie contributes to creating an exciting and vibrant atmosphere both online and at the team’s live events.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Hallie enjoys spending time in the air, exploring new destinations as a pilot. She is also an advocate for promoting gender equality and diversity in the aviation industry, and she actively participates in organizations and initiatives that support this cause

Contact Hallie at hallie@tbirds.vegas

Accounting: Justin Doucette

Justin Doucette, aka “JD”, was born and raised in a suburb of Boston, MA.  Although not born yet, Justin was taught to appreciate the name Bobby Orr as well as the significance of the date May 10, 1970.  As was required of all Boston kids of that generation, Justin obtained his first autograph, a signed picture of Boston Bruins goalie, Pete Peeters, in 1983.  Aside from being a fan since a young age, Justin’s brief hockey career started and ended in the early 80’s, playing for various teams at local ponds, driveways, and gymnasiums (when it rained).

Moving to Las Vegas in 1984, Justin had a difficult time following the Bruins and at the time, hockey in Las Vegas was very, very limited.  Instead of abandoning hockey fandom altogether, Justin choose to follow Wayne Gretzky’s tenure with the nearby L.A. Kings.  For a brief period of time in the 90s, Justin enjoyed watching Radek Bonk and the Las Vegas Thunder reach the conference finals of the IHL.  Recently, Justin and his family are avid VGK fans, but they always keep an eye on what the Bruins are doing.

When not watching hockey, Justin graduated from UNLV cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting, followed by a summa cum laude Master of Science in Management.  Justin has been a Certified Public Accountant for about 30 years, exhibiting excellence in Accounting and Technology.

Contact Justin at accounting@tbirds.vegas

Owner: Joe Micatrotto

Joe Micatrotto II is a Founding Member and Principal of KAIROC U.S.A.  Joe is involved with all aspects of the KAIROC world and specifically focuses on strategic direction of the company.

Joe’s background is in executive leadership, operations, along with development. Joe earned his Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism (B.S.) degree from Western Kentucky University, where he attended on an athletic scholarship. He is currently a student at Harvard University (HBS) where he is working towards his OPM degree.

Very active in community service and associations, Joe sits on the Western Kentucky University Alumni Association Board, he is a trustee at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, member of the Las Vegas Bowl Football Committee, and a 9+ year member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO)

Owner: Marco Benvenuti

Originally from Italy, Marco Benvenuti moved to Las Vegas in 1999 to attend the UNLV Hotel College. After completing a Bachelor’s degree at UNLV, Marco further honed his expertise by pursuing a Graduate Degree at Cornell University. The highlight of his career so far has been the founding of Duetto in 2010. Starting merely as an Excel spreadsheet concept, Duetto has grown into a leading cloud solution providing predictive analytics software to over 5,000 hotels worldwide. At Duetto, Marco pioneered two groundbreaking concepts for the hospitality industry: Open Pricing and Revenue Strategy.

Despite stepping down from active management, Marco continues to provide valuable insights as a member of the Duetto board. Before his venture into Duetto, Marco served as the Executive Director of Wynn and Encore, founding and managing the Enterprise Strategy Group. He led several key areas including revenue management, data analytics, direct marketing, and online channels. His previous experiences also include significant roles at Caesars Entertainment, Expedia, and Four Seasons.

Marco, an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) Las Vegas Chapter and LGBTQ+ Global Network, holds a deep passion for local sports teams, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Las Vegas Aces, the Runnin’ Rebels, the Lady Rebels, and now, the Las Vegas Thunderbirds

Owner: Allan Creel

Allan Creel was born and raised in Las Vegas. Allan took over a local printing business founded by his grandfather in 1953 after attending Bentley University in Boston, MA. Allan was CEO of Creel Holdco and grew the company to multiple facilities across the United States, Canada and Europe before selling the company to a public corporation and transitioning out in 2017. Allan continues to operate a holding company and owns and operates companies in the marketing, manufacturing, technology, and hospitality space.

As a native Las Vegan, Allan spends much time giving back to the Las Vegas community. Allan holds an active role and past chair of the PGA Shriners Hospital for Children Open Advisory Committee and a 9+ member of the Young President’s Organization.

Allan loves all things Las Vegas sports including the Las Vegas Junior Golden Knights where his son took home the Youth Tier II 14U National Championship for the Vegas junior Golden Knights. Besides Las Vegas sports Allan’s true love in all teams Boston

Director of Hockey Operations: Adam Bonaldi

Adam took over the Las Vegas T-Birds in 2019. He was instrumental in the decision to move them from the WSHL to the USPHL.

During his time as the Owner Gm of the T-birds, his teams went a combined 113-59 and never missed the playoffs. They also achieved a National Championship birth for the 2022-23 season.

He has also helped over 25 players move on to Tier 2 and College Hockey with even a handful going on to play pro internationally.

Adam facilitated the sale of the T-Birds to the current ownership group in the spring of 2023 and has been asked to stay on as the Director of Hockey Operations for the team.

The new T-Birds ownership feels that Adam will be a huge asset to the players and the organization as they look to take the program to the next level.