Coaching Experience
North Allegheny JV and Varsity Coach
Sept 2020 to Present
Playing Experience
Coach Amanda was born and raised in Minnesota, where she began playing hockey in 1994. After 4 years of competing at the NCAA Div. III level for Chatham, Amanda returned home and embarked on her coaching journey in both the youth and high school ranks. Amanda moved back to Pittsburgh in 2007 and landed coaching opportunities with Mt. Lebanon Hornets, Pittsburgh Puffins Women’s Hockey, and Pittsburgh I.C.E. before coming to North Pittsburgh. This will be Coach Amanda’s 5th season with North Pittsburgh, originally starting on the boy’s side and transitioning to the girls’ program last season in the rebirth of the 14U team. 2023-2024 will mark her 21st year coaching hockey. As a USA Hockey Level 5 Master Certified Coach who has worked with players of all ages and skill levels, Amanda brings a wealth of knowledge and an adaptability for coaching the players she has to the best of their potential. She believes in development and improvement as the ultimate goal. Amanda is excited to move up to the 19U team and hopes to continue the growth of the girls’ hockey program at North Pittsburgh.
John has served as head coach and assistant coach over the past 5 years since graduating college, where he priorly played for Robert Morris University's ACHA D3 team. He also has been actively involved in youth programs with both Next Step Hockey and North Pittsburgh's In-House and ADM. John's coaching philosophy includes creating a safe and fun environment for kids and young adults to not only learn and develop skills in hockey, but to also work on their life skills.
Coach Tyler Mesisca comes to North Pittsburgh Wildcats with plenty of experience coaching and playing Ice Hockey in our area. Along with his experience, Coach Mesisca brings a history of great achievements, championships, and awards.
Coaching Experience
Playing experience:
Scott has been coaching at North Pittsburgh for 15 years. A native of Ontario, he grew up playing hockey in the Greater Toronto Area and Peterborough region. His playing experiences included playing on a midget provincial championship team as well as playing junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes.
While at North Pittsburgh, he has coached numerous teams from ADM and U10 to U18 and at several skill levels ranging from A-Minor Gold to AA. As a coach, his practices are up-tempo and blend skill development, systems, and puck movement based which are age appropriate. Within the organization, he has also served as an evaluator, skill instructor, and age-group coordinator. He has four children, each of which played for North Pittsburgh.
I want every player I coach to fall in love with the game first and foremost. I believe if a player loves the game, they will love coming to the rink and with that they will develop as a player and become a great teammate. Hockey should be a sport that brings friends and families together.
| Moon High School – Varsity | Head Coach | 2019-2023 |
| Pens Elite U10 & U12 Girls | Head Coach | 2019-2020 |
| Steel City Selects U16 Girls | Head Coach | 2018-2019 |
| Steel City Selects U19/U16 Girls | Head Coach | 2017-2018 |
| Steel City Selects U19 Girls | Head Coach | 2016-2017 |
| Pens Elite U19 Girls | Head Coach | 2015-2016 |
| Arctic Foxes U18AA | Head Coach | 2015-2016 |
| Arctic Foxes U16A Major | Head Coach | 2014-2015 |
USA Hockey Certified Level 4 Coach
USA Hockey Certified Level 4 Official
Coaching Experience
Playing Experience
North Pittsburgh Youth Hockey Association is actively recruiting head coaches for the 11U Birth Year team. If you are aware of an experienced coach that would be interested, please contact Keith Jackman at directorofhockey@wildcatshockey.net for further information.
At the end of coach Newill’s playing days his extensive coaching career began 37 years ago as a goalie coach for the North Hills Amateur Hockey Association. During the years to come he coached Fox Chapel’s Varsity as head coach, goalie coach and director of hockey for 7 years. Ed then began a 15-year period coaching the Pittsburgh Amateur Penguins Midget Major AAA as head coach, goalie coach & goalie director for the entire program. He then moved on to the Pittsburgh Vipers AA Midgets as head coach for 7 years. At this point Ed was recruited to head coach the California University of Pennsylvania CHA team. His 6 years with California University was filled with successes including 2 CHA-NCHA league Championships (Back to Back) First CHA coach to achieve this. He was a scout and recruited for the CalU program. Coach Newill has directed and run multiple goalie schools and clinics. Private lessons and most recently has held the goalie coach/director for North Pittsburgh Wildcats. This 2018-19 season will mark his 3rd year with the NP Wildcats. A milestone in coach Newill’s career was coaching his 1800th game in December of 2012-13 season. Ironically that game was a loss and the only loss that season is route to a second league championship.