Wilmington Junior Seahawks
Leadership Team
Hockey Director
Coach Rich is a native of Long Island, NY, and has been in hockey for 55 years as a player, coach, and Hockey Director. Coach Rich has a level 5 coaching certification with USA hockey and has coached all levels of youth hockey – from Beginners to 18U “AA” teams and is the Head Coach of the UNCW Seahawks, which play ACHA D2 college hockey.
After playing youth hockey on Long Island (mites thru midgets) Coach Rich played college hockey for RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) and was a member of the 1983 National Champions. Since moving to Myrtle Beach, SC, in 1997 and then to Wilmington, NC, in 2013, Coach Rich has been involved with the Wilmington Icehawks / Junior Seahawks for 15-plus years. Coach Rich took one year off from Wilmington hockey in 2017 to coach the Junior Hurricanes 18U “AA” team, which won a National Championship in Michigan. As a winner of two National Championships, Coach Rich knows the culture that is necessary within an association to build a healthy and successful hockey program. Coach Rich’s take on culture is - “Culture happens when the purpose is in place, the direction is clear, the standards are obvious, and everyone within the program is held accountable to it.”
Coach Rich has four objectives for the Junior Seahawks Hockey Program:
* Have a Championship Culture year in and year out.
* Create an environment whereby players can develop properly through a commitment to excellence so they are always ready to move to the next level.
* Represent the community with Professionalism and respect at all times.
* Create positive experiences, memories, & friendships that last a lifetime.
If you would like to ask Coach Rich a question, you can email him at coachrich@juniorseahawks.com
Coaches
Board of Directors
Rich Brouwer
Coach Rich is a native of Long Island, NY, and has been in hockey for 55 years as a player, coach, and Hockey Director. Coach Rich has a level 5 coaching certification with USA hockey and has coached all levels of youth hockey – from Beginners to 18U “AA” teams and is the Head Coach of the UNCW Seahawks, which play ACHA D2 college hockey.
After playing youth hockey on Long Island (mites thru Midgets) Coach Rich played college hockey for RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) and was a member of the 1983 National Champions. Since moving to Myrtle Beach, SC, in 1997 and then to Wilmington, NC, in 2013, Coach Rich has been involved with the Wilmington Icehawks / Junior Seahawks for 15-plus years. Coach Rich took one year off from Wilmington hockey in 2017 to coach the Junior Hurricanes 18U “AA” team, which won a National Championship in Michigan. As a winner of two National Championships, Coach Rich knows the culture that is necessary within an association to build a healthy and successful hockey program.
Rich is the vice president of hockey operations.
Tim McKeag
Tim is the current General Manager of Polar Ice Wilmington. Tim has a lifelong love of hockey and experience. He was a high level youth hockey player who played on the best teams in the state of North Carolina. Tim transitioned into coaching youth hockey and was the youth hockey director for the Wilmington Ice House before his current role. Tim has coached many of the athletes in our program. Tim is a member at large and his role on the board of directors is that of liaison between the Junior Seahawks and Polar Ice.
Patrick Perry
A 10 year firefighter with the Wilmington Fire Department, Patrick has spent a lifetime playing and coaching hockey as well as other athletics, including three years as the defensive coach for the U18 Wilmington Icehawks and currently as the defensive, skating, and strength & conditioning coach for the UNCW hockey team. Patrick will also be one of the consulting coaches for the Junior Seahawks focusing on strength and conditioning, power skating, defensive coaching and team systems. Pat is the secretary for the board of directors.
Kristian Sieman
Kristian has been in the finance industry in Wilmington, NC for 16 years and is currently the branch manager/owner for Integrity Home Mortgage Corp.
Originally from Springfield, Ohio, Kristian moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 2001 after ending his college basketball career. Kristian is a local Seahawk, having graduated from UNCW in 2005. Kristian received his B.A from UNCW and the Cameron School of Business with a major in Business Marketing & Management.
Kristian lives a very active lifestyle and enjoys all types of sports, from surfing, wakeboarding, and snowboarding to basketball and hockey. You will see Kristian at Polar Ice Wilmington either skating in one of his 4 different skates/leagues or volunteering at the UNCW hockey games.
He lives in Hampstead with his wife Lindsay and two daughters Emma 8 and Maddie 11.
His role on the board is financial oversight and reporting.
Brody Welte
Brody works as the founder/creator of PaddleFit, a globally respected SUP and surf coaching system that has trained 3500+ coaches in over 40 countries as well as a real estate professional in the Wilmington area. In 2015, Brody was the GM and head coach for Team USA's Gold medal-winning team at the ISA SUP and Surf World Championships in Sayulita, Mexico becoming the first and only USA coach in history to lead his team to an overall Gold medal. Brody was part of the leadership team for USA Surfing during the transition of surfing becoming an Olympic sport.
Brody also has extensive experience in the non-profit world sitting on the board of directors of seven organizations including being a founding member of two entities.
Brody has coached youth hockey for 7+ years and is a USA Hockey Level 4 coach.
He resides in the Surf City/Hampstead area with his wife Jessie and 3 sons, Jonah 13, Asher 10, and Phinn 7.
Brody is the current president of the board whose main responsibility is to convene and preside over board meetings.
Contact Board of Directors
Inquiries can be sent directly to the board by clicking on the email link below. The board meets approximately once a month during the season and your inquiry will be added to the agenda at the next meeting. Please keep in mind that the next meeting could be a few weeks away and the board's response will happen after the next meeting. For the fastest response please take your concern to your head coach and/or the hockey director. If you would like to contact the board of directors please use the email link below.