Staff

Nick Field

General Manager

As General Manager Field will oversee all hockey and business operations and will work closely with the Director of Hockey Operations. Field will be an integral part of identifying player talent along with scheduling and day-to-day hockey and business operations.

Prior to joining the Rockers, Field has extensive experience as both a player and coach. Field playing career started at the Junior A level playing for the Cleveland Barons of the NAHL and the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL. Field then attended Ferris State University, joining their NCAA Division I hockey program. After college, he also played professional games in the ECHL for the Texas Wildcatters and the Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL.

Post-playing career, Field began a coaching, a career that lasted over a decade. He ran and oversaw both the varsity and junior varsity programs at Lake Orion High School then took over the head coaching role for Oakland University’s ACHA Division I program for two seasons.

Nick is a graduate of Ferris State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

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Gordie Brown

Head Coach

Emailgordie.brown@mcrockershockey.com

A native of Brighton, Michigan, Gordie Brown has spent the last fifteen years coaching, scouting, and assisting hundreds of players in their development for Junior, College, and Professional Hockey Programs. Gordie has been blessed to work with many talented players including Colin Belik (Manitoba Moose - AHL), Kevin Fitzgerald (South Carolina Stingrays - ECHL), Kurt Gosselin (Toledo Walleye - ECHL), Peter Thome (Idaho Steelheads -ECHL), Jack Berry (Peoria Rivermen - SPHL), Brett Miller (Rensselaer Polytech Institute - NCAA), and many other prominent figures in the hockey community.

During his fifteen years of coaching, Gordie has amassed a record of 423-265-41-6. His coaching resume includes Head Coach of Compuware AAA Midget Major, Northville Men’s Varsity Hockey, Michigan Hockey Advancement, and Michigan Elite. Gordie has also been an Assistant Coach with the Aberdeen Wings (NAHL), Lansing Wolves (NA3HL), HoneyBaked AAA Midget Major, Team Michigan, West Michigan Warriors, and Team Metro West. Gordie has directed hockey clinics including the Mid-West Junior Training Program, Huron Hockey School, Michigan High School Excellence Camp, and Total Package Hockey Summer Camp as well.

Gordie is a USA Hockey Level 5 Certified Coach and has been a presenter at USA Hockey Level 1, 2, & 3 coaching clinics. In addition to coaching, Gordie has spent time scouting for USHL and NAHL programs and has worked with the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Selects Program to assist in the selection of the State’s best 15u and 16u hockey players to represent Michigan.

Always looking to improve as a person and being passionate about the game, Gordie has attended numerous hockey clinics including the NHL Coaches Association Global Coaches Clinic, The Coaches Site Live Conference, Minnesota Hockey Coaches Clinic, Barry Smith (NHL – Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Buffalo) Coaches Clinic, and the USA Hockey Symposium where he has attained his Master Level Coach certification with USA Hockey. Gordie also has experience with elite-athlete training and nutrition, attending events in Texas, Ohio, Minnesota, and Michigan. With his strong communication skills, Gordie has been privileged to work with players from North America, as well as from Sweden, Finland, Russia, Czechoslovakia, Germany, England & France.

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Bill Ruggiero

Goaltending Coach

Emailbill.ruggiero@mcrocershockey.com

Born in Ventura California, Bill Ruggiero moved to Michigan to play for the Fraser Falcons Midget AAA hockey team. Well versed in the world of hockey, Ruggiero has competed in the Canadian Tier2 Junior League, and played 4 years of Major Juniors for the London Knights, Plymouth Whalers, & Moncton Wildcats. He was invited as a Free Agent to the Nashville Predators camp in 2001 and played in the ECHL-Johnstown Chiefs, UHL-Motor City Mechanics, CHL-Tulsa Oilers, IHL-Flint Generals, AHL-Cleveland Barons, Windsor Saints-MLH and Suomi Sarja-Kiekko Laser Finland. Ruggiero was also on Emergency Backup Goalie Status for the Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings.

Bill was awarded the David Pinkney trophy in 1999-2000 (Lowest OHL Team GAA) and received the All-Star team selection, Team MVP, Tim Hortons Three Stars Award, Defensive Player of the year, and Best Import Goalie playing for the Moncton Wildcats QMJHL. Ruggiero was also Defensive Player of the year in 2005 and 2007 for the Tulsa Oilers CHL, Ironman award Tulsa Oilers in 2007, Second Team All-Star Windsor Saints MLH in 2008 and Team MVP Kiekko Laser Finland in 2009.

Ruggiero is a current owner of CatEye Goaltending, a Metro-Detroit Goalie school that offers camps, clinics and lessons. Current organizations involved include SCS Saints, Metro Jets, OJGAAA, Big Boy, ESH Bulldogs, L'Ance Creuse Unified High School Varsity, Grosse Pointe North Girls High School Varsity.

Ruggiero has been coaching goalies for over 25 years in Michigan, Oklahoma, Canada and Finland.  He currently lives in in Clinton Twp with Fiancé, Kelli, and their daughter, Gigi.

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Vanessa Litchard

Director of Marketing and Communications

Emailvanessa.litchard@mcrockershockey.com

A graduate from the University of Michigan, Vanessa Litchard got her degree in Communications and Media while focusing her time working with Michigan Athletics. Vanessa worked with many sports programs in Ann Arbor, but especially loved working at Michigan hockey games. Being a die-hard hockey fan since childhood and growing up rooting for her brother's teams and the Red Wings. Working with a hockey team has always been a goal of hers.

Vanessa is well versed when it comes to sports marketing, having experience in both on-camera and behind-the-scenes settings. She helped create a Michigan sports based social media page during the pandemic that achieved over 5,000 followers in six months. She also spent time performing in-person and remote interviews of Michigan coaches and athletes.

As our Director of Marketing and Communications, Vanessa will be running the Rocker's social media pages while creating graphic, video and photo content. She will be a key player in shaping the Motor City Rocker's brand image for their inaugural season.

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Kris Pettengill

Manager - Ticket Sales

Emailkris.pettengill@mcrockershockey.com

As the Manager of Ticket Sales, Kris Pettengill will oversee all ticket operations including group ticket sales. Kris will also assist in organizing group event experiences at Rockers hockey games.

A lifelong hockey fan and self-proclaimed rink rat, Pettengill has always participated in the sport in some fashion. She has over 40 years of experience as a player, office worker, and on-and-off ice Official for youth teams through professional leagues, including a multitude of International Silver Stick Tournaments in her hometown of Port Huron, Michigan. Kris was also instrumental in organizing and overseeing the Port Huron Winter Classic, a large pond hockey tournament within the confines of Port Huron’s Memorial Stadium.

Kris is a two-time graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Sociology and Secondary Education, majoring in English and minoring in Social Science. She is also a graduate of Saginaw Valley State University where she earned her Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership/Administration.

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