Pat O’Neill
Born and raised in Freeport, Illinois, O’Neill earned his Bachelors and Master’s degree in Education from Illinois State University, as well as his Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Augusta University. With over a decade as a high school educator, four years as a high school principal, and a decade e working in training and business development and operations, O’Neill brings plenty of experience and knowledge to the Center of Excellence.
Jordan Pietrus
A graduate of Brown University with an MBA in International Business from Coventry University, Pietrus has no shortage of achievements including being named to the ECAC All-Academic team, voted a finalist for the Ivy League Student-Athlete of the Year, awarded NCAA Hockey Humanitarian Finalist, and awarded the 2010 NCAA Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award. While competing for Coventry in the EIHL and pursuing his MBA, Pietrus served as a lecturer in Undergraduate and Masters levels courses at Coventry University.
After wrapping up a nine-year professional playing career that in ECHL (South Carolina, Trenton and Elmira) and overseas (England, Poland and Denmark), Pietrus led the charge inlaunching the first TPH Center of Excellence west of the Mississippi River. After one year at our Denver location Pietrus has stepped up to help lead all of our Colorado locations. The Winnipeg native has now made Colorado his home with his wife and daughter.
Brett Blatchford
Brett Blatchford, a native of Temperance, Michigan, is the Executive Director at the TPH Academy in Phoenix. Blatchford spent three seasons in the NAHL with the Texas Tornado, where he was a three-time NAHL National Champion and captain for two of three seasons. In the 2005-06 season with the Tornado, he was awarded the NAHL Academic Player of the Year and named to the First All-Star Team. Blatchford graduated from the University of Notre Dame which included four seasons (2006-2010) with the Fighting Irish hockey team. While there, he helped Notre Dame to the first National Championship appearance in school history and was a two-time CCHA champion. Following his college career, he played professionally in the CHL, ECHL, and AHL. Brett has 10 years of coaching experience including time with Alliance (Texas), Hockey Club Dallas, the Colorado Thunderbirds, the University of Denver, and most recently the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes. Brett lives in North Phoenix with his wife, Kaci, and his two daughters Stevie and June.