Coaching / Hockey Operations Staff

Phil Esposito | Head Coach / Director of Hockey Operations

The 2011-2012 campaign included the debut of "Espo" as head coach of the Danbury Whalers. Over the course of the season the Whalers scratched out a 28-20-5 record and finished 3rd in the Federal League, due very much in part to Esposito's leadership. A combination of great hockey sense and the tenacity to always put his players first, makes Espo a fan favorite here in Danbury. After eliminating Brooklyn and Thousand Islands respectivley, the Whalers playoffs ended on a dissapointing note as they were swept in 4 games by former Whalers head coach Chris Fiorolo and his New Jersey Outlaws.

Most recently, before joining the Danbury Whalers, Esposito served as head coach for the Hudson Valley Bears (08-09) and Connecticut C-Dogs of the NEPHL (09-10).  Phil also was a player-assistant coach for the New England Stars in the 07-08 season.

His prior coaching experience was back in the 1991 - 1992 season. While out with a season ending knee injury, he joined on as an assistant coach, to ex-NHLer Eddie Johnstone of the New York Rangers, with the Vernon Lakers of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League and captured his second Centennial Cup National Championship in two years.

Esposito had a long playing career which began at the United States Military Academy (NCAA), in West Point, New York.  As a player, Phil has made stops in the International Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, the United Hockey League and the Southern Hockey League. His best professional years were in the East Coast Hockey League for the Johnstown Chiefs and two seasons with Mobile Mysticks, where he again played for Eddie Johnstone.

Esposito has a rich history in Connecticut hockey, stemming back from youth leagues in East Haven, to his years at the Salisbury Prep School in Litchfield, and the inaugural season of the New Haven Knights in the UHL.

Phil and his wife Danielle live in Connecticut with their entourage of animals.

Doug Jones | Director of Southeastern Scouting

Doug Jones grew up in Connecticut and played for the Middlesex Red Devils Youth Hockey program. Doug played professional hockey from 1991 – 1993, for the Los Angeles Jets of the WPHL (then the WCHL), where in two injury filled seasons, he managed 5 goals and 13 assists for 18 points while racking up 98 penalty minutes and winning the league championship in 1992.

Following the season, Doug moved into various roles with the expansion NHL Anaheim Ducks as a Coach’s game day Assistant, working with coaches as such Ron Wilson, Tim Army, Newell Brown, Mike Babcock and Paul MacLean and scouting video. During the summer he spent his time running the Anaheim Ducks Summer hockey Camps with former NHL six time all star, Charlie Simmer, five time Stanley cup winner, Rick Chartraw and Brian Hayward for four years.

In 1997, Doug began a 10 year stretch where he was the Director of Hockey Development for the Wayne Gretzky Roller Hockey Centers. Doug also ran the Great One’s International Hockey School making stops overseas to multiple locations. During his tenure with the centers, Jones oversaw operations of five facilities including one on the east coast and four on the west coast. The centers at one time boasted membership of over 15,000 active players with all ages participating, until closing in late 2006. Doug has worked with 100's of players who have played juniors, college and professional hockey most recently Garrett Haar of the Washington Capitals and Nic Kerdiles and Ryan Lasch of the Anaheim Ducks. He lists his favorite moment(s) as coaching with Ron Duguay and winning a California Squirt "B" championship in 1997 and being a part of the Hartford Whalers organization from 1987 - 1989.

Currently, Doug lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with his wife, Dawn and their three children, Shayne,(19), a college student, Justin,(19), in the US Navy and Samantha (11).

John Krupinsky | Director of Player Relations

Guy Guglielmi | Team Equipment Manager

Steve Levatino Sr. | Team Equipment Manager

Brendan Keane - Head Equipment Manager / Director of Amateur Hockey