BRETT OLSON,

owner/head instructor

Coach Olson grew up in Superior, Wisconsin, and played youth hockey with the Superior Amateur Hockey Association (SAHA). He was a 3-year varsity hockey letter winner at Superior High School, winning two WIAA State Hockey Championships and one WIAA State Hockey Runner-Up. He was a Wisconsin Mr. Hockey finalist and also lettered multiple years as a multi-sport athlete in both varsity baseball and football.

Olson then went on to the USHL in 2005 to play for the Waterloo Black Hawks, where he was voted team captain during the 2007/08 season. He held the same role as an upperclassman at Michigan Tech, then began a 10-year professional career in 2012, playing in the American Hockey League and Europe.

As a Black Hawk, Olson skated in 151 regular season games, producing 35 goals and 56 assists. He was a member of Watrerloo’s 2006/07 Anderson Cup Championship team. Olson also took the ice for two Hawks squads that played for the Clark Cup, skating in 20 total postseason games with six goals and 11 assists.

From Waterloo, Olson advanced to Michigan Tech. He finished either first or second in scoring for the Huskies during three of his four NCAA seasons, notching 42 goals and 51 assists in 127 games.

At the professional level, Olson debuted with the Abbotsford Heat in the fall of 2012. After two seasons in British Columbia, his next two campaigns were under contract with the NHL’s Florida Panthers, skating for their AHL affiliates in San Antonio and Portland, Maine. All totaled, Olson played in over 500 professional regular season games, notching 286 points (116 goals, 170 assists), including six years in either Germany or Austria.

Prior to becoming a full-time coach, Olson assisted during Waterloo Orientation and Futures Camps beginning when he was still a player at Michigan Tech. He is also the founder and head instructor for the Twin Ports Pro Development Camp in Superior, Wisconsin.

HOMETOWN

Superior, Wisconsin

CURRENT POSITION

Assistant Coach of the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL), 2022 – Current

COACHING EXPERIENCE

  • Part-time instructor & evaluator – Waterloo Black Hawks USHL
  • On-ice instructor – Michigan Tech Hockey Development Center
  • On-ice instructor – Acceleration North, Arden Hills MN

EDUCATION

BS in Kinesiology & Physiology, double minor in Coaching & Psychology, Michigan Technological University, 2012

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

  • Retired from playing as a professional after 10 seasons
  • 582 professional games played
  • Dusseldorfer EG (DEL) 21-22
  • KEV Krefled (DEL) 2020-2021
  • ERC Ingolstadt (DEL) 2017-2020
  • EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 2016-17
  • Portland Pirates AHL 2015-16 (NHL Affiliate – Florida Panthers)
  • San Antonio Rampage AHL 2014-15 (NHL Affiliate – Florida Panthers)
  • Abbotsford Heat AHL 2012-14 (NHL Affiliate – Calgary Flames)
  • Michigan Tech Huskies WCHA 2005-08 (NCAA Division I)
  • Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 2005-08 (Tier I Junior A)
  • Superior Spartans WIAA 2002-05 (H.S. Varsity)

ACCOLADES

  • Signed first professional AHL contract in October 2012
  • Signed first professional NHL contract in July 2014
  • ERC Ingolstadt Assistant Captain 2019-20
  • Portland Pirates Assistant Captain 2015-16
  • Michigan Tech Captain 2010-11 & 2011-12, Assistant Captain 2009-10
  • Michigan Tech Merv Young Award MVP 2009-10
  • Michigan Tech Gary Crosby Leading Scorer Award 2009-10 & 2011-12
  • Michigan Tech Robert Matovich Outstanding Freshmen Award 2008-09
  • 2x WCHA All-Academic Team 2010-11 & 2011-12
  • Waterloo Black Hawks Captain 2007-08
  • USHL All-Star 2007-08
  • USHL Anderson Cup Champion 2006-07
  • 2x WIAA State Champion 2002-03 & 2004-05

Twin Ports Pro Development Camp Staff

Brenden Kotyk

Brenden Kotyk

Head Coach

Hometown: Regina, Saskatchewan

Playing Experience:
Currently the Assistant Coach for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Retired from playing after 3 pro seasons with over 180 games played
Toledo Walleye ECHL 2018-2020
Hartford Wolfpack AHL 2017-18 (New York Rangers Affiliate)
Greenville Swamprabbits 2017-18 (Rangers affiliate)
Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs 2013-17 (NCAA Division 1)
College of St. Scholatica 2012-13 (NCAA Division 3)
Dauphin Kings 2010-12 (MJHL Junior A)
Humboldt Broncos 2009-11 (SJHL Junior A)

Education:
Bachelor of Applied Human Sciences, Public Health Education & Promotion, University of Minnesota Duluth, 2017

Accolades:
Signed first professional AHL contract, June 2017
Assistant Captain Minnesota Duluth 2016-17
UMD Goldie Wolfe Award (Most inspirational player) 2016-17
UMD Shjon Podein Community Service Award 2016-17
Derek Hines Unsug Hero award Finalist 2016-17
NCHC Champions 2016-17
All Rookie team with St.Scholatica 2012-13
Captain Dauphin Kings 2011-12
MJHL Defenseman of the Year 2011-12

Gabbie Hughes

Gabbie Hughes

Instructor

Hometown: Lino Lakes, Minnesota

Playing Experience:
UMD Bulldogs Women’s Hockey 2018-present
U23 Women’s National Team Festival – 2021
USA U22 hockey team – 2019
USA Under-18 hockey team (gold medal) – 2017
Centennial Cougars HS-Varsity 2013-2018

Education:
BS in Education Studies, University of Minnesota Duluth, 2022
Masters of Education, University of Minnesota Duluth, In Progress

Accolades:
Assistant Captain UMD 2021-2022
Captain UMD 2022-2023 season
Top 3 Patty Kaz Finalist 2021-2022
Hockey Humanitarian Award finalist 2021-2022
MVP University of Minnesota Duluth (2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2021-2022)
First team All-American 2021-2022
All-WCHA first team 2021-2022
All-WCHA second team 2019-2020, 2020-2021
All-WCHA third team 2018-2019
All-WCHA All Rookie team 2018 – 2019
USCHO All Rookie team 2018 – 2019
WCHA All-Academic team 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022
NCAA Tournament – frozen four in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022
NCAA Tournament – championship 2021 – 2022

Andy Welinski

Andy Welinski

Instructor

Hometown: Duluth, Minnesota

Playing Experience:
Currently in his 6th year of professional hockey
Over 300 professional games played – 46 in the NHL
Stockton Heat (AHL) 2022-Current
Lehigh Vally Phantoms (AHL) 2020-21 (NHL Affiliate Philadelphia Flyers)
Anaheim Ducks NHL 2017-19, 2020-21
San Diego Gulls AHL 2016-19, 2020-21 (NHL Affiliate – Anaheim Ducks)
University of Minnesota-Duluth 2012-16 (NCAA Division I)
Green Bay Gamblers USHL 2010-12 (Tier I Junior A)
Duluth East Greyhounds MSHSL 2008-10 (H.S. Varsity)

Education:
Bachelor Degree in Communication, University of Minnesota-Duluth 2016

Accolades:
Signed first professional NHL contract in June 2016 (Anaheim Ducks)
First NHL game played on December 11, 2017
University of Minnesota-Duluth Team Captain 2015-16
All-NCHC Second Team 2014-2015 & 2015-16
WCHA All-Rookie Team 2012-13
USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year 2011-12
USHL Defensemen of the Year 2011-12
Clark Cup/Anderson Cup Champion 2011-12 (Green Bay Gamblers, USHL)
Drafted 3rd round (83rd overall) by the Anaheim Ducks 2011

Addie Young

Addie Young

Instructor

Hometown: Superior, Wisconsin

Playing Experience:
UWEC Blugolds 2018-2022 (NCAA Division III)
Superior Spartans WIA 2014-2018 (H.S. Varsity)

Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, 2021

Accolades:
ALL-WIAC Honorable Mention 2021-2022
ALL- WIAC Sportsmanship Team 2021-2022
Assistant Team Captain UWEC 2021-2022
4x ALL-WIAC Academic Team
4x AHCA All American Scholar Athlete
GWHCA Ms. Hockey Award Finalist (Superior Spartans) 2018

Koby Bender

Koby Bender

Instructor

Hometown: Cloquet, Minnesota

Playing Experience:
University of Minnesota Duluth 2017-2022 (NCAA Division I)
Muskegon Lumberjacks 2016-2017 (USHL)
Minnesota Wilderness 2015-2016
 (NAHL)
Cloquet Lumberjacks 2012-2015 (MSHSL)

Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Finance

Accolades:
Mike Sertich Award most improved player 2020-2021
5x NCAA Scholar-Athlete 2017-2022
NCHC Conference Champions 2021-22
NCAA National Champions 2018-19
NCHC Conference Champions 2018-19
NCAA National Champions 2017-18

Paul Bittner

Paul Bittner

Instructor

Hometown: Crookston, Minnesota
Playing Experience:
Currently going into 7th pro year
Over 240 professional games played
2016-2020 Cleveland Monsters (AHL)
2020-21 Väsby IK (Allsvenskan, Sweden)
2021 MoraIK (Allsvenskan)
2021-2022 Düsseldorf EG (DEL)
2013-2016 Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
2011-2012 Crookston HS (MSHSL)

Experience:
Extensive coaching experience over the past 6 years with all ages and in many different settings across northern Minnesota.

Accolades:
Drafted 2nd round 38th overall by Columbus Blue Jackets in 2015
2013 WHL champion
2013 Memorial Cup Runner-up

Benjamin Patt

Benjamin Patt

Goalie Instructor

Hometown: Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Playing Experience:
University of Minnesota Duluth 2017-2022 (NCAA Division 1)
Notre Dame Hounds 2016-17 (SJHL Junior A)
Woodstock Slammers 2015-16 (MHL Junior A)
Notre Dame Hounds 2014-15 (SJHL Junior A)
Premier Elite Athletics Collegiate 2013-14 (U18 AAA)

Education:
Masters of Business Administration in General Management, University of Minnesota Duluth 2022

Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Supply Chain Management 2021

Accolades:
USA Hockey Humanitarian Award Nominee 2021-22
UMD Shjon Podein Community Service Award 2021-22

5x NCAA Scholar-Athlete 2017-2022
NCHC Conference Champions 2021-22
NCAA National Champions 2018-19
NCHC Conference Champions 2018-19
NCAA National Champions 2017-18
MVP Notre Dame Hounds 2016-17
Assistant Captian Notre Dame Hounds 2016-17
MHL Goaltender of the Year (Highest SV% and GAA) 2015-16

Past & Present Instructors

Hunter Miska
Adam Krause
Adam Krause
Mike Sislo
Adam Krause
Adam Krause
Adam Krause
Hunter Miska
Hunter Miska

Camp Counselors are all current area NCAA Division I/III or JR Level players.

Camp Sponsors

Hockey Camp Sponsorship

If you would like to be a sponsor of the Twin Ports Pro Development Camp, please go to our Camp Details page for more information and inquire through our Contact Us page.