National Bound Coaching Staff

“My goal as a coach for the National Bound Program is to use my hockey knowledge and experiences to help our players develop the skills they need to reach the next level. I am committed to developing our players into outstanding young men. I know firsthand that the lessons players learn through hockey translate to countless other life skills such as accountability and being a good teammate.” 

“I believe in continuously adapting to systems that fit our team and establishing a team identity that we play like regardless of competition. Having played for many different coaches at different levels, I have seen varying coaching styles and look forward to applying the ones I found to be the most efficient to our team.” 

Playing Experience:

Nick has 20 years of playing experience on several teams starting with the Armstrong Arrows. There were times when Nick was playing for 3 different teams all in the same season. Nick made the jump to AAA hockey with the Pittsburgh Hornets when he was 13. He started playing prep school hockey with Shady Side Academy when he was 15. After a year of prep hockey, he decided to move back to AAA with the Penguins Elite where he was a part of the first National Championship Team in 2016. In the summer of 2016, Nick signed with the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). Nick spent 2 years with the Wildcats, serving as assistant captain in his rookie year and captain of the team in his second year as well as representing Team NOJHL at the Eastern Canada Cup. Following his junior career, Nick committed to play NCAA DIII hockey at Wilkes University. Needing a change, Nick transferred to play ACHA DI hockey at Aquinas College where he served as captain of the team in his Junior and Senior year.  

Coaching Experience:

This will be Nick's 4th year coaching with the National Bound Program, 1st year as the 18u Head Coach.

I am very excited to join the 19u National Bound girls' program! Seeing the accomplishments through the years shows the dedication to strive for greatness on the team. I was a part of the 2018-19 team that brought home a district championship win; I plan to help the team reach that again. We will be utilizing on and off-ice training to help take the girls' skills and IQs to another level throughout the season. I will be using a balance of individual skill training along with developing team play. The team will be given opportunities to further their competitiveness as well as camaraderie. I plan to teach the girls how to become better students of the game. By helping the Arrows grow, they will be better prepared for their future endeavors of playing higher levels or in college. My goal is to help these girls become best prepared to be great hockey players and better young adults. 

Playing Experience:

I have about sixteen years of playing experience at multiple levels. I started my youth career with State College Icers, playing 8u through 14u as a player and goalie. During my 14u season, I joined the 19u National Bound Mid-State Mustangs team, staying with them for three seasons. After Mustangs, I moved to play here at Armstrong in 2018. That season we won districts, winning a bid to the National Championship and ending the season ranked in the top 17. I was also a part of the Connecticut Polar Bears 19u tier 1. I was recruited and committed to playing at Alvernia University at the D3 level. 

Coaching experience:

I’m a level 4 USA hockey-certified coach. I started at 20 years old as an assistant to a 12u girls' PAHL team. In the 2022-23 season, I started my head coach career with a 12u PAHL co-ed team, ending the season in 3rd place. For the following season, 2023-24, I coached a 14u co-ed team along with creating a 16u AA Mid-state Mustang team from scratch. I continued to head coach the Mustangs in the 2024-25 season. I have been a coach/counselor at multiple camps since I was 14 years old. I also founded my summer hockey training program, LA’s Girls Hockey Academy, that I plan on bringing back this summer. 

I am very excited to begin my first season as the 16U Head Coach and my third year coaching in the Armstrong Arrows National Bound Program. Having been part of this program as a player when it first began, I take great pride in continuing what has been built and pushing it forward. I know what it takes to compete at the national level, and my goal is to help lead the next 16U team back to Nationals.

As a former Arrows player who advanced to the USA Hockey National Championship, I understand the commitment, culture, and daily habits required to reach that level. I am committed to developing our players both on and off the ice. I look forward to continuing to build a program that competes every year and consistently sends teams to Nationals.

Playing Experience:

I began playing hockey at six years old with the Armstrong Arrows and have accumulated 15 years of playing experience at multiple levels. I returned to the Arrows when the National Bound Program was first created and was a member of the inaugural 16U team that advanced to the USA Hockey National Championship game. I went on to compete at Nationals four consecutive years with the Arrows — three times at 16U and once at 18U.

In addition to my time with the Arrows, I played four years for Butler High School, serving as team captain during my senior season. After my first 18U season with the Arrows, I traveled to Maine to play in the USPHL for the Twin City Thunder. I also competed in my final 18U eligible season with the Maine Moose, where our team advanced to Nationals. I later played one season of ACHA Division I hockey at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

Coaching Experience:

This will be my third season coaching in the National Bound Program and my first season serving as the 16U Head Coach. I previously played for Lee Grafton for four years and have coached alongside him for the past two seasons, gaining valuable experience in player development and building competitive teams. I am committed to continuing the strong tradition of the Armstrong Arrows National Bound Program while helping develop the next generation of National Bound players.

14u National Bound Head Coach- Ethan Miller

Ethan Miller is excited to be entering his 3nd season as a coach with the Armstrong Arrows National Bound Program.

Playing Experience:

Ethan began his playing career at 5 years old with the Armstrong Arrows. Ethan played a total of 13 years all with the Armstrong Arrows. 6 of those years was with the Armstrong Arrows National Bound Program which included a trip to the USA Hockey National Championships in 2022.

Coaching Experience:

This will be Ethan's 2nd year with the National Bound Program and his 3rd season coaching with the Armstrong Arrows.

"My goal as a coach in the National Bound Program is to develop players and push them to be the best they can by on and off the ice. I will use my hockey experiences to help get these players to the ultimate goal, a USA Hockey National Championship. I value work ethic, discipline, and leadership and will put my best foot forward to get the same characteristics out of the players."

Playing Experience:

Luke started playing hockey at 7 years old. He has 10 years of playing experience. He played three seasons with the Armstrong Arrows National Bound Program. Luke was named an Alternate Captain of the 2018 Armstrong Arrows. He was a part of three consecutive trips to the USA Hockey National Championships from 2017-2020.

Coaching Experience:

This will be Luke's 2nd year coaching with the Armstrong Arrows National Bound Program.

Nick Mish joined the Arrows as goalie coach in the 2023-24 season. Coach Mish is the Owner and Founder of ETM Goaltending Development. Nick is the current goalie coach for the Johnstown Tomahawks Junior A in the NAHL as well as their affiliate the Esmark Stars AAA program. Additionally, he is a goalie development lead for the mid am district of USA hockey and lends his knowledge goalie coaching multiple travel organizations in western PA.