HOME OF
THE FLORIDA JR BLADES
ROD SIMMONS
PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS
Rod Simmons brings over 30 years of hockey experience to the Jr Blades organization. For the past two seasons, Simmons has operated as the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for both Premier and Elite teams. In his first season, Coach Simmons brought both teams to the USPHL Playoffs and Premier all the way to the USPHL National Tournament in Massachusetts.
Simmons’ coaching career began in 1998 with Jr Hockey in Ontario, Canada. Since then, Simmons has coached for various Jr Hockey and NCAA Hockey teams in the Northeast United States and Canada. Most recently prior to joining the Jr Blades, Simmons worked as the Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach at Bridgton Academy (USHS-Prep) in Maine. Simmons has been awarded Coach of the Year four different times in two different leagues and has developed hundreds of players who have gone on to have successful collegiate and professional careers.
Doug Rose
HEAD COACH
USPHL Elite + Premier
Doug Rose enters his fourth year of coaching, second year with the Florida Jr Blades. Rose brings over 10 years of Player Development experience with him, many of which while also playing professional hockey. He spent time playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) with the Knoxville Ice Bears and in the BeneLiga playing for Hijs Hokij Den Haag, operating as player / Video Coach for the latter. Most recently prior to joining the Jr Blades, Rose was an Assistant Coach with the EHL/EHLP Philadelphia Little Flyers as well as a Skill Development/Powering Skating Coach for the Little Flyers Organization as a whole. Rose has also spent time with the Maine Nordiques Organization as both the Director of Youth Hockey and the Head Coach of the U16 AAA team.
Ryan Cote
Assistant Coach / Goalie Coach
Ryan Cote, a native of Arlington, MA, joins the Florida Jr Blades after spending last season with the Bradley University Braves (ACHA DII) as an Assistant Coach / Head Goalie Coach. Prior to his coaching career with the Braves, Cote played ACHA II hockey for the University of Louisville as well as multiple years played in the USPHL prior to college. Cote will bring his extensive knowledge of the goaltending position to the Jr Blades and serve as an Assistant Coach on Head Coach Doug Rose's staff for the 2023-2024 season.
Ron Kinnear
OWNER
With over 35 years of experience in the hockey business, Ron Kinnear brings a wealth of knowledge to the Florida Jr Blades Organization. Ron also oversees the P.A.L. Islanders (Long Island, NY) Midget, Jr, and NCDC programs in the USPHL.
Ron has helped lead teams to 12 USA Hockey National appearances with a National Championship Title in 2008. Ron has produced numerous NHL, professional, and collegiate players and continues to dedicate his time to the development of USA hockey.