Directors, Staff & Coordinators

Neil, a native of New Brighton, Minnesota, is a proven leader in youth hockey development with a track record of building high-performing programs, developing players, and establishing strong organizational culture. He played his youth and high school hockey in the Irondale program before continuing his athletic career at College of St. Scholastica, where he competed in both hockey and soccer while earning a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science / Information Systems. He later completed his MBA at Colorado State University, equipping him with a strong foundation in leadership, operations, and organizational management.

Neil’s career reflects a commitment to long-term athlete development and sustainable program growth. He has held key leadership roles across multiple organizations, including serving as Director of Hockey Operations for the Spokane Americans Youth Hockey Organization and as Assistant Director of Hockey Operations at Boulder Hockey Club. Since returning to Boulder in 2020, he has played a central role in shaping the club’s development model, serving as Director of Player Development from 2020–2023 while also coaching within the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders Tier 1 program.

During that time, Neil helped elevate player pathways and competitive standards, coaching 14U and 15O Tier 1 teams that advanced to District Championships each season. His teams have consistently achieved success at the highest levels, including a Colorado State Championship with the RoughRiders 14U AAA team in 2022–2023. Under his leadership, Boulder Hockey Club has gained national and international recognition, with teams winning the Avalanche International Qualifier in 2024 and 2025 and earning back-to-back opportunities to compete in the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He has also guided teams to USA Hockey Nationals qualification, including with the Lady Coyotes CPHL program.

As an Executive Director, Neil is focused on building a culture-driven organization centered on development, accountability, and a positive athlete experience. His leadership philosophy emphasizes creating clear pathways for players, investing in coaching education, and fostering an environment where athletes and families are aligned around shared values. He is committed to developing not only high-level hockey players, but well-rounded individuals with a lifelong passion for the game.

Darin brings more than 25 years of elite coaching, leadership, and teaching experience to our program. He has a proven track record in girls hockey, having built and led competitive high school programs and, most recently, guiding the 19U CDAHA Lady Thunder to a Rocky Mountain Regional Championship and a berth at USA Hockey Nationals.

Over the past year, our girls' program has continued to grow in both numbers and competitiveness. With that growth, it became clear that our athletes and teams deserve a dedicated, full-time leader focused solely on the direction, structure, and long-term development of girls' hockey within our program.

With that vision in mind, we set out to find the right person to lead the Lady RoughRiders, and we are confident we have found one of the very best.

Darin's teams are known for their structure, compete level, and ability to perform in big moments. More importantly, Darin has a unique ability to connect with athletes while holding them to a high standard, creating an environment where players are both challenged and supported every day.

As Girls Hockey Director, Darin will provide clear structure and direction across all Lady RoughRiders teams, while also mentoring and developing our coaching staff to ensure a consistent, high-level experience throughout the program.

Darin’s background as both a high-level coach and an accomplished educator allows him to teach, motivate, and connect with athletes in a way that drives both performance and personal growth. His leadership will help us continue building a program that develops confident, disciplined, and competitive athletes, on and off the ice.

Renee is a marketing and advertising professional who is also a hockey mom. Renee has served as a volunteer for Boulder Hockey Club as our Scheduler and Registrar. In 2022, Renee transitioned to Hockey Operations Manager and handles all aspects of our registrations, communications, scheduling, tournaments, and much more.