2011-12 Coaching Staff

Marlin Muylaert, Head Coach
5th Season
Contact e-mail: marlin.muylaert@uoit.ca

Muylaert enters his fifth season behind the bench as head coach of the UOIT Ridgebacks men's hockey team. The Port Perry native has a wealth of experience coaching University hockey, having been with the University of Guelph (1988-1999), Ohio University (1984-1986), the University of Wisconsin at Eauclaire (1999 to 2002) and the UOIT Ridgebacks (2007-present). With the University of Guelph, Muylaert coached the Gryphons to eight divisional titles and two provincial championships. His teams were constantly ranked nationally in the top 10 rankings. In 1996-97, the Gryphon men's hockey team captured the CIAU championship title defeating the University of New Brunswick 4-3 at Maple Leaf Gardens in front of a crowd of 5,733 fans. The Gryphons went through the regular season setting a record with 21 victories and only four losses in league play. Enroute to the national title, the Gryphons captured the Queen's Cup defeating York 3-0. Goaltender Matt Mullin was also awarded the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy for Outstanding Player in the CIAU. In 2000, Muylaert was recognized by his peers at the institution as he was voted the University of Guelph coach of the decade and his championship winning team was inducted in the Gryphons Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. On Friday, February 6, 2009, Muylaert picked up his 200th overall win coaching in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) as the Ridgebacks defeated the Brock Badgers by a final score of 3-2. Muylaert also coached at an international level during his tenure with Guelph as he was selected as the head coach for the World University Games that were held in Slovakia. The Canadian team that year beat Russia 5-1 to win the bronze medal. Prior to joining the Ridgebacks, Muylaert coached the Port Perry Mojacks in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League. Muylaert also runs the Ridgebacks/Scary Skate Hockey Camps along side Mary Giacalone, which is a skating focused hockey camp offering programs suitable to boys and girls of all ages and skill levels.

Craig Fisher, Associate Coach 2nd Season

Fisher spent 12 seasons playing professional hockey in the NHL, AHL, IHL as well as overseas. He was chosen 56th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL Entry Draft. Rather than jumping straight to the pros, he decided to attend the University of Miami of Ohio where he scored 108 points in 76 games over two seasons with the Redskins. In 1990, he was named to the CCHA First All-Star Team. After turning pro, he scored 43 goals for the Hershey Bears in 1990-91, then joined the Edmonton Oilers via a trade involving NHL hall of famer Jari Kurri. Fisher was a solid two-way forward for the AHL's Cape Breton Oilers, but never made it to the parent club. Fisher signed with Chicago Black Hawks in 1994 and found instant success with their IHL farm team in Indianapolis scoring 53 goals. The next season, he joined the Orlando Solar Bears and led the IHL with an astonishing 74 goals. In 1997-98, he left for Germany to suit up for the Kolner Haie club for two seasons, before returning to the AHL to play for the Rochester Americans from 1998-2000.

Alex Welker, Assistant Coach 5th Season

Welker has been an assistant coach with the Ridgebacks since the team's inception in 2006. Welker has coached at various levels in minor hockey for the last 13 years. He served as MMHA president for two years, while leading his Midget team to an OMHA Championship in 2004-05. Welker spent time as an assistant coach under Marlin Muylaert with Port Perry Mojacks Jr. C 2005-06. In 2006-07, he served as an assistant coach of the Ajax Attack in OPJHL. Prior to coaching, Welker played collegiate hockey with the Fleming College Auks of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (1984-1985) in Lindsay, Ont.

TJ Legge, Assistant Coach 1st Season

Legge joins the coaching staff after a four playing career with the Ridgebacks. The Chapleau native was a player with great quickness, agility and instincts who used those traits effectively to give him an advantage over his opponents. A forward when he arrived with the Ridgebacks after playing with Port Hope, Legge converted to defence and quickly became one of the teams most valuable contributors. Legge was one of only four players to play in every game for the Ridgebacks  in the first three seasons with the team. A leader on and off the ice, Legge was named the interim captain in 2009-10, and an assistant captain for the 2010-11 season

Mike Riseley, Video Coach 3rd Season

Riseley is in his fourth year with the Ridgebacks and in his first year as the team's video coach. The Pickering native spent the last three season as the team's lead statistician. He has experience as an off-ice official for 10 years in the OMHA and OWHA, serving on the provincial level for two seasons. He was also the sole statistician for the DWGHA House League, dealing with stats for over 500 players for four seasons. Riseley is in his fourth year in the Business program at UOIT.

Coaching Staff

Mark Fitzgerald – Strength and Conditioning Joe Boehmker – Equipment Manager Sandy Sampson– Goalie Coach