2010-11 Coaching Staff

Marlin Muylaert, Head Coach
Contact e-mail: marlin.muylaert@uoit.ca | 4th Season

Muylaert enters his fourth 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 Brock University by a final score of 3-2. Muylaert led the Ridgebacks to their first playoff appearance in 2009-10. 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.

Alex Welker, Assistant Coach 4th Season

Welker is back with the Ridgebacks for his fourth year. Responsible for breaking down and preparing all game film, Welker allows the Ridgeback players and coaches the ability to evaluate their past performances and examine opponents strengths and weaknesses.  He has become recognized as one of the best in the business across the OUA after just two years with the Ridgebacks. 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.

Criag Fisher, Assistant Coach 1st Season

Craig Fisher joins the UOIT Ridgebacks coaching staff after playing 12 seasons of professional hockey in the NHL, AHL, IHL as well as overseas. The Whitby native was a dangerous goal scorer in college and in the minors while also finding success in Europe later in his career. He played junior B with the Oshawa Legionnaires in 1987-88 and 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, Fisher played a couple of games for the Flyers in 1989-90 and 1990-91 but otherwise became a fine scorer in the AHL. 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. After a trade to the Winnipeg Jets, he returned to the NHL for four games in 1993-94. 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. Fisher played four games for the Florida Panthers in 1996-97 but continued to be a productive scorer in the minors, as he was named an IHL first team all-star. 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. UOIT is coming off their best season in program history qualifying for the OUA playoffs for the first time. The Ridgebacks return to the ice with training camp beginning in September, 2010.

Mark Fitzgerald, Strength and Conditioning Coach 4th Season

Mark Fitzgerald, a Graduate of Bishops University, offers specialized training programs designed around the UOIT varsity hockey team requirements. His programs allow fitness and progress to be monitored at the beginning and the end of the program. Nutritional guidance and supplementary training programs are also provided. Each trainee is closely monitored to ensure optimal results. The training schedule can be set up around your team’s activities. Fitzgerald is also a Fitness Director & Trainer at the Train Like a Pro Fitness facility in Whitby.

Darryl Boulley, Assistant Coach 3rd Season

Boulley returns for his third year as a member of the UOIT Ridgebacks coaching staff. A graduate of Niagara College (Film Production), Boulley has brought a new level of expertise to video training for the Ridgebacks hockey program. The Kirkland Lake native has a wealth of experience in hockey, playing in Tier II Junior A and the Senior A league. He was also a coach of Kirkland Lake in the Northern Ontario Women’s Hockey League in 1998. Boulley has worked as a hockey instructor from 1996-2002 with the Ultra Skills Hockey School and Kirkland Lake Hockey Camp.

Statistician, Mike Riseley 2nd Season Riseley enters his third year with the Ridgebacks as the lead statistician. He has experience as an off-ice official for eight 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 two seasons. Riseley is in his third year in the Business program at UOIT