Leadership Team

Dennis Levin originally from Belarus moved to Brooklyn, NY at age 10. He discovered his passion for hockey at the age of 11 during a family trip to the Catskills Mountains, where he found himself drawn to a small ice rink in the hotel basement. From that moment on, weekends were spent at the local rink, where he and his best friend immersed themselves with ice skating, attending two sessions of public skate most Saturdays and Sundays. 

It was during these years that Dennis’s love for hockey truly flourished. Between skating sessions, he watched hockey practices and games, captivated by the sport's intensity and skill. This passion led to an invitation from one of the in-house coaches to join the house league, marking the beginning of his organized hockey journey.

Upon relocating to Northern New Jersey at the age of 14, Dennis continued his hockey pursuits, playing another year of house hockey before transitioning to travel hockey with the NJ Mavericks (now known as the NJ Avalanche). For the next four years, he dedicated himself to the sport, honing his skills and fostering lifelong lessons

Though life eventually led him away from the rink, it wasn't until 25 years later that Dennis found himself back on the ice, thanks to his son's introduction to the sport. His return to hockey has reignited his passion for the game, driving him to share his knowledge and love of the sport as a youth hockey head coach for the 10U team, where his son proudly plays alongside his teammates.

With his experience and a deep-rooted love for hockey, Dennis is dedicated to instilling the same passion and enthusiasm for the sport in the next generation of players, both on and off the ice.

Dennis lives in Hampstead with his wife Rona and their kids Charlotte 13, Ethan 10 Aleksander 6 they all share in his love of the ice, his boys play hockey and his daughter figure skates.

Tory Kuehner is a multi-talented individual whose passion for sports and dedication to excellence have defined her remarkable journey. Graduating from Middlebury College with a stellar collegiate career in both golf and hockey, Tory's achievements speak volumes about her commitment to success. As a freshman at Middlebury, Tory soared to victory as a member of the hockey team, clinching a National Championship—an extraordinary feat that set the tone for her future endeavors. Yet, Tory's pursuits extended far beyond the rink; her senior year marked a pinnacle moment as she earned recognition as an Academic All-American while simultaneously qualifying for the prestigious LPGA Corning Classic. This dual achievement underscored Tory's exceptional abilities both on the field and in the classroom, showcasing her remarkable balance of athleticism and academic prowess. In 2010, Tory's journey took a new turn as she embraced a wonderful opportunity to become a golf professional at Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington. Relocating with her husband Shawn and their three children, Tory fell in love with the vibrant coastal community of Wilmington, cherishing all the family-friendly activities it offers. As a PGA-certified golf professional, Tory's expertise transcends the fairways, guiding her transition into a top-producing real estate agent. Specializing in luxury waterfront and golf course communities in Porters Neck, Figure Eight, and Landfall, Tory's unwavering dedication to helping others achieve their goals has propelled her to the forefront of the real estate industry.

She lives in Porters Neck with her husband Shawn and three kids Tara (11) , Peyton (9), and Cooper (7) who all play hockey and are excited to be a part of the Junior Seahawks organization.

Matt has been in the nuclear industry in Wilmington, NC for 20 years and is currently the Outage Services Director for GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy.

Originally from Dexter, Maine Matt moved to Wilmington in 2004 to pursue a career with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. Matt grew up playing pond hockey and organized travel hockey across New England. You will see Matt at Polar Ice Wilmington either skating in one of his 3 different skates/leagues or volunteering with kids during stick and puck sessions supporting skill development. Matt was the assistant coach of the Seahawks 12U program for the 2021 and 2022 seasons and is excited for the opportunity to continue the growth and development of our Wilmington athletes!

Matt currently resides in Hampstead, NC with his wife Delainie and 2 daughters Hadley 13 and Hayden 8. He enjoys spending his free time with family, playing hockey and soccer, and watching his kids excel at their athletic pursuits.

Derek grew up in New York on Long Island and played travel hockey starting at 6 years old and continued to high school. Then he played high school hockey doing all four years on varsity. Derek played hockey in college for Long Island University. He started coaching seven years ago with the last two years being here in Wilmington. Along with skills, Derek stresses to the players the importance of playing as a unit and not an individual.  

Kristian has been in the finance industry in Wilmington, NC for 16 years and is currently the branch manager/owner for Integrity Home Mortgage Corp.

Originally from Springfield, Ohio, Kristian moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 2001 after ending his college basketball career. Kristian is a local Seahawk, having graduated from UNCW in 2005. Kristian received his B.A from UNCW and the Cameron School of Business with a major in Business Marketing & Management.

Kristian lives a very active lifestyle and enjoys all types of sports, from surfing, wakeboarding, and snowboarding to basketball and hockey. You will see Kristian at Polar Ice Wilmington either skating in one of his 4 different skates/leagues or volunteering at the UNCW hockey games.

He lives in Hampstead with his wife Lindsay and two daughters Emma 8 and Maddie 11.

Bruce McKinney is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at UNCW. He has taught at UNCW for 28 years. He has also taught at LaSalle University (Philadelphia), James Madison University (Virginia) Angelo State University (Texas), and American University in Vietnam (Da Nang).  

McKinney received his Ph.D. from Penn State University where he was the head coach of the State College High School Hockey Team from 1983-1985. He played pee wee, bantam, juvenile, and high school hockey in Illinois, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. In 1972 McKinney began his college career at Rochester Institute of Technology where he tried out for and made the hockey team (then Division III). However, because of a serious head injury he received while playing hockey the previous summer, he was told to stop contact sports, so he left the team and transferred to the University of New Hampshire. While he was in college, he worked as an instructor at Can/Am Hockey Schools in Guelph, Ontario. He also coached and refereed hockey in San Angelo, Texas, for the San Angelo Youth Hockey Association. 

Tory Kuehner is a multi-talented individual whose passion for sports and dedication to excellence have defined her remarkable journey. Graduating from Middlebury College with a stellar collegiate career in both golf and hockey, Tory's achievements speak volumes about her commitment to success. As a freshman at Middlebury, Tory soared to victory as a member of the hockey team, clinching a National Championship—an extraordinary feat that set the tone for her future endeavors. Yet, Tory's pursuits extended far beyond the rink; her senior year marked a pinnacle moment as she earned recognition as an Academic All-American while simultaneously qualifying for the prestigious LPGA Corning Classic. This dual achievement underscored Tory's exceptional abilities both on the field and in the classroom, showcasing her remarkable balance of athleticism and academic prowess. In 2010, Tory's journey took a new turn as she embraced a wonderful opportunity to become a golf professional at Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington. Relocating with her husband Shawn and their three children, Tory fell in love with the vibrant coastal community of Wilmington, cherishing all the family-friendly activities it offers. As a PGA-certified golf professional, Tory's expertise transcends the fairways, guiding her transition into a top-producing real estate agent. Specializing in luxury waterfront and golf course communities in Porters Neck, Figure Eight, and Landfall, Tory's unwavering dedication to helping others achieve their goals has propelled her to the forefront of the real estate industry.

She lives in Porters Neck with her husband Shawn and three kids Tara (11) , Peyton (9), and Cooper (7) who all play hockey and are excited to be a part of the Junior Seahawks organization.

Doug has worked in local government for the past 6 years. Currently, he is the Town Manager for the Town of Topsail Beach. Previously, he was the Assistant County Manager for Pender County.

The previous 20 years of Doug's career, however, were spent working in amateur and professional sports. Doug has worked for the Baltimore Orioles, University of Georgia, Emory University, Christopher Newport University as their Assistant Athletic Director, and has worked with various other sports organizations, professional and collegiate athletes and championships. He has served as the Director of the Carolina Ruggerfest - the largest youth-only rugby tournament in the country - for the last 8 years.

Originally from Dunkirk, MD, Doug has lived in every state on the East Coast between Maryland and Florida before finally settling here in Wilmington in late 2017 when his wife joined Wilmington Eye as their Pediatric Ophthalmologist. Doug played college baseball at St. Mary's College of MD and graduated with degrees in Anthropology/Sociology and Political Science. He then moved on to the University of Georgia, earning a Masters Degree in Sport Management.

Doug is constantly on the road with his kids with their various sports. You will see Doug at Polar Ice Wilmington watching hockey practices or playing himself as he just took up hockey a year ago and plays in the Wednesday night league.

He lives in Ogden with his wife Melissa, son Ryan (11) and daughter Claire (7).