WHO WE ARE
Empowering Girls, Building Champions — On and Off the Ice!
COACHES
Our coaching staff is dedicated to creating a positive, challenging, and fun environment for our players. With years of experience both on and off the ice, each coach brings a unique perspective and passion for developing young athletes. They are committed to fostering teamwork, sportsmanship, and skill development, helping every player reach their full potential. Through personalized instruction and a focus on both individual and team growth, our coaches work tirelessly to ensure that our players not only improve on the ice but also grow as confident, resilient individuals. We're proud to have such a talented, experienced coaching team leading our program. Under their guidance, our girls captured a championship at the 12U level and a finalist finish with our 14U team in our inaugural season.
We're just getting started!
COACH STEVE
HEAD COACH
Coach Steve is a Level 4 certified USA Hockey coach and has been part of the Bandit Ice Hockey Association program since The Ice opened in 2010. Originally from Natick, Massachusetts, Coach Steve played 4 years of college hockey at UMass Boston. Currently, he is the General Manager and Hockey Director of The Ice in Cumming GA
COACH JAMES
ASSISTANT COACH
Coach James is a Level 4 certified USA Hockey coach and has been part of The Ice and Bandit Ice Hockey Association programs since 2015. James grew up in Ontario, Canada and played AA and AAA hockey with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. Coach James centers his development on both the team and the individual. He believes players should develop hockey and life skills through hard work, discipline and humor.
COACH TIM
ASSISTANT COACH
12U, 14U
​Favorite hockey quote:
"Back to work!"
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Fun fact: Tim was trained by renowned NHL coach Barry Trotz and proudly carries forward Trotz’s “total wellness” philosophy in his approach to developing players.
Favorite thing about girls' hockey:
Very different energy, rapid improvement.
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Coaching style/philosophy:
Tim considers himself to be a "player’s coach", emphasizing skill development, situational awareness, and team-first habits, while creating an environment where players understand their roles and feel confident competing.
Tim brings more than 25 years of coaching experience to the rink, with deep roots in Newburyport High School hockey in Massachusetts. A self-described player’s coach, Tim is known for building trust with his athletes and creating an environment where players feel supported, challenged, and confident on the ice.
He has a particular passion for girls hockey and thrives on the energy, competitiveness, and growth mindset that female athletes bring to the game. Tim’s approach emphasizes strong fundamentals, smart decision-making, and developing players not just as hockey players, but as teammates and leaders.
COACH LISA
ASSISTANT COACH
12U, 14U
​Favorite hockey quote:
“Hockey is my escape from the world and my connection to it.” – Unknown
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Fun fact: Lisa is one of the few law enforcement officers who is not afraid to admit that she likes donuts.​
Favorite thing about girls' hockey:
Coaching girls' hockey is truly special. The level of competition, positive attitudes, and pure joy seen on the players’ faces during games is incredibly inspiring. There is something powerful about a team of young women playing with confidence, determination, and heart in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
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Coaching style/philosophy:
Lisa’s coaching philosophy is centered on instilling a lifelong love of the game. She focuses not only on developing strong technical skills, but also on creating a positive and supportive environment where players are encouraged to learn from mistakes, persevere through challenges, and play with confidence and indomitable spirit.​
Lisa was first introduced to the ice at the age of four and grew up figure skating while also playing pick-up hockey in Wisconsin. A lifelong athlete, Lisa has been playing competitive sports her entire life, including travel soccer, and she earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She later attended the University of Dayton, where she rowed on the crew team and competed as part of the lightweight 8 boat, which was nationally ranked during her senior year. Although she spent years around the game, Lisa did not begin playing organized hockey until graduate school in Atlanta in 2004—where her passion for the sport truly took hold. Since moving to Atlanta, Lisa has been a long-time member of the Lady Thrashers, where she had the privilege of being coached by Steve Whitfield and Tim Gampel. She has also played on co-ed adult teams and has valued every opportunity to compete and continue developing as a player. Lisa has participated in numerous women’s hockey tournaments across the United States, further fueling her love for the game and competitive spirit.
Lisa is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach and has served as a coach in The Ice’s Learn to Play Hockey and House League programs (8U and 10U) since 2021. Highlights of her coaching career include coaching her young son, as well as coaching the 12U and 14U Atlanta Ice Lynx teams during their 2025–2026 inaugural season. Watching the young women grow and improve throughout the year was especially rewarding, culminating in the 12U team winning the SGHL Championship and the 14U team finishing as SGHL Championship finalists. Their success reflected what can be achieved through dedication, drive, and hard work.
In addition to her athletic and coaching background, Lisa has proudly served in law enforcement for 20 years, bringing leadership, discipline, and a strong commitment to teamwork into everything she does on and off the ice.
THE HOCKEY DADS
The Atlanta Ice Lynx was built by a dedicated group of dads (known to us as "The Hockey Dads", who shared a vision of creating more opportunity for girls in hockey. What began as a shared commitment to their daughters and the game quickly grew into a mission to build a program rooted in development, teamwork, and community. Through countless hours of planning, volunteering, and support, The Hockey Dads laid the foundation for the Ice Lynx and continue to play a vital role in shaping the culture and future of the program.
DAVE ROHLFING
GENERAL MANAGER
​Favorite hockey quote:
"You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." -Wayne Gretzky
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Fun fact: Dave's favorite NHL team is the Chicago Blackhawks​
Favorite thing about girls' hockey:
Girls work hard and are so grateful for the opportunities they have. On the ice, they play hard and support each other.
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Coaching style/philosophy:
You make your own opportunities. Put in the work and good things follow.​
Dave has been a part of organized girl’s hockey as a Dad and a fan for the last 8 seasons. Lifelong Chicagoans, Dave’s work relocated his family to the Atlanta Metro area in 2022, where his younger daughter was able to join the Bandit Organization. When it became apparent that girl’s hockey in Georgia was going to need a new future direction, Dave and the Hockey Dads stepped into their roles, partnering with Coach Steve and his staff to begin the Atlanta Ice Lynx Girl’s Hockey Club. The core beliefs for the Lynx are to grow girl’s hockey through the Lynx program and give the Lynx girls the most meaningful social and hockey experiences possible.
Dave is the General Manager of the Atlanta Ice Lynx, based out of The Ice in Cumming, GA.