Board of Directors

In my mind you gotta have three things to be a successful youth hockey organization. First, you've got to grow every kid, coach and team, to be better today than you were yesterday. Secondly, you've got to have families who care about each other's kids as much as their own, both on and off the ice. Lastly, you've got to have an insanely good time and, of course, good hair... insanely good hair.

I sting like a butterfly and punch like a flea. And I just do whatever Andy tells me to.

As a dedicated hockey mom and wife, I have been actively involved with the Plattsburgh Youth Hockey organization for the past seven years. The majority of my winters are spent at the ice rink, where I find immense joy in supporting my son and husband as they pursue their passion for hockey.

I am committed to contributing positively to the PYH community and ensuring that the organization continues on its successful path. 

My name is Kate Ryan. I am the mom of Ben Ryan (age 10), a squirt, and Josie Ryan (age 5) a previous learn-to-skater turned figure skater. I have been involved in the PYH organization since Ben began learn-to-skate in 2016. In 2022, I was a member of the Mite Winter Breakaway Challenge tournament committee. Through this experience, I met many of the parents across levels of the organization as well as the current board members. In 2022, I was elected as treasurer of the organization. As treasurer, I am dedicated to making fiscally responsible decisions that continue to strengthen Plattsburgh Youth Hockey, helping all children across levels become passionate and positive team players, and providing support to the families and coaches that are the foundation of the PYH organization. During the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, I enjoyed meeting many new families at the Learn to Skate sticker table where I enjoyed ensuring kids and their caregivers felt supported, encouraged, and excited about hockey.

Outside of the organization, I am the Director of the Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance and a trained speech language pathologist. I value utilizing research-based skill development across the program to develop a strong foundation of skills both athletically and interpersonally for our children. It is my hope that the lessons learned on the ice will help our children to grow to be confident and successful humans.

As a lifelong PYH Roadrunner, my journey with this incredible organization began when I was just nine years old. I have fond memories of my time as the goalie for the PYH Roadrunner girls' team in the late 90s and early 2000s. One of my proudest moments was winning the Tier 2 State Championship in 2003! These years of youth hockey are some of the most cherished moments of my childhood.

I want every child to have the same opportunity to create lasting memories that I did. This past year, I took on the role of team manager for my son's team, driven by my desire to offer unforgettable experiences while keeping costs low. I believe that financial constraints should never be a barrier to participation. This coming year, I am eager to extend these opportunities to the entire organization. After all, kids are only young once—let's make it an unforgettable and financially feasible reality for everyone!

When I'm not at the rink, I dedicate my time to my career as a full-time cardiac nurse. I hold the position of Director of Cardiology and Interventional Radiology Services, a role I am passionate about. If you find me neither at the rink nor at work, it must be July or August, as I'm likely enjoying time on the softball field, kickball field or at Disney, some of my favorite pastimes spent with family and friends.

With my experience, both on and off the ice, I am committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for our young athletes. By working together, we can ensure that every child has the chance to enjoy the sport, develop essential life skills, and build lifelong friendships.

My family has been part of the PYH organization for 8 years. My boys started with learn to skate and have made their way up in the organization. Lukas is a defenseman/goalie for 10U roadrunners and Oliver plays forward for 12u roadrunners. During my time with PYH I have learned a lot about the sport of hockey and how tough schedules can be, which is why I am so excited to enhance the process. I am excited to be working with coaches and parents to enhance their hockey scheduling experience in the coming years.

This is my third season with the PYH organization and I absolutely love it. In 2012 we relocated to Plattsburgh from North Carolina for a job opportunity. In hindsight, moving to the North Country and signing our kids up for hockey have been the best decisions we have ever made for our family. I wouldn’t trade our neighbors and friends for anything, but dang these North Country winters are loooong. Thank God for hockey! My son, Liam, plays for the 10U Junior Cardinals Coed team and my daughter, Amelie, is on the 8U Roadrunners.

As the Director of IT, I am primarily responsible for maintaining our PYH website and Crossbar App. I set up registrations for all of our teams and tournaments. I am super proud to be a part of this fun-loving, hardworking PYH hockey tribe. Plus, I think IT stuff is just really cool.

My name is Danielle Janisewski and I am excited to serve as the Marketing Coordinator. As a special education teacher & behavior specialist, a mom of three, and a passionate youth sports advocate, my heart is always with the kids. I believe in fostering an environment where young athletes can grow, learn, and develop both on and off the ice.

My son has been a part of hockey for the past 6 years while my husband has coached. I have truly seen the heart of this sport—the dedication of the players, the support of the families, and the sense of community that makes hockey so special. I am grateful to be involved in growing that spirit throughout the entire PYH program.

For the past 11 years, I have built a very successful business through social media, focusing on health and wellness. Through this journey, I’ve gained extensive experience in branding, engagement, and content creation, growing a following of over 110,000. I plan to leverage my skills to increase brand awareness, build fan engagement, and highlight the passion of our hockey community through TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. My goal is to showcase what makes PYH special and attract even more families and supporters to our program.

Beyond my experience in marketing, I am a soccer coach and a firm believer in youth sports as a foundation for teamwork, discipline, and personal growth. Communication and collaboration are key, and I take pride in working effectively with others to create the best experience possible for our kids.

Born in Plattsburgh, and a lifetime North Country resident, my hockey career began in the small town of Lyon Mountain playing street hockey in Philips Court, and skating on the St. Bernard’s church pond. I then started organized youth hockey playing in the house league in Malone, followed by a couple of years at the Peewee level for Malone Youth Hockey. The 1999-2000 year I joined PYH as a Roadrunner at the Bantam level. My high school years were spent at Seton Catholic playing under coach Gary Ryan, and the Junior and Senior year summers were consumed playing junior hockey for the Champlain Valley Elite with head coach Justin Frechette.

After graduating high school, my next four years were spent in Potsdam, NY at Clarkson University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. I played for the Clarkson club hockey team that participated in the local men’s league featuring teams from Potsdam, Massena, Canton, and Norwood-Norfolk.

Since graduating college, I reside in Plattsburgh, NY with my two wonderful children, and I have worked full time for nearly eighteen years for Murnane Building Contractors, Inc as a Project Manager in the construction industry. This is my first-year coaching as an assistant with the 10U Roadrunners, and I look forward to many more years being involved in the PYH program.

As ADM Coordinator, I will utilize management, coordination, and scheduling skills that are used on a daily basis in our industry and bring those to the PYH board in helping communicate with our parents, coaches, officials, and beyond to utilize and follow the ADM program set forth by USA Hockey.

I am happy to be serving as the Association Coaching Education Coordinator for PYH. I own and operate New Image Roofing and help coach youth sports.

With three children of my own, I spend a majority of my time around youth sports. My son, Maverick, is a goalie for the 10u Jr Cardinals. There is no family quite like the hockey family. We enjoy all that hockey brings... the friendships that form and the lifelong memories that are made.  

I look forward to ensuring that our coaches are meeting USA hockey standards, while representing PYH and our dedication to teaching the game of hockey. 

Hockey has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a Plattsburgh native, I grew up surrounded by the sport—whether it was cheering on my older brother, who began with PYH at the age of four, or stepping onto the ice myself as a member of PYH’s first all-girls Roadrunners team when I was nine. Now, as a parent, I have the privilege of watching my own children thrive in the program—Cooper, a 10U Roadrunner who started with PYH in 2019, and Charlee, an 8U Roadrunner and Jr. Cardinal.

Beyond my deep-rooted connection to hockey, I bring extensive experience in community service and youth sports leadership. I currently serve as co-president of the Momot PTO, secretary for Plattsburgh Little League, and previously have been a coach for both YMCA soccer and T-ball. Additionally, I am an active member of the Plattsburgh Adirondack Football League’s fundraising committee, ensuring that all young athletes have access to the resources they need to succeed. My passion for supporting and advocating for children extends beyond the rink, as I also have over 10 years experience working with DSS, serving vulnerable populations and those most in need. This role has reinforced my dedication to fairness, inclusion, and ensuring that every child has an opportunity to thrive—values I will bring to the PYH Board.

As Registrar, I am committed to transparency, organization, and ensuring that every family feels heard and supported. Most importantly, I will work to create an environment where all children, regardless of skill level, feel welcomed, valued, and given the opportunity to grow—both on and off the ice.