NAHL Announces Staff for the 2026-27 Season

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced its Staff and Executive Committee for the 2026-27 season. The staff runs the NAHL, the NA3HL, the NAPHL, and all league-wide events. This includes league showcases, tournaments, championships, and combines.

​The North American Hockey League has grown since its inception in 1975. With over 50 years of history and a dedication to development, the NAHL has become a stepping stone for athletes pursuing their NCAA aspirations.

​Commissioner and President of the North American Hockey League, Mark Frankenfeld, enters his 20th year of leading the League of Opportunity. During his tenure, the NAHL has experienced stability and growth under his guidance. Thanks to the ownership support and dedication, the league has grown coast-to-coast with 36 teams across 21 states. Alongside the growth of the league, Frankenfeld is responsible for being a driving force behind now-cornerstone NAHL events like the NAHL Showcase and NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. These unique league-wide events have become recruiting grounds for scouts.

​Frankenfeld is joined by tenured and experienced staff in the league office. Deputy Commissioner of the NAHL, Denny Scanlon, brings years of experience and knowledge from all levels of hockey. He has served in the Deputy Commissioner role since 2022, after serving as the Vice President of Hockey Operations for the NAHL from 2009-2018. He plays a critical role in all aspects of hockey operations and helps to continue the mission of the NAHL.

​Heading into her 12th season working for the NAHL, Shannon Smith is the Vice President of Marketing and Finance. Under her leadership, she oversees the corporate sales, day-to-day financial operations, marketing, and media of the NAHL, NA3HL, and NAPHL. Her guidance has played a major role in helping the league achieve the stability and growth that it has seen over the past decade.

Alongside the tenured staff, the league has cultivated new staff members over the past couple of years. Moving into her fifth season with the league, Tiffany Levesque serves as the Director of Administration. Levesque is instrumental in planning and executing all events across the league. Heading into his third season working for the league office is David Dunkleberger, serving as the Manager of Hockey Operations. Dunkleberger brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the NAHL, with previous experience working for a team. Alongside him is Will Svenddal, the Coordinator of Hockey Operations and one of the newest additions to the front office. Svenddal played two seasons in the League of Opportunity and went on to play Division I hockey with the Augustana Vikings. Both are responsible for the hockey operations of the NAHL and NA3HL. They oversee roster management, reports, game operations, and serve as a liaison for the teams.

Director of Player Personnel of the NAHL and Director of the NAPHL, Dennis Vickers oversees the NAPHL and all player personnel and scouting initiatives for the NAHL and NA3HL. He is responsible for facilitating communications between the league and NCAA coaches.

With the NAHL since 2017, Vinnie Perricelli serves as the Director of Streaming and Broadcasting. He has been instrumental in the development and launch of NATV and oversees the operation of the streaming platform. Christian Larson enters his fifth season as the Manager of Digital Media & Design. Larson is the lead video editor and oversees the league’s graphic design. He has been instrumental in the evolution of the league’s social media channels. Joining her is Ava Cruchon, the Manager of NAHL Media and Communication. Cruchon serves as the host for NAHL’s weekly series and is responsible for communications for the NAHL. Recent newcomers to the League of Opportunity and the media department are Joseph D’Agostino and Piper Gallagher. D’Agostino is the Coordinator of Broadcasting and Streaming for the leagues. He assists Perricelli in all NATV operations. Alongside him as a newcomer is Gallagher, serving as the Coordinator of NA3HL Digital Media and Communications. She serves as the lead and host of the NA3HL and NAPHL media efforts.

​Keith Kaval, Director of Officiating, joined the league in the summer of 2018. After 12 seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) as an on-ice official, Keith brings his vast experience to the NAHL to help mentor and develop NAHL officials. Working alongside Kaval, Kendall Hanley is the Manager of Officiating. Hanley has spearheaded the development of the NAHL Next Shift initiative and the NAHL Officiating Exposure Camps since joining the league in 2022. The most recent addition to the officiating department is Jack Young. Young will assist Kaval and Hanley throughout the season.

Mark Faucette is the Director of Player Safety for the NAHL. He has led the charge since 2015, and his past experiences of serving as an on-ice official in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 17 seasons have equipped him to review and ensure the safety of all players in the NAHL. Faucette reviews all major incidents and provides the necessary resources to players, coaches, and officials on the NAHL Code of Conduct.

Alongside Faucette, Rob Martell serves as the Director of Player Safety for the NA3HL. Martell brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the league as he served as an official in over 1,000 NHL contests. With his first-hand knowledge of the game, he will work to make the game as safe as possible for players while preserving the intensity of competitive hockey.

​Director of NCAA Compliance and Education, Craig Barnett provides NCAA education and compliance resources for the NAHL, NA3HL, and NAPHL. Barnett's experience and relationships in the college hockey world provide a unique perspective to coaches and players in the NAHL family of leagues looking to gain opportunities at the next level.

Finally, named the sixth Kim Cannon Intern, Britton Lund joined the league office in August of 2026. Lund is a 2026 graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management, with minors in Statistics and Business Law.

The NAHL Executive Committee is composed of members chosen by their respective division, and every division in the NAHL is represented on this committee. Their primary responsibility is to support the Commissioner's office by always putting the league first, the division second, and their teams third. They invest countless hours above and beyond what it takes to operate a team. Their commitment has been extremely valuable to the success of the NAHL and its brand over the years.

Serving as the Chairman of the Board since 2013, Bill McCoshen has been a driving force on the executive team. As the Founder and President of the Janesville Jets, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the NAHL Executive Committee. The Jets joined the League of Opportunity in 2008 and have continued to grow as an organization in the Janesville community ever since. They most recently moved into their new facility, The Woodman’s Center, and have provided athletes with top-tier player experience and development opportunities.

​A long-time owner in the NAHL and NA3HL, Don Stone has served as the Vice-Chairman of the NAHL Executive Committee since 2013. With 17 years of ownership under his belt, Stone brings a deep understanding and experience of both leagues. Joining him as members are Greg Odde, Chris Brown, and Luke Taylor. Odde serves as Central Division representative and enters his 17th season owning the Aberdeen Wings. Under his leadership, the Wings have become a staple in the Aberdeen community while being one of the top teams in their division. Chris Brown is a prominent figure in the New Hampshire community, thanks to his dedication to the sport of hockey. Brown enters his fourth year as the owner of the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, and his work to provide athletes in the community a place to play and develop has been recognized on multiple occasions. Finally, to round out the final member of the executive community, Luke Taylor represents Grand Junction and the Mountain Division. Taylor enters his first season with the League of Opportunity and brings a wealth of knowledge in commercial development, bringing 30 years of experience to the table.

With all of the Executive Committee’s love and dedication to the sport of hockey, the NAHL has continued to elevate season after season.