Brendan Farrugia
Brendan is a Brampton native now residing in Milton, Ontario. He brings over 10 years of AAA coaching experience, working with players from Peewee through Midget levels.
In addition to his team coaching background, Brendan spent five years as a hockey instructor with I Train Hockey. He has also had the honour of coaching both Team Canada and Team Ontario U16 In-Line Hockey programs.
As a player, Brendan competed at the AAA level during his minor hockey years before advancing to junior hockey with the Brampton Capitals (OPJHL), King City Wild (GMHL), and finishing his career with the Elora Rocks (WOAA). He also represented Team Canada and Team Ontario in in-line hockey, earning gold medals at international tournaments.
Following his junior career, Brendan received opportunities to play Division I, Division III, and professional hockey. He ultimately chose to remain close to home to support his family and pursue a career as a firefighter.
Brendan is excited to continue sharing his passion for the game in his second year as Head Coach, this season of the U9 MD Blue team. The MMHA is proud to have him as part of the organization.Jonathan Swit
At the core
of his coaching philosophy is a simple but powerful mission: help athletes
develop their skills while fostering a genuine love for the game. He believes
hockey should be educational, challenging, rewarding, and above all, fun. By
building strong relationships, tailoring instruction to individual needs, and
instilling a growth mindset, he creates environments where players can compete,
improve, and create lasting memories.
A
graduate of the University of Guelph with
an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Kinesiology and Humber Collegewith an Honours Diploma in Fitness
and Health Promotion, he brings both academic excellence and practical
experience to his coaching. He holds advanced certifications through the National Academy of Sports Medicine as both
a Performance Enhancement Specialist and Corrective Exercise Specialist, and is
a Certified Personal Trainer with the Canadian
Society of Exercise Physiology. He is also a OFSSAA Certified Coach and an Ontario
Certified Teacher with almost 15 years of experience as a Secondary School
Physical Education teacher.
He has over a decade of coaching minor hockey which
recently includes serving as Head Coach with the Milton Winterhawks U8 and U9 team for the
previous two seasons. At the high school level, he has coached hockey at
both St. Martin Sports SHSM Program and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, while also serving as
a multi-sport coach in basketball, football, and lacrosse. His sport-specific
performance training has supported athletes advancing to professional levels
across the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, Canadian Football League, and National Lacrosse League.
As a Goalie Instructor with John Elkin Goalie School, he worked
alongside Jon Elkin, Director of
Goaltending for the Pittsburgh Penguins,
mentoring goaltenders from minor hockey to the professional ranks.
In the high-performance setting, he has trained and
mentored elite players competing in the QMJHL, OHL, NCAA, AHL and NHL through Beyond The Next Level Sports Performance Centre.
He further enhanced his expertise by training in Colorado with the Colorado Avalanche strength and
conditioning staff, focusing on performance optimization, injury prevention,
and recovery strategies.
Blending education, elite performance training,
and a passion for mentorship, he is committed to developing well-rounded
athletes who excel both on and off the ice.