Connor Ritchie
Connor Ritchie is a passionate coach dedicated to fostering athletic and personal growth. Growing up in Toronto, he played AA and AAA hockey and OYSL soccer, shaping his belief in the value of multi-sport participation.
Connor prioritizes fun, effort, and coachability, creating an environment where players feel valued and motivated. He coaches across three age groups at both hockey and soccer, including as a strength and fitness coach with the Markham Soccer Club’s OPDL program.
A strong advocate for balanced teams, he ensures equal opportunities for all players. Proud to work with an excellent coaching staff, Connor believes in coaching as a team, emphasizing collaboration and shared goals. Above all, he cares deeply about the person behind the player, using sports to build confidence, resilience, and joy on and off the ice.Mario Ilari
Mario grew up in the town of Markham and played his entire minor hockey career with the Markham Waxers. As a coach, Mario has been successfully developing his teams as they have moved up multiple division levels from "Selects" to "A". Through mentorship and guidance Mario is dedicated to on-ice development, having the children grow a love for the game, building lifelong memories, and, most importantly, having fun.
Mario is a D1 Certified Coach and was the recipient of "Coach of the Year" for the Markham Waxers in the 2022-2023 season at the BB/MD division. The teams he has coached over the years have successfully reaching the YSMHL Championship Finals, multiple tournament finals, and most recently won the U13A CAN/AM Challenge Cup tournament and Gold Medal at the Skills Competition in Montreal.
Mario has a passion for creating a fun, inclusive environment where the kids can develop both on and off the ice. As a coach, Mario will encourage hard work, team first mentality, and sportsmanship while in the pursuit of achieving individual and team goals.