Waxers A Coaches, Waxers A (Markham Waxers)

Sal Paglialunga

Sal has coached the 2010-aged Markham Waxers at the "A" level every year since 2018, when he was named the coach of U9 (Novice) team. Over these seven seasons, he has maintained the same mission statement: for all team volunteers and parents to work cohesively to create a fun and supportive environment that will help develop our young athletes in both their hockey and life skills.

Sal began playing hockey at the age of four and still plays the game regularly. In addition to playing and coaching, Sal also referees hockey in the Markham Waxers organization, which allows him to stay current on rule knowledge and interpretations.

Sal's teams have always been successful both on and off the ice. In addition to admirable results at the rink during games and achieving exceptional skill development during practices, the team has always incorporated a charitable element into the season, ensuring the players realize the importance of giving back to the community.

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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.×

Trevor Boothe

Trevor Boothe is a dedicated hockey coach with eight year’s experience coaching with the Markham Waxers organization. He has a passion for developing players both on and off the ice. Growing up and playing in Southwestern Ontario, he has firsthand experience competing at higher levels ending his player career in Junior hockey. Trevor brings a deep understanding of the game and the skills required to excel.

His coaching philosophy is centered on growth and development. Trevor believes that each player has the potential to improve—not just as athletes, but also as individuals. He is dedicated to creating a positive environment—fostering a culture where fun, team-first mentality, and commitment are paramount. This approach ensures that players love the game while working hard to achieve their personal and collective goals.

As a coach, Trevor is committed to providing constructive feedback to help players advance to higher levels of competition. By focusing on individual strengths and areas for improvement, Trevor aims to equip each player with the tools necessary to elevate their game.

Through strategic and personalized coaching, Trevor is dedicated to shaping the future stars of hockey, preparing them for success both on the ice and in life.

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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.×

Brendan Murray

Brendan grew up in North York playing minor hockey, primarily for the Goulding Park Rangers. Having several great coaches throughout the years, this was his opportunity to give back to the community.

Brendan has been a head coach since 2018 beginning with the Unionville Jets and then transitioning to the Waxers. This will be his third year as head coach of the A team, helping these athletes reach their goals.

Brendan is a big proponent of helping our community and the team has participated in a number of charitable endeavours throughout the year. His goal is to ensure these teammates are seen as leaders in our community. Brendan was honoured to receive the Paul Giallonardo Coach of the Year Award in 2023-2024 for the A Division.

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Rich Brewda

My name is Rich Brewda and I have volunteered within minor hockey for over twenty years in various capacities, from coach, general manager, vice-president, president and most recently – hockey parent. 

I recently stepped down as President of the North Toronto Hockey Association in the GTHL to focus more time on my children’s hockey. North Toronto is one of the largest minor hockey associations in the GTA, province, and possibly the country. I served on many committees with the GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League) and the OHF (Ontario Hockey Federation) for various initiatives. My wife is one of the registrars at North Toronto so, needless to say, hockey runs our house. Prior to being president, I served on the board as Director of Coaching Development, General Manager and Vice President. 

I have coached at various levels of hockey, from House League up to AAA and various age groups over the 21 years. I also worked for several years as a hockey instructor while I was coaching. One thing that doesn’t change for me at any of those levels or ages is the importance of fun. Whether it is U7 or U18, our job as coach is to not only develop good hockey players and teams but more importantly, good human beings. This all revolves around fostering a positive team culture and environment for all the players, parents, and coaches. Hockey can provide players with some amazing life skills such as commitment, respect, and responsibility which will help them even in their adult years. 

Some of my personal hockey accomplishments include being named the 2016 Herb Ebisuzaki Coaching Award winner for GTHL Coach of the Year. This is a league wide award that I was very honoured to receive. In 2016 I was also the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award at North Toronto and in 2023 was one of the recipients of the Markham Waxers Volunteer of the Year Award for our Growing the Game committee’s efforts to introduce hockey to more youth in the Markham community. 

As coach, I lean on all my hockey experience to develop these kids into great hockey players and even better human beings. We continue to work on the progress we have made. My teams have a strong emphasis on development and fun.×