Lance West – Senior Consultant
Lance is looking forward to using his 21 years of NCAA coaching experience to help young athletes in their development and pursuit of their personal goals. Using his experience as a coach, and recruiting coordinator, Lance’s goal is to guide players by sharing the knowledge he has gained from others during his time as a player and coach. Building relationships and sharing his experiences and knowledge to help student-athletes in their development as an athlete, students, and people is what he enjoys most. The
building of these relationships through honest and open communication gives the athletes the right information to help them understand and make the best decisions. He is excited to work with the Hawkeye staff because he believes in and shares many of the core values that Eric and Lincoln have used throughout their time building Hawkeye Hockey Services.
During his time as an NCAA coach, Lance has helped guide both programs to their First NCAA Division-1 NCAA Championship tournament appearance. He was also a staff member of The University of Alabama In Huntsville’s 1998 NCAA Division-II National Championship team. He as has the honor of coaching 4 NCAA All-Americans, 1 WCHA Player of the Year, 1 CCHA Rookie of the Year, and 2 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year.
As a player, he attended and played for the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox Saskatchewan, and then spent 4 years in the BCJHL, winning the 1989 BCJHL Championship and the Abbott Cup as Western Canadian Champions while with the Vernon Lakers. After Junior, he played 4 years at The University of Alabama in Huntsville participating in both NCAA Division I and NCAA Division-
II.
- Head Coach, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, WCHA, NCAA Division I
- Assistant Coach, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, WCHA, CHA, NCAA Division-I
- Head Coach, University of Alaska Fairbanks, WCHA, NCAA Division-I
- Assistant Coach University of Alaska Fairbanks, CCHA, WCHA, NCAA Division-I
- Volunteer Assistant Coach, the University of Alabama In Huntsville, NCAA-II
Nick Bydal – Senior Consultant
The East Grand Forks, MN native before returning to the MN Magicians of the NAHL from the University of St. Thomas, where he spent four seasons as the Assistant Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. During his time at UST, the Tommies won the MIAC regular-season championship in 2018 and the playoff championship in 2020. The team qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2020, before the season was halted due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Bydal previously served as the Assistant Coach of the Magicians from 2014 to 2017. Bydal became the first Head Coach and General Manager of the College Station Spirit (NA3HL), now the Texas Roadrunners, while continuing with the Magicians as Assistant General Manager.
Prior to his time with the Magicians, Bydal coached high school hockey at his alma mater, East Grand Forks High School, assisting with both the varsity and junior varsity squads, while also coaching the Squirt A team in East Grand Forks.
In 2013, he served as an assistant coach for the Crookston High School Varsity hockey team and as an evaluator at the Minnesota Reebok High-Performance Select 15 Festival.
Following a high school career in which he captained East Grand Forks High to two Minnesota State Tournament appearances (2001 & 2002), Bydal spent three seasons with the Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL) before continuing his career as a student-athlete at UW-Stevens Point (NCHA). After graduating from Stevens Point, he played two seasons professionally in the SPHL with the Fayetteville FireAntz, Louisiana Ice Gators, and Augusta RiverHawks. Nick’s coaching resume includes:
- Head Coach/GM | Minnesota Magicians | NAHL
- Assistant Head Coach | the University of St. Thomas | NCAA Div. 1 CCHA
- Assistant GM | Minnesota Magicians | NAHL
- Head Coach/GM | College Station Spirit | NA3HL
- Assistant Coach | Minnesota Magicians | NAHL
- Crookston High School
- East Grand Forks High School
- East Grand Forks Squirt A
Nick Sova – Senior Consultant
Nick is excited to start with Hawkeye after spending the previous 6 years coaching at both the junior A level and the tier 1 AAA level. After graduating from Hill Murray High School in 2011, Sova played junior hockey in the NAHL for the Minot Minotauros as well as the Minnesota Wilderness. With the Wilderness Sova helped his team to the 2013 RBC Cup where his team lost in the Canadian National Semi-Finals to the eventual National Champions, the Brooks Bandits.
After junior hockey, Sova attended and played hockey at Hamline University, graduating in June 2016 with a degree in business management. Sova accepted an assistant coaching position with the Kenai River Brown Bears in the NAHL. After one year in Alaska, Sova moved on to Des Moines Iowa, where he would become the 18U head coach. In his first season as head coach, he helped lead the 18U team to their first national tournament in the program’s history. Over his 5 years in Des Moines Sova has helped over 35 players sign NAHL tenders and another 20 with various tier 2 league advancements.
Nick’s resume includes:
- Assistant Coach- Kenai River Brown Bears NAHL
- Head Coach- Des Moines Buccaneers AAA 18U
- Program- Director Des Moines Buccaneers AAA
Mike Letizia – Senior Consultant
Mike Letizia has spent the last ten seasons behind the bench as the Johnstown Tomahawk’s (NAHL) head coach before joining Hawkeye Hockey Services in May of 2024. Letizia, originally from Chicago, served as the team’s assistant coach during their first two seasons.
During his first season as head coach, six Tomahawks received commitments to NCAA Division 1 programs, with seven players also playing at the NCAA Division 3 level. In addition, the Tomahawks also had their first-ever player drafted to the NHL, goaltender Ryan Bednard to the Florida Panthers. In his second season as head coach, the Tomahawks set franchise highs for points, wins, and goals scored. The team also captured its first playoff series victory in team history. Another major highlight of Coach Letizia’s second season as head coach was a team record 17 NCAA commitments.
In 2016-2017, in Letizia’s third season as head coach, the team once again set franchise highs in wins (40), point total (84), and goals scored (204). Additionally, a league-high 7 players attended the NAHL’s Top Prospects Event with Letizia serving as Assistant Coach of the East Division team, and 5 Tomahawks players received NCAA Division 1 commitments during the season. In 2017-2018, 3 players received NCAA Division 1 commitments.
In 2018-2019, Letizia led the Tomahawks to the best season in franchise history. 8 players received NCAA Division 1 commitments. He was selected as the Head Coach for the East Division at the NAHL’s Top Prospects event. The Tomahawks captured their first East Division Regular Season title and also won the NAHL’s President’s Trophy as Regular Season champions with an overall record of 47-9-4 for 98 points. This set franchise highs for wins and points. After the Regular Season, Letizia was chosen as the East Division Coach of the Year and GM of the Year. The Tomahawks won the East Division Playoff Championship advancing to the Robertson Cup Championship for the first time in team history. Letizia was recognized as the 2018-2019 NAHL’s Coach of the Year.
In 2019-2020, the Tomahawks once again compiled a strong season finishing with a record of 34-13-2-2 in 51 games before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Away from the ice, Letizia participated as an ambassador in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign to help raise support and awareness in the fight against breast cancer. After his October campaign, he raised over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society. During this season, Letizia was named as Assistant Coach of the East Division for the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. Additionally, several players received NCAA Division 1 and Division 3 commitments. Letizia recorded his 200th win as Head Coach in the final game of the shortened 2019-2020 season. After the shortened season, Letizia was named NAHL East Division Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
During the 2020-2021 season, Letizia once again led the Tomahawks to the East Division Regular season title compiling a record of 39-10-5 for 83 points and a .769 Win Percentage. Once again, several Tomahawk players made NCAA Division 1 and Division 3 commitments. After the Regular Season, Letizia was named the East Division Coach of the Year for the third straight season.
In the 2021-2022 season, the Tomahawks once again built a strong campaign under Letizia finishing with a 34-20-6 record finishing 8th overall in the NAHL. Another 7 Tomahawks made NCAA Division 1 commitments, including 2 that joined NCAA programs mid-season. Multiple other players committed to NCAA Division 3 schools.
As a junior player, Letizia spent four seasons in the OHL with the Plymouth Whalers after being selected in the fourth round of the 2002 OHL Draft. He served as one of the team captains for two seasons. The defenseman signed his first professional contract with the Rockford Icehogs of the former United Hockey League. During his time there, Letizia won a Colonial Cup Championship in 2007.
Letizia currently resides in Somerset, PA with his wife Alana, their daughter Myla, and son Niko.
Sam Rud – Senior Consultant
In joining HHS, Rud will bring knowledge of the game after spending a lifetime of witnessing at high levels. Sam spent the last two seasons as a scout for the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), where he was internal in the evaluation of players for the draft and helping Sioux Falls build their roster throughout the year. He also helped the Wenatchee Wild (WHL) this past season with their 2009 American Priority Draft prep. Including Sam’s time in the trenches, he has witnessed hockey following his father, Eric Rud’s long coaching career, where Coach Rud has spent 5 years coaching in the USHL and 17 years on the NCAA Division 1 bench.
HOCKEY GROWTH AND MARKETING
Bubba Tschida – Hockey Growth Consultant
Bubba is a Cottage Grove, MN native and is a 1993 Park of Cottage Grove Graduate who still resides in Cottage Grove. Bubba was a 2-sport athlete at Park where he earned 3 letters in both soccer and hockey. Unfortunately, a handful of injuries put a stop to his competitive playing days, but he has never lost his passion or love for the game of hockey.
After High School he attended community college before taking a manager position for a local business and also knew he needed to get back to the rink, which he calls his “Happy Place” and in the summer of 1997, he started coaching a summer/fall tournament team of select girls from all over the twin cities metro area with a handful of them that that went on to play NCAA Division 1 Hockey. After coaching girls for 3 years, he then got back to coaching boys’ hockey at the Peewee and then Bantam levels until his boys started playing he coached his kids up until the end of 2021-2022 season when he decided to take a step back and watch his youngest play.
In December of 2022 Bubba realized he was missing his rink time, and hockey family and knew he still wanted to give back to the hockey community that did so much for him during his playing and coaching days and decided to reach out to friends in the hockey community about scouting and landed a position with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of NAHL and has been scouting local talent the past 2 seasons.
Bubba is excited to not only join Hawkeye Hockey Services but also share his love and passion for the game with staff and most importantly with future players and families that are looking for help and guidance on their path to the highest level and future success.
Zach Lammpa – Hockey Growth Consultant
Zach brings high energy and a solid background of training, mentoring, coaching, and networking to Hawkeye Hockey Services. His story drives his passion for helping people make important decisions about their future, as he takes an intrinsic value in helping parents and players navigate their path. His attitude about ” enjoying the hockey journey” resonates with people he’s played with and coached.
Zach believes he can bring a straightforward yet positive approach to parents and players on their hockey journey. He resonates with different family/player situations and enjoys helping clients relate to Hawkeye Hockey Services’ culture. Zach played at Hibbing Community College and participated in the NJCAA National Championship.
Zach’s resume also includes:
- Counselor at hockey schools throughout MN and ND.
- Founder of LFS Shooting School
- Minnesota Blades Team North Super Series Head Coach
- Duluth Marshall Prep School Head JV/Assistant Varsity Coach
- Regional Scout Chippewa Falls Steel
- *Assistant Coach | Chippewa Falls Steel | NAHL
- Guinness World Record Holder “Longest Hockey Pass”