WHO WE ARE
STAFF
Anders Franke
Director of Goaltending - Blaine Campus
Garrett Nieto
Director of Goaltending - Plymouth Campus
Nate Bradbury
Lead Instructor
Full Time
WHO WE ARE
Director of Goaltending - Blaine Campus
Director of Goaltending - Plymouth Campus
Lead Instructor
Anders is a 2012 graduate of Elk River High School where he played 4 years of varsity hockey for the Elks. As a freshman, Franke was named to the USA Warren Strelow National Goalie Development Camp for his birth year. He was a 4-time All-Conference winner and All-Metro goalie of the year his senior season while playing for Elk River. Franke also holds the record for most career starts and all time wins for Elk River High School. After his 4 years of high school hockey, Anders decided to take on the junior hockey route.
Anders played 2 years of junior hockey in Flint, Michigan following his High School career. During his two seasons with the Flint Jr. Generals of the NA3HL, Franke received honors for Goalie of the Year and 1st Team All-NA3HL in his 2013-2014 campaign with the Generals. That same year, Anders brought the Generals to a Tier 3 National Championship played in Hartford, Connecticut. After 2 seasons in Flint, Franke committed to play college hockey at Saint John’s University (NCAA – D3).
Anders is a graduate of Saint John’s University where he gained a degree in Global Business. Following his years at St. John’s University, Anders has also joined on board as the goalie coach for the Saint Cloud State Women’s Program (NCAA – D1), Saint John’s University Men’s Hockey Program (NCAA – D3), the Granite City Lumberjacks (NA3HL), Elk River High School, and St. Cloud Tech/Apollo High School.
Anders brings a young mindset to the table from his extensive playing career and experience from coaching at the youth, high school, junior, and college levels. His effective techniques and aspect of the game bring another element to the MEGA Goaltending staff.
Garrett is from Yorba Linda, California. He grew up playing youth hockey for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, California Wave, and Los Angeles Jr. Kings. After youth hockey he played 4 years of junior hockey: A year and a half for the Wenatchee Wild in the BCHL, three months for the Springfield Jr. Blues in the NAHL, and one month for the Vermont Lumberjacks in the EHL. His final two years of junior hockey I played for the Janesville Jets in the NAHL I played 3 years of Division 1 hockey at Union College before transferring to play Division 3 at Wilkes University. He currently works as the goalie coach for the Granite City Lumberjacks in the NA3HL. He also works with King’s College Women’s D3 Hockey in a remote capacity.
Nate is from Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he grew up playing in the Grand Forks Youth Hockey Association. After youth hockey, he played 3 years of varsity hockey for the Red River Roughriders, where he earned all state team honors his senior year. His senior year of high school, he also played in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League for Team Great Plains. Following high school, he played for the Winkler Flyers of the MJHL and later practiced with the University of North Dakota. Before MEGA Goaltending, he was the lead goaltending instructor for the Grand Forks Youth Hockey Association, East Grand Forks Youth Hockey Association, and Red Lake Falls Youth Hockey Association.
Nate is from Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he grew up playing in the Grand Forks Youth Hockey Association. After youth hockey, he played 3 years of varsity hockey for the Red River Roughriders, where he earned all state team honors his senior year. His senior year of high school, he also played in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League for Team Great Plains. Following high school, he played for the Winkler Flyers of the MJHL and later practiced with the University of North Dakota. Before MEGA Goaltending, he was the lead goaltending instructor for the Grand Forks Youth Hockey Association, East Grand Forks Youth Hockey Association, and Red Lake Falls Youth Hockey Association.
Contact: nate@megagoaltending.com
Coach Melnikov grew up in Gomel, Belarus, where he started his hockey career. He played for 11 years for HC Gomel. At the age of 15 was called up for U16 Belarus national team tryouts.
After moving to the United States played one season for u16 Cleveland Barons(AAA), then two seasons for u18 Milwaukee Admirals (AAA), where in season 2019-20 won the state championship.
Coach Melnikov started his Junior career playing for Provo Riverblades (USPHL Premier), and he finished his junior career in Fort Wayne playing for Spacemen (USPHL Premier). He played for the Indiana Tech hockey team.
He was a goalie coach for Fort Wayne Spacemen (USPHL Premier) for two years and a FWAHA lead instructor for three years before becoming a MEGA lead goalie instructor.
Coach Dakota grew up in Albert Lea, Minnesota, where he played hockey for the Albert Lea Hockey Association and competed in football, baseball, and hockey throughout high school. After graduating in 2023, he played two years of junior hockey, starting in Rapid City, South Dakota in the NA3HL and finishing in Hudson, Wisconsin.
Before joining MEGA Goaltending, Dakota attended technical school while working part-time for the company. As a coach, Dakota is passionate about helping goalies grow both on and off the ice. He brings energy, encouragement, and a player-first mindset to every session, helping athletes build confidence, compete with purpose, and continue developing their love for the game.
Coach Andrew grew up playing youth hockey in Billings, Montana, from the age of four until 15. His Junior Hockey career began in Billings, where he played Tier 2 Jr. A with the Billings Bulls before leaving home to play Tier 3 in Spokane, WA, for the Coeur d’Alene Colts in the NORPAC Hockey League. After three years in Spokane, he returned to Billings to finish his Junior career and immediately transitioned into coaching. He remained in Billings, joining the Billings Bulls Jr. “A” team as a goalie coach.
He coached intermittently at the youth level until 2021, when he began coaching consistently, taking on a Bantam A team in Billings. This role led to coaching at the Montana Development Camps and Northern Plains Camps, ultimately earning him a leadership position with the Montana Amateur Hockey Association as the state’s Goalie Development Coordinator. After relocating to Blaine, MN, he became a lead instructor with MEGA at the Blaine campus while continuing his role as a Coach Developer with USA Hockey, instructing coaches at all levels.
Coming soon!
Peter Di Salvo grew up in Oakville, ON Canada. He played minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) which lead him to 5 years in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). During that time he attended training camp with the St. Louis Blues. After the OHL he went on to play minor pro hockey in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). He is the curent record holder in the SPHL for most wins, a 2-time SPHL Allstar, and a SPHL Presidents Cup Champion.
Throughout Peter’s playing career he trained and worked for New York Islanders Head Goalie Coach Piero Greco and Sarnia Sting Head Goalie Coach Franky Palazzese. Under both of them, Peter developed both his play and coaching abilities. Today he is a Lead Goalie Instructor for MEGA Goaltending at our Hudson Wisconsin location.
