WHO WE ARE

FULL TIME STAFF

When participating in MEGA programs you can expect to learn not only the most current methods of goaltending but also give you the time and repetitions to discover which methods work best for you.

In addition, MEGA coaches are passionate about developing the type of mental skills that will not only serve you well in the crease, but later in life as well.

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NORTH CAMPUS

Schwan Super Rink
Herb Brooks Training Center
1850 105th Avenue NE
Blaine, MN 55449

EAST CAMPUS

Hudson
FHIT Hockey Training Center
1820 Hanley Rd
Hudson, WI 54016

WEST CAMPUS

Plymouth
FHIT Hockey Training Center
3650 Plymouth Blvd Suite 100
Plymouth, MN 55446

NORTHWEST CAMPUS

St. Michael | Albertville (STMA)
Northwest Campus
5898 Lachman Ave NE
Albertville, MN 55301

Andrew Kent

April 8, 2018

Andrew grew up playing youth hockey in Lakeville, MN. Graduating from Lakeville High School in 2002, Andrew went on to play junior hockey with the Twin Cities Northern Lights, where he was selected as an All League Goaltender. Kent continued his playing career at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

Kent was a four-year letter winner at Augsburg, playing from 2005-09. Kent was an M.I.A.C. All-Conference award winner in 2007 and earned M.I.A.C All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2009. He was also an assistant captain for the Auggies as a senior in 2008-09. Kent graduated from Augsburg in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and a minor in management information systems.

Along with his playing experience Kent brings a wealth of coaching experience to the MEGA Goaltending staff. Currently Kent is in his second season as the goalie coach of the U of M Gopher Men’s hockey team. Kent started coaching with the Gopher Men’s team in 2017-present.

Prior to coaching the Gopher men’s team he coached the for the U of M Gophers Women’s hockey team (2011-2018). Under his watch with the Gophers Women’s team his goalies have broken numerous records and received many awards. During his time with the Gopher women’s program they also won for 4 National Championships (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) 3 WCHA Regular seasons championships (2012, 2013, 2014) and 4 WCHA Final 5 championships (2012, 2013, 2014, 2018).

Kent returned to Augsburg College in 2013 and served as the goalie coach for their men’s team (2013-2017). During his 4 years coaching with Augsburg his goalies received awards such as All American and All Conference. During his time there the team enjoyed a lot of success as well winning MIAC league regular season championship (2016) as well as winning the MIAC conference tournament in back to back seasons (2016 & 2017).

Kent also coached in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Games for the Women’s Finnish National team. Along with coaching in the Olympics Kent he has also served as the boys’ assistant coach at Roseville High School (2011,2012) and consulted with various teams, associations, and camps ranging from the youth levels up to Professional Goalies.

Kent started coaching with MEGA in 2010. Andrew has taken this extensive experience, both as a player and as an instructor, and developed some of the most effective techniques for developing both young and experienced goaltenders.

Contact: andrew@megagoaltending.com

Justin Johnson

MEGA Goaltending Founder

Justin Johnson has been a hockey goaltender for over twenty years. He grew up playing in the Blaine Youth Hockey Association through High School where he set school records, participated in a State Consolation Championship, and was elected All-State Honorable Mention in 1999. After two years of competing at the junior level, Justin went on to play at the Division I level for four years with the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers where he was selected for the 2003 WCHA All-Tournament Team, and was a two-time National Champion in the years of 2002 and 2003.

Justin graduated from Minnesota in 2005 with a major in psychology and was a member of the WCHA All-Academic Team, a U of M Scholar Athlete and a three-time recipient of the Donald M. Clark Community Service Award, for his active role within the community. After graduation, Justin joined his longtime mentor Shaun Goodsell as a performance coach with Mental Edge, whose goal is to help athletes develop the life skills necessary to deal with the pressures of competition and help them climb through adversity with focus and discipline. In 2010 he combined his expertise gained through this experience and launched the Minnesota Elite Goalie Academy (MEGA)

Post graduation Justin has authored the training manual Game Day which is an interactive and completely customized preparation manual for hockey goaltenders. In addition to Game Day, Justin has contributed his expertise to numerous publications including the USA Hockey Goaltending Coaches Manual, Let’s Play Hockey, VYPE Magazine and Goalies’ World Magazine.

Justin currently serves as USA Hockey’s Minnesota District Associate Goalie Coach in Chief and is in his seventh year as the goaltending coach for the U of M Men’s program. During his tenure as a colligate coach, which includes three years at St. Cloud State University, he has coached Hobey Baker Finalist Bobby Goepfert, Patty Kazmier Finalist and Olympic Bronze Medalist Noora Raty. In addition he has coached NHL Draft Picks Jase Weslosky, Dan Dunn, Alex Kangas, Kent Patterson and Adam Wilcox. Justin’s on ice coaching experience also includes over 15 years with various camps including US National Development Camps.

Over the years Justin has developed an ability to work effectively with goalies of all ages and athletic goals. Because of Justin’s highly competitive and elite athletic background and also his personal experiences overcoming adversity in his athletic career. His ability to combine expert understanding of the demands of goaltending physically and psychologically gives him the edge in working with goalies of all ages and backgrounds.

Contact: justin@megagoaltending.com

Jason "Bergie" Berg

Advisor

As the founder of FHIT Hockey and the MAP Hockey brands, Bergie is now back doing what he started out doing over 30 years ago. Bergie started the business with the sole goal of providing direction for young athletes and their families. He started this due to the fact that he did not end up playing college sports at a competitive level. He recognized through his trials and tribulations the many factors that play a role in an athlete’s life and that can change the path of a young student athlete. At the early age of 19 he realized it was his calling and he was meant to provide direction for athletes and families who need guidance in their journey to play sports at a higher level.

Bergie grew up a 3-sport athlete in baseball, football and hockey. He had great success in all three sports as the leader of all his teams. He was fortunate enough to play on many top teams and take part in invite teams and elite camps. Due to multiple concussions and a torn ACL Bergie was not able to continue playing football as a running back and linebacker. His most promising sport was baseball, but after he dislocated his throwing arm he was never able to get his range of motion back after his unneeded surgery. He played hockey for Bloomington Kennedy where he won a Bantam State Hockey Championship and was a captain of his High School team that played in two state tournaments. As a recruited hockey player playing on Team Minnesota at the ages of 14 & 15, Bergie always thought he would be playing for a D1 hockey power school of choice. However, he quickly learned by his senior year in High School his options were limited due to his skating, injuries and many other off the ice factors.

College Hockey & Juniors: “I looked down on playing Juniors or DIII hockey. Looking back on it I clearly had a bad attitude, along with an uneducated stance on playing anything but D1 at a top hockey program. I ended up attending St. Cloud State University, as they were one of the only DI colleges still talking with me. After my unofficial visit they informed me they wanted me to play a year of juniors. I was bitter and I didn’t have it in my head or heart to swallow my pride and put in the work needed to play juniors. I also wasn’t willing to talk with any other schools or even consider playing DIII hockey.”

Coaching & Scouting: Bergie was fortunate enough to end up coaching at St. John’s University while attending St. Cloud State. After college Jason lived in Chicago for 8 years where he was a head coach with the Chicago Young Americans where he traveled North America learning the AAA playing route. Bergie was also the Director at Heartland Ice Arena which was the home of the Young Americans. Jason started working daily with individuals on their skill training and individual playing goals. Bergie moved back to Minnesota in 2002 where he was a co-founder of Impact Hockey and co-coach of the 1990 Minnesota Icemen. Bergie then started the FHIT & MAP Hockey Programs where he helped many players with their player development and advancement needs. As a scout for the USHL and USA National Development Team Bergie quickly learned the landscape of junior and college hockey. This helped him provide the connections and direction needed to help players and families with their junior and college hockey playing goals and decisions.

Bergie’s passion for helping young players, along with his unmatched experience will provide any athlete and family the direction they are looking for.

FULL TIME STAFF

Andrew Kent

Karel Popper

Tom Chorske

Anders Franke

Ryan Dop

Danny Fraga

Peter DiSalvo

Noora Räty

Tyler Johnson

Ben Clymer

Justin Johnson

Cory Simons

Dan Daikawa

Jason Berg

Doc DelCastillo

NORTH CAMPUS

EAST CAMPUS

WEST CAMPUS

NORTHWEST CAMPUS

Andrew Kent

April 8, 2018

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Karel Popper

August 3, 2022

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Tom Chorske

Director of Advising

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Anders Franke

Director of Education

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Justin Grant

North Campus Director

Ryan Dop

August 3, 2022

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Danny Fraga

August 3, 2022

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Peter DiSalvo

Director of Development

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Nooa Räty

August 3, 2022

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Tyler Johnson

August 3, 2022

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Justin Johnson

MEGA Goaltending Founder

Cory Simons

Northwest Lead Director

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Dan Daikawa

Advisor

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Jason "Bergie" Berg

Advisor

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Doc DelCastillo

Advisor

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