Our Coaches
Introducing our head coaches for the 2026-2027 season!
8U
Jamie Jensen
CO-HEAD COACH
I am a TGHA alumna and legacy, following my mother Sue Cosentini into the organization and sport. I played for the Shooting Stars, Syracuse Stars, and Ithaca High School. I then went on to play hockey at the University of Vermont and Cornell University. I am a local real estate agent and mother of fourth-generation player Sophia. This will be my second season as co-head coach of 8U.
Samantha Zeltser
CO-HEAD COACH
I'm a rising senior at Cornell on a pre-med track. Originally from Long Island, I played goalie for ten years before getting injured. Afterwards, I coached beginner players through the New York Rangers learn to play program.
I play club hockey at Cornell and pick up and adult league games in the Ithaca area, which has been so much fun! This will be my second season with TGHA and I'm so excited to continue coaching our 8U girls!
10U
Jason Hutchinson
HEAD COACH
My wife Karyn and I live in Horseheads with our two kids. Our daughter Kylie plays 10U here at TGHA and our son Landon plays 8U with the Elmira Jr. Aviators. The commute is real, but we're all-in on TGHA and on growing girls hockey across the region — it's a special organization and we're proud to be part of it.
I've been coaching for four years across Learn to Skate, 8U, and 10U with TGHA, IYHA, and the Elmira Jr. Aviators. I'm USA Hockey Level 3 certified with a Bronze Goalie certification, and I learn a lot by watching other coaches and area teams. Outside of hockey, I also coach youth soccer and lacrosse.
My coaching focus is simple: player development and compete. I want the girls to walk away as better skaters and better teammates. My goal is for them to leave the season with a little more grit in their game and a lot more love for hockey.
Off the ice, I'm an Operations Supervisor at Corning Incorporated with sixteen years of experience leading people every day. When I get a free hour to myself, you'll find me out for a run or on the golf course. Looking forward to a great season with the 10U crew!
12U/14U
Kelly Byzitter
HEAD COACH
I have coached hockey for fourteen years now with several organizations before deciding to call TGHA our home. This will be my third year coaching with TGHA but my first as head coach. Growing up in Canada I developed a love for the game early. Outdoors and in the rinks, the game of hockey teaches you skills, athletics, and the social dynamics of teamwork. I have two kids playing with TGHA on the 12U/14U and 16U teams.
I am committed to fostering growth and development within my teams. Every season brings new opportunities for learning, and I am dedicated to creating engaging, enjoyable sessions that help athletes build both skill and confidence. I firmly believe that a positive atmosphere is essential for advancement, so I strive to nurture well-rounded individuals, aligning with our organization’s commitment to supporting both personal and athletic development.
14U Tournament-bound
Alex Hayes
HEAD COACH
This will be my sixth season as part of the TGHA coaching family. We currently have three players in the program at 8U, 14U, and 16U. TGHA is a wonderful organization for girls hockey, with an amazing culture and a commitment to growing both the player and the person.
I have been coaching ice hockey for over ten years at IYHA, TGHA, and the Outlaws. At TGHA, I spent two seasons as head coach of 12U TB and last season as head coach of 14U TB, which I guided to the 2026 Chipotle-USA Hockey National Championships.
As a youth, I played in Long Island and worked my way up through House, AA, AAA, and HS programs. As a teenager, I was a rink rat. To secure ice time at the local rink, I worked as a dish washer, janitor, concession attendant, counselor, and assistant trainer. In college, I played for the Cornell Club Hockey Team. More recently, I helped to found and manage the local A/B adult hockey league.
Professionally, I am the Albert and Jennifer Sohn Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University and Director of the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science.
14U/16U
Mark Lorentzen
HEAD COACH
I am Level 4 certified at USA Hockey and have coached girl’s hockey for more than ten years. I also serve on the TGHA board as treasurer. Coaching these amazing young athletes is truly a joy and I am honored to work with them. Our goal as coaches is to build a strong culture of team and to foster a true passion for the game. Hockey is more than a sport; it’s a community for all of us to grow, have fun, and form authentic connections.
Girls and women’s hockey is fast, intense, and physical. Playing the game is an opportunity to train both our bodies and our minds while developing lifelong practices related to self-care and community. Research has shown that girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and tend to have a more positive body image and experience higher states of psychological well-being. Hockey can also help to develop leadership skills. Many TGHA alum have gone on to successful careers as leaders within business and within their communities.
I proudly reside in Ithaca, New York, with my two teenage girls. Both of my girls have skated with and benefited from TGHA. I also play hockey in the Ithaca Adult Hockey League where I have made many lifelong friendships. Off the ice, I have served for more than two decades in executive leadership roles for global consulting firms focused on clean energy.
16U Tournament-Bound
Jake Burns
HEAD COACH
I have been coaching in the girls hockey community for the last ten years. I bring a passion to develop young athletes both on and off the ice. I played this great sport while growing up and continue to play in both men's leagues and emergency services tournaments. This passion has transitioned into coaching both at the youth and collegiate levels, as I have also served as the head coach of the Ithaca College Club Hockey Team. My emphasis is on skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship. This upcoming season, my focus will be on building strong fundamentals, instilling a positive attitude, and fostering a fun, respectful team environment where players can grow in confidence and character.
Off the ice, I work in senior management for a large scale automation and material handling company. My hobbies include anything to do with my family, firefighting, hockey, and sports in general. I am proud to be a part of the TGHA family and look forward to helping each player reach their full potential this season.
16U/19U
Mark "Rosie" LeRose
HEAD COACH
I started coaching over thirty years ago with youth teams in Aspen, Colorado, where I helped to lead a 19U girls team to Nationals. I enjoyed teaching the game I loved growing up and decided to make it my career. I had good mentorship from former NHL coach Kevin Constantine, and he helped me turn my passion for coaching into a career. Along the way I worked with power skating guru Laura Stamm, and she helped me become a power skating professional. These two individuals helped me become the coach I am today, someone with a strong skill-based approach to the game with the added layers of tactics and systems play. I have coached every level of player from youth to high school, to junior, to college, to professional, and I look forward to my first season at TGHA.
