Kyle Makaric – Head Coach
Kyle Makaric, 32, enters his second season at the helm of the Ottawa Jr. Senators. A native of LaSalle, Ontario, Makaric grew up playing hockey at the AAA level in LaSalle, as well as Sun County, and Windsor.
He played his junior hockey for the Chatham Maroons before joining the University of Windsor Men’s hockey program from 2010 to 2013.
Following 31 games of USports hockey, Makaric transitioned his focus to coaching. As the Head Coach of the Windsor Midget AAA team for four seasons, he guided the team to three-first place finishes and captured two Silver Sticks, a 2017 Alliance Championship, and ended with a silver medal at the 2017 Telus Regionals.
Makaric was also an assistant coach with Team Alliance for the 2017 OHL Gold Cup and was a guest coach for the 2017 World Under-17 Development Camp.
In his first season at the helm in 2021-22, Makric guided the club to its third-straight CCHL championship and a berth in the Centennial Cup. The Jr. Senators also earned their first regular season title since 2013 by posting a 43-8-4 record and set a league-best +93 goal differential.
Stuart Battrick – Assistant Coach
Stuart Battrick is entering his sixth season as part of the Ottawa Junior Senators coaching staff. Known to take on any role that is required of him, his primary responsibility is to organize video sessions.
Born and raised in Midland, Ontario, Battrick coached five years of minor hockey in his hometown before moving to Ottawa where he joined OJS as part of their CDHL coaching staff. The following season, he joined the Junior A staff on a permanent basis while also accepting an assistant coach position with the Ottawa Jr. Canadians of the EOJHL.
Away from the ice, Battrick works for MPAC, a company that assesses property in Ontario. In his spare time, he enjoys cross-country running and judo.
Ryan Hand – Assistant Coach
A native of Ottawa, Hand played four seasons with the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar from 2002-2006, racking up 12 points and 539 penalty minutes in 140 games. Following junior, Hand would go on to play 367 professional games in six different leagues. He captured an LNAH (Ligue Nord-Américane de Hockey) title with the Thetford Mines Isothermic in 2015.
After retiring in 2017, Hand returned home and joined Rick Dorval and the Hawkesbury Hawks coaching staff. Following two seasons as an assistant in the CCHL, he joined the Alexandria Glens under Carl Robillard in the EOJHL in 2020.
Hand owns and operates Handmade Hockey, a program that offers hockey training and skill development.
Stéphane Levere – Goalie Coach
Stéphane Levere joined the Ottawa Jr. Senators as goaltending coach eight years ago. Under his watch, all of Ottawa’s starters have moved on to a higher level, whether it be at the NCAA level or USports.
The Embrun resident, who is a gym teacher at École secondaire catholique Casselman, also coaches high school volleyball and is responsible for his school’s Special Olympics program.
In his spare time, Levere enjoys cycling, cross-country running, and tennis. He also spends a lot of time reading on the mental aspect of the game of hockey as he believes it plays a crucial part in a goalie’s ongoing development.
Dr. Laura Creppin – Head Trainer
Dr. Laura Creppin enters her fourth season as the Head Trainer for the Ottawa Junior Senators Hockey Club. A valuable asset to the organization, Creppin is tasked with helping to diagnose and treat player injuries throughout the season.
Born and raised in Orleans, Dr. Creppin received an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Ottawa and a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. She is also certified in contemporary medical acupuncture and optimizing neuromuscular performance.
Dr. Creppin played competitive soccer and hockey as well as volleyball and tennis and remains an active participant in those same sports today. Prior to working with the Junior Senators, Creppin worked sideline coverage for various soccer and running events where she began to combine her passion for athletics and medicine.
Carmelo Pugliese – Head Equipment Manager
Carmelo Pugliese begins his third season as the Equipment Manager with the Ottawa Junior Senators. Pugliese has spent many years around various CCHL arenas, making stops in Nepean with the Raiders, and in Kanata with the Stallions, before finding a home with the Junior Sens after being hired by HC/GM Martin Dagenais.
Carm keeps busy throughout the season ensuring the players equipment is in great shape for every game and practice. He takes tremendous pride in sharpening skates according to each players specifications. Carmelo’s positive attitude and hard-working style has endeared him to all OJS players and staff who appreciate all he does.
In his spare-time, Carmelo enjoys participating in a variety of sports as part of the Special Olympics program including floor hockey and softball. He lives in Ottawa with his wife.
Kyle Lambert – Equipment Manager
