Eric Darwitz – Senior Consultant | Co-Owner
Eric established Hawkeye Hockey Services to fulfill his vision of offering exceptional client service through lasting, genuine relationships with both players and their families. Based on the experiences he has gained as a player, coach, and scout, Eric strives to equip his clients with knowledge of all possible options so that, together with their families, his clients can make the best decisions for their amateur careers.
Eric has been the Head Scout for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League since 2009. During that time, the Ice Dogs have won three Robertson Cup Championships and are consistently one of the top teams in the NAHL to move players on to the collegiate level. Prior to joining the Ice Dogs staff, Eric spent five years coaching high school hockey in his home state of Minnesota, followed by three years at the prestigious Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep School in Faribault, MN. Eric played his collegiate hockey at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN from 1997-2000 where he was a part of three MIAC Championship teams and two NCAA tournament appearances.
Lincoln Nguyen – Director of Hockey Operations | Co-Owner
Lincoln brings a wealth of experience from all levels of junior hockey as well as NCAA Division-I and III levels. Nguyen’s hockey philosophy is built on development, education, and being a clear communicator so athletes understand the “why’s”; to empower the athlete to problem-solve and reflect so they can continue to develop and become a stronger, critical-thinker. Nguyen’s coaching resume also includes:
- Head Midwest Scout, Waterloo Blackhawks, USHL
- Assistant Coach, University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, WCHA, NCAA Division-I
- Head Coach, Marian University Sabres, NCHA, NCAA Division-III
- Associate Head Coach, Coulee Region Chill (now the Chippewa Steel), NAHL
- Associate Head Coach, Twin Cities Northern Lights, MnJHL
- Assistant Coach, El Paso Rhinos, WSHL
Josh Petrich – Director of Consulting | Senior Consultant
Josh is excited to bring his experience from his 12-year coaching background to Hawkeye Hockey Services (HHS). Josh’s passion comes from helping players and their families navigate the murky waters that hockey and life can present to achieve their goals and dreams. During his coaching career, Josh has had the privilege of coaching 4 NHL players and over 50 NCAA Division I players. During the 2014-2015 season with the Minnesota Wilderness, Josh worked with one NHL draft pick, and 14 Division I players, while helping build and develop the 2015 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship team in the organization’s second season of existence.
He believes his role is to bring all possible development options to the player as they continue their amateur careers while also helping them grow with self-reflection and mentorship through the highs and lows of a hockey career. Josh will bring honesty and integrity to help the players and their families. Josh has created this philosophy through his years working for the following organizations:
- Program Director/18U Head Coach | Omaha AAA Hockey Club
- Assistant Coach | Omaha Lancers (USHL)
- Head Coach | Kenai River Brown Bears (NAHL)
- 18U Head Coach | Iowa Wild AAA
- Assistant Coach | Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)
- 16U Head Coach | Russell Stover Hockey
- Assistant Coach | Alaska Avalanche (NAHL)
- Regional Scout | Alexandria Blizzard (NAHL)
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 commination 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 attend 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 while also serving 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
Bio to come soon.
HOCKEY GROWTH AND MARKETING
Zach Lammpa – Hockey Growth Consultant
Zach brings high energy and a solid background of training, mentoring, coaching, and networking to Hawkeye Hockey Services. Zach’s 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 the “enjoy 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. Zach resonates with different family/player situations. Zach enjoys helping clients relate to the culture of Hawkeye Hockey Services. Zach played at Hibbing Community College and played 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”