Coaches

Hunter Warner is a dedicated coach and mentor committed to the discipleship of the Christian faith and the holistic development of young athletes. A former professional hockey player, Hunter competed in the USHL, WHL, and AHL under contract with the Minnesota Wild. He was named the Wild’s Most Improved Prospect in 2015, served as assistant captain for the Iowa Wild, was honored as Community Service Player of the Year, and represented his team through the Professional Hockey Players Association. His playing career also extended to France and Italy. Hunter is no stranger to the Southwest Christian Richfield (SWCR) hockey community, serving as an assistant coach for the Stars during the 2021–2022 season. For the past two seasons, he has been the Assistant Varsity Coach at South St. Paul High School. In 2014, he founded Warner Consulting to serve Minnesota hockey families with player advising, video coaching, and skill development. Rooted in a strong Christian upbringing, Hunter and his wife, Alexis, who serves on the worship team at Westwood and leads worship at The Rock Church, are raising their daughter, Julianna, in a Christ-centered home. Together, they believe in servant leadership and growing the Kingdom. Hunter’s passion lies in building up the next generation through faith, leadership, and sport.

Joe developed his passion for hockey skating on the frozen outdoor rinks alongside his brothers and friends. He played high school hockey at St. John’s Prep and collegiately at St. Olaf College. For over 20 years, Joe has coached at the high school and youth levels. In 2006 he began working to establish a varsity hockey program at Southwest Christian High School – a dream that finally came true in 2016, through a co-op with Richfield High School. As a member of the Stars coaching staff, Joe is dedicated to building a top-tier program that develops skilled hockey players and, more importantly, young men of godly character and integrity. Joe has been involved in the Southwest Christian community, having served on the school’s Board of Directors for six years, including two as chairman. Off the ice, Joe is a Managing Director at RBC Wealth Management, where he helps his clients grow and steward their financial assets. Joe and his wife Darcy, have four children – all SWC alumni – and are blessed with six grandchildren.

Eric Staal is entering his first season as an Assistant Coach with the Southwest Christian Richfield (SWCR) Hockey team. With 18 years of NHL experience, Eric recorded over 1,000 points, was a six-time NHL All-Star, and served as captain in Carolina. In 2006, he helped lead the Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup. Internationally, he is a member of the “Triple Gold Club,” having won the Stanley Cup, an IIHF World Championship (2007), and an Olympic Gold Medal with Team Canada (2010). Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Staal is the oldest of four brothers who have played or are playing professional hockey. He now brings his elite experience to developing young athletes, focusing on strong fundamentals, competitiveness, character, and helping players reach their potential both on and off the ice. Eric and his wife Tanya have three sons: Parker, Levi, and Finley.

Sam grew up in Richfield, MN, and has coached for the SWCR co-op since it started in 2016. A three-sport captain and Hobey Baker Character Award recipient, he graduated from Richfield High School in 2007. Sam went on to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, where he studied economics and played on Navy’s ACHA D1 hockey team, scoring 105 points and earning team honors including Rookie of the Year, Hardest Worker, MVP, and Team Captain. Commissioned in 2011, Sam served nearly 10 years as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, both on active duty and in the reserves. He later earned his MBA from the Carlson School of Management and now works at DaVita, Inc. Sam lives in South Minneapolis with his wife, Veronica, and loves coaching, getting outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Josh, originally from Calgary, AB, is in his 7th year coaching with SWCR. After four years of playing high school hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, he went on to play juniors in the NAHL and Canada before an injury ended his playing career. He earned a Business Finance degree from Bethel University, where he also spent two seasons as an NCAA DIII Assistant Coach. Josh now lives in South Minneapolis and works as a mortgage broker.

Connor grew up playing hockey and other sports for Minnetonka before attending Southwest Christian in 2008. With no hockey program in place at the time, he shifted his focus to baseball, serving as team captain and earning all-conference honors during high school. After graduating from Southwest Christian in 2012, Connor attended Calvin College to play baseball but ultimately tried out for hockey instead, earning a spot on the varsity roster as a freshman. He later transferred to Grand Canyon University, where he helped found and played on GCU’s inaugural hockey team before graduating in December 2015. Connor now owns and manages Scuba Weed Control, a lake-weed removal and pond restoration company. He lives in Richfield with his wife, Cassidy, and their four children—Orrin, Hazel, Lucy, and Cora—and is a member of Grace Church in Eden Prairie. With ties to both Southwest Christian and Richfield, Connor is passionate about the program and deeply committed to the growth and success of each player—both on and off the ice. This is his sixth season coaching hockey at Southwest Christian/Richfield.