Coaches and Hockey Ops
Cliff Sawicki - Program Director & Assistant Coach
Director & Coach Sawicki has been part of the Hilliard Hockey family for many years. Aside from Hilliard Hockey, he continues to play and referee hockey. Director/Coach Cliff has been a part of the Hilliard Hockey staff since 2021.
David Cox - Varsity Head Coach
Coach David Cox is a native of Cleveland, Ohio where he played high school hockey at Euclid. After high school, David played two years of Junior hockey for the Wooster Oilers, where he was named team captain during his second season. David attended the University of Akron to pursue his degree in Organizational Supervision while playing hockey at the collegiate level. David started his coaching career at University School in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to Columbus to help develop our athletes. Coach Cox joined Hilliard Hockey in 2021 as the Varsity Assistant Coach and became Varsity Head Coach in 2023.
Bobby Shepherd - JV Head Coach
Coach Shepherd began playing hockey in Chicago at the age of four. His family moved to Columbus when he was eight years old, and he played travel hockey for both CAHA AA travel and Hilliard ice hockey. He also played three years of Junior hockey with the Columbus Crush, Stars and Junior Bluejackets. After Juniors, he played college hockey for Broome College in Binghamton, New York for one year and then transferred to Ohio State. Coach Shepherd has been involved in coaching since he was fifteen. Over the past ten years he has coached several Greater Columbus area teams including CCYHA AA, CAHA A and AA travel teams, Westerville JV and Northeast Storm JV. Coach Shepherd joined Hilliard Hockey in 2015 as the Junior Varsity Head Coach.
Ken Snyder - JV Assistant Coach
Coach Ken Snyder started playing hockey at the age of four. He grew up in Midland, MI and later played defense for his varsity team, H. H. Dow High School. Post high school, he graduated from Michigan State University and later earned an MBA from Franklin University. He has continued to actively play hockey in multiple cities and adult leagues throughout the years. In 2013, Coach Ken joined the Columbus Capitals CAHA organization as a volunteer where he served primarily as a defensive coach for the Peewee single A team. The following three years he coached travel Bantam hockey with the Capitals serving in a similar role. Coach Ken joined Hilliard Hockey in 2019 as the Junior Varsity Assistant Coach.
Owen Forchione - JV Assistant Coach
Coach Owen Forchione was born and raised here in Hilliard, Ohio. Growing up he had always enjoyed playing floor hockey in elementary school which had then led to him playing ice hockey in 6th grade for CCYHA. After several years of playing for CCYHA, he then went on to play for the Columbus Academy bantam travel team playing for a year. After developing as a player with the Vikings hockey team, he then played for the Hilliard Hockey Club where he was part of winning two CBJ cups. While with the Hilliard Hockey club, he learned a lot about leadership, team culture and their importance within a team. Owen is excited to pass his knowledge along and help the players grow both on and off the ice. Coach Owen joined Hilliard Hockey staff in 2022 as a Junior Varsity Assistant Coach.