Gabriel Jacobson
Gabriel Jacobson
Tournament Founder
Gabriel grew up in Silver Spring and has been playing hockey since he was a kid, even though there were few Orthodox Jews playing at the time. Gabe has combined his love for hockey with his passion for RCCS and created the event concept. Thanks to Gabriel's dedication and visionary leadership, the tournament has grown into a pivotal fundraising event, significantly supporting RCCS's mission.
Ari Strulowitz
Ari Strulowitz
Co-commissioner
Growing up in Skokie, Illinois, Ari showed true promise as a young athlete. Ari soon caught the summer camp bug and is now the beloved director of Camp Nageela Midwest. His leadership in the Chicago tournament is now taking on an expanded role in the NY Tournament.
Akiva Shapiro
Akiva Shapiro
Co-commissioner
In 2018 Akiva was introduced to hockey and quickly fell in love with the sport. 3 years ago, Akiva spearheaded the Draft division expansion project for the RCCS Hockey Classic. Since successfully building the Draft Division, Akiva has become a vital member of the RCCS Hockey committee, undertaking the many responsibilities of a co-commissioner. Akiva's positive attitude and vision have helped the RCCS tournament continue to flourish and expand.
Aron Steier
Aron Steier
Executive Director
RCCS Hockey Classic
Throughout the years, Aron has utilized his leadership skills as National Director of Development for RCCS and has coordinated and overseen hundreds of events for the organization. His expertise has helped ensure that the RCCS Hockey Classic is run professionally and efficiently.
Yisroel Mayer Merkin
Yisroel Mayer Merkin
Tournament Director
Yisroel Mayer and Gabriel grew up together in Silver Spring and have been close ever since. He uses his extensive experience in crowd funding events to galvanize the RCCS Classic participants to bond with the event and raise tremendous amounts for this wonderful cause.
Suki Silver
Suki Silver
Player Relations and Event Producer
Along with his passion for sports, Suki brings with him many years of event planning and coordination experience. His pro player-experience philosophy and meticulous execution of ideas are precisely what's ensuring your satisfaction.
Daniel Nimchinsky
Daniel Nimchinsky
Logistics and Event Manager
Born in Houston, Texas, Daniel didn't have much to do with hockey until his family moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where he became a Penguins fan. Daniel uses his logistics and technical expertise to ensure the RCCS Hockey Classic is as smooth as ice.
Aron Topper
Aron Topper
Tournament Chairman
Ryan Swain
Ryan Swain
Tournament Coach
Ryan Swain, a Jackson, NJ native, brings extensive experience in youth, junior, and college hockey. He played junior hockey with the NJ Rockets, Kirkland Lake Goldminers, and Northern Cyclones, before competing at Northland College and Neumann University (NCAA 3). Ryan has also refereed for 15 years and coached skills for 5 years, giving him a unique perspective on the game.
Yechiel Goldson
Yechiel Goldson
Athletic Trainer
Yechiel Goldson has been training athletes for more than 10 years. His vast experience with coaching athletes to success has led him to develop tried and true exercise regimens for competitive athletes. He’s a noted fitness columnist and fitness programs writer. Yechiel has been guiding countless clients to reach peek performance while maintaining a balanced lifestyle of exercise and nutrition.
Rivka N. Cohen
Rochie Frenkel
Executive Assistant
Coordinating concierge services to tournament participants, thus facilitating a smooth and enjoyable process from A-Z.