Coaching Staff

Matt grew up in Mount Prospect and played goalie for Express and PREP growing up before heading off to the University of Iowa where he got involved with the school's ACHA club off the ice which led to his first coaching experience with the club's youth camps and ultimately coaching with the local youth organization, the Iowa City Blizzard. While still in college, Matt got involved with USA Hockey's national development camps as a Team Leader.

After college, Matt received a hockey operations internship with USA Hockey at their national office in Colorado Springs. While in Colorado Springs, Matt coached at the Colorado Springs Jr Tigers with several members of USA Hockey's national office staff while also serving on the USHL's executive committee.

Since that time, Matt has spent several years coaching high school hockey in the area, including five years as a Varsity Assistant in the SHL and a year as the Head Coach and Hockey Director at Notre Dame College Prep. Matt was a part of Loyola Gold's state championship team in 2017-18 and state runner-up team in 2018-19.

Matt is excited for the opportunity to continue building Carmel Catholic Hockey into a program that routinely competes at the top of the SHL and state while developing boys into young men their families and communities can be proud of. Matt currently lives in Lake Barrington with his wife Chloe and twin boys Ryder and Callahan.

Bio to come!

Scott McCandless grew up in Lake County playing youth hockey for the Falcons and then on to 4 years of Varsity hockey for Libertyville High School where he was a captain his Junior and Senior year. After his high school career, Scott attended Northern Michigan University where he played on their ACHA Division II team, earning the roll of Assistant Captain. 

After graduating, Scott continued his hockey career as an assistant coach with PJ in 2009 for the Ice dogs. Over the past 13 years, Scott has coached mites through Varsity HS hockey. Scott currently teaches physical education for Round Lake School District, where he has been for the past 6 years. 

I grew up in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and started playing hockey at the age of four. After playing through high school and college I landed in the beer leagues like so many others. It was here I really understood my passion for the sport. Winning games and tournaments was great, but it was playing with my friends and how we pushed each other to be better that kept me coming back. 

After moving to the Chicago area in 2005, I got an opportunity to start coaching hockey and began appreciating the game at a new level. While at the Ice Dogs, I coached a core group of kids over six seasons with two other coaches. We built a squad that won a NIHL championship, Central States championship, Presidents trophies and countless tournaments. Although we had a great group of athletes, it was the camaraderie amongst teammates and parents that made this group so special.

Over my 15+ years of coaching I’ve learned that culture is the most important element in achieving greatness. An environment built on personal accountability, trust and dedication not only develops great hockey players but great people. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to continue coaching at Carmel and look forward to the upcoming season.

Aidan is originally from Lake Villa and played hockey for 13 years. During that time, he competed on several teams, including the Ice Dogs and Chicago Young Americans, but spent most of his career playing for the Central States Falcons. Aidan attended business school at the University of Missouri, graduating in 2023. He currently works as a sales representative.

This past year marked Aidan’s first season coaching, and he loved getting back to his passion for hockey. He’s excited for the season ahead and looks forward to continuing to grow as a coach.