Staff
Mark Frankenfeld
Commissioner
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Mark Frankenfeld is in his third full year as the Commissioner of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and his 12th overall with the League. As Commissioner, his responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations, and all business aspects of the League including but not limited to League expansion, marketing initiatives and player development. During his tenure, the NAHL has stabilized into one of only two non-pay-to-play premier developmental junior leagues in the country.
Frankenfeld, a member of USA Hockey’s Junior Council, has laid the foundation for continued success while expanding the League to 19 teams, and solidifying a number of league-wide agreements. Frankenfeld is also the driving force behind the creation of the NAHL Future Prospects Tournament, which is comprised of five events featuring the best Midget and Bantam teams in the country. Frankenfeld also created the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL), which is made up of 36 teams that will compete at the Tier I Midget AAA level. These teams will be featured at all five of the NAHL Future Prospects Tournaments.
Prior to assuming his role as Commissioner, the Wright State University graduate served as the League’s director of hockey operations.
In addition to his experience off the ice, Frankenfeld is no stranger to success behind the bench in the NAHL. Frankenfeld was the head coach of the Dayton Gems during the 2003-2004 season, and he spent four seasons as Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager for the Texas Tornado from 1999-2003. He was also an assistant coach with the Cleveland Jr. Barons for one season.
Prior to working in the NAHL, Frankenfeld gained valuable experience in the collegiate ranks, spending four years as an assistant coach with the University of Miami-Ohio (CCHA), and one as an assistant with Buffalo State University (SUNYAC).
Frankenfeld has also coached at the high school and Midget AAA levels, as well as at USA Hockey Select Festivals, giving him more than 20 years of coaching experience.
Frankenfeld resides in Frisco, Texas. He and his wife, Kira, have a son, Brody, and two daughters, Charlee and Bella.
Denny Scanlon
Director of Hockey Operations
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Denny Scanlon is in his first season as Director of Hockey Operations for the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Scanlon will oversee NAHL compliance to all League and USA junior rules and regulations, all transactions foreign and domestic, player registration, and league discipline. Additionally, Scanlon will serve as director of the NAHL Future Prospects Tournaments, and the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL).
Scanlon has vast experience at all levels of hockey, including the National Hockey League (NHL), where he is an amateur scout for the New York Islanders. Prior to joining the Islanders, Scanlon spent five years as a member of the Minnesota Wild’s Hockey Operations department from 1999-2004.
Scanlon, 31, graduated from the University of Miami-Ohio in 1999, and achieved his Law Degree from the William Mitchell law school in St. Paul, Minnesota. Scanlon currently resides in Edina, Minnesota.
Brian McDonough
Director of Communications
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Brian McDonough enters his fourth year as the North American Hockey League's Director of Communications.
McDonough oversees the day-to-day public and media relations efforts of the NAHL, including maintenance of the league's official Web site. He is also responsible for the preparation and distribution of all media releases.
In addition, McDonough serves as the Director of Communications of the NAHL Future Prospects Tournaments and the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL).
McDonough's roots run deep in the sports media and publishing industry. The co-founder of the nationally circulated USA Junior Hockey Magazine, he has also worked for the ECHL, Minnesota Junior Hockey League and United States Hockey League in various capacities. McDonough is also the publisher of Arizona and California Rubber Magazines, which are dedicated to ice and inline hockey in their respective states.
McDonough, 35, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Boston College and resides in Minneapolis.
Scott Brand
Director of Officiating
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Scott Brand enters his ninth season in the NAHL and his 25th involved in officiating at the junior level. He also serves as the director of hockey operations for the United States Hockey League as well as the referee-in-chief of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League and Southern Professional Hockey League. Brand also oversees five other leagues.
A USA Hockey employee, Brand is responsible for the recruitment, supervision, development and placement of officials for the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program. Brand, who came to the NAHL in 1982 as an on-ice official, served as the America West Hockey League's director of hockey operations from 1998 until it merged with the NAHL. Brand was a junior hockey referee for 10 seasons (1982-92) and a professional hockey official from 1988-92 in the East Coast Hockey League and the International Hockey League. After ending his playing career in the Central Junior Hockey League (in which he holds the record for penalty minutes), Brand served as General Manager of the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Black Hawks and Dubuque Fighting Saints.
His playing background includes holding the Central Junior Hockey League penalty-minute record, and he as served as the General Manager of the Waterloo Black Hawks, Waterloo Bucks (Baseball) and Dubuque Fighting Saints. The Lansing, Michigan native has received the "My Boss is a Patriot Award" given out by the US Department of Defense for his work with officials who serve in the US Armed Services.
Brand currently resides in Woodbury, Minn.
Lynn Cramp
Member Services, Finances and Administration
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Lynn Cramp is in her third year with the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and her first as Director of Member Services, Finances and Administration. Cramp spent the previous two years as Director of Administration.
In her role, Cramp will oversee all financial aspects of the NAHL, as well as assisting with the coordination of all NAHL and NAPHL tournaments.
Prior to joining the NAHL, the Ontario, Canada native spent seven years with the Dallas Junior Hockey Association, where her roles included Bantam commissioner, Midget commissioner, Secretary, Regional Silver Stick Tournament Director, and three years as Vice President. She also served two years with the North Texas Hockey League as Midget Major Commissioner.
Cramp graduated with a pharmacy technicians degree from Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario. She currently resides in McKinney, Texas with her husband, Wayne, and three sons, Steven, Michael and Andrew.
Fraser Ritchie
Member Services, Operations and Communication
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Fraser Ritchie is in his first year with the role of Member Services – Operations and Communication.
Ritchie will manage League logistics, operations and daily support for member organizations and League operations and communications. He will oversee the tracking and accuracy of all statistics and standings for the NAHL and the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) as the Pointstreak Administrator. Additionally, Ritchie will serve as Assistant Director to the NAPHL.
Ritchie, 63, recently completed his third term as President of the North Texas Hockey League. Away from the rink, the former minor league hockey player spent 38 years with Nortel Networks, specializing in engineering sales support, project management of large multi-million dollar programs and customer service.
Robert F. Riley
Legal Counsel
Mark Motz
Chairman of the Board
