Staff

Mark Frankenfeld

Commissioner and President
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Mark Frankenfeld is in his sixth full year as commissioner of the North American Hockey League and his 15th overall. As commissioner, his responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations and all business aspects of the league, including but not limited to expansion, marketing initiatives, rules & regulations and player development.

During Frankenfeld's tenure, the NAHL has stabilized into one of only two non-pay-to-play premier developmental junior leagues in the country. During that six-year span the league has not only grown, but expanded into markets that were once considered off limits for junior hockey. One of the biggest trends that has occurred under Frankenfeld's watch is NAHL teams emerging in former minor league hockey markets and becoming successful and stable. Frankenfeld has laid the foundation for continued success, expanding the footprint of the league to 24 teams representing 13 states, allowing the league to continue to grow and truly become America's only 'National League' when it comes to junior hockey.

Frankenfeld, a member of USA Hockey's Junior Council, is also the driving force behind the creation of the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament and the North American Prospects Hockey League (PHL), which is made up of 36 Midget Major and Minor teams that compete at the Tier I youth level.

Two years ago, Frankenfeld played a vital role of the acquisition of the Central States Hockey League, which was redeveloped in the North American 3 Hockey League (3HL). Frankenfeld helped expand the 3HL to 17 teams that now compete at the Tier III Junior level.

All take advantage of the unique vertical exposure model set forth by Frankenfeld, in which players are showcased in a series of unique league-wide events designed to bring everyone together under one roof several times a season for enhanced exposure of players at all levels to junior and college scouts.

Prior to assuming his role as commissioner, the Wright State University graduate served as the league's director of hockey operations.

Behind the bench in the NAHL, Frankenfeld was the head coach of the Dayton Gems during the 2003-04 season and spent four seasons as assistant coach and assistant general manager for the Texas Tornado from 1999-03. 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 with his wife, Kira. Frankenfeld has a son, Brody, and two daughters, Charlee and Bella.

Denny Scanlon

Director of Hockey Operations and Legal Affairs
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Denny Scanlon is in his fourth season as Director of Hockey Operations and Legal Affairs for the North American Hockey League.

Scanlon oversees NAHL compliance to all league and USA Hockey rules and regulations, all foreign and domestic transactions, player registration and league discipline. Additionally, Scanlon serves as commissioner of the North American Prospects Hockey League (PHL) and as Vice-President of Hockey Operations for NA3HL (3HL).

Scanlon has vast experience at all levels of hockey, including the National Hockey League (NHL), where he served as an amateur scout for the New York Islanders from 2008-11. Prior to joining the Islanders, Scanlon spent five years as a member of the Minnesota Wild's hockey operations department from 2000-2005. From 2006 thru 2009 Scanlon worked for the Minneapolis law firm of Holmes and Associates, where he practiced in the areas of Real Estate and Municipal Law.

Scanlon graduated from Miami University in 2000 and earned his Law Degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2006. Scanlon currently resides in Plano, Texas.

Alex Kyrias

Director of Communications and Marketing
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Alex Kyrias is in his third season as Director of Communications and Marketing for the North American Hockey League. Kyrias oversees all public/media relations for the NAHL, 3HL and PHL, as well as, all league-wide broadcasting, marketing, corporate partnership, equipment supplier and sales initiatives. Kyrias can be heard on various league-wide broadcasting initiatives including NAHL TV and the NAHL Draft.

Prior to the NAHL, Kyrias spent three years working in professional hockey. In 2007-08, Kyrias worked for the Augusta Lynx of the ECHL as its Director of Public and Media relations and play-by-play voice before joining the Iowa Stars and Iowa Chops the next season as the American Hockey League (AHL) team's Vice-President of communications and play-by-play broadcaster. In 2009-10, Kyrias served as the Vice-President of sales and marketing of the then International Hockey League's (IHL) Quad City Mallards.

No stranger to the NAHL, Kyrias served as the Director of Communications and radio play-by-play voice for the Texas Tornado from 2002-07.

Kyrias holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology-Sports Communications from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He and his wife, Dory, reside in Flower Mound, Texas, along with their daughter Dorothy.

Fraser Ritchie

Director of Hockey Administration
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Fraser Ritchie is in his fifth year with the North American Hockey League with his role as Director of Hockey Administration.

Ritchie oversees league logistics, scheduling, operations and daily support for member organizations and league operations. He also oversees the tracking and accuracy of all statistics and standings for the NAHL, PHL and 3HL as the Pointstreak administrator. Additionally, Ritchie serves as assistant director to the PHL.

Ritchie has served on the Board of Directors for the Dallas Junior Hockey Association and the Allen High School Hockey Club, Advisor to the AT&T Metroplex High School Hockey League and served as President of the North Texas Hockey League for three years. 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.

He and his wife, Michelle, reside in Allen, Texas.

Sara Danielson

Integrated Marketing Manager
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Sara Danielson is in her second season with the North American Hockey League as the Integrated Marketing Manager. She helps to manage and coordinate all league-wide marketing, design, corporate partner and sales initiatives.

In addition, Danielson also directs all equipment supplier programs to the 3HL and PHL. She also is responsible for league-wide merchandise projects and assists with league public relations and community outreach projects.

Previous to the NAHL, Sara built her hockey career in the American Hockey League for the former Iowa Stars and Iowa Chops. During her time with the two teams in Des Moines, she was the in-house designer, executed sponsorship promotions, designed LED graphics for game entertainment purposes and strategized for future corporate sponsorships. While she was interning in the AHL, Sara attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa where she studied Advertising, graduating with a B.A. in 2010. After graduating college, she spent a year working for Apple, Inc.

Sara is originally from of Minneapolis, Minnesota, but now resides in Frisco, Texas.

Chris Allman

Officiating Coordinator

Chris Allman is in his first full season as Officiating Coordinator for the NAHL and 3HL. Allman's main responsibilities will include supervising, evaluating and coordinating all the officials within the NAHL/3HL.

Allman is no stranger to officiating or the supervisory role at the league level. For the past four years, Allman has been the Director of Officiating for the Atlantic Metropolitan Hockey League (AMHL), a Tier III junior league.

His responsibilities included educating and developing on ice officials through evaluations and observation. Allman has a wide array of experience on the ice as an official where for the past 10 years he has worked professionally in the AHL, ECHL, CHL and SPHL as a referee or linesman. He also has on-ice experience at both the NAHL and USHL levels.

Chris resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Trent Ritchie

Coordinator of Hockey Administration
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Trent Ritchie is in his first season with the North American Hockey League as the Coordinator of Hockey Administration. He assists the Director of Hockey Operations and also assists with equipment supplier programs for the NAHL, NA3HL and NAPHL.

Before joining the NAHL, Trent has worked at all levels of hockey in the front office including internships with the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars, the Central Hockey League's Allen Americans and the North American Hockey League's own Texas Tornado.

Trent recently completed his college degree graduating from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville where he studied Sports Management, graduating with a B.A. in May 2013. During his time at Arkansas, Trent played 4 years on the club hockey team and served as the Vice President of Merchandise for two of those years.