Coaches

Ben is a Hollidaysburg native where he started playing for the Altoona Trackers at 8 years old and continued to play travel hockey through U18. His team had an undefeated season winning a PAHL season and playoff banner in 2017, as well as being a 4-year Defenseman for Hollidaysburg High School.

Ben went on to play 2 seasons at East Stroudsburg University before moving back to the Altoona area where he was the head coach of the U8 In-House Program, skills programs and taught various levels of Learn to Skate.

Ben is a USA Hockey Level 4 coach entering his 5th season with the Mid State Mustangs, previously assisting the U10AA, 10UAA, and head coach the past 2 seasons.

In addition to the Mustangs Ben will be coaching the U12 Central Region Keystone Games team, and Hollidaysburg High School.

Ben continues his passion for the game bringing a strong defensive minded specialty to the coaching staff with a focus on personal and skill development.

David will be a Level 4 USAH coach in the 24-25 season.

Growing up, David played for the Philadelphia Revolution (2 seasons), Grundy Senators (5 seasons), and Council Rock South High School. He often captained the teams that he played for, being voted or nominated as a one-time assistant captain and one-time captain for the Philadelphia Revolution, a two-time captain and a two-time assistant captain for the Grundy Senators, and a two-time captain for Council Rock South. In his senior year, David was named to the league wide second-team and captained CRS to an SHSHL championship title in 2020.

Looking at his past in coaching, in addition to assisting with various Learn-To-Play programs, David volunteered as a two-year assistant coach with the Council Rock South Middle School AAA program. Furthermore, David was the head coach of the Mid-State Mustangs 16UAA team in the 22-23 season, head coach of the Mid-State Mustangs 18UAA team in the 23-24 season, and assistant coach of the 2023-2024 PSUA Ice Hockey team. He is currently the assistant coach of the Hollidaysburg Varsity Ice Hockey team, and the head coach of the Penn State Altoona Ice Hockey team, who just won their fourth program championship in the 24-25 season.

David looks to further help his players develop both on and off the ice. He emphasizes work ethic, attitude, passion, details, respect, teamwork, and positivity. An ultimate goal of his is to create a family atmosphere where players enjoy coming to the rink and represent their team with pride. David is looking forward to his new role and is hoping to continue to help prepare players for hockey and life after it.

Noah was born in Altoona, PA where he was introduced to hockey at a young age and started playing for the Altoona Trackers at 8 years old. Noah then continued to play travel hockey and played for both the Mid-State Mustangs and Altoona Trackers. He was on the team of the 2016 Regional Silver Stick Tournament Champions in West Chester, PA and went on to compete in the International Silver Stick Tournament in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Also during his last year with the Mustangs, he was a part of the 2018 Western PA State Championship Team and they went to compete in the National Championship Tournament in Green Bay, Wisconsin Where they placed 3rd in the country. Noah also played two years of high school hockey for Bishop Guilfoyle.

During his freshman year in college, Noah played for the Penn State Altoona club hockey team.

Noah is thrilled to be back and a part of a great organization that he grew up in. He hopes to continue the growth of his teams as players and also as individuals.

Luke is an Indiana, PA native and has been playing hockey since he was four years old. Luke played for the Mid-State Mustangs from 2014-2018 alongside Coach Murray and Coach Yeckley. Luke was on the 2018 State Championship winning team that went on to take third place at Nationals, as well as the 2015 16U Silver sticks regional Champs. Along with Mustangs, Luke also played for Indiana Area High School in the PIHL from 2015-2019, where he competed for the Penguins Cup championship in 2017.

A State College native with deep roots in local hockey, Coach Danny Moscone is thrilled to lead the 14U Mid-State Mustangs into a new era of competitive excellence. Building on three successful years coaching 12U Keystone Wild and State College Icers, as well as assisting with 14U Keystone Wild, Danny brings a proven track record of player development and championship-caliber coaching. His own impressive playing career, featuring four Tier 2 PA State USA Hockey championships and a U16 Tier 2 USA Hockey National Championship, demonstrates his commitment to achieving peak performance. From his early days in Penn State's learn-to-play programs to his time with the State College Icers, Mid-State Mustangs, State College High School, Wyoming Seminary Academy, and Penn State Club Hockey, Danny's journey reflects a lifelong passion for the sport. As the Hockey Director and Co-GM of Galactic Ice, he will be a part of spearheading the growth of hockey players throughout our region. Coach Moscone is dedicated to fostering a competitive yet developmental environment, providing 14U players with the tools and mentorship needed to succeed both on and off the ice.

Coach Garrett returns to the Mid-State Mustangs, bringing a wealth of championship experience and a deep commitment to athlete development. His coaching philosophy, rooted in a lifetime of exceptional opportunities, emphasizes giving back to his players and fostering their growth as leaders. Garrett's impressive playing career includes three consecutive championships with the Ringwood Rangers, Varsity titles in New York, and a Junior National Championship with the New Jersey Junior Devils, leading to an IHL draft invitation. He further demonstrated his dedication by playing on FNDY City Championship Teams and in the 9-11 FNDY NYPD vs NHL All-Stars Widows & Orphans Charity Game. His coaching legacy in the region is undeniable, with his name etched alongside Coaches Moscone and Ebert as a USA Hockey State, District, and National Champion with the Mid-State Mustangs and Altoona Trackers, along with numerous PAHL and Silver Stick titles. Most recently, he contributed to the success of the Keystone Wild and State College Icers program, adding to his collection of PAHL championships. Beyond his on-ice expertise, Garrett is a highly respected strength and conditioning coach, working with athletes, military, fire, and police candidates. He believes youth hockey is a powerful platform for developing life skills, building mental fortitude, and cultivating the physical edge necessary for success in all aspects of life. Join Coach Barbosa and benefit from his unparalleled experience and unwavering dedication to your development.

Born and raised in Altoona, PA, Derek Mathews has been around the game of hockey since he learned to skate at the age of four at Penn State. As Galactic Ice was not open yet, he played roller hockey at Sir Skate along with the Stingers travel program until 2000. When Galactic Ice opened, Derek was part of the first Squirt team as a nine year old in the Altoona Trackers program. Coming up through the ranks and adding several banners for the Trackers program, he was also a key member of the Mid-State Mustangs program. Mathews was a part of the first two U18 AA PA State Championship teams (one with the Trackers in 2008 and one with the Mustangs in 2010). Mathews also played for the Altoona Mountain Lion Junior High and High School teams. He was part of the only high school team out of Galactic Ice to play PIHL Varsity AAA during his junior year.

After graduating high school, Mathews played collegiate hockey at West Chester University for their D2 program. Mathews won two conference championships during his time at the program and also was selected for the National D2 All-Star Challenge tournament (which is played every two years) both times. He left WCU as their D2 all-time leading scorer and graduated with a degree in Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Mathematics and Social Studies. Derek currently teaches 7th grade Math at Tyrone Area Middle School.

Head Coach for the 2024 14UAA Mid AM State Championship team with a 3rd Place Finish at the USA Hockey National Championships in Amherst, NY. 

Jamesy Rossi was part of the Sir Skate Stingers Roller hockey program since the age of 5, until Galactic Ice’s opening in 2000. He was part of the first squirt banner raising team with the Altoona Trackers, in 2001. With the Trackers and Mustangs programs, he was a part of the first two U18 AA PA State Championship teams (one with the Trackers in 2008 and one with the Mustangs in 2010). At the 2010 National Championships, Jamesy placed first as the Overall Skills Competition winner. 

In High School Hockey, he was part of the only team out of Galactic Ice to play PIHL Varsity AAA during his Senior season with the Altoona Mt. Lions. During his senior year, he was the leading scorer in Western PA in the PIHL Varsity AAA division, with 55 points in 20 games. He proudly played alongside his fellow coach, Derek Mathews, as line mates for almost their entire career. The passion of his coaches and peers in the past, have drawn him back to become a coach, to help develop the players on and off the ice.

Assistant Coach for the 2024 14UAA Mid AM State Championship team with a 3rd Place Finish at the USA Hockey National Championships in Amherst, NY.