PEORIA – The Bradley Braves are pleased to announce the coaching staff for the 2019-2020 season.

Brian Hamilton will be taking over as the head coach for the D2 team, and he will be joined behind the bench by assistant coaches Sam Martino and Johan Dahlin. Chase Sisk will be taking over as the D3 head coach, and he will be joined by assistant coach Jenny Kistner.

Hamilton most recently served as the head coach for Bradley D3 in 2018-19. In his first year behind the bench for the Braves, he helped guide the D3 team to the MACHA Bronze finals. Prior to coming to Bradley, Coach Hamilton spent 6 years as an assistant coach with the Peoria Mustangs (NA3HL) after a 20-year professional career in the IHL, AHL, ECHL, and SPHL.

Martino will be returning for his 3rd year with the Braves. Prior to joining the staff in 2017, he served as a as the head coach for Western Illinois University (2005-06) and as an assistant coach with Bradley (1993-94). A Bradley alum, Coach Martino played for the Braves from 1988-1993.

Dahlin moves up to the D2 Braves after serving as an assistant on the D3 team last season. Prior to joining the Braves, he coached youth hockey in the Peoria area. A native of Sweden, Dahlin brings an international flair and perspective to the Bradley coaching staff.

Sisk begins his 1st season behind the bench for the Braves. A native of Pekin, IL, he grew up playing youth hockey in Pekin and Peoria before moving to Texas to play AAA hockey. He returned to Peoria to begin his junior hockey career with the Peoria Mustangs. He then moved to Fresno, CA where he spent 2 years with the Fresno Monsters WSHL team, then 2 years with the Monsters NAHL team. After his junior career, Coach Sisk moved back home to Pekin to begin his coaching career. He’s served as the director of the Pekin Little Stars program for players aged 2-7, as a coach for various levels within the Pekin Youth Hockey Association, and most recently as an assistant coach for Pekin High School.

Kistner will also be joining the Braves for her 1st season behind the bench. A native of Peoria, IL, she grew up playing youth hockey in Peoria before joining the Chicago Mission her junior year of high school. After leading the Mission to 2nd and 3rd place finishes at nationals in 2008 & 2009, Kistner began her college career at NCAA D1 University of Maine before transferring to NCAA D3 Plattsburgh State, where she helped lead the Cardinals to the NCAA D3 National Championship her senior year.