JEFF CHEESEMAN
Pelham Youth Hockey Director

• Jeff grew up in a small town called Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada, where he learned the game of hockey and was involved in the local Youth Hockey League until age 15.
• Jeff moved away from home the next year to play Jr. A Hockey and in his 4^th year was Captain of the Vernon Vipers hockey club that won the Canadian National Jr. A Championship in Vernon, British Columbia, in 1996.
• His efforts earned him a scholarship to play Men’s Division I (NCAA) Hockey at Lake Superior State University (CCHA) where he was a Four Year Letter Winner and graduated with a BA in business.
• Jeff enjoyed a professional career for 5 years in the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) and the Central Hockey League (CHL) then moved to Birmingham where he played with the Alabama Slammers of the WHA.
• Jeff moved into the teaching arena after an injury in 2004 made it impossible for him to continue professional hockey.
• His credentials aside from his paying career include 16 years of experience with hockey instructional schools, teaching, coaching, and player development.  
• Jeff is a USA Hockey level IV certified coach not only as Director of the Pelham Youth Hockey League (PYHL) but also as the head coach of the University of Alabama Frozen Tide Hockey team which competes in the American Colligate Hockey Association (ACHA).
• Jeff married Valerie Kernan, native to the area, in April 2006 and has started a family with young Porter Cheeseman born September 9^th of 2008.  Jeff looks forward to helping with the development of the Youth Hockey League program here at The Pelham Civic Complex.

“I’m very excited to be able to give back
to the kids what the game gave to me”

--- Jeff Cheeseman