STAFF
Coaching Staff
Ryan Taylor - Founder/Head Player Development/Hockey Operations
Ryan Taylor is one of the most widely respected coaches in the hockey community with over 20 years of experience in developing players of all ages from all over North America.
Currently, Ryan Taylor is the General Manager of Hockey Operations at the Chicago Reapers, Mount Prospect, Illinois. Taylor also head coaches the 2013 SQUIRT MAJOR REAPERS and the 2010 BANTAM MINOR REAPERS. Ryan Taylor was awarded Illinois Youth Hockey Coach of the Year by AHAI in 2019.
Prior to joining the Reapers and starting up NSHDA, Ryan Taylor was the Hockey Director/Coach of Highland Park Falcons for 10 years and prior to the Falcons, Director of Bauer Selects and Assistant Hockey Director/Coach at Chicago Mission for 4 years. Taylors first stop was Chicago Young Americans Director/Coach for 7 years.
Originally from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Ryan grew up playing for the Burlington City Reps, AAA Hockey Organization. After Bantam Major, Ryan made the jump to the Ontario Juniors Hockey League (OJHL) where he played for the Burlington Cougars for two seasons. Ryan played his collegiate hockey at Lake Forest College in Illinois and was coached by Tony Fritz. He shined and was named Captain for two years and earned the “Peter G. Taylor Award” in 1997-98. This award is for the most outstanding talent, leadership and love for the game to which best exemplifies the qualities of the player for whom it is named. Ryan currently lives in Lake Forest, IL, with his five beautiful young children that all love and play hockey.
BRETT LEBDA - Player Development
Brett Lebda is currently Midget Director for Chicago Reapers. Lebda also coaches the U16 and U18 Reapers.
Brett Lebda is from Buffalo Grove, IL and grew up playing hockey in the Chicagoland area. He was selected to play for the United States National Development Program in 1998 where he played for two years. From there he attended and played for the Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame from 2000-2004. After helping the Irish make the NCAA tournament in 2004 for the first time in the modern era he was signed by the Detroit Red Wings as an undrafted free agent. He played his first NHL game at the start of the 2005-2006 season. A veteran of 398 NHL games he saw stints with the Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Columbus Blue Jackets and won a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008.