From the Windy City to the UK: Chicago Coaches Make Their Mark Abroad
Two long-time friends with shared roots in the Chicago hockey scene, Mike Pilon and Steve Cromie, continue to leave their mark on the game well beyond North America. Both served as Assistant Coaches with the former Chicago Freeze Jr. A (NAHL) program in Fox Valley, forging a friendship that has now spanned nearly three decades. Pilon went on to establish Endeavour Sports Group, a hockey advising and development company, and for more than 20 years has travelled regularly to the UK delivering player and coach development camps. Cromie, meanwhile, has remained a constant and respected figure within the Chicago-area coaching ranks.
That longstanding connection brought both men to Deeside in the spring of 2025, where they helped lead an Endeavour Sports Group camp in partnership with Clancy’s Goalie Clinic, run by brothers Mike and Dave Clancy. The relationship has grown steadily, previously seeing Pilon join the Clancy’s as an Assistant Coach with the Great Britain Women’s National Team in 2024. Just as significantly, it opened the door for Cromie’s son Colin—an Endeavour client—to join the Deeside Dragons NIHL North side, coached by the Clancy brothers. Colin has enjoyed an outstanding start to his UK career, recording 38 points in 17 games so far this season.
For Steve Cromie, the move from Chicago to the north-east corner of Wales was never part of a grand plan, but family and hockey have a way of shaping unexpected journeys. Returning to Deeside in December, he was invited onto the ice with the Deeside Dragons Junior Club, working alongside coaches and some of the club’s 140 junior players. Drawing on decades of experience, Cromie introduced fresh ideas and a different perspective, creating an immediate lift in confidence and enthusiasm throughout the session.
The day’s impact didn’t stop there. Following an ice cut and a quick coffee, Senior Dragons training was about to begin. With Colin—one of two USA imports on the roster—preparing with the team, Head Coach Mike Clancy invited Cromie to step in once more. Given responsibility for the session, he helped prepare the squad for a crucial weekend double-header: away at Leeds on Saturday, followed by a Sunday fixture offering the chance to leapfrog second-placed Solihull Barons.
The response was emphatic. The players fully embraced Cromie’s approach, and the Dragons delivered two impressive victories, scoring 18 goals while conceding just five across the weekend.
Wales may not be regarded as a traditional hockey stronghold, but stories like this highlight what makes clubs such as Deeside special. Built on volunteers, family values, and strong relationships, the Dragons continue to grow—showing that passion for the game, and the influence of the right people, can travel far beyond its traditional borders.
“I first met Mike Pilon (Peela)16 years ago, and over that time our friendship has developed into a long-standing professional partnership underpinned by shared values around athlete development, coach education, and sustainable performance pathways. What began as informal mentoring has evolved into consistent collaboration across high-performance and grassroots environments.
Our work together within the Great Britain Women’s Ice Hockey programme provided a high-performance framework that continues to influence our approach to player development. Coaching within a national programme reinforced the importance of aligned standards, accountability, and long-term athlete development models that prioritise progression over short-term outcomes. These principles have since been embedded into club-level delivery.
The Dragons Ice Hockey Club reflects this approach in its current structure and culture. The club operates with a clear development pathway that supports players from early participation through to performance environments, with a strong emphasis on technical competence, decision-making, and personal development. Ongoing engagement with Mike Pilon through Clancy's Goalie Clinics and Endeavour Ice Hockey Development Camps ensures the Dragons programme remains connected to best practice and evolving coaching methodologies within the UK and internationally. I have had the privilege of meeting so many coaches over the last 15 years or so that have all left a lasting mark on the thoughts of the game.
The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated through player outcomes across the UK ice hockey pathway. Brynley Capps is a clear example of how a structured, athlete-centred development environment can support progression and sustained performance. Similar development journeys are now evident across multiple Dragons athletes..
This commitment to external engagement extends beyond a single relationship.
Engagement with external expertise has also played an important role in raising coaching standards. Meeting Steve Cromie at the Endeavour Development Camp last year provided valuable exposure to high-performance coaching perspectives from the North American system. Steve’s experience coaching in Chicago prompted detailed discussion around modern game trends, coaching methodologies, sharing thoughts, and player-centred learning approaches, with clear application to both club and pathway delivery in the UK.
Collectively, this long-term partnership has contributed to raising coaching standards, strengthening club infrastructure, and supporting the broader objectives of Ice Hockey UK and Sport England in developing sustainable, high-quality participation and performance pathways.”
Mike Clancy, Head Coach Deeside Dragons, Assistant Coach Great Britain U20 Men &Director Clancy’s Goalie Clinic
“Having Steve Cromie join us recently for our junior session was fantastic. His knowledge and experience are second to none, and you could clearly see the players improving as he made small but impactful tweaks to their game.
The players and coaches took so much away from the session, and Steve’s involvement made it a truly valuable experience for everyone.”
James Parsons, Head Coach Deeside Junior Dragons
Our small club in North Wales continues to go from strength to strength. Run entirely by volunteers, the connections we are building with people of vast experience are truly invaluable.
As General Manager of the Deeside Dragons, I would like to thank Steve and Mike for their help, support, and genuine interest in the club, and we are delighted to welcome them as part of the Dragons family.
Shaun Bebbington, Deeside Dragons General Manager