Chris Kanaly is the outspoken and fierce leader of the Black Bear National Academy program. He has a passion for the game and for the organization that is second to none. He has served for 15 years as the General Manager of the Philadelphia Revolution and is entering his 3rdseasonas Director of Hockey Operations with the Flyers Elite Tier 1 AAA program. Kanaly has over 25 years of coaching and management experience from the youngest levels of youth hockey up through and including the professional level. During his illustrious tenure with these programs, he has sent over 200 student-athletes to the NCAA level. He now continues to mentor and coach multiple players who continue their careers in the NHL. His reach goes well beyond the Philadelphia and New Jersey markets. Chris also serves on the staff of the 2023 Clark Cup Champion, Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, and serves as a regional scout for the NAHL Maryland Black Bears.
During his 15-year tenure of managing hockey teams, he has changed the culture of those programs to one that focuses on player procurement, development, and advancement.
Dennis grew up in an active sports family and played football at all levels, including Division 1 at Monmouth University.
After graduating with an exercise science degree, Dennis continued his passion for sports through coaching and recruiting. Dennis spent over 25 years as a high-level coach/recruiting coordinator at every level, including 12 years as a head high school coach, and stops at D1 and D3 football programs. At these programs, Dennis held multiple roles including player development, director of recruiting operations, managing coordinating units, and coach. While in these positions, Dennis held responsibilities that included all aspects of recruiting operations, such as budget planning/tracking, player evaluation, player selections, and other day-to-day operations of recruiting. According to multiple recruiting services, he was part of two recruiting classes that finished as high as second in the Big East. During his tenure as a head coach, Dennis was not only responsible for getting his players ready for game day, but also for staff management, practice organization helping hockey players reach their true potential at the highest level possible by advising them and their families on the opportunities available in and implementation, management of personnel, and budget for all related activities.
Over the past 5 years, Dennis has continued his passion for sports by helping hockey players reach their true potential at the highest level possible by advising them and their families on the opportunities available in the sport of ice hockey.
Dennis currently lives in Medford, NJ, and is a very active participant in the hockey community across the United States and Canada.
