Experience Behind the Bench: Wolves Academy Announces 2026-27 Coaches

The West Chester Wolves Academy is proud to announce its coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, bringing together a group of experienced leaders with backgrounds spanning NCAA hockey, Tier I AAA, Prep School, the USPHL, and the NCDC.

Leading the U18 Prep team will be Zach Cappelli, while Jacob Smulevitch will be Head Coach of the U18 Academy team. Paul Martone will lead the U16 Academy squad as Head Coach.

Cappelli will take over the Wolves U18 Prep program after joining the organization midway through the 2025-26 season & guided our 16U team to a UT1HL League Championship. He brings an extensive background in prep school, AAA, and junior hockey, with previous head coaching stops at Hoosac School, Portsmouth Abbey School - were he was also the Vice President of NEPSAC & Board Member of the Holt Conference. Cappelli also spent time at the collegiate level as an assistant coach at Nichols College and served in the front office as Assistant General Manager of the Boston Dogs in the NCDC. Since 2019 Cappelli has run Level Hockey Development, a program based on game situation skills, film breakdown & player advancement.

“Zach has spent years developing players at the prep school, AAA, and junior levels,” Tarpy added. “He understands what families are looking for in an academy environment and has a proven ability to help players advance both on and off the ice.”

Smulevitch enters his second season with the Wolves organization after serving as Head Coach of the Wolves U18 AAA team during the 2025-26 season. Prior to arriving in West Chester, he gained extensive junior hockey experience across the NA3HL, USPHL Premier, USPHL Elite, and NCDC levels. His resume includes head coaching stops with the Charleston Colonials, Columbia Infantry, and Casper Warbirds, where he served as Head Coach in the NCDC during the 2024-25 season.

“Jacob has a tremendous hockey mind and brings valuable junior hockey experience to our academy,” said ASM Hockey Group President Joe Tarpy. “His background in the NCDC and USPHL, combined with the culture he builds with his teams, makes him a great leader for our U18 Academy group.”

Taking over the U16 Academy team is Paul Martone, who brings nearly a decade of NCAA coaching experience to the Wolves. Martone spent six seasons behind the bench at Salem State University before continuing his collegiate coaching career at Anna Maria College. Most recently, he coached within the prestigious South Kent School program at both the 18U Prep and 15U AAA levels.

“Paul’s experience at the NCAA level and within elite youth hockey programs speaks for itself,” said Tarpy. “He is passionate about player development and will bring tremendous energy and structure to our U16 Academy team.”

The Wolves Academy continues to establish itself as one of the premier development environments in the region, competing in the THF, UT1HL, PPHL & PPP while providing players with a direct pathway to junior, collegiate, and professional hockey.

With an experienced coaching staff now in place, the Wolves Academy is preparing for an exciting 2026-27 season at PNY Sports Arena in West Chester, Pennsylvania.