Ian Clugston

With more than 20 years of ice hockey coaching experience under his belt, Ian Clugston is a USA Hockey-certified Level 5 coach who grew up playing youth hockey in the New York City area, having moved to Long Island during high school from the Queens area, where he settled and played for the Massapequa High School hockey club.

His two-plus decades of coaching experience includes many stops in the local hockey scene, including:

• Head Coach of the LI Edge Bantams from 2003-2005;

• Head Coach of the Port Washington Storm Midget summer tournament team from 2003-2005, where 17 of his 20 players went on to skate at various levels of collegiate ice hockey;

• Head Coach of the Nassau County High School Vytra in 2006, only the second team from Nassau County to capture the prestigious Vytra Cup Long Island Championship;

• Head Coach of the Hofstra University Men’s ACHA Ice Hockey Team from 2006-2010, where led the team from being ranked 132nd in the nation, to 11th in the nation by the time he exited the program;

• Director of Hockey Operations at Long Beach Arena from 2007-2008;

• ACHA Atlantic Regional Scouting Director from 2008-2011;

• Associate Coach of the Farmingdale State Rams Men’s Ice Hockey team from 2010-2011, including a Final Four finish at the ACHA Nationals in Holland, Michigan;

• On-ice assistant for various USA hockey camps and clinics; and

• A member of the Nassau County Lions travel coaching staff since 2020.

In 2008, Ian was honored with the ACHA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year Award. With the Massapequa Ice Hockey Club, he served in various playing and coaching capacities over the seven-year span of 1999-2006. After a brief hiatus, he returned to the Massapequa Ice Hockey Club in 2012, and remains a fixture with the program.

“What you can expect from me as a coach is a disciplined but fun style of hockey, complete with high-tempo practices that challenge the players to try things that they are not used to, and force them out of their comfort zone,” said Ian. “My practices consist of complex drills that emphasize puck movement and force players to think, in addition to systematic game play, and a fun locker room atmosphere that allows players to be themselves in a positive and supportive fashion.”

When not on a sheet of ice, Ian runs a small business, and spends his free time with his wife Nicole, and their five children.