Ice Flyers Name Chris Ferazzoli Assistant Coach
PENSACOLA, FLA. — The Pensacola Ice Flyers are proud to announce the addition of Chris Ferazzoli as assistant coach.
A former forward who appeared in 181 professional games, Ferazzoli brings extensive playing, coaching and player-development experience to Pensacola. Over the past 15 years, he has worked with elite youth athletes and professional players from the Tampa Bay Lightning organization and teams across Sweden, Finland, Russia, Austria and Switzerland.
“We welcome Chris to the Ice Flyers as our new assistant coach,” Head Coach Jeremy Gates said. “Chris brings a tremendous amount of experience to our organization, including a successful professional career and years of developing players at high levels. His experience coaching in the Tampa area, working with elite players, as well as his knowledge of the SPHL and other professional leagues, will be a great asset to our staff. Chris is someone who understands what it takes to develop players who can apply adaptable skills to our style of play. I’m looking forward to working alongside him and believe he will be a great addition to the Ice Flyers.”
“I have known Jeremy Gates for quite some time, so when I learned there might be an opportunity in Pensacola, I reached out immediately,” Ferazzoli said. “This organization’s longevity speaks to its ownership and the tremendous support it receives from the community. Having played in Mississippi, I remember the atmosphere when we came to Pensacola. I can’t wait to feel that energy from behind the bench.”
Ferazzoli will work closely with Gates to support the team’s philosophy, structure and daily development. His coaching approach centers on relationships, trust and clear communication.
“I want to be a players’ coach,” Ferazzoli said. “Sometimes in coaching, you can forget what it was like to be in their position. I want to invest in our players, build trust and develop relationships that extend beyond hockey. When players know where they stand, what they are doing well and how they can improve, that creates the foundation for success.”
His path through professional hockey helped shape that philosophy. After stepping away from the game for four years following college, Ferazzoli returned to competition and ultimately earned an opportunity with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. There, he saw firsthand the preparation, recovery habits and attention to detail required to succeed as a professional.
That experience reinforced the importance of patience and allowing players to grow through mistakes, an approach Ferazzoli has carried into his coaching career.
“The details in this game are small, but they are imperative,” he said. “I want our players to understand what they are doing well, what needs to improve and, most importantly, how to fix it. The passion and energy will be there every day, along with constant feedback designed to bring out the best in each player.”
As a former forward, Ferazzoli emphasizes habits such as stopping and starting, keeping sticks on the ice and attacking open space with and without the puck. His standards extend beyond talent, with work ethic, competitiveness, humility and selflessness forming the foundation of what he values in a player.
“From day one, there will be standards and non-negotiables,” Ferazzoli said. “If a player brings his best every day, our staff will make sure he is prepared and receives the tactical and technical details he needs to succeed.”
For Ferazzoli, joining the Ice Flyers represents both the beginning of his professional coaching career and an opportunity to contribute to a city whose passion for hockey left a lasting impression on him.
“I’m excited to be on the bench at this level and to help bring a championship home,” he said. “I love this game, and there will be no shortage of passion. I feel blessed to do this every day, and this organization will get every ounce of my heart and soul as a coach.”
Away from the rink, Ferazzoli enjoys golf, tennis, basketball and pickleball. He and his wife, Janibel, also enjoy traveling and discovering new restaurants, but he treasures time with their daughters, Chiara and Carina, most of all.
