From left are: Don Olea, Center Ice Magazine; Rob Boyle, Asst. Coach Wichita Thunder (CHL); Nick Carriere, Head Coach Buffalo State; Kevin Figsby, Head Coach Concordia Univ., Montreal, CAN.

Don Olea • Publisher

Since August of 2004 Don Olea has been the publisher, lead photographer and graphic designer for Center Ice Magazine, a monthly hockey publication based out of Gallatin, TN that was distributed to more than 250 locations in 34 states from NY to CA.

Prior to his launching of Center Ice Magazine, Olea was a senior graphic designer and photographer for Amusement Business magazine and its sister publications, Billboard magazine and The Hollywood Reporter from 2000 through 2004 in Nashville and Los Angeles.

Don is a native of San Diego, CA. and his hockey credentials include an extensive playing and coaching career from Junior B, to college and minor-pro, He was the goaltending coach for the San Diego Gulls Major Midget AAA team from 1998-2000.

In Sept. 2000, he and his wife, Peggy, who serves as Center Ice Magazine's General Manager, moved to Nashville where he was named the NYHL (Nashville Youth Hockey League) goaltending instructor.

Don also served as goaltending instructor for Hendersonville (TN) High School Commandos from 2001 through 2004. He joined the staff at Vanderbilt University for the 2005-06 campaign, as one of the goalie coaches for the Weekend Warriors Adult Hockey Camp.

He currently serves as a scout for the OneHockey AAA Tournament and in Nashville and serves as a board member for HIHA (Hendersonville Inline Hockey Assoc.) as well as conducting goalie clinics for the league.

Peggy Olea • General Manager

Peggy Olea, who serves as GM for Center Ice Magazine, has been in the media, marketing and public relations field for over 25 years.

She prides herself in establishing new and innovative marketing strategies for her clients using ever-changing technology and an intuitive approach to capturing and maintaining market share.

Peggy is also a Nashville-based song writer and an accomplished artist.

Brian Bell • Advertising Director

We are pleased to announce the hiring of our new Advertising Director, Brian Bell. In addition to being a huge hockey fan, Brian has an extensive music and business background in promotions and marketing to include: musician, talent agent, restauranteur, advertising sales and client management.

Brian is originally from upstate New York but has also lived in Denver, CO as well as the U.S. Virign Islands

We welcome Brian into the hockey community and our staff here at Center Ice Magazine.

Maren Angus • Pacific Division Correspondent

Maren is a freelance sports writer who has written for the Nashville Predators Official Website, The Tennessean as well as the publication, On the Ball Magazine. Maren also served as a sports correspondent for Middle Tennessee’s 104.5 the Zone, ESPN Radio. Over the past three years, Maren has been a guest writer for Center Ice Magazine covering New Products, the Nashville Predators and most recently, the Phoenix Coyotes. She is excited to have been involved with Center Ice Magazine since its ground breaking issue and honored to be back with a new role as the NHL Pacific Division correspondent.

Maren is currently attending the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University. She is part of the ASU Hockey Broadcast Team where she conducts interviews, post game analysis as well as occasional color commentary.

Maren grew up in a family whose father played hockey throughout college and brother currently plays. Maren is originally from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Phoenix, Arizona and Nashville, Tennessee.

Jay Carlton • Contributing Writer

Jay grew up in Nashville, TN in the 70s and 80s. Nashville didn't have professional sports back in those days. Sure they had minor-league hockey and baseball, but no major-league sports teams. That all changed with the arrival of the Predators and Titans in the late 90s.

Since his early childhood Jay was always fascinated with sports and knew he wanted to be involved somehow. That's what drove him to get a degree in journalism from Middle Tennessee State University's College of Mass Communication. He considers it an honor and privledge to cover the Predators for Center Ice Magazine as it's given him the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream.

Jay currently live in Hermitage, TN with his wife Anna and their three dogs: Buster, Titan and Lucky.

Kevin Hopson • Contributing Writer

Kevin grew up in the Buffalo, NY area, but has lived most of his life in Virginia. Kevin manages his own hockey consulting business, Commonwealth Hockey Services, LLC – www.icehockeyprospects.com, which focuses on creating opportunities for talented players in the state of Virginia. Kevin also serves as a field recruiter for the University of Virginia Men's Club Hockey Team.

Kevin is a talented and knowledgeable hockey writer who has written for other publications such as Hockey's Future, where he covered Chicago Blackhawks prospects.

Kevin has been a scout for McKeen's Hockey Prospects the past two years, where he covers NHL draft prospects. He also currently holds a USA Hockey Level 4 Coaching Certification.

Robert Keith • Contributing Writer

An avid writer and photographer, Robert Keith has been covering minor professional hockey for the past two years. He is currently the contributing Central Hockey League editor for Pro Hockey News and the publisher of the Texas Brahmas Insider blog (www.texasbrahmasinsider.net).

Robert is married with two young daughters and works as a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Specialist for Citibank.