Former coach returns to lead Gateway hockey team as it moves back to JV level

By: Michael Love
Sunday, September 28, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Dennis Shannon coached the Gateway varsity hockey team from 1997 to 2004, and he found success with the Gators to where he is the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories.

A Monroeville resident for 47 years who has enjoyed a five-decades long coaching career at the high school, amateur and collegiate levels, Shannon decided to come back to Gateway when the call went out to find a new head coach for its transition from varsity back to the junior varsity level.

“Jamie Story, the president of Gateway hockey who is also one of my assistants, reached out to me and asked if I would be interested,” said Shannon who replaces Justin Evans who stepped down after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season in March.

“We talked several times, and I decided I would come back. I’ve always held a soft spot in my heart for Gateway and Gateway hockey. The school district always was very supportive with what we hoped to do.”

Shannon’s three children went through the Gateway system, including two, Patrick and Spencer, who put on the Gateway hockey uniform.

The Gators, which lost 10 seniors from last year’s Division II varsity team which went 10-8-1 and made the playoffs, are regrouping this year. Despite a plethora of youth surrounding just two seniors — forwards Caleb Sonafelt and Reed Davis — Shannon said the team has come together well and hopes to make some noise in its JV division.

“The dropoff in numbers and talent was significant,” Shannon said.

“That is why they decided to make the move, and the league supported it. Guys like Caleb and Reed were understanding of the decision. There was some disappointment, obviously, but they are both good kids and good leaders on the team. We had discussions, and they view this as an opportunity for them to step up and be leaders and show the rest of these young guys how the game is supposed to be played and help build the program.”

Gateway’s roster features 18 players. In addition to Sonafelt and Davis, there are five juniors, six sophomores and five freshmen working to make an impact on the Gators’ season.

As it was at the Division II varsity level last year, Gateway is not the only school represented.

A dozen Gateway players have joined up with team members who attend Jeannette, Derry, East Allegheny and Ligonier Valley.

“This is a good group, and there seems to be a good chemistry which continues to develop,” Shannon said.

“That can be a challenge sometimes when you are playing in that open division. It’s not like in years past when I was here at Gateway where most of the kids, if they hadn’t played together, they had at least been in school together for five, six, 10 years. They were longtime friends. It is a different atmosphere now, but all the kids have hit it off well and get along well. I think we can have a pretty good season because of that.”

Shannon said junior forward Canyon Hines is ready to again lead the Gateway offense. He scored 12 goals in 18 games last year, and that total was second on the team only to graduate CJ Evans’ 22.

Evans now is a freshman on Robert Morris University’s ACHA Division I team.

“Canyon is an exceptional player, and we feel he’s going to do really well this year,” Shannon said.

Shannon said there is strength between the pipes with sophomore Tristan Cole and freshman Peyton Goldstein, and the goal has been to build up everything in front of them. Both played in Gateway’s season opener, a 3-3 tie against Ringgold on Sept. 18.

“We want both to get some minutes in the early season,” Shannon said. “Both are very capable. There is not a huge skill difference between them. Maybe some small things, but they are our starting goaltenders. We are comfortable with either one.”

The Gators open the home portion of their schedule Friday against Burrell at Palmer Imaging Arena in Delmont.

Gateway built a 3-0 first-period lead in the opener with Ringgold on goals from juniors Kamden Miller, Chance Wilson and Patrick Kenna. Both Wilson and Kenna’s goals came on the power play.

Sonafelt and freshman Nathan Storey provided assist on the two power play tallies.

But the Rams rallied with a goal late in the first period before finding the back of the net in the second and third periods.

“We were a little late getting on the ice overall (for the season) with some of the players tied up with the golf team and football, and we didn’t have a lot of practice time going into that game,” Shannon said.

“It was complicated even more with our rink having problems with the ice which forced us to cancel our two Monday practices prior to the game. We just weren’t the better conditioned team that night, and it showed to where we started to wear out late in the second period. Ringgold just took over in the third period. But we addressed that, and I think the kids will be able to bounce back from that in these upcoming games.

“But there still were a lot of positives taken from that game. We were able to dominate play at times, especially in that first period.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Gateway