Meet the Staff

Paul Cannata

A former player, captain and graduate of Roxbury Latin (1985) and Hamilton College (1989).
Has led Milton Academy over the last twenty years from an inaugural 3-27 season to a perennial ‘top ten’ contender, five New England Elite Eight Tournament appearances, a New England Championship in 2011 and another appearance in the New England Championship game in 2016.
The New England Prep ‘Coach of the Year’ in 2011 and 2023.
Six years as Assistant Coach, Northeastern University, member of Hockey East.
Member of Hockey East Coaching Staff of The Year 1996
Assistant Coach and evaluator for the United States 2001 Select 17 Team competing as gold medal winners in Fussen, Germany.
Head Coach and evaluator for the United States 2002 Select 16 Team competing as gold medal winners in Prague, Czech Republic.
Evaluator, Head Coach and Assistant Coach of numerous Massachusetts and USA Select 14, 15, 16 and 17 Teams competing in USA National Development Festivals in Rochester, NY, St. Cloud, MN and Stockholm, Sweden over 20 years.

30 plus years of Men's and Women's NCAA Division I coaching experience
19 seasons as the head women’s coach at Providence College. Led the Friars to three Hockey East championships and was a three-time Hockey East Coach of the Year.
Departed Providence College as the All-time winningest coach in both Hockey East and Providence College history.
A former goaltender at Boston University (1987), winning two Beanpots and one Hockey East Championship in his four years.
Before his time at Providence, served as an assistant coach for a trio of Division I men’s ice hockey programs, UMass Amherst, Dartmouth College, and Northeastern University. In each role, worked primarily with the defensemen and goaltenders, and was also heavily involved with video analysis and recruiting.
Coach Deraney continues to work extensively with USA Hockey, dating back over 30 years, as a scout and as a player development coach at summer national Festivals and for both the women’s national team and men’s junior team, and won gold medals as an assistant coach of the women’s Under-18 World Championships in 2008 and the Women’s National Team at the World Championships in 2015.