Oak Leafs Hockey

Coaching Staff

Head Coach Rob Rose

Coach Rose grew up playing hockey in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada. Rob played two years of junior hockey in Toronto, Ontario (OPJHL) with the St. Michael’s Buzzers and the Vaughan Vipers. He went on to play four years of college hockey at Iowa State University (ACHA). He graduated from ISU in 2002 with a BS in MIS, and received his Master’s degree in Information Systems in 2009.

Rob joined the Des Moines Oak Leafs for the 2007-2008 season as an assistant varsity and junior varsity head coach. Prior to joining the Oak Leafs, Coach Rose served as a MHSHL official for two seasons and as an Assistant Coach with the Ames Little Cyclones from 2002 to 2005.

Coach Rose is a Computer Programmer in West Des Moines.

Coach Shawn Edwards

Coach Edwards grew up in Des Moines where he played travel hockey. Shawn attended Hoover High School and was a forward for the Hoover/Roosevelt team. As a senior he was selected to be a member of the All State team. After high school Shawn played for one year at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

When Edwards returned to Des Moines he joined the youth hockey program as a coach and has been an enthusiastic participant in the program for the last 25 years. Shawn has coached at every level in the program, from initiation to midgets, including 2 years as an assistant coach for the Iowa High School League's Des Moines Capitals. He also served 8 years on the DMYHA board, six of those as President. Shawn’s passion for the game has also touched his business life, as he was the local owner of the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers for 6 years.

Coach Edwards has owned and operated A+ Lawn and Landscape for over 20 years and he is also an owner in Sunrise Properties.

Coach Mike Gannon

Coach Gannon grew up playing hockey in Des Moines, Iowa. He was a member of the original Des Moines Oak Leafs team of 1998. He was the first and only Oak Leaf selected to the IHSHL All Star team that year. Mike studied Business Administration in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City after high school.

This will be Mike's third year as assistant coach with the Oak Leafs. Prior to joining the Oak Leafs, Mike served as a coach in the Des Moines Youth Hockey Association beginning in 2005. He has worked with several current Oak Leaf players in the recent past.

Coach Gannon currently works as a Sales/Service Representative in his family owned business, AAA Roofing, Inc.