skip navigation

Panthers Coaching Staff

Thomas Joyce, Varsity Head Coach and Director of Coaching

Hometown of Plano, Texas, Thomas Joyce brings 20 years of skating and hockey experience along with his passion to give back to the hockey community. He has a desire to help skaters improve their hockey skills and build a love of the game.

Thomas began playing roller hockey at 7 years old making the switch to the ice hockey at age 11.  Thomas played high school hockey for Plano West High School Hockey and travel hockey in DFW. Continuing his athletic career after high school, Thomas went on to play for the University of North Texas Division II ACHA hockey team. Post collegiate Coach Joyce has spent six years coaching with the Dallas Stars Youth Hockey League, youth camps, Hockey Academy, and Little Rookies programs as well as 3 years coaching travel hockey for the Dallas Junior Stars at the Squirt through Midget levels and most recently as an Assistant Coach for the McKinney North Stars Peewee A team and Head Coach for Frisco High School’s Varsity Silver team. 

“I look forward to sharing my passion for the game with the players and parents.  The keys to enjoying hockey and growing as a player are having a good grasp of the fundamentals, having fun and learning something new every time on the ice.”

  • 2018-19 - Head Coach of McKinney North Stars 10u A (DSTHL Runner Up)
  • 2018-19 - Assistant Coach of McKinney North Stars 12u AA (State Champion and DSTHL Playoff Champion)
  • 2017-18 - Head Coach of McKinney North Stars 10u A (Semi-Finalist)
  • 2017-18 - Assistant Coach of McKinney North Stars 14u A (two time tournament winner)
  • 2017-19 - Assistant Coach of McKinney JV Gold
  • 2016-17 - Head Coach of McKinney North Stars 10u A (Semi-Finalist)
  • 2016-17- Assistant Coach of McKinney North Stars 12u AA
  • 2015-17 - Head Coach of Frisco Varsity Silver
  • 2015-16- Assistant Coach of McKinney North Stars 12u A

Thomas Joyce

Varsity Head Coach

Maxime Lebel, Junior Varsity Head Coach

Born in of Quebec, Canada Maxime Lebel brings years of hockey and skating experience to the program. He wants to continue to build the program as well as the love of the game for the players and the desire to improve the program.  

Coach Max began playing hockey at the age of 4 in Canada before moving to Texas with his family. He grew up playing hockey in Plano playing travel hockey and high school hockey at Plano Senior High School. After graduating high school, he started coaching hockey as a goalie coach for numerous programs as well as Elite Goalies with former Stars goalie coach Mike Valley. From there he started coaching Hockey academy, Mini Mites, and the Little Rookies programs. He coached with the Stars in the DSMHL for 3 years as a head coach at the 12U/14U/18U levels. In 2018, he moved to travel hockey beginning to coach the McKinney North Stars. 

Max is currently employed by Pepsico as a Senior Associate with the Transportation Logistics team. 

"My goal is to continue to build the program here and continue the love of the game that I have with the players. We're coaching the future of tomorrow with the players in our program and we want to continue to have fun here at Plano East."

Maxime Lebel

JV Head Coach


Assistant Coaches

Brenden Ast

Jake Ewing

 

Goalie Coach

Rob Smith