Blake Friesen

Varsity Assistant Coach

Blake Friesen is entering his fifth year as Varsity Assistant Coach for Providence Academy Boys Hockey, where he focuses on skill development and preparing players for the next level through strong fundamentals, hockey IQ, and consistent daily habits. A graduate of Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Friesen was a Mr. Hockey Finalist and state champion before playing junior, collegiate, and professional hockey, including serving as captain at Minnesota State Mankato and competing in the USHL and ECHL. Off the ice, he works as a Marketing Manager for Veracity Technologies, specializing in cybersecurity and AI solutions.

Daren Messmore

Varsity Assistant Coach, Director of Athletics & Activities, M.Ed, CMAA

Mr. Messmore, known to students as Coach Mess, joined Providence Academy in 2017 and oversees all athletics and activities across campus. He provides strategic leadership for the school’s programs while also serving in multiple leadership roles with the Minnesota State High School League and at the conference and section levels. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he remains actively involved in coaching and mentoring athletic administrators nationwide through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Mr. Messmore was named Regional Athletic Administrator of the Year in 2022–23, and in 2024 helped lead Providence Academy to national recognition as an Exemplary Athletic Program.

Jacob Casey

JV Head Coach

Jacob Casey serves as the JV coach at Providence Academy, recently completing his fourth season with the program. A former student-athlete at Eden Prairie High School, Casey was part of the 2020 Class AA state runner-up team and the 2021 Class AA state championship team.

Casey brings a strong background in player development across multiple levels of hockey. He coached with Little Twigs Hockey School from 2019–2020, working with athletes ages 2–6, and with Ice Edge AAA Hockey from 2019–2021, developing players ages 8–16. From 2022–2024, he coached in the Red Black High School League before joining Providence Academy in 2023 as the JV coach.

Zachary Giesler

Assistant JV Coach

Zach is a Providence Academy alumnus who captained the hockey program during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, graduating in 2023 with degrees in Finance and Real Estate. He currently works as a Commercial Real Estate Analyst at Bridgewater Bank.

During his college summers, Zach coached with the MAP, helping develop youth hockey players throughout the Twin Cities. He also remained connected to Providence Academy by assisting with the hockey program’s Summer Training Program.

Zach is excited to return to his alma mater and contribute to the continued growth of the program. After his first season back on the bench, he is proud of the team’s progress and accomplishments, highlighted by a 15–7–3 record, and looks forward to helping guide the program’s future both on and off the ice.