Staff

Cos Polino returns as a full-time member of the Academy of Hockey. After playing collegiately at John Carroll University, he returned home to Buffalo and began his coaching career at Nichols and Canisius High School. He soon transitioned to coaching the Buffalo Jr. Sabres OJHL team before heading out east and coaching in the Eastern Hockey League with the Walpole Express. After three seasons in Walpole, Cos returned to Buffalo and became the Assistant Coach at Buffalo State College from 2018-2020.

Cos has spent time in scouting and player development since 2011, working as a scout for the Ottawa 67’s and the Lincoln Stars. He has worked with players of all ages - youth, junior, college and professional - helping them develop their game and achieve their goals.

Since 2021, Cos has worked as a Head Coach in the Buffalo Jr. Sabres midget program.

Dylan Seitz played youth hockey in Buffalo for twelve years with the Hamburg Hawks and the Buffalo Regals. He then went on to play at Nichols Prep School before transitioning into the Jr. Sabres organization. After participating in the OJHL with the Jr. Sabres Dylan continued to play four more years in the Canadian Hockey League. First with the Kitchener Rangers followed by the Moncton Wildcats. To wrap up his career as a player, Dylan played at the U sports level with the University of New Brunswick. 

Dylan is entering his second season of coaching, his first being with the 18U Jr. Sabres team as an assistant coach. This year he will also be coaching with the Jr. Sabres OJHL team focusing on player development. 

Coach Seitz brings dedication and focus to the table. He intends to guide and train his players to the next level. His experience as a player at all different levels and under numerous coaches will motivate his players and help them grow.

Michael Benedict is a USA Hockey Level IV Certified Coach with ten years of coaching experience. Over the past three seasons, he served as the Head Coach for the Nichols Boys’ Prep Hockey Team. Michael earned his Bachelors in Computer Information Sciences from Niagara University, where he also played collegiately for the Purple Eagles. 

Prior to joining the Nichols hockey program, Michael worked as the Director of Hockey Operations for the men's team at Division 1 Minnesota State University. In this role, he was responsible for coordinating games, practices, meetings, and community service projects for student-athletes. Additionally, Michael managed all video needs of the program, including taping games, editing, scouting, and recruiting. 

Michael's coaching career also includes serving as the Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager for the NAHL's Minnesota Wilderness from 2016-2018, the Assistant Coach for the NAHL Corpus Christi IceRays from 2015-2016, and as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the men's team at Niagara University. 

He played two years in the North American Hockey League for the Corpus Christi Ice Rays and Alexandria Blizzard and is an alumnus of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres OJHL team.