Freeze Coaches
12U Coach Toby Heusser
Coach Heusser grew up locally, having played his youth hockey for the Tri City Eagles and Howard Huskies. In 1990, he was selected to compete for a USA Select Team that spent two weeks playing across Sweden, Finland, and the Soviet Union. Just two years later, he was invited to the USA Hockey Player Development Camp in St. Cloud, Minnesota where he competed alongside future Pros and Olympians. He ultimately took his playing career to college for the ACHA Division I Towson Tigers as a four-year starting winger and leader for that program.
As a coach, Toby will be entering his fifth season with the Frederick Freeze, having most recently Head Coached our 2025-26 10U Upper A team. He brings a wealth of hockey knowledge and experience to the Frederick Freeze organization throughout his 18-year coaching career, inclusive of Urbana High School, Good Counsel High School, Victory Stars, Frederick Freeze, and various hockey camps throughout the region, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Additionally, he has served in administrative hockey roles within the high school segment as Commissioner of the Monocacy Valley Hockey League and VP of the Maryland Student Hockey League. Coach Heusser also serves on the Frederick Freeze Board of Directors.
Over the course of Coach Heusser's coaching career, he's earned the accolades of MVHL Coach of the Year three times (2010-11, 2017-18, 2022-23), MSHL Coach of the Year in 2018-19, WCAC High School Coach of the Year in 2022, and a three-time selected Head Coach for the MSHL All-Star Game teams.
Coach Toby has worked for Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) since 2006 and serves as Assistant Principal at Oakdale Middle School. Before becoming a public school educator and administrator, Coach Toby served as a deputy sheriff in Virginia.
12U Coach Darin Levesque
A native of New England, Darin grew up in the highly competitive New Hampshire East hockey system along the I-495 corridor. He transitioned to the prep school circuit from 1999 to 2002, playing Division II hockey for Brewster Academy. Following his playing career, Darin served ten years in the United States Marine Corps as a V-22 Crew Chief, completing two deployments to Iraq. His military background brings a unique perspective on leadership, controlled discipline, and team cohesion to the Freeze bench.
Darin has become a fixture in the local hockey community, including coaching stints with the Southern Maryland Sabres, Loudoun Knights, and most recently an Assistant Coach with the Frederick Freeze 12U UA team. As a coach, Darin is committed to modern player development. He believes in fostering a high-intensity, positive environment where players are encouraged to take risks and develop their "hockey IQ". Having experienced the impact—both positive and negative—that a coach can have on a young athlete’s love for the game, he prioritizes mentorship and building a culture of mutual respect.
14U Coach Mark Macera
Mark has been involved as a Head Coach with the Frederick Freeze since 2019, having brought a wealth of hockey experience and knowledge to the players of his teams. Additionally, Mark serves as a member of the Frederick Freeze Board of Directors, Disciplinary Committee Co-Chair, and an Assistant Coach for the Middletown Knights high school hockey team. Mark has continually driven his teams to perform to their highest potential which was instrumental in bringing AA-caliper hockey back to the Frederick Freeze organization in the 2024-25 season where he brought a 16U AA American Division CBHL Championship to the club. A little more on Mark here:
Mark grew up in London, ON, CA where he spent his youth progressing through Tier 2, Tier 1 and then Junior hockey. After his playing career at the Junior level, Mark committed to playing NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of Alabama - Huntsville, where he was part of a National Championship winning team, and ultimately achieved a Pro career in the Central Hockey League. He was fortunate to have been coached by former NHL and Olympic players and brings a lot of what he's learned from those experiences to the members of the Frederick Freeze.
As a seasoned and devoted player himself, Mark brings a lot of passion, extensive background, and firsthand experience to the teams he coaches.
14U Coach Kevin Rutkowski
We are extremely grateful to have Kevin back in our coaching ranks, having both a very strong playing and coaching pedigree and track record of success in player development.
Kevin was born and raised in Michigan, where he played his entire youth hockey career in the highly competitive Detroit hockey community.
Following his youth career, Kevin advanced to play multiple seasons of junior hockey in both Canada and the United States. He reached the pinnacle of his playing career with appearances at the professional level in the ECHL.
Kevin’s coaching philosophy centers on player development, strong team structure, and equipping athletes with the tools and guidance they need to make meaningful progress and achieve their individual goals.
Passionate about coaching from an early age, Kevin began working with 10U and 12U players while still in high school. After concluding his playing career, he served as a high school head coach in Michigan before relocating to the area. For the past seven seasons, Kevin has coached in the DMV, continuing to invest in the growth and success of his players.
15U Coach Andy Messmore
The Frederick Freeze is excited to announce Andy Messmore as the Head Coach of the Frederick Freeze 15U AA Team for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Andy has been an integral contributor to the Frederick Freeze since joining the program in 2021 and has displayed a high level of commitment to player development, member relationships, and the overall growth and success of the organization. In addition to Andy's tenure with the Frederick Freeze, he also serves as Program Director and Head Coach for the both the Varsity and JV Frederick County Kings high school co-op teams.
