The Junior Lucky Pucks is an all girls traveling team for girls in South Florida ages 8-19. We play in the Southern Girls Hockey League.

All of the Lucky Pucks coaches are USA Hockey certified coaches. We strive to provide an all female coaching staff to provide the guidance, knowledge and experience that the current generation of girls hockey players are facing. Our coaches donate their time to make hockey more affordable to those who want to play and to “give back” to a community they love. We also have additional assistant coaches that join practices to assist in skill development when needed. 

Michaela Carrera

Michaela grew up in Southington, Connecticut and has been playing hockey for 20 years. She spent five of those years with the CT Northern Lights, a competitive travel program that helped shape her early development.She went on to attend Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, where she played four seasons in the NCAA ice hockey program.

Michaela is excited to be part of the next generation of Florida hockey girls and looks forward to sharing her experience, passion, and love for the game with young players.

Maria Della Guardia

Maria grew up just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she made her mark early as the only female player on both her recreational and high school hockey teams — breaking barriers and setting the tone for the competitor she would become. After graduating, she moved to Florida and took what she thought would be a “brief” break from the sport. That changed in 2020, when a chance run‑in with a former intern reignited her passion for hockey.

Since then, Maria has jumped back into the game with full force. She now plays in several leagues across the county and skates with multiple teams, including the Lucky Pucks women’s team — where she proudly helped capture a state championship title.

Maria brings that same drive, along with her background in health and fitness, to her coaching.

Kaitlin Harrington 

Kaitlin, from Boca Raton, FL, brings 28 years of hockey experience, with over a decade dedicated to the Lucky Pucks program. As assistant captain of the Lucky Pucks women’s team, she helped secure Florida State and Southeast District Championship titles. A local hockey product, Kaitlin is eager to give back to the game she loves and continue the Girls Ice Hockey legacy in South Florida. 

Jessi Kuhlman

Jessi is a Maryland‑born powerhouse whose competitive fire has fueled her journey from the ice to the fitness arena. Growing up in Severna Park, she sharpened her skills playing four years of boys’ hockey at Severna Park High School — serving as a three‑time captain and earning Offensive MVP honors as a senior.

Her drive took her to Merrimack College, where she competed in NCAA Division I women’s hockey. A reliable, team‑first forward for the Warriors, Jessi balanced her on‑ice commitment with academic excellence, majoring in Marketing & Management, earning Hockey East All‑Academic honors, and being named NCAA Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year.

Coaching has been part of Jessi’s DNA from the start. She began helping with youth skills sessions in middle school and has been developing young athletes ever since. Today, she brings her passion and expertise to the Jr. Lucky Pucks U14s as an assistant coach and strength & conditioning coordinator — blending hockey fundamentals, athletic development, and leadership in a way that elevates every player she works with.

Off the ice, Jessi is a Head Coach and Personal Trainer at Blacksheep CrossFit in Boynton Beach, Florida, and a Strength Specialist for the SWFL Sharks of the United Grid League. 

Katie Leffler 

Katie grew up in Coral Springs, Florida and has been playing hockey for 18 years. 12 of those years have been spent with the Lucky Pucks program. Katie attended college at the University of Massachusetts Boston. There she played for the NCAA ice hockey program. She was the team’s senior captain and twice an all-conference player. Her first-year post-graduation she won a state championship with the Lucky Pucks women’s team. She is excited to be a part of such a unique hockey family and to pass along many years of playing experience and love for the game to the next generation of Florida hockey girls! 

Dominique Lind 

Originally from Iowa, Dominique started playing boys hockey at 5 years old. Dominique attended Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault, MN from 2001-2004, continuing on to play recreational hockey at Iowa State University. After taking 12 years off from hockey, she recently joined the Lucky Pucks in 2023, falling in love with hockey all over again. Dominique hopes to share her appreciation of the organization and the game, being a positive influence for the future of Girl's & Women's Hockey in South Florida. 

Elaine Luzano 

Elaine's hockey journey began with The Ohio State University's club team in the mid-90s, followed by joining the women's Columbus Capitals team, which achieved a third-place finish at the 2006 USA Hockey Nationals. Since 2008, she's been an integral part of the Lucky Pucks organization and was a member of the 2023 USA Hockey 40+ National Champions team. Transitioning to coaching, Elaine launched a women's club team at NOVA as an assistant coach. With a wealth of experiences from her time with Lucky Pucks, spanning over a decade and a half, she's eager to give back to the sport by coaching in its youth program.

Kayli Mader

Kayli has been playing hockey for 13 years. She played u16AA Breakers hockey for 2 years while playing for her high school hockey club team. In her junior year of high school, she joined the U19AA Girls Florida Alliance program.

After graduating, she was looking for the next program that she'd be eligible to play in. That's when the Lucky Pucks organization came into her life. She's been with them for the past 4 years and is looking forward to many more. She's excited and grateful to have the opportunity to guide and influence the next generations of girls in hockey.

Gianna Leffler 

Gianna, hailing from Pompano Beach, FL, brings two decades of hockey experience to the table, with over 12 years dedicated to the Lucky Pucks program. A Florida State Champion with the Lucky Pucks Rec team, Gianna is deeply passionate about expanding the reach of the sport. Thrilled to join the LP coaching staff, she is committed to providing a supportive environment for girls of all skill levels, fostering confidence and lifelong friendships, mirroring her own transformative journey within the Lucky Pucks community since the age of 14.

12U Exhibition Team