Meet the Team

Current professional role(s):

Lee is the founder, owner, and head coach of the Lee Harris Skating System (LHSS). He started the company in 2011 after recognizing the need for improvement in the fundamental , skating-specific skills of youth hockey in Columbus, Ohio. Lee also serves as the skating coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters (since 2014) and as a professional skating coach with the AAA Blue Jackets program (since 2016). He works with all ages and all levels of hockey.

Professional/coaching focus:

Lee’s main coaching focus is on building a deep understanding of edges, power, and the technical side of skating. In his role with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he oversees the organization's skating skill development, handles on-ice conditioning and rehabilitation, and provides CBJ scouts with video analysis and skating assessments for draft prospects.

Coaching experience:

Lee began his coaching career in 2000 with individual figure skating and hockey skating lessons. He has coached numerous figure skaters (singles and pair teams), including a pair team that he coached to Nationals in 2012 and 2013. He has also served as a professional skating coach for the OSU Men’s and Women’s D1 and club hockey teams (2017-2019). In all, Lee has over 24 years of coaching experience.

Professional experience:

Lee started skating at the age of 3. He played 4 years of junior hockey with the Belle River Canadians and Kingsville Comets and was the OMHA scoring champion. At 18 years old, he began figure skating internationally. In 2002, he won the Figure Skating National Championship for the U.S. and competed at the Junior World Championship in Norway.

Personal life:

Lee was born in Harrow, Ontario and moved to the United States in 2000. He currently lives in Delaware, Ohio with his wife (Chelsea) and 3 children (Sadie, Lana, and Blake).

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Current professional role(s):

David has been a skating coach with LHSS since 2016. Through LHSS, he has assisted with many camps and team lessons for the Columbus Blue Jackets, AAA Blue Jackets program, and several local high schools. David also works as a private skating coach and group skating coach with the Chiller Ice Rinks in Columbus.

Coaching experience:

David has been coaching skating since 1995. His coaching career started in England, where he taught skaters from the beginning levels all the way to the Senior level. From 2010-2015, David served as the primary coach at the NYC Central Park Wollman Rink and Chelsea Piers where he taught both figure skating and hockey skills. Since 2016, he has coached many figure skaters, including a Midwestern Sectionals Intermediate Ladies competitor in 2019 and 2020 who ranked high enough to be invited to the USFSA training camp. His specialties include hockey skills (edges and power skating), moves in the field, freestyle, and pole jump harness lessons.

Professional experience:

David started skating at the age of 8. Recognized as a 4-time Scottish Senior Men’s Champion and 3-time British Senior Men’s bronze medalist in figure skating, he was also a reserve member of the British Olympic team for the Winter Olympic Games in 1992 and 1994. He also received his Gold Star in free skating, the highest standard possible in Great Britain. From 1997-2009, David skated as a principal skater in many renowned professional ice shows around the world such as the Hot Ice Show, Holiday On Ice, tours with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Phantasialand. David received his Green Card as an “Alien of Extraordinary Ability” in 2010.

Personal life:

David was born in England and moved to the United States in 2010. He currently lives in Lewis Center, OH with his wife (Ashley) and 3 children (Mackenzie, Declan, and Kai).

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Current professional role(s):

Jessica has been a skating coach with LHSS since 2016. In 2018, she transitioned to exclusively coaching hockey and facilitating clinics with the LHSS. Jessica is also a licensed school counselor and works full-time with Dublin City Schools.

Coaching experience:

Jessica started coaching within the Learn-to-Skate program at The Chiller Ice Rinks as a teenager and while attending college from 2006-2010. From 2010-2018, she coached figure skating locally and attended various nationally-sponsored coaching events to further her knowledge of the sport. Jessica has over 20 years of coaching experience.

Professional experience:

Jessica trained as a figure skater at the Chiller Ice Rinks and OSU Ice Center in Columbus, Ohio. She skated on the Varsity Synchronized Skating team at Miami University of Ohio for 4 years. During her time on the team, she earned both a Collegiate National Title and a Senior National Title. Jessica also participated in 3 Team USA competitions, including the 2009 World Synchronized Skating Competition where her team placed 9th. Jessica earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Miami University and her Master’s degree in School Counseling from Wright State University.

Personal life:

Jessica was born in Columbus and raised in West Jefferson, Ohio. She currently lives with her husband (David) and 2 sons (Lucas and Marcus). When she is not working as a school counselor or coaching skating, she often spends her time at the soccer fields cheering on her children.

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Current professional role(s):

RJ has been a coach with LHSS since 2017. He also serves as the Hockey Director of the Columbus Chill Hockey Club and Head Coach of the Columbus Chill 16U & 18U National Teams, CAHA Selects 2013 Tournament Team, and CBJHL 12U Team.

Coaching experience:

RJ transitioned to coaching in 2017 after an 11-year career in the NHL. In addition to coaching with LHSS, he spent time serving as an Ohio Blue Jackets AAA Assistant Coach (2017-19), a Columbus Chill Assistant Coach (2019-21), and the CAHA Capitals House Hockey 8U & 10U Head Coach (2018-22). He was also a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the OSU Men’s D1 hockey team during the NHL lockout in 2012. RJ has a passion for developing youth hockey talent and enjoys sharing his expertise with the next generation.

Professional experience:

RJ started playing hockey when he was 7, transitioning to AAA hockey by the age of 10 and being selected to play on the US National Development Team at age 16. He played for The Ohio State University Men’s D1 Hockey team from 2000-2003, during which time he was a Division 1 AHCA West 2^nd-Team All American and Hobey Baker Award Finalist. Also during this time, he represented Team USA at the Under 18 World Championships (2000 & 2001). He was the 16^th overall pick in the 2001 NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. During the 2004-2005 hockey season, RJ played in the AHL with the Philadelphia Phantoms and was a Calder Cup Champion. He continued on to play in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers (2005-08 & 2014-16) and the Columbus Blue Jackets (2008-2014). He spent a total of 12 years playing professional hockey. After retiring in 2016, RJ was inducted into the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

Personal life:

RJ was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He currently lives in Delaware, OH with his wife (Cara) and 3 children (Matthew, Delaney, and Brienna). He enjoys coaching his son’s hockey team and watching his kids’ baseball games, soccer games, and dance competitions.

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Current professional role(s):

Marla has been a skating coach with LHSS since 2021 and also works as a coach with the Chiller Ice Rinks and Columbus Figure Skating Club. She also works as a licensed school psychologist.

Professional & coaching experience:

Marla started skating at the age of 9 at Sunrise Ice Skating Center in Florida. She began her coaching career in 1993 at the original Chiller Ice Rink, and then spent time coaching skating in Chicago and Florida. In Florida, she spent 4 years serving as the hockey director at Sunrise Ice Skating Center as well as serving on the board of directors for SAHOF (Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida). Marla returned to Columbus in 2002, where she continued to coach many figure skaters and hockey players. In figure skating, she has worked with all skill levels, including 2 figure skaters who became Gold Medalists in Moves in the Field. In hockey, she has worked with all levels of youth hockey, from beginners to AAA, including players who have gone on to play at the junior level and at Division 1 and Division 3 schools. Her specialties include skating power, speed, agility, and technique. She also enjoys working with skaters on goal setting.

Personal life:

Marla was born in New Jersey and grew up in South Florida. She currently lives in Columbus, OH.

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Current professional role(s):

Tatiana has been a skating coach with LHSS since 2017. She also works as a skating coach with the Chiller Ice Rinks in Columbus and as a Power Skating Hockey Coach (skating skills, transitions, power, edge work) with OSU Ice Center. She is involved with master classes and clinics for many hockey teams (of all levels) locally and outside the Columbus area.

Coaching experience:

Tatiana has been coaching since 1994 and has coached many skaters at both Regional and Sectional Championships, including a silver medalist at the 2002 US Junior Nationals, Juvenile level. She has also been coaching power skating in hockey since 2014. Her specialties include freestyle, moves in the field, hockey power skating, and edge work.

Professional experience:

Tatiana is a Master of Sport in International Class and a Soviet and Russian National team member. She participated in the Goodwill Games (1990), Grand Prix Championships (1990-93), European Championships (1991-92), World Championships (1992), and the Winter Olympic Games (1992). She has also served as a principal skater in "Walt Disney's World on Ice.”

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Current professional role(s):

Misha has been a skating coach with LHSS since 2017. He also works as a skating coach with the Chiller Ice Rinks in Columbus and as a Power Skating Hockey Coach (skating skills, transitions, power, edge work) with OSU Ice Center. He is involved with master classes and clinics for many hockey teams (of all levels) locally and outside the Columbus area.

Coaching experience:

Misha has been coaching since 2002 and has experience coaching skaters from beginner levels through senior levels. He has coached many skaters at both Regional and Sectional Championships. He has also been coaching power skating in hockey since 2014. Misha’s specialties include freestyle, moves in the field, hockey skills, and pole harness jump lessons.

Professional experience:

Misha is a Master of Sport of the Soviet Union and a Soviet and Russian National team member in both singles and pairs. He spent 20 years skating professionally with "Saint- Petersburg State Ballet on Ice” (formerly, Leningrad State Ballet on ice), "Walt Disney's World on Ice," "Willy Bietak Productions," “Magic on Ice,” "Karen Kresge Productions," and "Rand Productions." Misha also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Sports.