Nick Affinati started playing hockey at 3 years old. He grew up playing in the Falcons organization where he eventually started coaching. He began his coaching career running the learn to skate program for the Highland Park Park District and the Little Falcons. He also worked with the Turcotte family at their stick handling school. After completion of college in 2007, he resumed his coaching career with the Chicago Young Americans as the assistant coach for the U-19 girls team. After coaching at CYA, he went back to the Falcons as the head coach for the might gold team for two years. Nick was then recruited to coach at the Lake Forest Winter Club, where he coached for 6 seasons. For the past two seasons he coached for the Vipers for the NIHL Bantam 1 team and most recently the U-16 Central States Prospect Team. Nick has a very diverse coaching background as well as strong roots as a skills coach. Nick is looking forward to passing his knowledge onto the Lakers and helping with both JV and Varsity teams.