Jon served over two decades in the US Navy, retiring as a Master Chief SEAL in 2022. He deployed globally in various operational capacities and leadership roles within Naval Special Warfare and the Joint Special Operations Command. His career took him from the rugged terrains of SEAL Team deployments to high-stakes assignments at joint commands in Virginia.

Growing up in Colorado, Jon played hockey through high school before beginning his Navy career. That passion for the sport combined with a deep commitment to his community led him to found Special Operations Hockey, bringing together operators from across all services, uniting both active-duty and veterans in the shared passion for ice hockey.

Off the ice, Jon owns a consulting and training business and works full-time at a large technology firm. He enjoys skiing, tennis, golf, and time outdoors with his husky, Jax.

“Jon is unapologetically American with an imposing distaste for status quo.”
-Every great leader of the free world, probably.

Mark served nearly a decade in the U.S. Army as a Signal Communications Officer, including assignments with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in Savannah, GA, and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command in the Washington, D.C. area. Throughout his career, he dedicated himself to solving complex communication challenges, spending a total of two years deployed to the Middle East.

Growing up in Illinois, Mark developed a passion for hockey, drawn to the sport’s rigor, energy, and complexity. He played through college club hockey at Western Illinois University before joining the military, carrying his love for the game to each duty station. During his final assignment in the Washington, D.C. area, he formed a unit team and later partnered with Jon Echols, Founder of Special Operations Hockey, to expand the mission of holistic health and healing through hockey.

Off the ice, Mark works for a small technology company that provides services and solutions to the U.S. Government.

Mike served in the United States Marine Corps from 2012 to 2017 as an 0311 Infantry Rifleman. During his service, he deployed multiple times with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, Alpha Company, based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

A lifelong hockey player, Mike grew up in Upstate New York where he learned to skate on his family’s backyard rink and went on to play youth travel hockey in Saratoga Springs, NY. He later competed at the U18AA level in Northern Virginia before enlisting after high school.

In recent years, Mike has remained deeply involved in the hockey community through both veteran programs and collegiate hockey. From 2023–2025, he played a key role in launching a new ACHA Division III club hockey program at George Mason University, serving as both team captain and club president. His leadership emphasized putting players first—an approach he now brings to Special Operations Hockey and its partner veteran programs.

Off the ice, Mike enjoys long walks on the beach and has a soft spot for petting stray dogs.

Bio

Crystal brings more than a decade of experience leading strategic communications, brand building, and team development for nonprofits and mission-driven organizations.

As the founder of Y’all Marketing, a strategic communications and public relations firm, she has delivered nationwide campaigns for world-class brands including Major League Baseball, Shimano, and Wild Turkey.

A former collegiate athlete and high school coach, Crystal built a successful career in the fitness industry, launching and operating studios across the country.

Scott has served over twenty years in the U.S. Army, nearly a decade of which was spent in light infantry and later with special operations, including the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. His career included deployments across multiple theaters and an assignment as an accredited diplomat in Ottawa, Canada—where he developed a deep appreciation for hockey, a national pastime that quickly became both a personal passion and a regular part of life.

While in Canada, Scott recognized how the sport’s team dynamics and emphasis on resilience closely mirrored the camaraderie and mental toughness found in special operations units. That insight continues to fuel his dedication to Special Operations Hockey and its mission of building a community that connects service members, veterans, and supporters through the game.

Off the ice, Scott leads efforts to expand Special Operations Hockey’s reach by cultivating a strong network of corporate sponsors, individual donors, and nonprofit partners who share the mission of supporting holistic wellness within this elite community.

(He also firmly believes he’s the EBUG.)