ANDERS ERIKSSON

Anders Eriksson is an NHL Veteran of 527 games with 8 NHL teams (including the Florida Panthers (2000-2001). Anders’s career covers 16 seasons in the NHL and includes a Stanley Cup Championship with the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. Before the NHL, he and the Swedish national team took home a silver and two bronze medals from the World Junior Championships.

Anders’s passion for the game of hockey has not diminished since retiring from professional hockey. In addition to playing in local adult leagues with the National Champion Labatt’s over 40 teams (with Gabe Accardi), Anders coaches youth hockey with the Florida Fury, runs the local PEP Hockey Development Program, and was recently named the Head Coach of the University of Miami Ice Hockey team.

When Anders learned of the Panthers Warriors Hockey Program, he said: “I want in.” Anders brings a wealth of experience on the ice and in the locker room. He makes the guys better players on the ice, and the guys love to hear his stories off the ice.

DR. JOHN P. CUNHA, DO, FACOEP

Dr. Cunha is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha’s educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, NJ. Dr. Cunha is an attending physician in the Emergency Department of Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He is the Emergency Medical Services Director for the Holy Cross Emergency Department and is also the Medical Director of the Emergency Medical Services for the City of Oakland Park, FL.

With an interest in medical education, Dr. Cunha has participated in a medical mission to Ecuador and works as a mentor to medical students through the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). His special interests in medicine include patient education and satisfaction, and sports medicine. He currently resides in Florida with his wonderful wife and their three dachshunds.

In addition, Dr. Cunha is an avid Philadelphia Flyers fan (see Flyers Fantasy Camp Photo) and also plays goalie in the adult hockey leagues in Pompano Beach.

As the story goes; one evening at dinner with Gabe (Accardi), the subject of Warrior Hockey came up and Gabe’s plans of starting a Warrior program here. Dr. Cunha could not be more excited to hear this news. The Flyers had started a Warrior team a few months back and Dr. Cunha was very aware of the new Warrior program and was even more excited to be a part of the Panthers Warriors. We are excited to have him as part of our Board!

JEFF WOOD

Jeffrey S. Wood has been practicing law in Broward County for 30 years. Wood devotes his practice to the areas of construction law, banking law, education law, non-profit law, real estate transactions, and representing charter schools and related businesses. He also handles complex commercial litigation, business law, and business transactions, and occasionally handles adoption matters.

Wood has provided counsel and legal representation to various non-profits in the State of Florida for many years and has participated and assisted in the formation of several non-profits from their inception. His experience and understanding of both federal and state regulations provides excellent value to his clients. Wood has also conducted and administered board member governance training for non-profit compliance for Florida charter schools, adoption agencies, and other non-profits.

Wood has served as a board member of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools since its inception and provides legal advice and counsel to that association, which is comprised of over 500 Florida charter schools. Wood has served on the FCPCS Quality Authorizers Task Force since 2012 which helped set a cooperative legislative agenda with the authorizers and charter school leaders in Florida. Wood is a frequent presenter at various conferences on multiple non- profit issues.

Wood was appointed by Governor DeSantis to the Children’s Services Council of Broward County (“CSC”) in 2020 and is currently serving a four-year term. The CSC is an independent taxing authority established by the voters in 2000 and reauthorized in 2014. The CSC’s mission is to provide leadership, advocacy, and resources necessary to enhance the lives of the children of Broward County and empower them to become responsible, productive adults through collaborative planning and funding of a continuum of services. The organization funds close to a hundred programs that serve children and families, advocates for policies that protect the interests of future generations, and provides leadership that brings the child-serving community together.

Wood has also been active within the Florida ice hockey community. The Statewide Amateur Hockey Association of Florida (SAHOF) is the Florida Affiliate of USA Hockey, the National Governing Body of Ice Hockey in the United States. SAHOF’s mission is to promote, administer, and foster the growth of the game of ice hockey throughout Florida. Wood has been a SAHOF Board member since 2005. He served as President of SAHOF from 2006 to 2010 when he was appointed President Emeritus. Wood was again voted in as current President of the Board in 2015 and occupies that position presently. SAHOF is the governing body for all of USA Hockey in Florida and its mission to promote, administer, and foster the growth of the game of ice hockey. He also serves as General Counsel to SAHOF and is a member of the SAHOF Executive Committee.

DR. MATT SACKS

Dr. Matthew Sacks is a clinical psychologist whose career has focused on working with active duty service members and veterans. He has worked at various VA hospitals, at Joint Base Andrews (JBA), and for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). Currently, Dr. Sacks works as a trainer for mental health providers with the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and is in private practice. In addition, Dr. Sacks has served as the Coordinator of Clinical Services at the Center for Athletic Performance Enhancement (CAPE) since 2010, where he works with professional, collegiate, and amateur athletes on performance improvement.

Matt has played hockey since his childhood growing up outside of Philadelphia. He is a self-professed stay-at-home defenseman due to his “slow speed and having played goalie as a kid”. Matt lists his top three hockey accomplishments as:

• Winning a championship with his brother
• Tripping Dainius Zubrus during an open hockey game to keep him from scoring
• Getting to play defense in front of Gabe Accardi

STU SIEGEL
Serial Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

Stu is a serial entrepreneur, primarily in the tech industry and dabbled in pro sports team ownership with his stint with the NHL Florida Panthers from 2008-12, where he served as Managing Partner, CEO and NHL Governor. Currently satisfying his passion for hockey and technology with his company HockeyTech.

In addition, Stu is a Board Member & Former Chairman – JDCH/Memorial Foundations at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, a great supporter of the Panthers Warriors and a pretty good hockey winger. Stu was also a member of the “Schmiracle on Ice” Gold Medal team at the 2013 Maccabi Games (40 and over Masters Division).

PETER “PETE” ACCARDI
Educator and Gabe’s Brother & Teammate