Chris Snowden-Santi

Lead Instructor

Current Certifications:
USA Hockey Level 4 Coach
USA Hockey Level 4 Official
USA Hockey Goaltending Silver

Chris began playing hockey in 1997 when his family moved back to Arizona after living in Spain for two years. His playing career began with the Flagstaff Youth Hockey Association in Northern Arizona. Spending two years in various player development programs, Chris quickly found his passion between the pipes. 

From there, Chris spent his entire competitive goaltending career playing for travel teams in Flagstaff. He remained with the FYHA Northstars through the bantam (14U) age division and played one season with the Flagstaff Mountain Stars before their disbanding. During that single season, the Stars became the 2003 Grand Canyon State Games “Midget A” regular season and tournament champions. In 2004, Chris was starting goaltender for the inaugural Arizona High School Hockey Association season of the Flagstaff Avalanche - playing through his senior year of high school. Following his graduation, Chris played at the collegiate level for four years with the Northern Arizona University Division 3 Ice Jacks. His freshman year, the team finished in 8th place in the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament. Chris’s presence in the net did not end there - since he was 18, he has been and continues to actively participate in adult leagues and tournaments in both Flagstaff and Phoenix areas. 

Goalie coaching began Chris's first year at NAU in 2006, instructing adults in the Flagstaff Trainwreck program, and quickly moved into the youth divisions with FYHA. He was brought in for weekly team practice visits, and organized monthly training camps for his students. In doing so, he has been able to establish a good base for goaltenders in Flagstaff to develop on. During his coaching time with FYHA, Chris was also appointed Goaltending Director for the Flagstaff Avalanche from the 2016 through the 2018 seasons. 

In 2019 Chris made the move from Flagstaff to Phoenix, and began his instruction working alongside Hiroki Wakabayashi of the World Hockey Lab in his group lessons and with the Desert Youth Hockey Association Junior Sun Devils' in their skills development sessions. He continues to host his own private goaltending instruction as well as consulting the Jr Coyote's goaltenders on weekly team practice visits. Snowman Goaltending is the continuation of Chris’s passion for competitive hockey while expanding the network of people he is able to share his experience and knowledge with.

Ann Snowden-Santi

Operations Manager

Behind the scenes of Snowman Goaltending, Ann organizes lesson times and camp logistics as well as designs new and fresh SG graphics. She enjoys creating and expanding SG’s art portfolio and keeping up with social media trends. Although new to the world of hockey, her love of the sport has grown exponentially.

In 2021, Ann participated in the Arizona Coyotes Adult Learn-to-Play Growlers program where her true appreciation of the sport began. As a former competitive swimmer, she was certainly put to the test on the rink. She may not ever find herself as a goalie, but looks forward to skating more in the future with her husband and daughter.