Recruiting Staff

Steve Jennings, Scout

Steve Jennings has been a scout with the RoadRunners since 2006.  Steve originally began working with the RoadRunners as a traveling scout while living in Texas.  In 2007, Steve relocated with his family to Pennsylvania where he served as the East Region Scout.

Born and raised in the Boston area, Steve has been around hockey all his life.  A 1991 Graduate of the US Naval Academy, Steve was a 4 year letter winner and Assistant Captain his Senior Year, helping to lead the team to the National Championship Tournament.  Following graduation, Steve immediately began coaching, serving almost two seasons as Assistant Coach at Navy before being transferred to sea duty.  Following his departure from active duty, Steve recommenced his coaching activity, serving as Assistant Coach at Lehigh University for 6 seasons, and also taking an active role in Youth Hockey in the Lehigh Valley Area of Pennsylvania.  While living in Texas, Steve continued his active role in Youth Hockey while also taking on his scouting activities.

Steve and his wife Kris have recently relocated to in Atlanta, GA with their two children, Matt and Meghan.

Tom "TK" Kelly, Scout

Tom Kelly is the Central/Southern Scout for the Topeka RoadRunners. He has been involved in recruiting Midget hockey players from around the country and especially the Dallas area in the last seven years. He has helped many players advance to the Junior A and Division 1 college levels. 

Tom grew up playing hockey in the Philadelphia area and is a 1991 graduate of Shippensburg University. He played his youth midget and junior hockey in Philly and relocated to Texas as part of a job relocation. He still resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and is very active in youth and midget hockey in the Dallas Area. He was assistant coach for the Texas Attack AAA U18 team in 2007 and coached the U16 Dallas Stars AAA in 2008. 

Tom is also the assistant coach of the Dallas Ice Jets AAA Midget Major team. Coach Kelly holds a Level 4 USA hockey certification. 

Tom and his wife Alyson reside in Keller, TX and have a son Jack who also is an avid hockey player.

Anthony Palumbo, Scout

Anthony joined the RoadRunners Scouting staff in 2012. He has a celebrated history as a player as well as a head coach.

As Division I athlete, he played for Lake Superior State University from 1985 – 1989. During his time at LSSU, he was a 2-year captain (junior and senior years) and helped lead the team to a National Championship (’88), and was the leading scorer (’89). In addition, Palumbo made the CCHA All-Academic Team (’89), and was selected to the CCHA All-Tournament Team (’89). After college, he began his coaching career as a volunteer Assistant Coach at his alma mater, working with Jeff Jackson, now head coach at Notre Dame. LSSU won another National Championship in 1992.

As head coach of Traverse City West High School Titans from 2003-2007, he guided the team to win the “Big North” title in 2007, a first in the school’s history. He then became head coach and general manager of the Traverse City North Stars (NAHL) from 2008 – 2011, with an overall record of 130-77-25. The North Stars were the North Division Champions in ’09-’10 season, and third place in the national tournament. During the 2011 -2012 season he served as their General Manager. Palumbo has placed over 20 players in Division I hockey programs across the United States.

Denis Stephenson, Scout

Denis brings 30 years of coaching and player development to the RoadRunners and serves as the RoadRunners scout for the NAPHL and Southern USA. Denis has coached at the Collegiate level in Canada - where he was the assistant coach for the ACAC champions Red Deer College Kings. While in Alberta Denis coached in the Maple Leaf Athletic Club and the Red Deer Chiefs organizations.

Denis moved to Dallas TX in 1996 and served as the Coach Mentor for the Dallas Jr Stars program, while in Dallas, Denis worked with the Dallas Stars to create the High School hockey program.

In 1997 Denis moved to Atlanta, Georgia and has been active as a coach with the Junior Thrashers, Atlanta Fire, and Thunder hockey programs. Denis is a founding member of the Georgia High School Hockey League and serves as the Coach Education Program Prime.

Denis and his wife Judy have three children and live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Blake Humphrey, Scout

Former RoadRunner Blake Humphrey has rejoined the RoadRunner family as a scout, working in the West near his home in Alta Loma, CA. His playing career was shortened by concussions, but he stayed involved as he worked in marketing and sales. His continued commitment to the RoadRunner family brings him to various tournaments and showcases as he helps scout prospective players to play in Topeka.