The Ghost team

Built by people who played the game.

Physical therapy, strength, nutrition, mindset, and vision, under one roof in Byron Center.

Full-time coaches

The core staff

Dr. Jamie Phillips

Founder and CEO

Dr. Jamie Phillips

I'm a Doctor of Physical Therapy, former professional athlete, and rehab specialist with over 15 years in elite sport. After playing Division 1 NCAA hockey at Michigan Tech and four years of pro hockey in the NHL system, I earned a Master's in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.

As Owner and Director of Rehab and Performance for Ghost, I focus on what I learned firsthand: too many hockey players, especially goalies, lose opportunities not from a lack of talent but from inadequate training, recovery, and physical preparation. After watching teammates and young athletes suffer preventable injuries and plateau from poor off-ice habits, I pursued advanced education to do more than coach: to educate and empower. My mission is to build athletes who are not only skilled but resilient, prepared to perform at their highest level and built to last.

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Master of Science
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Neurofunctional Acupuncture
  • EIM Dry Needling Level 1
Ben Vutci

Head of Strength and Conditioning

Ben Vutci

With over two decades as a junior and ACHA college goaltender, I bring firsthand knowledge from the crease to my work as a strength and conditioning coach. My career has taken me across the elite youth hockey landscape in the Chicagoland area and into professional training circles, where I've served as a coach and testing staff member for the Chicago Blackhawks and worked with NHL talents including Collin Delia, Vinnie Hinostroza, Ryan Hartman, and Patrick Kane, as well as MLB catcher Yasmani Grandal.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and am pursuing my Master's in Sports Psychology, reflecting my commitment to understanding both the physical and mental demands of elite performance. Whether working with youth goalies or professional athletes, I blend science, experience, and mentorship to help athletes reach their highest potential.

  • Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Master of Science in progress, Sports Psychology
Dakota Meyer

Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

Dakota Meyer

I'm a former NCAA Division III goaltender who played at Northland College, where I also earned my degree in Biology. Today I'm a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a particular focus on mobility, movement quality, and athletic performance.

What I'm most passionate about is simple: helping athletes get better. I love working with players every day to help them become stronger, faster, and more mobile while building the physical foundation they need to stay healthy and perform at their best. Having competed as a goaltender myself, I understand the demands hockey places on the body and the importance of training in a way that translates to performance on the ice.

  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Bachelor of Science, Biology
  • Former NCAA Division III goaltender
Lauren Hanson

Head of Performance Nutrition

Lauren Hanson

I'm a credentialed Registered Dietitian with a Master of Science in Dietetics and an undergraduate degree in Public Relations. I've worked with a wide range of clients, including young athletes, teens, and adults, helping them optimize performance, health, and longevity through evidence-based nutrition.

My work centers on educating and empowering athletes to take ownership of their fueling and recovery. I build athletes who are properly fueled, resilient, and metabolically prepared to perform at their highest level season after season, so nutrition supports their goals rather than limiting them. My athletic background is in figure skating, with a focus on edge work and power skating, and I bring that performance-driven mindset into the hockey world as a proud hockey mom. It lets me connect with athletes and families alike, bridging science, sport, and real-life demands to create nutrition strategies that work on and off the ice.

  • Registered Dietitian
  • Master of Science, Dietetics
  • Bachelor's degree, Public Relations
Ryan Harris

Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

Ryan Harris

I'm a student-athlete at Grand Valley State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology and Sports Performance. I bring experience from top youth programs including Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and Mount Saint Charles, as well as junior hockey at the Junior A and Tier 2 levels.

My turning point came in the junior hockey system, where I watched talented players falter because they didn't understand the daily mentality and commitment the next level demands. That drove me to pursue my education and to help build an environment where athletes can excel. My mission is to help athletes become stronger physically while understanding what it takes to succeed every day and reach their goals at the highest level.

  • Bachelor of Science in progress, Exercise Physiology and Sports Performance
  • Grand Valley State University student-athlete
Ryan Jensen

Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach

Ryan Jensen

I'm an experienced athletics coach dedicated to helping athletes realize their full potential through a holistic approach to development. Over my career I've coached national champions and developed numerous All-Americans. I'm a Licensed Massage Therapist and High Performance Athletic Coach, certified in ELDOA Level 1 and Osteo Articular Joint Pumping Level 1, with a BA from Calvin University.

Frustrated by the ineffective coaching and training methods I saw early in my career, I've pursued learning how to be the best coach I can be and give my athletes every tool they need. Walking alongside athletes throughout their careers is essential to their growth and one of the greatest privileges of my own. My mission is to use innovative, collaborative training methods to help athletes become the best version of themselves, with mindful attention across all aspects of life.

  • Licensed Massage Therapist
  • High Performance Athletic Coach
  • ELDOA Level 1
  • Osteo Articular Joint Pumping Level 1
  • BA, Calvin University

We take a small number of interns each season: students in exercise science, kinesiology, PT, or related fields who want real reps with real athletes. Tell us who you are and we'll be in touch.