Staff

Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, Frank Santelli began his hockey journey at just 9 years old—a rare path for someone growing up in the heart of the Low Country. As his skills developed, Santelli quickly made waves in the local hockey scene with the Charleston Wolverines junior program, capturing the attention of coaches across the southeastern U.S. His pursuit of elite-level play led him through the northeastern hockey circuit and ultimately north of the border, where he finished his junior career in Canada.

Following his junior tenure, Frank attended training camp with the Steel City Warriors (Single-A minor professional), where he earned a roster spot—making history as the first professional hockey player to emerge from the Charleston area. He would go on to play professionally both domestically and internationally, including a stint in Turkey, before retiring from pro hockey and shifting his focus toward building the future of the sport.

Frank is the co-founder of the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) and co-owner of the California Grizzlies, one of the league's flagship franchises. His entrepreneurial ventures extend beyond the rink—he is also the founder and operator of Jackpot Logistics, a freight logistics company based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Off the ice, Frank remains deeply involved in player development. He serves as a private instructor and on-ice coach with Simply Defense/Strictly Shooting Hockey School and contributes his scouting expertise to the Motor City Gamblersof the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL).

Frank currently resides in Las Vegas with his two beloved dogs—Bo, a Siberian Husky, and Sinatra, an Alaskan Malamute. In addition to his hockey and business endeavors, he made a film appearance in the 2013 movie Joe’s War.

Santelli and Kyle Kabacinski began work on the re-launch of the WPHL in 2021, combining their professional experience and passion for the game to build a league focused on opportunity, innovation, and grassroots growth.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Kyle Kabacinski is a seasoned athlete and entrepreneur with a rich background in junior, collegiate, semi-professional, and minor professional hockey. After playing his junior career in the Midwest, he competed collegiately at Rochester College (now Rochester Christian University), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Sports Management.

Post-graduation, Kabacinski continued his playing career across the minor and semi-professional ranks while also coaching youth hockey in Detroit. A multi-sport competitor, he also played semi-pro and minor professional arena football, deepening his experience in athletics.

Kyle is the co-founder of the Western Professional Hockey League and co-owner of the California Grizzlies, one of its inaugural franchises. His entrepreneurial ventures include Motor City Club, a property site-management company, and Jackpot Logistics, a freight logistics operation. He also works as a scout for the USPHL’s Motor City Gamblers, a state champion field events coach at Divine Child Catholic High School, and a soccer official with the MHSAA.

In the off-season, he travels as a coach and instructor with Simply Defense/Strictly Shooting Hockey School, working with players across the Northeast and Midwest. Kyle splits time between Detroit and Las Vegas, where he lives with his fiancée, daughter, and family. In 2021, he and Frank Santelli began developing the re-launch of the WPHL, bringing their shared vision of player-focused, growth-driven hockey to life.