Executives

Peter Sonnichsen

President

Peter has been playing basketball since Grade 8 and has remained dedicated to the game throughout his life. He currently serves as a team captain in the Nova Scotia Grand Masters Senior Basketball League, where 18 teams compete each season in a spirited push toward the annual championship. Peter also brings a wealth of leadership experience from his 30-year career with the RCMP, serving communities from the west coast to Ottawa to the Halifax Regional Municipality. Along the way, he built lasting friendships through one constant: pickup basketball wherever he went. A familiar face in the Hurricanes community, Peter has coached with the club for the past four years. His daughter played for three seasons, and his son now enters his fourth, making the Hurricanes a true family tradition. What Peter enjoys most is being around the kids and getting to know the families, coaches, and volunteers who make youth basketball so special. He values the time spent building relationships, sharing in the ups and downs of competition, and creating a positive, encouraging environment where players can grow both on and off the court. That connection to the game and to the community is what fuels his passion and makes stepping into this leadership role such an exciting next step.

hhbasketballclub@gmail.com

Diana Khosla

Vice President

Diana Khosla has been involved with Halifax Hurricanes Basketball as a mom to two Hurricanes players for the past four years on the board. Thanks to amazing and dedicated coaches, her children continue to develop, thrive, and love the sport. Diana is excited to continue the board this year and will serve as Vice President. Diana is a CPA and partner at a professional services firm.

hhbasketballclub@gmail.com

Alex O'Donnell

Director At Large (Coach Development/Assessment Lead)

Alex O'Donnell has been with the Hurricanes for 4 years, coaching his sons through U10 and U12. With a passion for coaching, for over 20 years Alex has been working with athletes from ages 4 to 30, travelling across country and internationally to compete. In 2023-24 the Hurricanes awarded him "Coach of the Year" for his dedication and work developing his young athletes. Having been a player, a referee and a sport organizer, he plans to use his experience to continue the great work the board, and behind-the-scenes volunteers have done to make the Hurricanes a success. When he's not in the gym, or on the field coaching, he can be found chasing a future Hurricane, self-proclaimed "Coach Ruby". During the day, he's often thinking about data, how to best organize and communicate it as a technical program manager for a large multinational.

Teresa Burns

Director at Large (Mini Canes)

Teresa Burns has been involved with Hurricanes Basketball for the past 2 years, when her eldest child joined the small ball program. Teresa has always been involved in sports, especially soccer and basketball, both as a player and coach. She started coaching basketball at the age of 15 and continued her athletic career, playing basketball and soccer at Sf. F X. Teresa works as a dentist at Spring Garden Dentistry and enjoys spending time with her husband and 4 kids (1 current and 3 future Mini Canes)! Teresa looks forward to her role as Director of the Mini Canes Program.

Duncan Addison

Corporate Secretary

Duncan Addison is born and raised on the east coast and grew up playing nearly every sport in the book. His passion for sport led him to becoming an NCAA athlete, and then into the Sports Tech industry upon graduation where he has now been working for the last 7 years. Duncan is excited to apply his background as a high performance athlete, coach, and volunteer to the Hurricanes organization. Duncan is looking forward to joining the board as a non-parent member, and Corporate Secretary.

Mike Budreski

Director At Large

Mike Budreski's passion for sports and athletics has been a defining thread throughout his life, with basketball at the core. A dedicated and competitive player, Mike suited up for the Saint Francis Xavier X-Men, where he proudly played two seasons, including as part of a National Championship team. He later continued his basketball career with the Dalhousie Tigers, contributing his skill, leadership, and love of the game at the university level. Mike's connection to athletics extends naturally to his family. His oldest daughter is following in his footsteps as a talented young player with the Halifax Hurricanes, showing early signs of the same grit and determination that fueled her father's career. His son will be joining the Mini-Canes program this year, beginning his own journey on the court. And with his youngest daughter already immersed in the family's love of the game, there’s no doubt another future Hurricanes baller is on the horizon.

Danette Foster

Treasurer

Danette Foster started with Halifax Hurricanes Basketball when her daughter joined 5 years ago for U10, as she became interested in playing the sport. Thanks to a wonderful coach, her daughter stayed and Danette joined the Board to serve as Treasurer; she is enthusiastically starting her 3rd year. She uses both her skills as a CPA and a mom to assist with the Finance/Taxation issues that arise for non-profit organizations.

Danny De Palma

Administrative and Technical Director

Danny De Palma has been pursing his passion of helping people and sharing a love for basketball for over 15 years. Starting as a head coach for Charles P. Allen, Danny has coached at the Provincial level for four years with Basketball Nova Scotia (2016 U17 Boys National Champions), assisted at Acadia University with both the Axewomen and Axemen for seven seasons (Two AUS Championships), and currently is the head coach of the MSVU Mystics Men's team (2022 ACAA Champions, 2024 ACAA Champions, 2025 ACAA Silver). De Palma is entering his fourth year with the Halifax Hurricanes as Administrative and Technical Director. Most recently De Palma was named the 2025 ACAA Men's Basketball Coach Of the Year as well as the 2025 CCAA National Head Coach Of The Year.

hhbasketballclub@gmail.com