Calling all coaches
Erie Otters assistant coach Wes Wolfe. Photo by: OHL IMAGES
The third annual Niagara Hockey Coaches Seminar will be presented Saturday, July 6 at the Meridian Community Centre in Pelham.
“We decided to come out here (to Pelham),” Erie Otters assistant coach Wes Wolfe said. “It’s a beautiful, brand new facility and we wanted to engage more members of the Niagara region on enrolment.
“We saw a lot of St. Catharines coaches the last couple of years and there are a lot of coaches from Welland and Pelham that we wanted to appeal to.”
The idea for the seminar was hatched when Wolfe, former Brock men’s coach Murray Nystrom, Pittsburgh Penguins player development coach Jarrod Skalde, Ridley coach Mike McCourt and St. Catharines Falcons coach and general manager Frank Girhiny, were informally shooting the breeze about hockey.
The first session drew about 50 coaches while more than 80 registered last year. So far, about 60 have enrolled.
“The out-of-town enrolment has increased exponentially; at least half are from out to town,” Wolfe said. “We have coaches from Toronto, western Ontario, western New York.
“I’d like see more local coaches take advantage of the opportunity just because of the affordability and the access.”
Wolfe said Buffalo State head coach Steve Murphy has enrolled as well as coaches from the Ontario Hockey League all the way down to house league.
“Initially the intention was to provide the grass roots level coaches in Niagara access to resources they might not otherwise be able to get,” Wolfe explained. “It’s turned into information sharing and networking. I think all coaches want to inherently learn from other coaches, and because of the quality of presenters we’ve had, it’s attracted higher level coaches.
“There are meaningful things to share and learn but it’s definitely intended for coaches of all levels. Even if you take away even one idea, it’s probably worth it.”
Presenters this year are Thorold native David Urquhart, currently an assistant coach with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League, Jim Bedard of the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks pro scout Mike McPherson, Humboldt Broncos assistant coach Troy Smith of Hamilton, and Otters skills co-ordinator Ryan Berard. In addition to classroom work, Berard will run an on-ice session.
Coaches who attend will earn three points toward their Hockey Canada certification.
“I’ve been to the OHL coaches seminar and participated in the under-15 program. I’m going to Vancouver next week for the NHL coaches conference and everyone I talk to said there’s nothing like it anywhere else,” Wolfe said. “It’s a pretty unique event.”
Cost is $50 which includes lunch.
For more information see: http://niagarahockeycoachesseminar.weebly.com
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