The Selkirk College Saints are please to announce the addition of Brent Heaven (Kamloops, BC) as Associate Coach for the 2014/15 British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League season.
Heaven should be familiar to Castlegar hockey fans having spent 6 seasons coaching in the KIJHL with the Castlegar Rebels and Creston Valley, winning Coach of the Year for the 2009/10 season.
Heaven most recently filled the role of as Assistant Coach with the Trail Smoke Eaters in the BCHL during the 2012/13 season. As a Junior player, Heaven spent parts of three seasons in the BCHL, posting 37 points (15-22) with the Quesnel Millionaires and Powell River Kings, during the 1998-2000 seasons.
He also spent 1 season with Osoyoos Heat of the KIJHL, posting 81 points (43-38) in 46 games, during that season he was awarded the Most Valuable Player for the Heat during the Regular Season and Playoffs, while leading the KIJHL in Playoff scoring, posting 22 (13-9) in 13 games.
"I have always had a strong passion and desire for coaching," says Heaven. "So when Alex approached me about the opportunity to help out with the Selkirk Saints after taking more than a year away from the game, it seemed like a perfect fit. I have known Alex for some time, and we have worked together in the past. So I know that we believe in very similar ideas when it comes to systems, team dynamics, and the type of culture that we want."
"I knew the Saints program has been very strong over the past few years, and know that we will be able to continue that trend moving forward. There is a strong group of returning players, and a lot of great new recruits, even some players I have worked with in my past Junior years. So I am really looking forward to working with all of these young men."
Alex Evin on adding the experience of Heaven to the Saints coaching staff: "I am beyond excited to welcome Brent to our coaching staff. He has years of experience coaching at the Junior Hockey level and is someone I’ve looked up to and respected for a long time. Brent and I both love to win and make sure we maximize the potential from our players so we will make a good team. I know I will learn a lot from him on and off the ice as a coach."
The Saints will open their training camp on August 25th and will play their first exhibition game versus the Jr. A Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL on September 12th at the Castlegar Complex.
The Saints will look to make a run for their 3rd consecutive BCIHL Championship when their season opens on October 3rd as they travel to Eastern Washington University (EWU) to take on the Eagles. The Saints will play their home opener at the Castlegar Complex on Friday, October 17th against the same EWU Eagles.