Boychuk joins TRU as Player/Coach for inaugural season

David Boychuk has learned from some of the best coaches in hockey. Now, he is ready to pass on the knowledge. The 28-year old native of Edmonton, Alberta has signed on with the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack as a player/assistant coach.

"I worked with some great men," says Boychuk. "Don Hay (currently in WHL with Vancouver Giants), Bill Peters (AHL Rockford IceHogs) and Mike Babcock (NHL Detroit Red Wings) were some of the best coaches in Junior hockey."

Boychuk is enrolled in the TRU Tourism Management Program majoring in Entrepreurship. He played five seasons in the Western Hockey League for Tri City, Vancouver and Spokane (1997-2002). After his major junior career was over, Boychuk had the chance to play in the Colorado Avalanche system. Instead, he chose to attend the University of Alberta for two years.

"The major thing I learned was that you need to work hard both in practice in order to see results at game time," says Boychuk. "Babcock, for one, pushed the players to the limit to get the most out of them. That philosophy not only made you better on the ice but off of it as well as you became a more responsible person. These coaches were mentors. I was lucky to play under them."

He hopes to instil that ‘hard work can overcome skill’ mentality in the WolfPack dressing room. Like the three other players who’ve committed to the TRU hockey program, David Boychuk is looking forward to building something from the ground up.

"I always remembered Kamloops as being a great hockey town when I came to play here in the WHL," he says. "I know that with the people we have in place in the society and how the sport is supported in the community, we’ll be able to be successful right from the start."

"We are fortunate to be able to add someone like to David to our program," says WolfPack head coach Chris Hans. "As a player he solidifies our defence position while as an Assistant Coach he will utilize his tremendous leadership skills and knowledge of the sport."

David Boychuk not only has a lot of experience on the ice, but in life as well. He taught English in Taiwan for two and a half years and also is a certified Dive Master. He has run the local branch of “College Pro Painters” for the past two years. Hockey wise, he has kept his skills sharp by playing in the Kamloops Men’s Hockey League while attending TRU.