SFU elevates Cammazolla, adds Spencer as 2014/15 coaching staff announced

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The Simon Fraser University Men's Hockey team is pleased to announce its coaching staff for the 2014/15 B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

Head Coach Mark Coletta returns for his seventh season behind the bench at SFU. The Burnaby native has coached SFU to a 102-20-9-5 record, winning BCIHL Coach of the Year twice (2008-09, 2009-10), reaching the BCIHL championship final five times, and winning it twice.

Jim Camazzola returns as well to the SFU coaching staff for 2014-15, but the Vancouver native’s role has been expanded with a promotion from assistant coach to associate coach. It’s Camazzola’s fifth season with the team.

Joining the SFU Men’s Hockey Team as an assistant coach for 2014-15 is Tom Spencer, who led the Valley West Hawks of the BC Major Midget League to a 27-11-2 record last season. Spencer, who’s originally from Toronto, was named BCMML Coach of the Year for 2013-14 after Valley West made it to the BCMML final against the eventual Telus Cup bronze medalist Okanagan Rockets. He spent three seasons as coach of the Hawks.

"We are very excited to have Tom joining our coaching staff this year. We think his philosophy and professional attitude will be a great fit alongside Mark Coletta and Jim Camazzola, and his knowledge will be a huge asset to our program going forward," said SFU Director of Hockey Operations Chris Munshaw.

For his part, Spencer is excited about the prospect of coaching at the collegiate level.

"The BCIHL has come along way over the past five years and is a recognized league throughout Western Canada. Coach Coletta has done a tremendous job developing the SFU brand and program with likes of playing UBC, North Dakota, Princeton and of course this year with our trip to Ohio," Spencer explains.

"I also don't want to dismiss the teams in our league, which now sees all of them being competitive. I see that this program has legs and the ability to be more than it is, and it's something that I'm looking forward to help develop over the coming season."

Despite having never coached college-aged players before, it's a challenge Spencer looks forward to.

"It's definitely going to be an adjustment and a welcome one at that. I'm looking forward to the learning curve for myself and to be able to adjust my teaching accordingly," he added. "I'd say that I'm a today's coach, I coach with a feel and passion. I like to get to know my players and understand their mind set, which then allows me to prepare appropriately. I'm a firm believer in the mental game and that most games and this level and above are won and lost on which teams are best, or least, mentally prepared."

"Adding a coach like Tom allows us to provide our players with an extremely strong and experienced coaching staff, and our goal is to continue to raise the level of competition not only for SFU but also for the BCIHL," Munshaw added.

Spencer feels that he'll complement Coletta and Camazzola on the SFU coaching staff.

"I believe I bring a lot of experience to the team with ten seasons behind the bench and five of them as a Head Coach. It will be nice to join back up with Mark where he and I coached together for three seasons at the Burnaby Winter Club. I believe adding a third coach allows all three of us to coach to our strengths and allows Mark to control what's happening in the game more efficiently."