Coaches' Corner
Steve MacLeod (Team TBD) - Coach Director - thepack94@gmail.com
Steve hails from Toronto, ONT and played his minor hockey career there.
28 years of coaching experience, with 16 of those being at the AAA/AA club level.
He has been recognized for many awards including 2015 and 2018 CAC, ‘Coach Of The Year’, and 2005 MMAA ‘League Coach Of The Year’!
Steve has his High Performance 1 Coach NCCP, checking, safety, and has attended numerous Hockey Alberta Coaching Clinics.
Currently Steve, is the Head Coach for SSAC U 17AAA team.
In 2015 Steve became a Wolfpack board member and assumed the position of ‘Coaching Director.’ This will be Steve's 9th year with the Wolfpack coaching at various levels.
“It is a privilege to be able to coach hockey. I take what I do seriously and do my best to make sure the athlete is coached in a positive environment enabling him/her to improve their potential.”
Travis Vanberg (2009) - thepack94@gmail.com
Travis, an Edmonton native, grew up playing minor hockey here as well as making appearances in Grande Prairie and Pigeon Lake area.
He has over 20 years of playing experience varying from initiation to Juniors and Adult leagues. As a player he played for the Sherwood Park Crusaders(Jr.A) and received an invite to try out for the Barrie Colts(CHL).
His coaching experience has dawned over 22 years, coaching various levels ranging from initiation-Bantam, and spring AAA. His most recent being an HC with our U15 Winter Wolfpack team and since 2019 to present with our 2009 Spring team. Travis was also part of our PHL PW Winter Championship teams coaching staff and led his spring 09's to Bronze in the Stampede Challenge and Silver in the Lethbridge Rebels tournament.
From a board perspective he was the President of a Minor Hockey Association and has had a role since 2016.
"I'm a big proponent of development, hard work, and connecting with the players. Any coach can outline a play on the whiteboard, it's the ones who understand and motivate their players that win."
"The measure of who we are, is what we do, with what we have."-Vince Lombardi
2010-TBA
Dorin Gay (2011) - thepack94@gmail.com
Dorin is another local,born and raised in Edmonton, AB where he spent his minor hockey and played club hockey with CAC. His hockey career continued playing with the Grande Prairie Storm(Jr.A), Concordia University(ACAC), before finally ending with Grant MacEwan(ACAC).
He is an effective coach, that brings more than 20 years of experience in the development of hockey players and goalies.
He has been involved in numerous development camps assuming many different roles. Ranging from Head Instructor at Gold in The Net, to lead Development coach with the Alberta Wolfpack. Additionally he has run as lead development instructor for skills sessions for minor hockey programs all over Alberta. Dorin coached this team to a silver medal in LIT last spring and looks to build off of last year.
"I'm a strong believer in the mentoring and the development of young athletes, both on and off the ice. Having played at the Junior and University level; I will leverage this experience to help these young athletes to not only grow their athletic aspirations, but personal goals as well."
Jason Holland(2012) - thepack94@gmail.com
Jason, was born in Morinville, where he played the majority of his minor hockey career as well as Midget AAA in St.Albert. From there he went on to play in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers, where he won 2 Memorial Cups and a Gold Medal at the World Juniors. Jason was drafted 38th overall by the NY Islanders. He played over 16yrs of professional hockey including the LA Kings, Buffalo Sabres, NYI, and had stints in the AHL and DHL(German Hockey League). Jason also had the honour of playing for the German National Team in the 2008 World Championships.
Coaching wise Jason has had 5yrs or coaching experience with the 2012 age group and is looking to successfully continue on this path.
"I'am a big believer in making every player on the team feel valued. Creating positive memories where life skills are learned such as: perseverance, work ethic, and self confidence. Increasing their hockey knowledge while learning how to work as a group to accomplish something bigger. I believe in goal setting(team and personal). Identifying their own strengths and skills that they want to improve on; and through positive reinforcement and support helping these players achieve their goals.
My goal is to have players take more than just skill development onto their next step in their hockey journey. Hockey is an amazing sport and there is no better environment to develop a young athletes life skills and great great friendships."
Tyler Hennessey(2013)-thepack94@gmail.com
Tyler mainly grew up in Manitoba where he played the majority of his minor hockey. His Club hockey career consisted of playing Bantam AAA and then moving on to play Midget AAA. From there, Tyler pursued a successful junior hockey career in the Saskatchewan and Manitoba Junior Hockey Leagues; in which he served as the captain in both respectively. He then went on to play University Hockey, all while completing his Bachelor of Commerce degree and serving as the team's captain.
During Tyler's playing career he began coaching at various levels and found a love and passion for passing on his knowledge to the younger players. After he finished University, he decided to dedicate more of his time to coaching. Tyler has coached various levels which have included Bantam AA, Bantam AAA, Midget AA, Midget AAA, U7, U9, U11 and most recently coaching our very own 2013 Major Wolfpack HSL team for his second year.
“I take great pride in seeing the growth and development of players and strive for excellence with each and every player. It is important to provide a fun and engaging atmosphere where the players feel comfortable in a learning environment. An environment that teaches not only hockey skills. but life skills and a place to build relationships that will last forever.”
Tom McVicar(2014)-thepack94@gmail.com
Tom is an extremely committed, motivated and passionate person that spends every spare minute thinking, talking, playing, or coaching hockey! He is reliable, meticulous, organized, and a great communicator.
He has coached for 5 years (So U5-U9, U11 Spring), inlcuding our current Head Coach of our 2014 HSL Major team. He has also coached a couple of seasons of outdoor soccer, and had the pleasure of assistant coaching several camps, and spring seasons with the several other reputable organizations.
Tom has played hockey for an accumulated time of over 3 decades of playing experience. Having played his whole minor hockey career in Stony Plain/Spruce Grove, many of those years in AA, then settled in at Wabamun for 4 years of Junior C while he pursued his post-secondary education. Tom carries several coaching certifications including: Coach 1, Coach 2, Safety, Checking Skills, Small Area Games 1, and, RIS.
"My coaching philosophy is “to foster the same love, respect, and overall enjoyment that I havev for a game I have devoted 30 years of my life to and pass that on to the next generation of athletes. To focus on the development of the fundamentals of teamwork, sportsmanship, self-confidence, and having fun. To cultivate values, commitment, and leadership from our athletes to be outstanding teammates and members of our community and to always be our best versions of ourselves, both on and off the ice. “
Dustin Johner(2014) thepack94@gmail.com
Dustin originates from Estevan Sask, where he grew up playing his minor hockey, prior to moving to Red Deer for Bantam and Midget AAA.
He was drafted to the Seattle Thunderbirds(WHL), where he played for 4 years, with being selected as Team Captain and to the All-Star team for 3 of those years.
In 2001 he got drafted by the Florida Panthers in the sixth round. Dustin signed a professional contract with the Calgary Flames and played 3 years in North America(AHL/ECHL).
His career then took him over to Europe, consisting of 12 years playing for various teams and leagues. (NLA & NLB Switzerland, EBEL Austria, SM-Liiga Finland, Hockey Allsvenskan Sweden, EIHL Northern Ireland).
Hockey has provided him the opportunity to get his MBA and transition into life after hockey.
Since his retirement in 2019 he has helped coach minor hockey teams for the past 3 years.
“My goal as a coach is to help players gain an understanding of the game both positionally and what it takes to be a good teammate while growing their individual skills. Hockey is a GAME and the memories and friendships made at this age will last forever, let’s have some fun!”
Michael Curtis (2015) - thepack94@gmail.com
Michael an Edmonton product, who grew up here playing for the Hawks Athletic Club and followed playing rep hockey for the Canadian Athletic Club(CAC). He was also a director for a local minor hockey club for the last 6 years.
He had many memorable coaches growing up that had taught him the importance of the strength of teamwork, dedication, sportsmanship and making life lasting friendships. Collectively this is what he wants to pass along to his young students of the game.
'Mike' has coached Initiation(U9) through to Pee Wee(U13) levels as well as helped coach Wolfpack teams over the past few springs. Throughout his years of coaching, he has had the opportunity to coach alongside and be mentored by some great coaches and hockey minds. Mike will be returning for his second year as Head Coach of this group. Michael is also a multi sport coach, having not only coached hockey, but his background consists of soccer, lacrosse, ball hockey, and ringette. He is a true student of the game as he is always learning and to keep evolving as a coach.
"My goal as a coach is to give the players as many tools as possible from skills to good habits, mental toughness, creativity, and to have fun playing the greatest game."
2016-TBA
