Category Coaches, Representative (Brantford Girls Hockey Association)

Ben is looking forward to teaching the players the basics while building on the skills that they have been learning.  Development is key with players – individually, small group and as a team.

He also believes that teaching and learning needs to be all about the girls - ensuring that the game of hockey becomes a game that they love, have fun playing, develop a team atmosphere while making friends, and wanting to come back for the 2021/22 season.

Matt has been coaching with the BGHA for the past 4 years at the House League, DS, and Rep levels, most recently as Head Coach of the  2017/2018 Atom C Ice Cats. In addition, Matt has been involved with Girls Rural Softball as a coach for the past 6 years. Matt strives to create a fun and encouraging environment and takes great joy in helping young athletes excel as hockey players and develop a life-long passion for the game. His coaching philosophy emphasizes fundamental skills development, hard work, and team play. 

While earning her Applied Human Nutrition – Bachelor of Applied Science degree at the University of Guelph, Krista played four years on the Guelph Gryphons women’s hockey team (1996-97 to 1999-200).

In her sophomore season (1997-98) Krista helped lead the Gryphons to an OUA championship title and was selected as the OUA Tournament MVP, scoring 3 goals and adding 4 assists in two games. The team went on to place 4th at the National Championships.

By her senior season (1999-2000), she had been named the team’s assistant captain and earned the title of OUA All-Star.

After retiring from hockey, Krista pursued her other athletic passion by returning to running. Since her debut marathon in 2002, she has become the second fastest Canadian, a 2016 Olympian, and placed 3rd at the 2018 Boston Marathon. 

Here is a recent article that joins my hockey and running careers: https://gryphons.ca/news/2018/4/18/cross-country-pair-of-former-gryphons-steal-the-spotlight-at-the-boston-marathon.aspx?mobile=skip

Brad is an experienced hockey player.  He sharpened his skills in the BMHA (Brantford Minor Hockey Association) at the AAA and A levels before playing Junior C in Woodstock for the Navy Vets.  Brad then played Junior B for the Brantford Golden Eagles.  He was then off to play NCAA Division III hockey for Lake Forest College in Illinois. He brought his polished skills back to Brantford to play one season at the Senior A level for the Branford Blast.
Brad then starting giving back to his roots by coaching the past four years at the IP level and Tyke with the BMHA.  As written earlier, for the past two years he has been coaching Novice B Rep in the BGHA.

Johan is planning on building on the skills they’ve learned in Novice while developing new skills.  Skill development will be a focus.

The coaching team would like to have the team play in at least 3 tournaments next season and have a practice once/week. 

Johan’s goal is to create a safe and welcoming team atmosphere where everyone is excited to come to the rink and have FUN!

Lindsay grew up playing in the BGHA association before playing junior for Burlington and accepting an OUA scholarship at the University of Windsor for the Lancers 2009-2014, where she became a defenseman. Lindsay continues to play with our BGHA Senior A team.  Like Brianne, Lindsay played with this team’s GHWHL Championship last season and the Silver win at the OWHA Provincial Championships in 2017.Lindsay has been assisting with hockey teams since 2014 (Bantam boys Paris, BGHA Midget AA, Atom and Peewee with Brianne), she also has run boot camps and dry land training and has over ten years of coaching Brantford Special Olympics Track and Field on her resume.  

 

 

  

Matt has been coaching with the BGHA for the past 4 years at the House League, DS, and Rep levels, most recently as Head Coach of the  2017/2018 Atom C Ice Cats. In addition, Matt has been involved with Girls Rural Softball as a coach for the past 6 years. Matt strives to create a fun and encouraging environment and takes great joy in helping young athletes excel as hockey players and develop a life-long passion for the game. His coaching philosophy emphasizes fundamental skills development, hard work, and team play. 

 

 

  

While this will be Paul’s second season coaching with the BGHA, he has coached for Flamborough Minor Hockey Association (U18- AA) and the Provincial Women’s Softball Association (U10).

Paul’s focus will follow the Hockey Development Pathway by continuing to develop player hockey skills with a focus on the knowledge of the game (player/team tactics).  His plan is to incorporate this during on- and off-ice (dryland) development.

After playing AA and Junior Hockey for the Hamilton Girls Hockey Association, Brianne received an NCAA scholarship to play forward for the Division I University of Maine Black Bears from 2009-2015. As well as being a star forward for the Maine Black Bears, Brianne has also coached softball and has done on and off-ice development for several hockey teams throughout Ontario for the past few years.

"Getting better everyday," is a team credo Jason uses with his teams to develop quality hockey players, and quality people.  

Jason grew up playing minor hockey in Cambridge and played for the hometown Cambridge Winter Hawks Jr. B club for three seasons. He pursued his teaching degree after that, and continued his hockey at Brock University where he played five seasons in the CIS (Canadian Inter University Sports- now called U Sports). After playing in the CIS, Jason switched roles and began coaching University hockey in the CIS, as an assistant, for the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks Men's hockey team. He switched roles again when his daughters began playing hockey.  

Jason has over 20 years of coaching and teaching experience in hockey, and has coached alongside, and learned from, professional coaches from the NHL, NCAA, CIS, and OHL, in over 18 years of summer hockey schools. He has 22 years of teaching experience, holds his qualifications as a Principal, and served as the Director of Hockey Development for the Cambridge Girl's Hockey Association. He holds a High Performance 1 certification through Hockey Canada, and regularly attends coaching seminars to live the credo of 'Getting Better Everyday". 

Richard has many years of playing and coaching hockey experience.  At this time he is also coaching a girls’ varsity hockey team.  His organizational coaching experience is extensive between the BGHA and the Delhi Minor Hockey.  He also has been in the role of Trainer/Goalie Coach in the past. 

A competitive team requires hard work and dedication.  As a teacher, Richard believes in the development of all players on the team.  He has an extensive plan for the upcoming season as well as looking at 3-4 tournaments.

Cam also has many years of experience as a hockey coach which has been with the Langton Minor Hockey Association until this season.  He’s discovered the Girls Hockey Rocks!Cam also believes in focusing on development and systems and adding pieces/building on these as the season progresses. Communication, team building and bonding on and off the ice are also key to a winning team.Cam’s vision for the season coincides with Richard’s.

John has many years coaching girls hockey with the BGHA and the Ancaster Girls Hockey Association.  He has also coached BMHA U15 A team in 2019/20

John believes in continued develop – working on endurance and stamina to achieve the winning team and building on skill sets and systems.  He has the goal of having 3 balanced lines.He sees that in order to achieve all these technical goals there needs to be a focus that a winning team requires team building and bonding.

Winner of the Silver Medal at the Provincial Championships in 2017 with Brantford's Senior A team, John has a long career of successes as head coach with BGHA and Paris District High School. John's experience both on the ice as a coach and off the ice as a business owner are huge assets for the high calibre University and Junior players he coaches as they continue their careers as players and pursuing their professional careers.