Category Coaches, Representative (Brantford Girls Hockey Association)

Ben has been playing hockey since a young age. He played minor hockey in his hometown of Hawkesbury, ON and played summer AAA hockey in the Ottawa region. After finishing minor hockey, he played for the Hawkesbury Hawks Junior A program before earning a full scholarship in the NCAA Division I where he played for Western Michigan University. After graduating University, he finished his hockey career playing Senior AAA. Throughout his years as a player, he also worked at various hockey schools.  Ben joined the Ice Cats program 5 years ago by helping with the Ice Kittens program and has been coaching Rep A hockey ever since. For Ben, development is key for the players.  His coaching philosophy is to create a positive team environment (with players and families), promote fun on and off the ice, focus on development, knowledge of the game, and improve skating skills while being competitive. He hopes for all his players to love the game as much as he does.  

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. 

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.

 

 

  

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.

"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". 

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.

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.