The changing of the guard continues for the Comox Valley Glacier Kings.
Heading into the 2012-13 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season, the Yetis on July 19 announced Bill Rotheisler as their new head coach. Just over a week later, they announced the two assistant coaches who will join Rotheisler behind the bench this upcoming season – Cameron Knox and Mark McNaughton.
“Cameron comes to us with an impressive list of playing and leadership experience,’ the Yetis stated on their website. “Cameron, 38, has won many championships as a player through minor hockey. From there he went on to play four years in the BCHL (formerly BCJHL); three as an assistant captain for Powell River, Coastal Division champions, and one as captain of the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
“Cameron then went on to play four years NCAA for St. Norbert College, again competing for a national championship. He would then go on to play professional hockey which included stops in the East Coast Hockey League and the Western Professional Hockey League, followed by senior AAA hockey where, once again, he would compete for a national championship - the Allen Cup - for Powell River.
“Knox then turned his attention overseas where he played and competed in tournaments in Tokyo, Thailand, Korea, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong. Cameron possesses a Bachelor of Business Administration and now resides in Comox Valley,” the Glacier Kings’ website noted.
Meanwhile, McNaughton hails from Dunster, B.C. and has spent the last four seasons as a player with Concordia College, being an integral part of a rebuilding process that saw the team go from a 2-12 season and making league championship in his Junior year under coach Chris Howe.
“Here, McNaughton was a two-time Conference Sportsmanship winner. Previously, Mark used his physical, shut-down style of play as a defenceman in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the Beausejour Blades (2007 - 2008) and as a forward, defenceman and captain in the KIJHL with the Summerland Sting (2005-2007) under Richard Kromm, where he had a brief stint with the Powell River Kings.
“Mark spent five years as an instructor and skills centre manager for Okanagan Hockey School. (He) graduated with a degree in Business Management and has moved to Courtenay to provide his time and experience to the Glacier Kings this upcoming season.”
ICE CHIPS The Glacier Kings are hosting their tryout camp this weekend (Aug. 17-19) at the Comox Valley Sports Centre in Arena #2 ... their main camp (invite only) runs Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 at the Sports Centre ... the Icemen are hosting the 2013 Cyclone Taylor Cup (Junior B Provincial Championship) April 11-14 ... the champions from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), the Pacific International Junior Hockey League (PIJHL), and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) along with the host team compete in the tournament ...