U-15
Words from Head Coach of U-15, Mark Ferner on his feelings for the upcoming season; "We have a great hard working group of kids with lots of potential. Can't wait to get things rolling!"
Mark Ferner // Head Coach
Ferner was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. Selected 194th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, Ferner also played for the Washington Capitals, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and Detroit Red Wings. Mark has 16 years of coaching experience with many achievements such as two-time coach of the year in the BCHL as well as the only coach to take 3 consecutive RBC championships winning two and losing in the finals the third time. Along with, 7 years coaching in the WHL as both an assistant and head coach. With scouting experience for the Buffalo Sabres. Mark is entering his 3rd year with RINK as U-15 Head Coach.
U-15 PREP
Words from Head Coach of U-15 Prep, Jarome Iginla on his feelings for the upcoming season; "We are really excited for this upcoming season. We have good size, good skill and great attitudes. A group from 2 provinces, 3 countries and two continents. Excited to see them play!"
Jarome Iginla // Head Coach
The No. 11 pick by the Dallas Stars in the 1995 NHL Draft, Iginla won or contended for nearly every award available to an NHL forward, starting with a runner-up finish to Bryan Berard of the New York Islanders for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year in 1996-97, when he scored 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists) for the Calgary Flames. A two-time Memorial Cup winner with Kamloops of the Western Hockey League, Iginla skated right out of junior hockey into the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Flames. He played two games in a first-round loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The WHL Player of the Year for 1995-96 after scoring 63 goals and 136 points in 63 games with Kamloops, Iginla became Flames property as part of a Dec. 1995 trade that sent Joe Nieuwendyk to Dallas. Jarome has spent the past 4 years coaching minor hockey in Boston, Massachusetts, a hot bed for hockey in the north east of the United States. He has coached his sons, Tij and Joe’s respective minor hockey teams, and most recently helped bring the 2006 Boston Jr. Eagles from a 20th ranked team to #1 in the nation. They have competed against all the top Toronto-based team like the Jr. Marlies. Along with coaching the Jr. Eagles, Jarome has also been coaching the past three seasons with the 2008 Boston Jr. Terriers.
James Eccles // Assistant Coach
James’s experience includes time within The NCAA Division III; Brockport State University, West Kelowna Warriors, the Penticton Vees and the Surrey Eagles in the BCHL, the Okanagan Rockets in the BCEHL, a Director of Hockey Development for the Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey Association and most recently, the Head Development Coach for the West Kelowna Minor Hockey Association amongst others within the hockey industry. James comes with experience from coaching, scouting, recruiting, managing and developing ever since he began his first coaching position 19 years ago. Through this experience he has become known as an approachable person for all players, parents and colleagues at all levels. During his time as the Director of Hockey Development for RMMHA, James helped establish a phenomenal development team for players, goalies and coaches. The development program gained recognition through PCAHA and awarded the association with the MHA award of the year; The Fred Page Memorial Trophy, and James with the John Ptucha Coaching Development Award.
Patrick Wiercioch // Assistant Coach
Patrick’s grassroots may be familiar to those in the B.C. region. Including the RMMHA, BWC, NSWC and prior to beginning his junior career a season playing AAA Midget with the NE Attack. Patrick was drafted by the Medicine Hat Tigers, however continued his career suiting up for the BCHL’s Burnaby Express. Followed by capturing a Clark Cup with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. Patrick was drafted by the host Ottawa Senators, 42nd overall, in the NHL Entry Draft. Attending the University of Denver and finishing his sophomore season as an All-American he made the decision to turn pro and sign with the Senators. Patrick’s AHL rookie season the Binghamton Senators captured the AHL Calder Cup. He made his NHL debut against the Carolina Hurricanes. The shortened NHL season due to a lockout resulted in his first full season in the NHL with the Senators.
Highlighting his playing career was capturing the 2015 Men’s World Championship Gold in Prague. His NHL career continued with Colorado and signing with the Vancouver Canucks and Utica Comets. He has valuable experience overseas which include time spent in the Kontinental Hockey League, Austrian League, and Sweden. While also getting to represent his country on two more occasions at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland capturing gold his second year. No stranger to development, Patrick has a strong awareness of the game, and looks forward to sharing not only his experience, but attention to detail with those he gets to teach.
U-16 PREP
Locke Muller // Head Coach
Locke joined Pursuit of Excellence in September 2018 as the Assistant Coach for E15 and in September 2019 Locke became Assistant Coach for Bantam Prep. Originally from St. Paul, Alberta where Locke played his early minor hockey before moving to Kelowna to join the POE program as a Midget aged player. While captaining the POE Midget Prep team in his second year, Locke was listed by the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL. His 4-year junior hockey career was spent with the Red Deer Rebels and Saskatoon Blades of the WHL and finally with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL where he was named Team Captain and Top Defensive Forward for 2 consecutive years. At the collegiate level, Locke played for the NAIT Ooks helping his team win the ACAC Championship.
Larry Robinson // Assistant Coach
Larry has been the Goaltending Coach for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and most recently the Westside Warriors of the BCHL. He has also worked with goaltenders for many years in the minor hockey system. Larry has been involved with the BC Best Ever High-Performance Program as a Goalie Coach, Assistant Coach and Evaluator. In 2009/2010 he was the Goalie Coach for Team West at the World Jr A Challenge. He also is instrumental in working with video analysis for our goaltenders, as well as analyzing game video for players. He is active in the teaching of the game and has a passion for moving goaltenders on to the next level which has included WHL, Jr A, Jr B and NCAA.
U-17 PREP
Words from Head Coach of U-16 Prep, Josh Bonar on his feelings for the upcoming season; "We are really excited for this upcoming season. We feel like we have a great mix of talent and leadership and can’t wait to jump into things and see what we have this up coming weekend!"
Josh Bonar // Head Coach
Josh Bonar is an experienced head coach from Port Alberni, B.C. specializing in player skills and development. Josh was head coach of the U17 team at St. Georges Academy this past season and coached for six years at BWC Academy prior to that, including three years as the head coach of the U16 Academy team. In the off-season, Josh has been running skill development programs throughout the lower mainland for the past eight years. He has worked with thousands of athletes – from youth hockey to NHL players – and founded the reputable business, Hockey House, based in Vancouver. Josh has also assisted the Vancouver Canucks with video review and coaches challenge for the past three seasons. During his junior career, Josh played with the Kamloops Blazers, Vancouver Giants and Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Josh then went on to play two years at Brock University and 7+ years professionally in Europe and the United States from 2008 to 2014 where he led the Mol Liga in goals and points in two out of his three seasons in the league.
Justin Kelly // Assistant Coach
Justin was born in Vancouver, BC and at 16 started really chasing his hockey dream. He played five years in the WHL, and then another 17+ playing professionally all over the world. He’s now back in BC and excited for his next chapter. His hockey career and travel experience coupled with successes and failures has given him a wide view of diverse cultures, ways of life and people. He enjoyed a 17-year pro career spanning six countries and 14 cities, including Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden and 10 years in Germany. Some career highlights include winning three league championships, three league scoring titles, two-time player of year honors, and two time forward of the year. He then capped his career off having his #27 retired with the Bietigheim Steelers of the del in Germany in 2019. He has a vast knowledge about the human body and takes a holistic approach to health and fitness which is a staple in his everyday life. Since retiring from hockey he has completed his personal training certification and nutrition with PN among other personal passions like XPT Training. He feels there is more to hockey than just the on-ice experience. He believes there is a need to educate and mentor young athletes to widen the lens: from on-ice skills to dry land training and nutrition, to concussion management – he takes a whole human approach.
U-18 PREP
Words from U-18 Prep Head Coach, Maco Balkovec on his excitment heading into the season; "There’s no better time of the year. There’s just something about the start of a hockey season. The anticipation and the excitement combined with the planning and expectations, there’s just nothing like it. Can’t wait to see our players excel on and off the ice. Let’s go!"
Maco Balkovec // Head Coach
Maco’s experience includes time with Bowling Green State University, Burnaby Winter Club, and The Canadian Sports School Hockey League amongst others. Maco comes from a teaching background that has been intertwined with coaching ever since he began his first teaching position 24 years ago. Through this experience he has developed a passion and ability to connect and inspire students, players, and peers. In his time with Burnaby Winter Club, Maco developed and implemented a plan for long term athlete development as well as establishing key contacts within the WHL, NCAA, BCHL, BC Hockey, and the CSSHL. During his time as Vice Chair of the CSSHL, Maco helped establish new policies and guidelines for league operations, assisted in the creation of the Education committee to standardize expectations in the classroom, as well as aided in the quest for expansion within the league that grew from 13 to 18 programs during his tenure.
Jason Richter // Assistant Coach
Jason Richter has spent the past 6 years playing for the University of Jamestown in North Dakota at the ACHA Div. 1 level. In his time at the University of Jamestown, Richter earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Sports Leadership. Before that, he spent 4 years playing for the Kimberley Dynamiters in the KIJHL where he won a league championship. Throughout his hockey career, he served as team captain for his final 2 years in Kimberley and all 6 years at the University of Jamestown. Entering the world of coaching has been a goal of Richter’s since the conclusion of his final season of college hockey. He is looking forward to giving back to the game of hockey, developing character, and building relationships with student-athletes at RHA Kelowna. Richter brings a strong work ethic, leadership experience, and dedication to the sport.
FEMALE U-18 PREP
Words from Female U-18 Prep Head Coach, Kris Hogg on the upcoming season; "On the female side we are looking forward to a lot of new faces to our lineup. After graduating a big class, we look to the future of young talent that fills our roster. We have many exciting and challenging tournaments and events that we are looking forward to attending to build these young women into college athletes"
Kris Hogg // Head Coach
Kris originally comes from Sicamous, BC. Kris started coaching on the Male side at Pursuit of Excellence in September 2015 coaching the Midget Varsity 16U Team before making the switch to coaching the POE Female Prep team in September of 2016. Kris played all his minor hockey with Sicamous before making the jump at age 16 to the WHL. He enjoyed a successful junior career with both the Kamloops Blazers and Lethbridge Hurricanes with highlights that include being a fourth-round draft pick to Calgary Flames in 2004 and finishing 4th in goals in the 06-07 season. Kris then moved on to play at Lakehead University before turning professional for the next 5 years. His professional career includes exhibition and regular season games in several leagues including the NHL, AHL, ECHL and European Leagues. During his playing career, Kris gained a passion for coaching through working with several minor hockey associations, Spring teams and hockey camps developing young hockey players for a future career in the sport. Kris is excited working for RINK to help provide life and hockey skills to develop not only talented players, but good people. While attending Lakehead University, Kris received his Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Human Resources/Industrial Relations. Kris also works with BC Hockey running skills development for the U16 and U18 Female Camps and is also a Head Skating Instructor at the Edge of Excellence Skating Camps. This season Kris will once again be taking on duties as Head Coach with our RHA Kelowna U18 Female Prep team.
Carla Goodwin // Assistant Coach
Born and raised in Fort St. James, British Columbia, Carla Goodwin joins the RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna for the 2022-23 season. Goodwin played and atteneded the renowned Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy before receiving a scholarship to play NCAA D1 hockey at Lindenwood – where she graduated with a bachelor’s in Therapeutic recreation. While coaching at Maryville University, Goodwin completed her Master’s in Strategic Communication and Leadership.