RED DEER - Hockey Alberta’s March Coaches of the Month, sponsored by Players Bench Team Apparel, are Dave Eggleston of Stettler and Mike Lees of KC St. Matthew in Edmonton.
Both coaches were selected from all of the Coach of the Month applications received by Hockey Alberta throughout the 2019-20 Minor Hockey season. Dave and Mike will receive a coach prize pack courtesy of Players Bench, along with a pair of tickets to see the Calgary Flames or Edmonton Oilers, once the NHL resumes play.
Dave Eggleston is an assistant coach with the Stettler Storm Mites, Atom Female, and Peewee Female teams. He has been coaching for two years and also coaches minor female softball and tyke lacrosse during the summer months.
"Dave is one of those coaches that every team needs. He only started coaching in the last couple of years, but he has jumped in with both feet and doesn’t miss a single ice session," said the fellow coach who nominated Dave. "His commitment is second to none, but that isn’t even the biggest reason why he deserves this award. Dave’s positive attitude with all the players at each level is just amazing. Win, lose, or draw, Dave was always encouraging the players and putting smiles on their face regardless of the situation."
Dave says that his favourite part of coaching is creating bonds with the kids throughout the course of the season. To him, it’s not so much about winning as it is having fun. He enjoys laughing and joking with the players and showing his support for them, no matter what is happening on the ice.
"My coaching philosophy is to lead by example," said Dave. "If I ask something of them, on or off the ice, I want to show that I can do it too."
Mike Lees is the Head Coach of the KC St. Matthew Thunder Novice team and was an assistant with their Timbits program. This past season was his ninth year of coaching hockey in Edmonton. He has also coached little league softball, volleyball, and soccer in previous years.
"Coach Mike has been an amazing coach this entire season; it has been awesome to watch the team’s skills take off," said the parent who nominated Mike. "He makes practices so fun that the kids probably don’t even realize the skills that they are learning."
It was a particularly tough season for the Novice Thunder off the ice, as one of their team members, Nate, passed away.
"While Nate was sick, Coach Mike (and his wife Kristina) encouraged the whole team to come together. He also encouraged those who were able to attend the funeral, where they attended as a team and Coach Mike spoke."
"As Head Coach for the KC St. Matthew Thunder Novice team, Mike Lees went above and beyond what could have been expected. Mike made a difference for every player on this team. He navigated the difficult circumstances this team encountered with class and compassion," said KC St. Matthew President Andrew Westervelt.
Mike enjoys building the lasting relationships with the players that are created through coaching. He likes to build confidence in the athletes and help them see themselves in a positive light, where every member of the team has value, regardless of strengths and weaknesses.
"My personal coaching philosophy is that if you give your athletes respect and treat them each as important players, essential to achieving a common goal, your athletes will give you everything in return," said Mike. "I take time to go around the room and have a brief personal interaction with each athlete. This interaction lets each player know that their presence is important to me and that I am interested in them. In turn, when we step on the ice, each player is personally engaged in the lessons we implement as a coaching staff."
The Coach of the Month award is presented every month during the Minor Hockey season, based on nominations submitted to Hockey Alberta.
2019-20 Recipients >
Tosha is the trainer for the Red Deer Junior B Vipers, a position she’s held since 2016, having previously been the volunteer coordinator for the team. She has been a volunteer coach for the Red Deer City Soccer Association since she was 16 years old.
Pete and Crystal Swales are both longtime volunteers in Central Alberta, and currently volunteer with the Red Deer Senior AA Rustlers. Pete has been the team’s trainer since its inception a little over two years ago, with Crystal helping out in various roles during games and practices.
Tom has been coaching hockey in Lethbridge for eight years, at every level from Peewee AA to Midget AAA. He also currently is the Lethbridge Hurricane’s assistant video coach.
Darren is a long-time hockey coach in Edmonton, and also coaches lacrosse and baseball. He’s also volunteered as an assistant coach in lacrosse, and as an player evaluator during hockey evaluations.
Kevin has held numerous volunteer positions in the Grande Prairie area, including coaching minor hockey and minor baseball, and has been a minor hockey board member since 2016.
Janet is a long-time volunteer with Hockey Alberta as the Zone 1 Minor Administration Coordinator and Minor Administration Chair. Her long list of volunteer roles in hockey also includes coaching female hockey with the Grimshaw Minor Hockey Assoications, numerous team manager positions, registrar for Grimshaw MHA, and the manager and registrar for the Grimshaw Huskies Senior Men’s team. She also has been a member of the Arctic Winter Games Mission Staff since 2012.
Lesley holds a number of volunteer roles within her Southern Alberta community, most notably as a founding director of the University of Lethbridge Women’s Hockey Alumni Foundation.
Kayne currently sits on the Sylvan Lake Minor Hockey Association Board of Directors as the Initiation Director, where he started the Learn To Play and Junior Coach programs.
Julie is currently Hockey Alberta’s Minor Female Chair, a position she’s held for four years, and is the Senior Midget Governor for NAI. She’s previously held the position of Vice President and President of the Ponoka Minor Hockey Association, and the Governor for the North Central.
Scott has given his time to the sport for 12 years as a coach, board member and director with Hockey Calgary, as well as the First Shift Program and the Calgary Flames Learn to Play Program.
Bernie Vanderham is a volunteer coach with the Innisfail Timbit Eaglet program for four year-olds, a position he’s held for 14 years. Bernie has had the opportunity to coach the program alongside his son Logan, who was just 15 years old when he began coaching.
Keith Hurd has been an active volunteer since 2007, including over 10 years with the Team Alberta program as a Director of Operations at the Alberta Cup, and Camp Coordinator at the Team Alberta U16 Summer Development Camp.
