Press Release: Delta Hockey Academy announces departure of Female Varsity assistant coach Jenn Gilligan

Press Release: Delta Hockey Academy announces departure of Female Varsity assistant coach Jenn Gilligan

Delta Hockey Academy Director of Female Hockey and Business Operations, Owen Pighin, announced today that Jenn Gilligan will be stepping down from her position as assistant coach of the Female Varsity team to pursue a full time assistant coaching role with the Port Moody Panthers Junior B hockey club.

“We are so excited for Jenn and her new opportunity with the Panthers,” said Pighin. “I personally am very thankful for Jenn’s support over the years and wish her all the best in this next step of her career.”

Gilligan graduated from NCAA DI Syracuse University in 2016 wrapping up her competitive playing career as the starting goaltender for the Syracuse Orange where she earned an impressive .902 save percentage in her senior year. She served as an assistant coach for the Female Varsity team at the Delta Hockey Academy for three seasons, sharing her knowledge of the game with young female players and dedicating additional time to goaltender development.

Gilligan will start her new role with the Port Moody Panthers in August.

July 2, 2019

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Sign up today for the Delta Wild Hockey Group Elementary Skills Program

Our coaching staff is excited to announce the start of the Delta Wild Hockey Group Elementary Skills Program. This will be a weekly program to help develop fundamental skills for players who have the ambition to improve and increase their ability in the hockey world. All ice sessions will be at the Delta Hockey Academy training facility at Planet Ice, Delta. The players will have the opportunity to be coached by the Delta Hockey Group coaches as well as specialty coaches.

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1st Annual Craig Cunningham Pro Camp: Day 1

The 1st annual All Heart Pre-Season Pro Camp has begun. Proceeds are going towards the Craig Cunningham All Heart Foundation, a foundation in which Craig is working with top doctors in the world to try to predict and prevent sudden cardiac arrest.

Day 1 of the camp consisted of 32 pro players preparing for their season. Newell Brown, Yogi Svejkovsky and Derek Popke are running the sessions. Midget Prep coaches Spencer Bennett and Kris Beech are assisting in the week camp.

The camp begins again tomorrow at 12:30pm. Spectators are welcome!

 

 

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DHA is extremely proud and congratulates alum Lukas Svejkovsky on signing a Western Hockey League Standard Player Agreement with the Vancouver Giants for the 2018-2019 campaign.

The five-foot-nine forward was drafted by the Giants in the second round, 36th overall, at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

Good luck in the upcoming season with the Giants Lukas! #wild pride

http://www.csshl.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4542&leagueID=15269&page=104698

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DHA announces new roles within female program and male Midget Prep AC

Delta B.C. – The Delta Hockey Academy (DHA) are excited to announce new roles within the Hockey Operations team, including a Director of Female Hockey, a new position within their organization, which will be filled by Owen Pighin.

Scott May will take over as the Head Coach of the Female Prep team, Brittany Kirby has joined the coaching staff as an Assistant Coach for the Female Varsity team and Kris Beech has been named an Assistant Coach with the male Midget Prep team.

Pighin has spent the last two seasons as Head Coach of the DHA Female Varsity program and was a key member in the inaugural 2016-17 Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) Championship season.

The Tsawwassen, B.C. product has had a long coaching career of 35-plus years in both the male and female game. He was a key contributor to the start up of the Female Steelers program and was heavily involved in the development and female program at the North Shore Winter Club in the early 2000’s.

Pighn will continue to serve as the Head Coach of the Female Varsity team while overseeing both the Female Varsity and Female Prep student athlete personnel in recruiting and post-secondary opportunities.

“We are fortunate to have someone like Owen guide and support all of our female student-athletes with his enthusiasm, passion and respect for the game and athlete,” said Ian Gallagher, Director of the Delta Hockey Academy.

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May, currently Director of Hockey & Business Operations at Delta Hockey Academy will step into the role of Head Coach for the Female Prep team.

May has coached the Male Midget Prep team since DHA’s inaugural 2013-14 season in the CSSHL. Highlighted by a CSSHL Championship in 2015-16, May looks for a new experience and challenge in the Female game.

Before coaching, May had a playing career that took him to The Ohio State University (NCAA) where he was selected in the seventh round, 222nd overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2002 NHL Draft. After his collegiate career, the White Rock, B.C. product went on to play eight seasons professionally at the AHL, ECHL and European levels.

“I am excited for the new opportunity and the change to work with the female student-athletes in our program,” said May. “I look forward to continue to help grow and strengthen our female program, working alongside our other female coaches.”

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Kirby enjoyed a lengthy playing career that was highlighted by her time with the Pacific Steelers from 2003 to 2007 and then moving on to University of Toronto from 2009 to 2014.

Most recently, Kirby has spent time with minor hockey programs in both Toronto and Winnipeg teaching skills development as well as serving as an Assistant Coach with Team Winnipeg in the most recent Manitoba Winter Games.

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Beech will join DHA in a full coaching capacity for the 2018-19 season with the Midget Prep team. He was with DHA last season in a mentorship and mental training role, while also assisting on the ice for practices.

The Salmon Arm, B.C. product had an extensive 16-year pro career, after being drafted in the first round, seventh overall, by the Washington Capitals at the 1999 NHL Draft. He played with Washington, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Columbus and Vancouver before playing in Europe for eight years to end his career in 2016.

“We are looking forward to having Kris continue in a larger role within our program,” said Gallagher. “We pride ourselves on having an experienced and professional coaching staff and adding Kris in a full-time position adds to the depth we already have in place.”

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DHA Alumni Selected in the 2018 NHL Draft

DHA is extremely proud and congratulates alumni Ty Smith and Ty Taylor on being selected 17th and 214th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Ty Smith, 18, was selected in Round 1, 17th overall by the New Jersey Devils.Smith attended the Delta Hockey Academy during the 2014-15 season, leading the CSSHL’s Bantam Prep Division in scoring with 28 points (9-16-28) in 16 games en route to being named the Bantam Prep Division MVP.

The Lloydminster, Alta. product also registered seven points (3-4-7) in four post-season games.

Smith has spent the past two seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Spokane Chiefs, tallying 107 points (19-88-107) in 137 career games. He was named the 2018 WHL Scholastic Player of the Year.

Ty Taylor, 18, was selected Round 7, 214th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Taylor attended the Delta Hockey Academy during the 2015-16 season where he helped his team capture the CSSHL’s Midget Prep Championship posting a division-best 1.46 goals-against average and a league-best .943 save-percentage.

The Richmond, B.C. product has spent the past two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Vernon Vipers. During the 2017-18 season he led the BCHL in goals-against average (1.87), save-percentage (.943), while being named the BCHL Top Goaltender and to the BCHL First All-Star Team.

Taylor will attend and play NCAA hockey at the University of New Hampshire beginning in 2019.

DHA wishes to congratulate Ty Smith, Ty Taylor and 4 other CSSHL Alumni, including Jacob Bernard-Docker (Edge), Joel Hofer (POE), Angus Crookshank (BWC), and Matthew Thiessen (Rink) on being selected in the 2018 NHL Draft.

http://www.csshl.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4542&leagueID=15269&page=104424

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Smythe signs with Portland Winterhawks


DHA is extremely proud and congratulates Kurtis Smythe on signing a Standard Player Agreement with the Portland Winterhawks.

Smythe, a 3 year DHA defenseman who posted 13 points (4-9-13) with the Midget Prep team this season was acquired by the Winterhawks in a trade after being drafted 42nd overall in 2017 by the Saskatoon Blades.

Best of luck Kurtis!  #wildpride

http://www.csshl.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4542&leagueID=15269&page=104320

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