Delta Hockey Academy

Delta Hockey Academy Director Ian Gallagher announced today that Scott May will be leaving his role as the Director of Business Operations and the Head Coach of the Female Prep team. Scott will be moving to Kelowna with his wife, Megan, and two young daughters where he will be taking on the General Manager position for the Okanagan Hockey Academy’s Penticton location.  

 

“I would like to personally thank Scott for his friendship and hard work over the past six years. I am grateful for his commitment to our development and I wish Scott and his family all the best,” said Gallagher.

 

Gallagher also announced that Owen Pighin, Director of Female Hockey and Head Coach of Female Varsity, will be stepping in as the new Director of Business Operations. Pighin will continue to lead the female program and serve as the Head Coach of the Female Varsity team. Pighin brings extensive experience to the business operations role with a professional background that includes over 12 years managing business operations for Shoppers Drug Mart and 13 years managing operations for Pharmasave Pacific. “I look forward to having Owen step into this role,” said Gallagher, “it will be a natural transition for Owen to apply his strong management skill set to a program that he has great passion and enthusiasm for.”

 

Gallagher confirmed that Kate Wheeler, Assistant Coach of the Female Prep team since its inception in 2017, will continue in her role on the bench as the assistant coach. Wheeler is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where she earned a full NCAA Division 1 athletic scholarship and served as an assistant captain from 2010 to 2012. After graduation, Wheeler played for the Neuberg Highlanders in the DEC League in Austria for the 2012/2013 season. She also played for Team Ontario in 2005 and was the captain of Team Ontario Blue in 2007. She played junior hockey for the Oakville JR Ice and the Toronto JR Aeros.

 

Wheeler will be joined by Development Coach Yogi Svejkovsky and Skating Coach Kris Beech as part of the female development program.

 

The Delta Hockey Academy is currently in negotiations with potential candidates for the Female Prep Head Coach position and plan to finalize the hire in the next few weeks.