BROOKS, AB – The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are happy to announce that Colin Birkas (Kingston, ON) has joined the organization as Regional Scout.
Birkas joins the Bandits after a lengthy and successful Junior A coaching career with the Kingston Voyageurs of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), and the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL. In his time in the Junior A coaching ranks, he has helped move 21 players onto the NCAA Division I level.
“Colin is extremely well connected in Ontario and the Eastern U.S.,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou. “His ability to network with coaches is undeniable and has been evident in the teams he’s managed at the CJHL level. He joins us with a unique perspective having coached in the AJHL, OJHL and CCHL. He is familiar with our organization, league and the job it takes to recruit elite calibre players.”
“I’ve been a big fan of the organizational approach in Brooks, and I’m glad to become a part of it,” said Birkas. “I look forward to doing my utmost to help the team, and I’m especially happy to be able to stay in a league I very much enjoyed, while staying home close to family.”
Birkas will join existing scout Dave Chevrier covering the eastern Canada and USA regions for the team.
“His relationships in the NCAA will not only help us recruit, but will give our current players another strong voice advocating for the next step of their career,” Papaioannou added. “We are already well represented in Southern Ontario with Dave Chevrier and this addition gives us more of an eye to the east of Toronto.
“Colin will undoubtedly be a strong contributor to the team we are looking to build heading into next season’s RBC Cup here in Brooks.”