The Drayton Valley Thunder proudly announce that Sean Brown and Jeff Shantz have been hired as the Club’s new Coaches & General Managers, effective immediately. Sean and Jeff will share these roles, with Jeff serving as Head Coach.
These highly accomplished men both come to the Thunder with extensive and successful hockey backgrounds. Each of them played professionally in the NHL and also in Europe. Sean is an Oilers alumnus who helped coach the Edmonton Oil Kings to a Memorial Cup Championship and now operates a flourishing hockey development business known as Breakout Hockey.
Jeff is a former Flame who has served as Prep head coach and been instrumental in revitalizing the elite hockey program at Edge Academy in Calgary, which has in recent years produced several top Junior A, WHL, NCAA, and even NHL prospects. Jeff has also operated his own hockey development company, known as Edge Boss Hockey. Jeff has small town Southern AB roots and is excited about becoming part of Drayton Valley, meeting our staff, volunteers, and sponsors, as well as getting to know our incredible fan base.
Sean was an informal consultant with the Thunder last season and has conducted a thorough review of every aspect of our organization over the past few weeks while serving as interim coach and GM.
This hiring brings two exceptional people into the Thunder family who share a new and inspiring vision for the team’s future, while also maintaining continuity within the organization and a close connection to the Drayton Valley community. Sean and Jeff are committed to helping our players and our hockey club reach new levels of growth and achievement. We therefore urge our fan base to begin to look forward with great anticipation to an exciting and successful 2022-23 Thunder season under the joint leadership of Sean Brown and Jeff Shantz.