Calgary, Alberta – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is pleased to announce the appointment of the head coaches for next month’s CJHL Prospects Game. James Richmond of the Aurora Tigers (Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL)) will lead Team East, while Paul Dyck of the Steinbach Pistons (Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL)) will lead Team West at the CJHL Prospects Games on January 20th in Oakville, Ont.
“On behalf of the Aurora Tigers Jr. A Hockey Club, the OJHL and my family I am honoured to be named head coach of Team East for the upcoming Prospects Game in Oakville, Ont. I look forward to working with some of the best young players in Canada and hope I can make this a memorable experience for them. Finally, I'd like to thank the CJHL for this opportunity and congratulate all the players that get selected to play in this event,” said James Richmond, head coach of Team East.
The 50-year old native from Mississauga, Ont. now resides in Oak Ridges and has coached the Aurora Tigers for the past 4 seasons after having previously coached the Georgetown Raiders (OJHL) from 2005-06 to 2009-10. He is having another great season as his club is currently ranked 4th in the country in the Pointstreak CJHL Top 20 Weekly Rankings. Last season he was named the OJHL and Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 38-12-3 record, which was a franchise best. He was named the OJHL MacKinnon Division's Coach of the Year in 2008-09 after leading his club to the OJHL regular season title. After playing Junior B for the famed Henry Carr Crusaders (now Orangeville Flyers), Richmond spent 4 seasons playing NCAA Division I hockey with the University of New Hampshire Wildcats before turning professional in Europe. Richmond also works with the NHL's Los Angeles Kings in a player development role, spending time working with the club's younger players and prospects.
“I am honoured and grateful to have been given this opportunity. I am truly excited to be a part the CJHL Prospects Game and to be working with some of the elite Junior A players in our country,” said Paul Dyck, head coach of Team West.
Paul Dyck has been with the Steinbach Pistons of the MJHL for the past 4 seasons. For the past 2 and half seasons he has been the head coach and general manager. During the 2012-13 season, he guided the Pistons to a 5th place regular season finish and won the MJHL championship, all while finishing as runner up for MJHL Coach of the Year. In 2013-14, he finished 2nd in the regular season and lost in the MJHL semi-finals. Currently, his club is ranked 18th in the country in the Pointstreak CJHL Weekly Top 20 Rankings. Dyck, who was born in Steinbach, has an extensive hockey playing career playing in the MJHL, CHL, IHL and the DEL in Germany. He was drafted by the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. He won the IHL’s Turner Cup in 1998-99, as well as the DEL Championship in 2002-03. Dyck attended several NHL training camps in including the Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.
The CJHL Prospects Game was created to showcase 40 of the top NHL prospects in the CJHL. The CJHL Prospects Game features players from the CJHL's five western leagues competing against players from the CJHL's five eastern leagues. The winner of the game will hoist the President's Cup, which is awarded annually to the winning team.
Rosters for the CJHL Prospects teams will be announced in early January 2015. The player selection for the annual CJHL Prospects Game is a joint initiative between the CJHL and NHL Central Scouting.
The CJHL Prospects Game will be played on Tuesday, January 20th at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, ON at 7:45PM. Tickets to the CJHL Prospects Game in Oakville, Ont., are on sale at Puckz Pub in the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, at all Oakville Blades home games as well as online at www.oakvilleblades.com.