(Spruce Grove, AB) The Spruce Grove Saints are proud to announce the hiring of Bram Stephen as the team’s new Head Coach and Assistant General Manager.
Bram joins the program after leading the Grant MacEwan Griffins Men's hockey team for the past 5 seasons by compiling a regular season record of 21-6-1 and leading the program to its first ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) championship since 2004 by defeating the perennial powerhouse NAIT Ooks. Before his time as a Griffin, Stephen served as an assistant coach with the Drayton Valley Thunder from 2009-2011.
“I'm incredibly proud and excited to join the Saints organization and represent the community of Spruce Grove in coaching their AJHL hockey team. I'd like to thank Dan and Lindsey Leckelt, Ryan Smyth and Rob Sklaruk for the great opportunity. The organization has a fantastic reputation and tradition which we'll work tirelessly to uphold and push forward into the future.” remarked Stephen.
Stephen began his coaching career in 2005 with the Canadian Athletic Club. A member of various Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta elite programs which include Co-coach 2011 U-17 Team Pacific, Bram won gold at the Western Canada Challenge as head coach of the 2016 Alberta U-16 team and in 2015 as an assistant coach with a combined record of (8-0).
Team president Ryan Smyth stated “Bram Stephen has an incredible passion for coaching and developing players. His work ethic will be a shining example for our young players. We are thrilled to add a locally grown coach who knows and has worked with many elite players in the Edmonton area as well as Alberta. We have no doubt he will continue to uphold the winning culture of the Saints organization.”
His resume includes being an instructor with Francis Xavier High School hockey academy as well as the Coach Mentor for the Northern Alberta Xtreme in the CSSHL. Bram also was the Mount Carmel Hockey Academy Head Instructor in Edmonton, Alberta for five years (2009 to 2013), Vimy Ridge and Donnan Instructor, Edmonton, Alberta (2007 – 2008), as well as the Edmonton Oilers Summer Hockey Camp through Okanagan Hockey Schools.
GM Rob Sklaruk had this to say about his newly appointed bench boss. “Bram’s attention to detail, knowledge of the game and his commitment to developing players were the main reasons why we felt he was the right man to lead the Saints. His eagerness to entrench himself and his family within the parkland area aligned perfectly with our organizations commitment to promoting and growing local hockey players. We cannot wait to see where Bram takes us and feel fortunate to have him on board.”
Coach Stephen will begin his tenure immediately.
For More Information please contact:
Chad Hohmann – Director of Sales and Marketing
Spruce Grove Saints Jr. A Hockey Club
chohmann@silentice.com or 780-916-3446