Friday 20 April 2018

Ghostriders 4/20 update hahah 4/20... ya whatever

The Fernie Ghostriders just announced that their Annual General Meeting will be on May 17th at 7:00 in the Fernie Community Centre.

At the AGM any interested fans can come out and see how the team did off the ice last season...  a little hint... it wasn’t very good.

The Ghostriders are a community owned team, that means at the AGM they will have to tell you how much they lost last season, it was around $60,000. But it may be more... there are still some bills to pay.

If you haven’t guessed it already, the Riders are near the edge of the financial cliff and if they don’t get some help and especially if the Fernie arena isn’t open for next season, they will be pushed off the edge.

The team also needs billet families advertisers and some more volunteers to help out on game-days. 

At the AGM there will be an election of officers. President, vice president, secretary, treasurer  and a board of directors. 

If you are interested in hearing about the health of the team all you have to do is show up and listen. If you want to vote on or run for any of the positions you will need a membership and they will be sold at the door for $20.00. 

You do not need a membership to attend the meeting, you can come out and just listen. 

Round’ The League

The Ghostriders ( Jeff Wagner ) were not the only team to make changes, here is what we know so far.

The Columbia Valley Rockies President Graeme Anderson and his wife Noelene will not be back next season.

Graeme Anderson ran the junior hockey team for six years with his wife Noelene who handles marketing and social media. I’m told they turned the team around financially so their departure will hurt the Rockies. Full story here


The Golden Rockets and Jason Stephens have parted ways and the Rockets have hired Jeremy Blumes as their new head coach and general manager. Full story on Blumes here

In Kamloops longtime head coach Ed Patterson says he will not be back next season. No reason was given and so far we have not heard if owner and GM Barry Dewar has hired anyone else for the job. 

In Spokane the  Braves announced  that Head Coach, Gary Redding, and General Manager/Assistant Coach, Nick Redding, will be moving on for the 2018-2019 season. Head Coach Gary Redding has accepted a head coaching position with the Coeur d'Alene Hockey Academy of the CSSHL and Nick Redding has accepted a position with the WHL Seattle Thunderbirds as Hockey Operations Coordinator. 
Nice to see these two get a chance at another level. 

Spokane then announced that Mike Bay will be back coaching the team next season.

And finally the big shock in the KIJHL was in Osoyoos where Ken Law was fired, or not re-signed, Im not sure. Law has been there for the last 8 seasons.  Read that here 

The Coyotes have been one of the premier franchises (won the KIJHL championship in 2011) and were always in the mix for first place since rejoining the KIJHL after winning a Championship in 2005 with owner Barry Dewar (who then moved the Storm to Kamloops). Osoyoos took a 4 year absence after that then Randy Bedard brought the Coyotes to Osoyoos. 

CAMPS and RECRUITING  INFO HERE

Saturday 14 April 2018

Rider Jr Camps

 Well new Rider GM Jeff Wagner sure ain’t wasting any time getting started.

The Fernie Ghostriders are excited to announced that they have partnered with the Creston Valley Thunder Cats and the Okotoks Bisons for a Junior Prep Showcase that will be held on May 11-13, 2018 in Edmonton, Alberta.
Registration for camp is now open. For more information, please email wagner.ghostriders@gmail.com, or click HERE to be redirected to the registration page. If it is your first camp with either team, you will need to take 5 minutes to create an account.
The camp is open to all players born between 1998 and 2003. It will include four games and an exit interview with Ghostriders, Thunder Cats and Bisons coaches. The cost of the camp is $175 for skaters and $200 for goalies.
All ice times will take place at the Clareview Recreation Center in Edmonton, AB.
“I’m very excited to continue working with both the Thunder Cats and the Bisons to present a camp for Northern Alberta players.” Says Ghostriders Head Coach and General Manager, Jeff Wagner. “Alberta has always provided a solid foundation for recruiting, especially in our division. Teaming up with the Thunder Cats for this camp has the potential to provide each player with multiple Junior options, where most camps would only provide the option of the hosting team”
For the 2018/19 season, Alberta residents born in 2000 or earlier are eligible to play junior hockey in British Columbia. Younger players who are interested in being evaluated by junior-level coaches for future seasons are also welcome.
For more information on the Ghostriders Junior Prep Showcase, click HERE. To register, click HERE
______________________________________________________________________________
The Fernie Ghostriders are excited to announced that they have partnered with the Creston Valley Thunder Cats and the Okotoks Bisons for a Junior Prep Showcase that will be held on May 18-20, 2018 in Calgary, Alberta.
Registration for camp is now open. For more information, please email wagner.ghostriders@gmail.com, or click HERE to be redirected to the registration page. If it is your first camp with either team, you will need to take 5 minutes to create an account.
The camp is open to all players born between 1998 and 2003. It will include four games and an exit interview with Ghostriders, Thunder Cats and Bisons coaches. The cost of the camp is $175 for skaters and $200 for goalies.
All ice times will take place at the TRICO Centre in Calgary, AB.
“I’m looking forward to partnering with the Thunder Cats and the Bisons for our Junior Prep Showcase in Calgary.” Says Ghostriders Head Coach and General Manager, Jeff Wagner. “Alberta has always provided a solid foundation for recruiting, especially in our division. Teaming up with the Thunder Cats for this camp has the potential to provide each player with multiple Junior options, where most camps would only provide the option of the hosting team”
For the 2018/19 season, Alberta residents born in 2000 or earlier are eligible to play junior hockey in British Columbia. Younger players who are interested in being evaluated by junior-level coaches for future seasons are also welcome.
For more information on the Ghostriders Junior Prep Showcase, click HERE. To register, click HERE

Thursday 12 April 2018

Ghostriders hire a new Head Coach and General Manager



The Ghostriders search for a Head Coach and General Manager is over now and Jeff Wagner is the guy... he was selected from about 20 applicants.

Sounds like the team is in good hands.

Press release...eerily similar to this story 

Wagner was in Creston last season but Rider fans have probably never heard of him and that’s mostly because the KIJHL does not actively promote their coaches. If I had my way when you went to the KI site and clicked on a team’s stats, all the players along with the coaching and training staff would be listed. I just don’t get it...

Anyway... Wagner was with the Creston Valley Thunder Cats for the last two seasons, first as an assistant coach then last year he was an associate coach and assistant general manager.

Jeff started his coaching career in Calgary a few years ago as an assistant coach with the AA Calgary North Stars then moved up to become the Head Coach of CBHA Blackhawks in the Calgary Buffaloes Hockey Association. 

Jeff also doubled as Creston’s Southern Alberta scout during the 2015-16 season and if you remember Creston was loaded with talent that Wagner helped bring to Creston when they were hosting the Cyclone Taylor Cup two years ago.

Jeff is 28 years old and from Calgary where he has recruited several players, so he should have a good read on many of the the upcoming players that end up in the KIJHL in the next few months.

When Jeff was in Creston he coached with former Thunder Cat Head Coach and GM Jeff Dubois. So I asked Dubois, who is now coaching in the Jr A BCHL with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs about Wagner.

Jeff Dubois
"Jeff has all the qualities to be a tremendous Head Coach in the KIJHL and lead a winning program. He’s a very hard worker who will put everything into the job."

"Jeff is an excellent recruiter who develops genuine relationships with players and earns their trust and respect. He was a huge part of our success in Creston when we hosted the Cyclone Taylor Cup and I think he’s a great choice to run his own team!"

I also asked Lee Stone who is the HC and GM of the Campbell River Storm, they are perennial VIJHL Jr B Champions and will be playing in the Cyclone Taylor Cup this weekend.

Lee Stone

"I got to know ‘Wags’ while he was working with Jeff Dubois in Creston Valley during the 2016-2017 season. Seeing his effort to produce a top flight Cyclone Taylor Cup tournament showed me that he was willing to do whatever it took. His Alberta connections will fit in perfectly in Fernie in an area where cornering the market in Alberta prospects is so key
Above and beyond everything he brings the organization on the ice, off the ice he is just a really good guy. Wants to do good by the kids, see them succeed. I know I wish him the best of luck and hope to see him take the program to high levels of success.

And finally... Kimberley, Delta, Campbell River and the host team Richmond are all in the Cyclone Taylor Cup this weekend. Im told this year’s tournament will feature some of the best teams this tournament has seen in a while.