BCEHL ANNOUNCES GENERAL MANAGERS FOR 2022-23 SEASON

Trevor Sprague will oversee both the Integrated and Female U18 AAA teams in Northern B.C. Sprague has been involved in hockey in the north for over 30 years and has spent the last 15 years working with teams in the BCEHL. He is entering his seventh season as the general manager of the Cariboo Cougars and third as the general manager of the Northern Capitals. Sprague coached in Prince George for over 20 years before moving to the management side of the game.   

During his coaching and management career Sprague has won two provincial titles with the Cariboo Cougars’ U18 AAA team. Sprague is also a key driver behind the annual BC Hockey Winter Classic event that is held in Northern B.C. each winter. 

Alain Wozney will oversee both an Integrated and Female U18 AAA team. Wozney is entering his 10th season working in the BCEHL and his 9th with the Fraser Valley Rush program, serving as the program’s general manager since the 2014-15 season. He will also take on the role of general manager with the Greater Vancouver Canadians program for his second season. He last oversaw the Canadians in this role during the 2013-14 season. Wozney has over 40 years of experience working and playing in the minor hockey system in B.C.  

Wozney played his minor hockey with Burnaby Winter Club before progressing to Junior A and playing with the Burnaby Bluehawks. He then attended the Memorial University of Newfoundland, studying Psychology and Humanities. He is now self-employed and works in hockey management.

Darrin Ponak is entering his 11th season as the general manager of the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds, joining the program in 2012. The Abbotsford native previously held the role of Pee Wee director with Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association for four seasons from 2008-2012. 

Ponak obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education/Geography from Trinity Western University while also playing for their men’s hockey team. He later obtained both his Bachelor of Education and Diploma in Special Education from the University of British Columbia and his Master’s in Administration from San Diego State University. He currently works as a teacher in the Lower Mainland.

Shannon Morris-Reade has taken on the role of general manager for the 2022-23 season after spending the previous three seasons behind the bench of the Greater Vancouver Comets’ program as an assistant coach.  

Morris-Reade, who calls Port Coquitlam home, earned her Bachelor of Sciences degree at Lindenwood University where she also played for the school’s Division 1 women’s hockey program. She works full-time as a Cardiology Technologist.  

Lance Vaillancourt is entering his first season as general manager of the North Island Silvertips program. Previously, Vaillancourt was the Associate Coach & Hockey Operations Manager for the South Zone Knights U18 Tier 1 team. He has also performed various coaching roles with Penticton Minor Hockey at all levels within the association. Vaillancourt brings over 35 years of experience within minor hockey to the Silvertips.  

In addition to his work within minor hockey in B.C., Vaillancourt was also a linesman within BC Hockey and worked as a linesman in the BCHL. Away from the rink he works as a civil servant with the Federal Government.

Steve Smith is embarking on his first season as a general manager in the BCEHL. Smith also serves as the Executive Director of Kelowna Minor Hockey Association, a role he has held since 2017. Prior to this he was the Division Director for Kelowna Minor Hockey Association from 2010-17, and a coach in the association from 2008-17 as well.  

The Kelowna native has compiled over 17 years of experience working in minor hockey in Kelowna.

Erin West is entering her third season as a part of the BCEHL and first as the general manager of the Thompson-Okanagan Lakers. The Salmon Arm native has compiled over 16 years of experience volunteering within various hockey associations in various roles including as a team manager, safety person and risk manager. 

West has earned a Business Administration Diploma, Bookkeeping Certification from Okanagan University College and a Personal Financial Services Advice certification from the Canadian Securities Institute. She is a full-time financial advisor. 

Jamie Fiset is entering his fifth year in the BCEHL as general manager with the Valley West Giants and brings an additional eight years of experience working in minor hockey previously. He has been involved with BC Hockey’s Program of Excellence including as the head coach of Team BC at the 2016 WHL Cup.  

Fiset was a board member with Langley Minor Hockey Association from 2010-14. Away from the rink Fiset is a teacher, he completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at the University of British Columbia before earning his Master of Arts at Royal Roads University. 

Katrina Hawkins is entering her first season as a general manger in the BCEHL as she takes the reigns of the Vancouver Island Seals. Hawkins comes to the Seals after spending last season as the head coach of the North Island Impact Female U18 A team. She brings over five years of experience working throughout female hockey where she has held positions with Powell River Female Hockey and the Nanaimo Islanders Female Hockey Association, where she still serves as President of the Board of Directors.  

Greg Harding is entering his sixth season with the Vancouver NE Chiefs program and his fourth as the general manager of the program. The Surrey, B.C. native has been involved in minor hockey for 20 years, previously assuming roles with the Richmond Sockeyes of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and Langley Minor Hockey Association.  

Matt Samson joins the Vancouver NW Hawks with over 10 years of coaching and management experience in minor and junior hockey. He most recently worked as the head coach and general manager of the North Vancouver Wolf Pack of the PJHL from 2018-22. During that time span he also worked as the head coach of the Squamish A1 U13 team.