Schneider Looking Forward to Dream Opportunity
Published on September 9, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release
Regina, SK - Ken Schneider wanted to get back into coaching.
After a bit of time away from his lifelong pursuit, the 60-year-old from Colfax, Sask. was set to join the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Virden Oil Capitals this season, that is until Regina Pats General Manager John Paddock wanted the former Pats scout to join current head coach Dave Struch and assistant coach Brad Herauf on the bench.
"My plan was to go [to Virden] and be an assistant coach," added Schneider. "My good friend [Tyson Ramsey] was my assistant coach at the [Brandon Wheat Kings] U-18 program and now he's the Head Coach and GM there. Suddenly, about a week ago I was getting phone calls from John [Paddock] and one thing led to another and here I am.
"My passion is coaching...I always said if I couldn't be a player, I wanted to be a coach and be where the action is."
Schneider served as a scout for the Pats for three seasons (2015-2018), but brings over 40 years of hockey experience and over 30 years of coaching experience. After leading the Île-des-Chênes North Stars to an Allan Cup title in 2003, Schneider moved into minor hockey, coaching the Brandon Wheat Kings U-18 AAA program from 2010-2014, where he compiled a regular season record of 124-45-7. In the 2018-19 season, he returned to the Wheat Kings and led them to a provincial midget championship.
But it was his experience coaching senior men's AAA hockey that helped the Brandon Wheat Kings alumni jump start his coaching career. Ken's brother-in-law Kelly Glowa was being recruited to play or coach the Stars, where he declined and recommended Schneider.
"It was a great experience, as I coached a lot of minor hockey leading up to that. I was along for the ride and it turned out to be a great opportunity for me," Schneider said. "I had the chance to work with some professional people and we had an amazing team. The people of Île-des-Chênes and the management there were tireless workers and passionate about hockey. It was a great experience."
It was there that Schneider got to coach against former NHL stars Rick Vaive and Peter Zezel, beating Stony Plain in double-overtime of the Allan Cup final in North Dundas, Ontario. As a result of that win, Schneider's troops went to Nagano, Japan, to represent Canada at a small tournament in February of 2004.
"The caliber of hockey was really high. Stony Plain was an unbelievable team out of Alberta," Schneider recalled. "We managed to win out of Manitoba, went to Lloydminster and had a great week there and then went to the Allan Cup. It was the highlight of my hockey career as a coach."
Schneider's ties to the Regina Pats and the WHL go a lot further than just scouting. The newest addition to the Pats staff played in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings (1980-82), and his son Mark was traded to the Pats for his overage season in 2010 and later went on to play four seasons at the University of Regina.
"It's kind of funny how life works," smiled Schneider. "It was awesome for Mark. He went to university here, met his wife and now lives in Grand Coulee [just outside Regina], so for me to get this opportunity to be here is really cool."
The former president of the Wheat Kings alumni association began his junior hockey career with the SJHL's Weyburn Red Wings in the 1977-78 season as a 15-year-old. He went onto score back-to-back 30-goal seasons with the Red Wings before signing with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings for the 1980-81 season. He would score 20-goals in his rookie season before captaining the team in his overage season. Schneider then made the toughest decision of his career, leaving the Wheat Kings in the middle of the 1981-82 season so he could play with his younger brother Mark back in Weyburn.
"When I look back on that, it was a really difficult decision. I didn't sleep for many days, and I just didn't think that there was many opportunities for me," Schneider said. "It might be something I might regret in terms of hockey opportunities, but I'll never regret that I was going to go home to Weyburn to play with my younger brother. We lost in game seven of the league final to the Yorkton Terriers. Three of the seven games went to double-overtime, so it was that close."
He would go onto play two seasons with Brandon University, which helped Schneider.
"The CIS was a great experience. My first year we actually went to the national championship as we had an extremely good team. I don't think people really understand how good the CIS is. They are professional players playing college hockey."
This season, Schneider will handle forwards on the Pats' bench, adding intelligence and passion to an already savvy coaching staff.
Regina Pats season tickets are on sale NOW! Full season tickets, split season tickets, as well as front half and back half season tickets are all available. More ticket options will be available in the coming weeks.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 9, 2021
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- WHL Announces Rule Changes for 2021-22 Regular Season - WHL
- Calgary Hitmen Name Matt Stajan Assistant Coach - Calgary Hitmen
- Schneider Looking Forward to Dream Opportunity - Regina Pats
- Libor Hajek Signs 1-Year Deal with New York Rangers - Saskatoon Blades
- Oil Kings Issue Statement on Fan Access for Pre-Season Games - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels Announce Roster Moves - Red Deer Rebels
- ICE Announce 2021-22 Promotional Calendar - Winnipeg Ice
- New Rebels Forward Uchacz Lights It up in Black and White Game - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips Sign Defenseman Eric Jamieson to a WHL Standard Player Agreement - Everett Silvertips
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