Vandenberghe Joins Coaching Staff
August 19, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Brandon, Manitoba - Brandon Wheat Kings' coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon has announced that former defenceman Mike Vandenberghe has been hired as the Western Hockey League club's new Interim Assistant Coach.
A native of Reston, Vandenberghe's appointment comes two weeks after assistant coach Dwayne Gylywoychuk suffered a broken back in a serious fall at the Keystone Centre.
A member of the Wheat Kings from 1988 to '91,Vandenberghe spent the 2009-10 season as an assistant coach with the University of Regina Cougars. Before that, he spent five seasons as head coach of the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League after an 8-year professional hockey career.
Earler this year, he served as head coach of Team Western at this year's World Under 17 Challenge in Timmons, Ontario.
In Brandon, Vandenberghe joins Darren Ritchie on McCrimmon's coaching staff to start the 2010-11 campaign.
"Mike will help fill the void in Dwayne's absense," says McCrimmon. "As a former Wheat King, he will be a good fit with Darren and Dwayne...and as a former defenceman, he will fill an important role with our young defence."
The 38-year old Vandenberghe played 218 games in the WHL, including 156 in Brandon, scoring seven goals and 64 points while accumulating 437 penalty minutes. In addition to the Wheat Kings, he played with the Tigers in Medicine Hat.
In other Wheat King news, the club has announced that 19-year old Danish forward Mark Mieritz will be arriving in Brandon early next week, in preparation for Training Camp, scheduled to begin on September 1st.
The 5'11" 183 lb. Mieritz, the Wheat Kings' first round selection in this summer's CHL Import Draft, is cominb off back to back years with Frolunda of the Swedish Jr. League.
During the 2009-10 campaign, he scored six goals and 20 points in 34 games. At the World Junior Championship Division 1 Tournament this past winter, Mieritz had two goals and 7 points in leading Denmark to a Silver Medal.
Western Hockey League Stories from August 19, 2010
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- Vandenberghe Joins Coaching Staff - Brandon Wheat Kings
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