Wenatchee Wild Under 18 team names Ryan McKelvie Head Coach, Director of Hockey Operations
Published on May 23, 2014 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Wenatchee, WA. - The Wenatchee Wild organization have made it official today that Ryan McKelvie will be its Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for our youth team (U18). The team will play in the NPHL a Tier 3 league in the Pacific Northwest. The Wenatchee Wild will continue to play in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The Wild hope that this U18 team will turn into a feeder team for the Wild and a great place to have our affiliated players spend a year or two. The team will be run as an Elite AAA midget program. The team name has not yet been decided. If you want input on the name the team contest please go to the Wild website. www.wenatcheewild.com
McKelvie comes to Wenatchee after a very successful four year stint into college hockey. The last three years Ryan has lead Lake Forest College, as their Head Coach. McKelvie led the Forester men's hockey program to a 10-game improvement over the last two seasons and the program's best overall record in 10 years. Lake Forest finished 15-12-1 overall and posted a 11-7-0 mark in NCHA play this past season, the squad's best conference record since the '92-'93 season. In addition to receiving votes for the top 15 in both major DIII men's hockey polls at the end of the regular season.
Fellow conference coaches selected McKelvie as the 2013-14 NCHA Coach of the Year. "Ryan did a fantastic job revitalizing our men's hockey program," notes Lake Forest College Director of Athletics Jackie Slaats. "He was also a team player within our department and will be greatly missed."
McKelvie served for one season as an assistant coach at the University of Anchorage-Alaska. The University of Alaska Anchorage plays in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). The WCHA is one of the best division one college hockey leagues in the country. The 2010-11 Sea Wolves posted their best Western Collegiate Hockey Association record since joining the league in 1993. He was the team's recruiting coordinator and academic advisor and assisted the Head Coach in nearly every aspect of the program.
McKelvie is not new to Wenatchee as he spent the previous two years as the Associate Head Coach of the expansion Wenatchee Wild in the North American Hockey League. The Wild were 92-33-7 in his two seasons. His responsibilities spanned all facets of the program, which was directed by Paul Baxter.
"We are excited to have Ryan lead our Under 18 team heading into our firs t year in the NPHL. I think kids at this level will be getting a very experienced coach with many connections in the hockey world be it Junior hockey in the NAHL, USHL, BCHL, Tier 3 or college hockey division one or three Ryan will have the connections to help get the player to the next level," said David White the Wenatchee Wild owner.
"My wife Megan and I could not be more thrilled to be moving back to Wenatchee, I am incredible excited for the chance to impact the game in the Pacific Northwest by starting an Elite under 18 team. I hope to use my background at the NCAA level to help players on and off the ice in these crucial
development years of their lives. I would like to thank David and Lisa White along with Bliss Littler and the entire Wild organization for providing me with this opportunity."
Ryan's first order of business will be to recruit a team of 16, 17, and 18 year olds. The teams first tryout camp will be June 21, 22 in Wenatchee WA at the Town Toyota Center. Players can register now on the Wenatchee Wild website. Ryan will be naming an assistant coach in the near future.
The team will be run out of the Wenatchee Wilds office at the Town Toyota Center and overseen by the Wilds GM, Head Coach Bliss Littler.
"As an organization we could not be more excited to have Ryan as our Head Coach of our U 18 team. I have known Ryan the last six years and have always been impressed by his professionalism and work ethic. I think that Ryan will turn this program into a destination for the top midget aged players in the Pacific Northwest."
North American Hockey League Stories from May 23, 2014
- Wenatchee Wild Under 18 team names Ryan McKelvie Head Coach, Director of Hockey Operations - Wenatchee Wild
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