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Wenatchee Wild

Wild Hockey Academy Names Lochten to 15O Coaching Position

April 9, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild and Wenatchee Wild Hockey Academy, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), are pleased to announce the hiring of Norm Lochten as the head coach of the program's new 15-Only team, announced in March as the first Tier I 15O program in the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association, and the state of Washington.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to be part of the Wenatchee Wild program," said Lochten. "I knew from the first time I spoke with Hockey Director Troy Mick, and felt his dedication and support, that this was a program I wanted to be a part of. I'm eager for tryouts and to get the 2024-25 season rolling."

A native of Spokane, Washington, Lochten brings a wide range of on-ice experience to the role. A Western Hockey League draft pick of the Seattle Thunderbirds, he also played for the Spokane Braves (KIJHL), Calgary Royals (AJHL) and Great Falls Americans (AWHL), before leading the Northern Pacific Hockey League's Liberty Lake Lightning to a division championship in 2001. After a stint as an official in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, he has spent the past decade as a coach at the AA and AAA levels, winning three state championships and a USA Hockey bronze medal.

"Norm has worked for many years with the weekend team model, and has had a lot of success," said Mick. "We are excited for him to be leading our first-ever Tier I 15O team, which will give us an automatic bid to the Pacific District tournament next year."

The Wenatchee Wild Hockey Academy will field four USA Hockey Tier I teams in the 2024-25 season, with all four programs eligible for USA Hockey's year-end district and national tournaments. The Academy's 16-and-under and 18-and-under teams are billeted programs and full members of the CSSHL, widely considered Canada's top education-based hockey league. The program's 14-and-under team is also a weekend program, which was invited to participate as a guest program in two of the league's Under-15 Varsity showcases and a U15 Prep showcase. The program also fielded a team that included only 2008-born players as it sought official 15O certification from USA Hockey and PNAHA.

Tryouts for the program's 2024-25 teams, including its 15O team, are scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Town Toyota Center and the adjacent Weinstein Beverage Rink.

The Wenatchee Wild Hockey Academy is excited to welcome Norm Lochten as the newest member of the Wild family, and look forward to his contributions as the first coach of its Tier I 15O program.

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