RED DEER – Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the coaching staff that will join Head Coach Serge Lajoie behind the bench for Team Alberta U16 Male at the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
Joining Lajoie are Assistant Coaches James Poole (Calgary) and Cody Reynolds (Sylvan Lake), along with Video Coach Derrick Martin (Edmonton) and Goaltending Coach Derek Purfield (Calgary).
“We are extremely excited for the 2023 Canada Winter Games, and to go through the entire process with such a talented staff,” said Michael Kraichy, Manager, Elite Male Hockey for Hockey Alberta. “The combined experience amongst these coaches is second-to-none, and we’re looking forward to seeing what this group can accomplish.”
Other members of the staff for Team Alberta U16 Male include: Athletic Therapist Paige Shannon (Calgary), Equipment Manager Dave Campbell (Grande Prairie), Head Scout Bobby Fox (Calgary), Coach Mentor Barry Medori (Spruce Grove) and Director of Operations Michael Kraichy (Red Deer).
| POSITION | NAME | HOMETOWN |
|---|---|---|
| Director of Hockey Operations | Michael Kraichy | Red Deer |
| Coach Mentor | Barry Medori | Spruce Grove |
| Head Scout | Bobby Fox | Calgary |
| Head Coach | Serge Lajoie | St. Albert |
| Assistant Coach | James Poole | Calgary |
| Assistant Coach | Cody Reynolds | Sylvan Lake |
| Video Coach | Derrick Martin | Edmonton |
| Goalie Coach | Derek Purfield | Calgary |
| Athletic Therapist | Paige Shannon | Calgary |
| Equipment Manager | Dave Campbell | Grande Prairie |
Lajoie – currently the Head Coach of the OHA Edmonton U18 Prep team – has a storied history in the Team Alberta program. He was an assistant coach with the Team Alberta Male squad that won the bronze medal at the 2011 Games in Halifax, and head coach of the gold medalist U16 male squad at the 2013 Western Canada Challenge Cup. He served as Head Coach for Team Alberta once again at the 2021 WHL Cup, earning a silver medal.
Poole is currently the U18 Prep Head Coach at the Edge School, a position he’s held since 2017. He previously served as the Head Coach and General Manager for the Okotoks Oilers from 2010-2016, and the Calgary Canucks from 2016-2017, both in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. This will be his second time with Team Alberta, having served as Video Coach for the 2021 WHL Cup in Red Deer.
Reynolds is currently an Assistant Coach with the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings men’s hockey team, a position he also held from 2016-2020, and returned to for the 2021-22 season after serving as Head Coach of the Red Deer U18 AAA Chiefs for the 2020-21 season. This will be Reynolds’ second time as Assistant Coach with Team Alberta, having been behind the bench at the 2019 WHL Cup in Calgary.
Martin is currently the U16 Prep Head Coach at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Edmonton, and Purfield is the goalie coach for the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
The 2023 Canada Winter Games run February 18 – March 5 in Prince Edward Island.