BOBIHC - Coaches

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Coaching Staff

Paul Heavey (Head Coach)

Paul has won many honours in the British game winning every championship of the modern era both as a player and a coach. He has over 12 years experience as a professional Head Coach with teams including the Cardiff Devils, Scottish Eagles, Manchester Phoenix and Sheffield Steelers. He has also been a coach with the GB National team both at Junior and Senior levels and has represented his country at several world championships and training camps. ‘Heaves’ is a real student of the game and is always on the look out for new ideas for the camps and attends coaching seminars and clinics whenever he can in order to develop his knowledge. He brings tremendous enthusiasm and experience and it is these attributes that ensure Best of British will always provide a quality product.

Jonathan Weaver (Coventry Blaze EIHL & Captain GB Snr National Team)

Jonathan is a product of the old but very successful Durham Junior Development programme which has produced many great home grown players and he is a perfect example of home grown talent making it to the very top in professional ice hockey. Having recently signed for Coventry Blaze after spending 3 seasons with his hometown Newcastle Vipers where he captained the side to the Elite League Playoff Title in 2006. Jonathan has also iced for Fife, Manchester, Ayr and Hull as well as a stint in North America with the Detroit Vipers and Mississippi Sea Wolves. ‘Weaves’ is a current and now veteran member of the Gb national team having represented his country at several world championships. He has won many honours and coached at many hockey schools in the UK and has always been a favourite with the participants, parent and coaches alike since coaching at the inaugural Best of British Camp.

Brent Pope (GM Cardif Devils EIHL)

Brent hails from Hamilton, Ontario and played his junior career in the OHL. He spent the early part of his pro career in the highly respected North American minor leagues with teams in the AHL and ECHL. ‘Poper’ was recruited by Paul Heavey and the Cardiff Devils in 1996 and was a major factor in that team winning the 1996/97 Superleague and 1997/98 Playoff Championship. Brent has played for several UK pro teams including Nottingham, Basingstoke, and London and helped the Sheffield Scimitars secure a playoff spot in the EPL Championship in only their first season where he was player/assistant coach. Last season Brent was Head Coach of the Romford Raiders in the EPL before returning to Cardiff to become the bench coach of the EIHL side.

Peter Russell (Head Coach Swindon Wildcats EPL & GB U20's)

Peter is one of the most experienced youth development coaches in the UK. Having held coaching co-ordinator positions with the Scottish Eagles, Paisley and Cardiff Devils junior programmes. ‘Pedro’ was also part of the coaching team of the GB Youth Programme who returned with 2 Gold Medals from the recent world championships. Peter joined the Best of British programme in 2005 where his fun and enthusiastic approach to the teaching of ice hockey made him a huge hit with all age groups. Peter was appointed Head Coach of the Swindon Wildcats in the middle of 2006/07 season where he helped them to qualify for the playoffs.

Roger Hunt (Head Coach Dundee Stars SPHL & GB National Team)

Roger has a wealth of experience working at hockey camps and schools and coaches regularly at the highly respect Can-Am and Huron hockey schools back in his native country of Canada. ‘Rog’ had a successful playing career with the Murrayfield Racers before moving on to coach the Dundee Stars where he led them to the BNl Playoff Championship in 2005. He has been involved in the GB Programme for many years both at Junior and Senior level and is currently coaching the Dundee Stars in the new SPHL.

Pasi Raitanen (Head Goalie Instructor - Player Sheffield Scimitars EPL)

Pasi joined the Best of British Coaching team last summer and added a whole new dimension to the goalie instruction offered at the camps. Still continuing to have a highly successful playing career Pasi is currently the number one goaltender for the Sheffield Scimitars in the EPL, having moved to the UK in 96/97 season to ice for Kingston Hawks in the BNL, Pasi has also iced for Hull Thunder, Peterborough Pirates, Hull Stingrays and Newcastle Vipers in the BNL before stepping up the EIHL with the Sheffield Steelers in 03/04 season. In 2004 he signed for the Sheffield Scimitars of the now EPL and has remained there since,

Previous Guest Coaches Include:

Gunner Svensson - Ex Elite Series Coach & Swedish Federation Co-ordinator.

Darren Hurley - GB Senior National Team, Professional Player

Dan Ratushny - Ass Coach Ottawa University, Ex-NHL Player

Steve Moria - GB Snr National Team Captain, Head Coach Slough Jets EPL

Tony Hand - Player/Coach Manchester Pheonix EIHL, GB Snr National Team

Stephen Murphy - Goalie Coach & Edinburgh Capitals EIHL, GB Snr National Team

Peter Ekroth - Head Coach Swedish 1st Division, Professional Player

Anders Spaak - Goalie Coach Swedish 1st Division

Jody Lehman - Goalie Coach Sheffield Steelers EIHL

Alex Reinhard - Goalie Coach Swiss A League, Swiss Snr National Team

Steve Gallace - Professional Player, Basingstoke Bisons EIHL

Mark Bernard - Goalie Coach & Head Coach Basingstoke Bisons EIHL

Todd Dutiame - Head Coach Fife Flyers SNL, Professional Player

Jeff Flannagan - Ass Coach Basingstoke Bisons EIHL, Professional Player

Colin Ryder - Goalie Coach & Professional Player Belfast Giants EIHL

Dave Trofimenkoff - Goalie Coach & Professional Player Dundee Stars SNL

Ian Manzano - Professional Player Sheffield Steelers EIHL

Rod Sarich - Professional Player Sheffield Steelers EIHL

Jonathan Phillips - Professional Player Captain Sheffield Steelers EIHL

Ashley Tait - Professional Player Sheffield Steelers EIHL

Andre Payette - Professional Player Mobilx Vipers EIHL