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Wintoneak named to Canada West coaching staff |
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Monday, June 01, 2009
 | | Klippers head coach Larry Wintoneak |
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The Kindersley Klippers will be without head coach Larry Wintoneak for a few games this November.
That’s because he has been named as an assistant coach for Canada West at the 2009 World Junior A Challenge.
The Klippers announced on Monday that Wintoneak will join head coach Rylan Ferster of the Salmon Arm SilverBacks on the coaching staff for the event, which takes place Nov. 1-8 in Summerside, P.E.I.
Mark Howell of the BCHL’s Westside Warriors is the other assistant coach.
“It’s a good opportunity, it’s something new and I look forward to the challenge,” Wintoneak said of his selection.
The World Junior A Challenge sees six teams, including Canada West, Canada East and four international teams, face off for the top prize in international Junior A hockey. The tournament began in 2006.
The Canada West squad will include players from the four western leagues, as well as northern Ontario’s Superior International Junior Hockey League. The team won silver at last year’s event.
“There are a lot of coaches in that area,” said Wintoneak, who applied for the job. “The head coach and general manager (of Canada West) did a phone interview and they liked what they heard and what I said. I’m a team guy and (Ferster is) a team guy. I think my background with video helps, being able to run the Apple computers. I look forward to it. It’s a little different.
“I’ll be away from the team for a little bit, but that’s why it’s important to have a real good assistant coach.”
The Klippers are in the process of finding a new assistant to replace Ryne McKinnon.
Ferster said the way Wintoneak carried himself and his wealth of experience were the two key factors in the decision to hire him.
“The first thing was the professionalism in how he conducted himself and the knowledge he has of the game. He’s a well respected guy back home,” commented Ferster, who is from Prince Albert. “He was very impressive. His record speaks for itself, what he’s done over the past few years. I think we’re very fortunate to have a guy like that on our staff.”
Wintoneak will be in Calgary on Monday and Tuesday to meet Ferster and Howell, where they will likely decide how the coaching duties will be split up.
Wintoneak said he’ll gladly take on whatever role is assigned to him.
“Power play, penalty kill, defence, offence, I don’t know,” he said of his responsibility. “We’ll see what each of us can bring to the table. It doesn’t matter if I have to clean toilets, I guess I’ll do that too. You just put your pride in your back pocket. You’re putting the Canadian jersey on and that means a lot.”
Ferster, whose SilverBacks are in the same BCHL division as Howell’s Warriors, said he’s very pleased with his staff.
“I’m really excited about working with these two guys,” he said. “I think it’ll be a real good mix. I really felt comfortable talking to both guys.”
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