Fauchon named to provincial U-18 coaching staff

But the staff is very familiar with Fauchon now, and said he was an obvious choice to return.

“Jean [Fauchon] has been involved in our program basically as long as I’ve been here,” SHA senior coordinator, hockey development, and high performance, Joel Houseman said. “We’ve worked together in the past and he’s done a great job. So it’s a pretty easy decision.”

When Fauchon first applied five years ago, he remembers the process being more difficult.

“The first time when I went through, I had to go in, sit in front of three people from SHA and then they had a bunch of questions about coaching philosophy, different situations, [and] what would you do in all of these situations,” he said. “So that one was kind of a lengthy process. After that, I haven’t had to do that part again.”

As video coach, Fauchon doesn’t simply go over game tape.

He’s on the ice helping with practices and also does pre-scouting of the opposition.

“Any games I can see of other players, or if they’re playing other exhibitions or as a provincial team, we would go and check it out and try to find out what kinds of systems they are running,” Fauchon said. “[Then] go over video from previous years and put it all together for our team so we can come up with our systems and kind of have an idea of what our game plan is going to be.”

The U-18’s will be led by head coach Terry Pavely, currently the head coach of the Swift Current Wildcasts of the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA League. Saskatoon Stars head coach Greg Slobodzian will serve as an assistant with Team Saskatchewan, as will Regina Cougars assistant coach Kelsie Graham.

Four Battlefords Sharks have also been invited to the initial camp: Ali Aitken, Keara Amson, Ensley Fendelet, and Alyssa Roach.

Fauchon said there are always a few Sharks who get invites to the first tournament and also usually a couple who make it to the summer camp. Last year, Amson made it to the summer camp, as did current Shark captain Jordan Kulbida, now too old to qualify.

The last Sharks to make the final team were Jetta Derenoski in 2015 and Mallory Roy in 2013.

“It’s great to see those kids from Battlefords make that team,” Fauchon said. “I hope that this year they come ready to work and we can get one or two of them on to the team this year.”

Nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

@NathanKanter11

by Nathan Kanter

Fauchon named to provincial U-18 coaching staff

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