SFU18AAAHL Vice President, Jean Fauchon presents AAA Sharks’ head coach Nolan Horbach (right) with a special plaque as Coach of the Year for 2023-24. (Submitted photo/Battlefords AAA Sharks)

By Martin Martinson

SFU18AAAHL Hardware

AAA Sharks’ Nolan Horbach named Coach of the Year

Mar 12, 2024 | 3:56 PM

It’s been a whirlwind first season behind the bench for Battlefords AAA Sharks’ head coach, Nolan Horbach, since taking over the reins with the team back in late March of 2023. At the time of his arrival, the Sharks’ organization was at a crossroads, coming off a difficult 2-25-3 season with just seven wins over their last two years combined.

Flash forward to today, and exactly one year later, it’s nothing short of a marvel to see a revamped Sharks team now headed for the second round of the playoffs, after finishing the regular season third in wins (12) and fourth overall in the Sask Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) standings, earning the team home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in over 17 years.

As such, it came as no surprise to those around the organization to see Horbach recently receive the Sask Female AAA League’s Coach of the Year honours.

“It’s awesome to see Nolan recognized for his outstanding efforts, and he definitely deserves this award,” Sharks’ captain, Greir Slabaida said. “He’s the type of coach every hockey player wants to have: he’s very supportive, full of hockey knowledge, very committed to the team and his players, and always pushes his players to be the best person they can be on and off the ice.”

As the lone returnee from the 2022-23 Sharks’ roster, Slabaida has experienced first-hand the team’s complete culture overhaul under Horbach’s leadership, reflected in the club’s recent first round best-of-three series win over the Swift Current Wildcats.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Ferland earns Grey Cup ring

'A wonderful human being': High school coach thrilled Logan Ferland is a Grey Cup champion

Nov 17, 2025

“By advancing to round two, beating Swift Current, it really shows how far along the team and organization has come,” Slabaida said. “It’s truly an exciting feeling, and the whole team is ready to battle against Regina. The AAA Sharks haven’t made it to round two in a long time, or [franchise] history to the best of my knowledge, so it’s cool to see that milestone. It’s nice to see everyone’s hard work has paid off.”

Defenceman, Amber Renkas, who is one of the league-high 18 rookies to have made their debut in the AAA ranks with the Sharks this season, on her way to earning a Division I commitment to Maryville next fall, said Horbach’s ability to create a welcoming and collaborative atmosphere has played an integral role in the team’s ability to mesh quickly in their first year together.

“He was able to take 19 individual, brand new players, and turn us into a team,” Renkas said. “Nolan is constantly searching for ways to improve our game on and off the ice and takes care of our overall wellbeing. His mindfulness and consideration for each player has greatly impacted my personal development as he’s always giving us advice, allowing us to take risks, and pushing us towards our goals.”

Horbach said as he looks back on the last year, he is filled with gratitude for the patience, support, and belief of the players, their families, and the organization.

“I’m just extremely grateful and appreciative of the girls and the families that believed in the development vision that I had going into the year, and just seeing them be rewarded,” Horbach said.

“It’s one thing to have a vision, but to have the buy-in and the commitment from the girls and the board and all the parents and all the support that we’ve gotten this year, going through the ups and downs that come with the season and just seeing where we are now, I think that’s probably the most rewarding piece.”

With confidence within the Sharks’ room at an all-time high, the team will return to action this weekend to open their second round semifinals series with the top-seeded Regina Rebels. The Sharks’ full second round schedule can be found below:

Battlefords Sharks vs. Regina Rebels series schedule

Game 1: Fri., Mar. 15 at Co-Operators Centre, Regina at 7 p.m.

Game 2: Sun., Mar. 17 at Battleford Arena, Battleford at 3 p.m.

Game 3 (*If needed): Tues., Mar. 19 at Co-Operators Centre, Regina at 7:15 p.m.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1