The Battlefords AAA Stars have a new head coach, and his name is Brett Parker.
He currently works as the assistant coach for the Battlefords North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey Leauge.
The team announced the news Monday morning on Twitter.
Parker, who was born and raised in Melville, Sask., joined the North Stars in July 2018, helping the team to a 14-8-4 record through the first 26 games of the season, as part of head coach, Brayden Klimosko’s staff.
Klimosko, who first met Parker playing senior hockey together for the Bruno T-Birds of the FCHL, said it’s Parker’s engagement and love of the game that has led to his former teammate’s success behind the bench.
“His passion and his intensity for the game is there,” Klimosko said. “He’s very dedicated and he really just enjoys the game, and enjoys the people and I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Klimosko also added that while the team will certainly miss him behind the bench, the Stars’ coach is happy for his former assistant, and the opportunity Parker has earned with the AAA Stars.
“I’m wishing him all the best,” he said. “I mean that’s what junior hockey is all about, promoting on to the next level and we’re happy to do that.”
In addition to coaching, Parker boasts a successful minor and SMAAAHL career, having won the National Midget AAA Championship in 2002. Parker was later drafted by the Prince George Cougars in the Western Hockey League and stayed with the team for three seasons before moving back to his hometown to play for the Melville Millionaires. He later signed with the Vancouver Giants and was recruited by the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the 2006/07 season where he stayed for four seasons.
More recently, Parker played one season in the Southern Professional Hockey League in Florida before spending two seasons as the head coach of the Saskatoon Royals in the Prarie Junior Hockey League, winning the 2018 Peter Dittmann Coach of the Year honours.
cjnbnews@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW
