There’ll be several firsts when the wave hits Gibsons next month, among them will be the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s first full-time female coach.
The Sunshine Coast’s new junior hockey team, the Coastal Tsunami,’s parent company, Coastal Sports and Entertainment Group Ltd., has hired Whitney Juszkiewicz as assistant coach.
With more than 12 years of experience in coaching and coordinating athlete programs, Juszkiewicz has coached with Team BC Male U16 selection camps and Team BC Female U18, the Female U18 Prep Delta Wild (CSSHL) last season, and Hockey Canada’s U18, U22 Development, and Senior Women’s National Teams during this summer’s selection camps, according to a press release.
In the release, Tsunami’s head coach and general manager, Brad Wingfield, said Juszkiewicz is “well known and renowned in BC hockey.”
“Coach Whit is very organized, excellent at using technology, knowledgeable, and a great communicator She has an outstanding resume and high-level playing experience,” said Wingfield.
Juszkiewicz said she’s looking forward to working with the organization. “Success happens when preparation meets opportunity. This group has been working hard, and the players are hungry. I am excited to start making waves this September!”
But fans in waiting don’t need to wait until September to get their first glimpse of hometown junior hockey. The Tsunami are playing two pre-season games at the Gibsons & Area Community Centre this weekend:
Friday, Aug. 30 and Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m., the Coastal Tsunami will play the North Van Wolf Pack. Tickets are available at tickets.coastalhockey.ca.
