The East Kootenay Minor Hockey Association has announced that Carson Loftsgard has been hired as head coach of their U18 AA Avalanche Hockey program, which plays in the Alberta Elite Hockey League.
Loftsgard's name is well known in Kimberley hockey, with over a decade serving as an assistant coach and skills coach with the Kimberley Dynamiters, coaching in minor hockey at regional and local levels and as head coach and teacher of the Selkirk Hockey Academy.
“Our program at Selkirk has played a part in advancing many players to junior, collegiate, and professional hockey through skill and character development and I’m excited to add some of these principles to the Avalanche program," Loftsgard said. "I’m thrilled to join an Avalanche team that has been well coached and consistently successful at the Alberta AA / BC Tier 1 levels for many years. It sets athletes up to grow as players, as students, and as people.”
Loftsgard steps into this role as head coach following the resignation of Mike Reid.
"Carson’s just a great asset to our community with his Hockey Canada background and his playing background, his work with the Dynamiters, his passion for the game and the kids and their development and obviously the Hockey Academy up at Selkirk," Reid said. "He’s a great transition. The kids and families are very fortunate that he’s stepping up to do this."
Reid stepped away from the Avalanche head coaching role after many years helping build U18 hockey into a great option for local hockey players.
"The work we put in and then with this Zone program now we’ve definitely got a good, viable place that kids can play hockey locally, without having to move away," Reid said. "And this team is very important to this community of under-18 Kimberley kids, it gives these kids a place to play without having to uproot their families and move if they don’t need to."
Reid said one of his favourite memories with the Avalanche was the 2022/23 season when they won the U18 Tier 1 Provincial Championship, but reflects fondly on the entire experience.
"That was a great memory winning a championship, but biggest memory is just watching the kids improve and be successful and then getting to watch them play at the next level, which is what all these kids dream of when they do get into a program like that or above," he said. "The most rewarding part and the best experience was just watching these kids be successful and accomplish their goals."
Loftsgard said Reid stepping in to the head coach role to make sure the program thrived was inspiring, and he wants that to continue.
"I want to see it be an option for kids in the East Kootenays to have their hockey goals and dreams be supported," Loftsgard said.
He highlighted U18 Avalanche program as a very attractive option for players and their families, giving them legitimate and immediate opportunities for affiliation with junior teams around the area and beyond, with a robust home schedule that allows them to play in front of their family and friends. He also commended the minimal disruption to the athletes' academics.
"The U18 Avalanche program has consistently supported and graduated players to junior hockey and I am hoping to continue that legacy in my role on the team," he said. "We will strive to provide the players with an optimal hockey environment where driven, committed athletes can thrive.
"Last year’s team graduated 13 skaters, many of whom have committed to junior teams or have been invited to junior camps. That means that this year is a fresh start in many ways with a ton of opportunities for players to earn a spot on the team. I can’t wait to get started."
Players can register for camp directly through the EKMHA's website or get more information by contacting ekmha@shaw.ca. The deadline to register without a late fee is July 1.
"I think in my role off the start here I want to connect with the players who are eligible to return," Loftsgard said. "To connect with them and see what they want to see continued and how they see the program improving, so that I can act on those ideas and then just look forward to planning a competitive camp full of committed, prepared players looking to step into these opportunities."
