Submitted
The Golden Rockets have added Chuck Wight as associate coach and director of skill development to the Rockets coaching staff for the 2019-20 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) season.
Hugh Charles Wight, known professionally as Chuck, has spent a large part of the past decade working in the European hockey system. Through 2010 to 2017, Wight worked as a development consultant and head coach for multiple teams within the Danish Elite League’s U20 and 1st Division clubs, working to move players up to the national team and the top level of Danish hockey, the Ligaen. In the years since, he has also acted as a skill development consultant for teams in Denmark and Germany.
In addition to his professional coaching and consultant experience, Wight was also the co-owner and technical director of the TEC-TAC Hockey School based out of Ottawa, Ont. for 20 years, from 1997 to 2017, as well as head coach of the University of Guelph’s women’s varsity team from 2001-2007, where he was named OUA Coach of the Year in 2003-04. Overall, Wight has been involved in coaching and player development for more than 25 years and brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will help continue to push Rockets players to their potential.
“[Wight] is a career coach with a wealth of experience on a number of fronts, including skill development,” asserts Rockets head coach and general manager Jeremy Blumes. “He is going to be a tremendous asset to our organization. We began the process in March and have had many conversations which lead me to believe this is an excellent fit.”
“Chuck’s experience, professionalism, and passion was something that we felt would be a strong asset to the Rockets family as both a part of our coaching staff and director of skill development. This hire doesn’t happen without the support of Golden Minor Hockey and the Kraft Hockey Committee who the Rockets work with closely on a number of fronts; the Kicking Horse Hockey Experience, Friday Rocket School Program, the Bauer First Shift program (new this year), and the Rockets and GMHA Partnership program.”
Wight brings with him an Advanced 1 Coaching Certification and an NCCP Level II Certification from Hockey Canada. He will also be involved with the hockey school, working with skill development and power skating, as well as running power skating classes beginning in September and throughout the season.
“The challenge of helping build a program was high on my list when considering Golden,” Wight said. “[Blumes] has got the program pointed in the right direction and I look forward to working with him and the other staff to take another step towards building a top developmental program.”
The addition of Wight fills out a versatile and well-balanced Rockets coaching staff with a variety of different experiences and strengths. Jeremy Blumes spent his hockey career entrenched in the fabric of the Calgary hockey scene on both the elite minor hockey and junior levels, as a player, coach (winning the CRAA Coach of the Year award in 2013, followed by a Midget AA Provincial championship along with the Hockey Calgary Coach of the Year award in 2014), British Columbia Hockey League scout, and even web developer and commissioner of the Calgary Summer Hockey League. Newcomer Colter Fowler spent his playing and coaching career out east in the Maritimes as a high-level player turned fresh-faced coach. And Wight brings a wealth of developmental-system and elite coaching experience from European leagues and the Ontario University Athletics conference, completing a trifecta of coaches with both high-level coaching experience, unique ideas and mindsets.
The Golden Rockets have finalized the details of their main camp and preseason schedule, as well as the opening of main camp registration for prospective Rockets.
The Rockets preseason will begin with their annual Season Kick-off Golf Tournament on August 22, 2019. Following a great day of golf, main camp sessions will begin Friday afternoon on August 23 to August 25. Sessions include dryland fitness testing, an information session, practices, interviews, and multiple intrasquad games.
The Golden Rockets’ main camp is invite-only; prospective registrants who are interested may contact Blumes via e-mail at jblumes@goldenrockets.com.
