Announcing Equipment Managers and Video Coach for JTC 2016

 Equipment Manager Junior Team Canada U16:  Bob Pattison  (Alberta)
Bob graduated from the University of Alberta with a Major in Physical Education and has been working with sports teams and individual athletes for over 40 years. Bob’s experience includes training elite level teams in several sports competing in Provincial, Western and Canadian Championships, since 1989.
 
Bob’s primary focus has been with Ice Hockey at the AAA level and currently serves as Trainer for the Major Midget AAA Kings of the Sherwood Park Athletic Club - a position he has filled the last 8 seasons. As the Trainer for the Midget AAA Kings he is responsible for both their Medical and Equipment needs, and is responsible for their safety on and off the ice.
 
Bob has served as Trainer/Equipment Manager/Asst. Coach since 2008 with the Edmonton Xtreme helping them win medals at six WCC’s, five Junior Nationals (including Gold in Winnipeg 2014) and Silver this year in St. Johns. Mr. Pattison has also served as Equipment Manager for Junior Team Canada in 2012 and 2014.
 
Bob’s quick wit, sense of humour and professionalism in his approach to players needs and concerns have made him extremely popular with players, parents and peers and he is highly regarded by all. Junior Team Canada is fortunate to have an individual with Bob’s skills, experience and personality with us as we take on the World next July in England!
 
Equipment Manager Junior Team Canada U18:   Joseph Picko  (Ontario)
Joseph has more than 25 years’ experience in the Under 16 Ice Hockey development camp as Trainer/Equipment Manager. Further, he has also served in this capacity at the main camps developing players for Team Ontario. Mr. Picko has been involved for more than 15 years with Team Canada Ball Hockey at the Men’s, Junior’s and Masters levels as Trainer/Equipment Manager and has helped them achieve four Gold Medal’s as ISBHF World Champions.
 
Joseph is certified with Hockey Canada as a Level 3 Trainer which includes St. John’s Ambulance First Aid and CPR. Joseph’s passion for the game has kept him involved at various levels throughout the years and he looks forward to this new challenge in 2016. Mr. Picko is eagerly anticipating working with this talented skilled group of young men as we strive for Gold. Junior Team Canada is honoured to have an EM of Mr. Picko’s experience, ability and passion with us for our trip to England and our quest to become World U18 Champions!
 
Equipment Manager Junior Team Canada U20:  Nathan Belliveau  (New Brunswick)
Nathan brings a wealth of experience to the position of Equipment Manager for our U20 Junior Team Canada.
 
Nathan started with the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)  as Asst. Equipment Manager from 2005-2009 and he also served as Asst. Equipment Manager at the 2008 ADT Super Series with Team QMJHL/Hockey Canada). Mr. Belliveau then went on to work as Head Equipment Manager for the World U17 Team Atlantic (Hockey Canada) and also served as Asst. Equipment Manager with Team QMJHL for the 2011 Subway series. Following this, he continued on as Head Equipment Manager with the Acadia-Bathurst Titans also in Major Junior in the QMJHL. Nathan then began his career as Equipment Manager in the Professional Hockey ranks first working with the St. John’s Ice Caps (AHL in 2012 as an Assistant in the playoffs), he then went on to serve as Head Equipment Manager with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.
 
Nathan then continued on in 2013 as Head Equipment Manager at the World U17 challenge once again with Team Atlantic.
 
Nathan has since moved on to working with the Minnesota Wild (NHL) organization as Asst. Equipment Manager of the Iowa Wild - their top affiliate team playing in the AHL.
 
Nathan’s ball hockey experience is impressive serving as Equipment Manager with Junior Team Canada U20 2014 in Bratislava, Slovakia and this past year with Men’s Team Canada at the ISBHF World Championships in Zug, Switzerland.
 
Junior Team Canada is happy to have Nathan on board with his positive energy, enthusiasm and professionalism as we Go for Gold next July in England.
 
Junior Team Canada Video Coach:  Shawn Peters  (British Columbia)
Shawn brings a wealth of coaching experience to our Junior Team Canada group. He started coaching minor sports such as Baseball and Basketball from 2000-2007. In ice hockey, Shawn has coached at multiple levels including PeeWee AAA (2008-2009) up to Midget where he coached a Midget AA team last season.
 
Shawn has coached ball hockey since 2007 with Valley Ball Hockey Association starting with Tykes and moving up to the higher age groups. He has coached Valley rep teams at WCC’s, winning Bronze 2009 U14, Gold 2010 U17 and Coaching the U17 team in 2011. Shawn then became Head of Coaches for Valley Ball Hockey. He wrote the VBHA Coach Manuals and provides leadership, support and mentorship to their 80 Head Coaches and Asst. Coaches. Shawn has coached Team BC at the last 3 Junior Nationals winning Silver in the U15 category in both 2013 and 2014 and this past year led the BC U17 team to a Bronze Medal. He has since continued on the leadership path becoming President of Valley Ball Hockey in BC.
 
Mr. Peters holds a Special Education Diploma and a Canadian Schools certificate. In hockey he has completed the Coach Hybrid course and achieved NCCP Coach Development 1 certification.
 
Shawn will be a welcome asset to our Junior Team Canada coaches taking and breaking down video from ISBHF World games and assisting in the preparation of video sessions for JTC players. This will in turn ensure strong structural and systems play which will allow our teams to perform their best. Welcome aboard Shawn and thank you for your help as our teams compete for Gold next July in England!
 
 
It is an exciting time for Junior Ball Hockey in Canada and I am ecstatic that we were able to put together three outstanding teams of players, coaches, therapists and equipment managers. It promises to be an amazing experience next year in England and with our group we will set our goals high and once again represent Canada proudly as we “Go for Gold” at the ISBHF World Junior Championships.