THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Thursday the coaches and officials for the upcoming All-Star Game & Skills Competition, which goes Wednesday, Nov. 28 at Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances.
Named as head coach for the Team Canada All-Stars is Wayne Strachan of the Fort Frances Lakers.
Strachan, a five-time recipient of the SIJHL’s Coach of the Year, is also the winningest coach in league history.
Joining him behind the Canadian bench will be Robert DeGagne of the front-running Thunder Bay North Stars.
Meanwhile Dwayne Sinclair of the Lakers will serve as the team’s equipment manager with Derek Ouellette of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs and Jake Witherspoon from Fort Frances selected as the squad’s athletic trainers.
As for Team USA, named to guide them are the Thief River Falls Norskies staff of head coach Wilson Housley, assistant David Defever, equipment manager Brandon Schroeder along with trainer Ben Lember.
The SIJHL also announced Thursday that Andrew Bartlett and Duane Turriff will referee the contest while Pete Ledrew and Matt McLellan are the linesmen.
One other note for Team USA sees Mason McIntosh of the Norskies named to their roster as he will replace Aaron Koivunen of the Minnesota Iron Rangers, who is unable to participate in the game.
The SIJHL skills competition goes at 6 p.m. CT, followed by the All-Stars Game at 7:30 p.m. CT at Ice for Kids Arena.
Advanced tickets, that includes both the SIJHL All-Star Game & Skills Competition, are available at all Fort Frances Lakers home games or by contacting Milt Strachan at (807) 275-5255 or via email at mstrachan@fort-frances.com.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students and $5 for children.
Both events will also be streamed live, and on demand, at HockeyTV.com.
As part of the event, players will use purple tape as part of the Shine the Light Program for awareness of abuse to women.
Visit the Shine The Light Program for more information.