Canmore hockey coach brought offense to Canada West staff

CORNWALL – Evan McFeeters helped bring firepower to the Canadian West.

McFeeters, a Canmore native, made his international coaching debut at the 2022 World Junior A Challenge in Cornwall, Ont., from 11-18. december Including teams from Sweden, USA and Latvia to give Canadian Junior A more exposure. players.

Against a powerhouse loaded with future NHL talent, the underdog Canada West finished fourth in the tournament as the Swedes defeated them 3-2 in the bronze medal shootout on Sunday (December 18).

“That game could have gone either way,” said McFeeters, the Canada West assistant coach. “Two countries and two teams that were probably good enough to win gold and unfortunately one of them had to go home empty-handed and that was us.”

Canada East won silver after losing 5-2 to the United States in the gold medal game at the Cornwall Civic Complex.

Canada West invitees came from the AJHL, SJHL, MJHL and SIJHL. Rebecca Kuresh of the Canmore Eagles was named Canada West Sports Therapist.

Selected as head coach of the AJHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders, McFeeters was an integral part of the team’s power play plan and brought an attacking spirit to the coaching staff.

McFeeters’ power plays proved to be an effective combination. Canada West had the most effective man advantage of the tournament, scoring the most goals (10) and securing the best percentage (33 percent).

The second best power play was the USA, which went 8-29 for 28 percent.

In tournament goals, Canada West (27) was second only to the USA (31).

As an assistant coach with the Brooks Bandits last season, McFeeters helped lead the club to the AJHL’s Inter Pipeline Cup and the National Junior A Championship’s Centennial Cup.

The team finished the year with a 35.3 percent efficiency – the league’s best in more than 10 years.

“I think they recognized my strength in the offensive side of the game,” McFeeters said. “Running the power play in recent years at Brooks and now at Sherwood Park.”

Canada West started the tournament by beating USA, Canada East and Latvia. It was a huge morale boost for the team, McFeeters said.

“Our team was built on a Western Canadian identity of being tough to play and character players,” McFeeters said. “We basically have two lines that can provide offense and firepower and be our power players and then a bunch of forwards that can be really nasty to play against.

After finishing tied for first in the preliminary round, Canada West’s top seed did not advance to the semifinals and bronze medal games.

In the semifinals on December 17, Canada East beat their compatriots 4-1 and set up the bronze medal against Sweden.

“Our momentum was so high in the first few games of the round robin and how hard we played,” McFeeters said. “Coming into the third game in four nights, I didn’t think we had much in the tank and after that we just chased the game.”

Canada West also faced Sweden in their last match of the preliminary round and lost 5-3 as Swedish goalkeeper Noah Erliden had a “performance of the week” with 37 saves.

Three days later, when the two hockey nations met again, penalties hurt Canada West in the bronze medal game as Sweden scored twice on the power play.

Canada West’s Aiden Fink sent the game into overtime after tying things up on the third power play. The extra frame went scoreless.

Nine shooters tried their best shots, but only Sweden’s Felix Unger Sörum cracked the goose egg.

After the Golden Game, the WJAC all-star team was named, which included Canada West and AJHL forwards Fink (Brooks Bandits) and Liam Watkins (Spruce Grove Saints).

The other stars were Cole Knuble and Eric Pohlkamp from the USA and Tom Willander and goalkeeper Erliden from Sweden.

After making her debut on the world stage, McFeeters said she plans to continue putting her name out there when opportunities arise.

“It was definitely an unforgettable experience for me,” he said.