CANADIAN JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Media Update
Release date: Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012
Contact: Kirk Lamb, President – Canadian Junior Hockey League
403-650-9027 (Phone) – president@cjhlhockey.com
SIJHL’s Aldoff selected one of two coaches for 2012 CJHL Prospects Games
CALGARY — The Canadian Junior Hockey League, in partnership with Hockey Canada, announced Wednesday that Rod Aldoff of the Minnesota Wilderness has been appointed one of the head coaches for the 2012 CJHL Prospects Games in Digby and Yarmouth, N.S. Nov. 10-11.
Aldoff the head coach and general manager of the Minnesota Wilderness will lead Team West while Team East will be led by Billy McGuigan, head coach of the Summerside Western Capitals.
“Rod and Billy not only have tremendous track records within their leagues and teams, but over the past few years have also been valuable contributors to Junior A and hockey nationally,” said CJHL President Kirk Lamb.
“The CJHL is very proud to have them serve as coaches in the CJHL Prospects Games.”
Aldoff is in his third season with the Superior International Junior Hockey League and his record behind the bench has been exceptional. The native of Lethbridge, Alta., led the Wilderness to an impressive 94-12-2-4 record over the past two campaigns while also going on to capture back-to-back Bill Salonen Cup SIJHL playoff championships.
He also recently won his 100th game as a coach in the SIJHL and earned recognition from his peers and the league as recipient of the SIJHL Coach of the Year Award in 2011-12 along with the Gary Cook Memorial Award in 2010-11, which is presented annually to the SIJHL’s executive of the year.
Aldoff is an alumnus of the CJHL having played defence for the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. From there he went on to spend four successful years in the NCAA on scholarship at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and proceeded on to a 15-year professional playing career in both North America and Europe.
McGuigan joined the Junior ranks as an assistant coach with the Charlottetown Abbies before taking on the role of Head Coach. He is entering his 7th season as a Head Coach in the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL), including time with Charlottetown, the Miramichi Timberwolves, and currently the Summerside Western Capitals. McGuigan is approaching his 200th career win in the MHL and has only missed the playoffs once in seven years.
He has spent two seasons as an assistant aoach with Team Canada’s Sledge Hockey Team, during which time he won two World Sledge Challenges, three USA Series titles, and the 4 Nations Cup in Japan. McGuigan played Major Junior in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and attended an NHL Training Camp with the Colorado Avs.
The CJHL Prospects Games feature players from the CJHL’s five western leagues competing against the top prospects from the CJHL’s five eastern leagues. The event includes a two-game total goal series between Team East and Team West in a battle for the President’s Cup, which is awarded annually to the winning team.
“Along with the World Junior A Challenge, the RBC Cup, and numerous league showcase events, the CJHL Prospect Games are a great example of the premier development and exposure opportunities that Junior A provides its players,” said CJHL President Kirk Lamb.
The CJHL Prospects Games will be held in conjunction with the 2012 World Junior A Challenge. The CJHL Prospects Game was created to showcase the top 40 NHL draft eligible players in the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Player selection is a joint initiative of the CJHL and NHL Central Scouting.
CJHL Prospects Game No. 1 will be played on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Digby Arena in Digby, N.S. at 7 p.m. while game No. 2 goes Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth, N.S. at 2 p.m.
-CJHL-