Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter
Hawks hiring

Nipawin Hawks hire assistant coach

Jun 30, 2022 | 12:30 PM

The Nipawin Hawks have a new assistant coach to work alongside head coach Tad Kozun this season.

The club announced Thursday morning that Levi Stuart of Meritt, B.C. will join the team after three years with the Centennials of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League.

“I’m really happy to bring Levi on board,” said Kozun. “I’m looking forward to working with him. It was a long interview process and Levi really stood out with his pedigree.”

He added that having the staff list finalized and the draft in the rearview mirror the focus can turn to his first full season behind the bench of his hometown team.

“It’s nice to have our staff in place now where we can start bouncing ideas off each other. We’re looking forward to starting a new regime here.”

Stuart, 26, had been an assistant with Merritt for the past three years but also got a few games of head coaching under his belt with the club. Prior to his role in the junior ‘A’ ranks, he was a video coach with the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants. Stuart has worked under highly respected coaches such as Don Hay, Pat Quinn, and Claude Noel.

“I think I am the kind of person that can get through anything and make it the best for the kids and the team,” Stuart said.

Stuart will bring his video coaching and individual skills attribute to the Hawks that finished in 11th place last season. Aside from hoping to help Kozun get the club back on track after missing the postseason, he said the town itself was important in his decision to apply.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things about the town of Nipawin and the people. Obviously, it’s a storied franchise that has had a lot of success in their history. It’s a place that really excites me,” said Stuart.

Stuart will arrive in Nipawin in mid-August to begin to prepare for training camp ahead of the season that begins Sept. 16.

clark.stork@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ClarkStork