Centennials hire new assistant GM and head coach
The Merritt Centennials announced on Wednesday that they have hired 43-year-old Brian Passmore to be the team’s assistant general manager and head coach. Passmore brings with him three-and-a-half seasons of BCHL head coaching experience with the Cowichan Valley Capitals. He was their bench boss in 2017-18 and from 2020-22.
Passmore, who is from Mississauga, Ont., was most recently the general manager and head coach of the Caps. He served two full seasons in that role before being replaced by Mike Vandekamp on November 16, 2022, following a 5-11-1-0 start to the 2022-23 season. Passmore ended the season as head coach of the Kerry Park Islanders of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
BCHL invites Blanck to present at its AGM
National Football League leadership expert Ryan Blanck has been invited to the B.C. Hockey League’s Annual General Meeting, which is this Thursday and Friday in Victoria. He will make a presentation to the league’s 18 head coaches.
Blanck, the founder, and CEO of Deviate, is a highly sought-after leadership coach who specializes in public speaking, leadership development, and executive coaching. He has worked with NFL head coaches, general managers, and team executives.
Marit heads to France
23-year-old forward Samuel Marit (six goals, eight assists in 20 games with Coquitlam in 2020-21) has signed with Reims of FFHG, Division 2, which is the third tier of pro hockey in Frances. It is Marit’s third pro season and second overseas.
Marit, who hails from Toronto, spent the 2022-23 season playing for the Federal Professional Hockey League’s Port Huron Prowlers, where he scored 18 goals and 49 points in 49 games. He also added three points in two FPHL playoff games.
Schutz joins Melbourne Ice
27-year-old forward Chris Schutz (59 goals, 43 assists in 106 games with Alberni Valley from 2014-16) has signed with the Melbourne Ice of the Australian Ice Hockey League. He is playing in his second professional season.
Schutz, who is from Fort Worth, Texas, played 55 games with Lippe-Hockey-Hamm of Germany’s Oberliga, scoring 53 goals and adding 39 assists this season. He also added one goal and four assists in three playoff contests. Oberliga is the third tier of hockey in Germany.
The AIHL is the highest level of hockey in Australia and its season runs from May to September, which includes the winter months Down Under.
