South Delta Minor Hockey Announces 2024-25 Skill Development Team
South Delta Minor Hockey is excited to announce our skill development coaching team for the 2024-25 season. We are fortunate to have procured a strong team of skills coaches for our South Delta hockey program. Our goal is to provide exceptional development and mentorship for our hockey players at all ages and skill levels.
Our team of instructors will be offering optional skill development opportunities throughout the season. Registration for High Performance Skills, Power Skating, Goalie Training and skill specific sessions will be communicated to the membership in the coming weeks.
Let’s meet the team!
Lawson “Boots” Boutilier – Director of Hockey
Coach Boots has over 40 years of coaching experience, from New to Hockey up to Junior, and has worked in various capacities for SDMHA over the past 19 years. Boots is a Certified Hockey Canada High Performance Coach and BC Hockey Coach evaluator. Boots utilizes coach mentors such as Guy Boucher (Toronto Maple Leafs), Brad Lauer (Winnipeg Jets), Yogi Svejkovsky (Vancouver Canucks) to stay current with the game.
Stan Sibert
Coach Stan played professional hockey in Slovakia, before coming to Canada. He has coached at many levels, including hockey academies, North Shore Winter Club and in a variety of roles within the SDMHA. Stan is one of the Head Instructors at the Vancouver Hockey School and last summer completed the Hockey Canada Skills Coaching Certification. Stan has been a skills instructor with SDMHA for many years.
Jim Vandermeer
Coach Jim enjoyed a professional career, which included ten years in the NHL and seven years in Europe. Jim finished his pro-career as a player coach with the Belfast Giants. Jim has played for many great NHL coaches over his career and has also assisted the Vancouver Giants coaching staff. Jim will continue to provide skill development to all levels within the SDMHA, from U5 to U18.
Jackson Houck
Coach Jackson played five years in the WHL and was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers. Jackson finished his playing career at Acadia University, before joining the SDMHA coaching team. Jackson has coached U13 and U15 in South Delta. This year Jackson will be the Head Coach of our U13A1 team. Jackson has assisted with skill development in South Delta for many years now.
Harry Fredemen
Harry has over fifteen years of high-level hockey experience both playing and coaching.
His hockey career includes four seasons playing in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL), where he secured a scholarship to Trinity Western University following his final season.
After two seasons with the Spartans, Harry pursued professional aspirations overseas. After a season with IFK Ore in the second Division in Sweden, he transferred to the University of Alberta-Augustana, where he played three seasons for the Vikings of the ACAC to conclude his playing career.
He currently owns Stage One Goaltending in Langley B.C., and is the Goaltending Coach for the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL.
Michelle Popoff
Michelle is a Skate Canada Certified Power Skating and Figure Skating coach. She has over 35 years of experience and has worked with both the Connaught Skating Club and most recently with the Delta Skating Club as their Head Power Skating coach. She also works with the City of Richmond at the Arenas, as the supervisor for the Learn to Skate Program. Michelle is a passionate, energetic skating coach that strives to get the best out of every player. She prides herself on motivating all players, of all capabilities in a fun, high-energy but challenging setting, supporting each player's development while they gain confidence and build a strong skating foundation along the way.
Chase Boutilier
Coach Chase played rep hockey for SDMHA and Junior hockey. in North Van and Aldergrove. Chase is a Skate Canada trained power skating instructor and a certified NCCP multi-sport coach. Chase brings six years of coaching experience, as an instructor at Turcotte Stick Handling school, a BC Bears skills coach under Yogi Svejkovsky and a power skating instructor with the Delta Skating Club. Chase is continuing his studies in fitness and health, with a focus on youth development.
Nick Drazenovic
Coach Nick was drafted by the St. Louis Blues and enjoyed a nine-year playing career both in the NHL and AHL, before retiring in 2016. Nick has worked as a player development coach for the WHL Prince George Cougars. Currently, Nick assists the Delta Hockey Academy with skill development and will continue to provide skill development for SDMHA this season.
Kayden Jarvis
Coach Kayden played junior hockey in Manitoba and is currently the skills/video Coach for the WHL Vancouver Giants. Kayden worked at the Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg in various roles and with all ages, over a seven year period. Kayden will continue to provide skill development for SDMHA this season.
Aubrey Arnason
Coach Aubrey is a certified NCCP coach, with over 12 years of coaching experience. Aubrey was a competitive youth figure skater from Winnipeg. Her father, Chuck, and brother, Tyler, both played in the NHL, which provided Aubrey with first hand hockey knowledge from grassroots to the NHL. Aubrey worked alongside Barb Aidlebaum, a renowned power skating coach in Vancouver, for many years.
Scott Kobus
Coach Scott is an NCCP High Performance certified coach. Scott began coaching with Richmond Minor from 1996-2005 and has experience coaching all levels up to U18 AAA. After starting a family in Ladner, Scott continued to coach SDMHA initiation and rep teams. Scott worked as a skill instructor with our U7 and U9 programs last year.
All details on our skills team and programs can be found here:
https://www.southdeltahockey.com/meet-the-team
We want to take the opportunity to thank all the returning skill providers, new skill providers, as well as our entire 2023/24 coaching staff.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Director of Operations at sdmha@telus.net .
