ANTIGONISH, NS – StFX men's hockey head coach Brad Peddle has been selected as the head coach for this year's U SPORTS all-star team. For the past number of year U SPORTS all-stars have competed in December against the Canadian national junior team.
This year Coach Peddle will lead that all-star team, along with assistant coaches Patrick Grandmaitre (Ottawa Gee Gees), Trevor Stienberg (Saint Mary's Huskies) and Mark Howell (Calgary Dinos). The quartet will be responsible for selecting the all-star squad from across the country who will represent U SPORTS in two games against the Canadian juniors during their selection camp. Coach Peddle was an assistant coach with the same team last year.
StFX Director of Athletics & Recreation Leo MacPherson notes that "Brad has done a superb job leading our men's hockey program and he is a very deserving choice as head coach of our U SPORTS all-star team. I have no doubt that he and the strong coaching staff he assembled will have the team ready to compete at a very high level."
In his 13th season with the X-Men, Coach Peddle has led StFX to consecutive AUS championship titles in each of the past two seasons and a silver medal at the U SPORTS championship in 2016. In that same year, he was honoured as the U SPORTS national coach of the year. He has lead the blue and white to 12 consecutive AUS playoff appearances and five University Cup championship appearances.
His previous coaching experience includes roles as assistant coach of the Halifax Jr. A Wolverines, head coach of the Halifax Jr. Mooseheads and head coach of the Antigonish Jr. A Bulldogs. He was named an assistant coach for Team Canada for the 2013 World University Games.
An alumnus and former All-Canadian with the X-Men and a winner of the prestigious Dr. Randy Gregg Award as the country's top hockey student-athlete during his playing years, Coach Peddle is looking forward to this latest coaching challenge, commenting "I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the U SPORTS all-star team against our national junior team."
"This is a tremendous event with very high level competition, and I look forward to coaching the team representing U SPORTS top hockey players across the nation. We have a great assistant coaching staff in place that I am very much looking forward to working with in an effort to provide our student-athletes with an outstanding experience."
The U SPORTS all-star training camp dates, along with the national junior team selection camp schedule will be released in the near future.
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