Ryan Carels will take over as the head coach and Kirt Fortney will return as an assistant coach.

Ryan was born and raised in Cypress River, Manitoba. His hockey career started in the Holland minor hockey system, then progressed and went on to play  for the AAA Pembina Valley Hawks for his midget hockey years.  He finished his final year of high school playing for his high school team, earning MVP. The following year he earned rookie of the year in Tiger Hills Senior Hockey League.

He started off by coaching his first son and then continuing throughout each of his kids’ lives. He went from teaching his kids the game he loves to putting his passion towards larger hockey development in the community. He coached all age groups and has helped to run a Breakfast club, develop a successful U15 AA Bantam Program, and has now joined the Pilot Mound Hockey Academy coaching staff. Ryan is involved in running many skills camps, helping out with tryouts, and prep/skills camps. 

Kirt is coming to PMHA with experience in coaching U5-U18 from Nemaska, Quebec. Kirt learned to skate in Lynn Lake, MB before moving to Alberta where he played all his minor hockey. Kirt then continued to play 3 years of junior hockey with the Princeton Posse and the Golden Rockets (KIJHL) and became an assistant captain with both teams. After junior, Kirt signed with the University of Oregon Ducks (ACHA) in 2018. During his time in Oregon the team won 3 consecutive PAC 8 championships which resulted in the team’s ability to move up to division I in the ACHA. Kirt graduated from Oregon with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Business and Marketing and a minor in Mathematics.

Ryan and Kirt are looking forward to pushing the young student-athletes next season!

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