Fernie Ghostriders add Joey McEwan

The Fernie Ghostriders have added Joey McEwan as the new Assistant Coach/Assistant GM of the team for the 2020-2021 season. Joey comes to Fernie with an extensive hockey background that includes a playing career that saw him split time with the BCHL Merritt Centennials and the OCN Blizzards of the MJHL. He followed that playing NCAA D3 at Marian University and in the ACHA at Arizona State University.

After his playing career, McEwan spent time as a coach and GM of the Thompson Blazers in the BCMML and followed that with a year at the Pursuit of Excellence in the CSSHL. Most recently, the 31-year-old Kelowna native worked with BC Hockey as a Program Assistant.

Head Coach/GM Jeff Wagner looks forward to the season ahead. “Bringing Joey in is exciting for the direction of the Ghostriders. We have made some positive strides in the 2 years I have been here, and I expect that bringing Joey in will help elevate things further. Playing at the Junior A and collegiate levels, coaching minor hockey at the elite levels and being on the administrative side for the province of BC gives Joey a well-rounded approach to the game. I’m looking forward to tapping into his experiences and collaborating with him to continue to improve our program.”

McEwan will start his role with the team right away and will plan to move to Fernie closer to the start of the season. “I’m excited to be joining the Ghostriders. I look forward to moving to Fernie this fall and meeting all the players, volunteers, and board members. In speaking with Jeff, I know that we can continue to build a program that the town will be proud of.”

Rounding out the coaching staff, Thomas Skelton will return for his second season behind the bench. Wagner says that keeping Skelton was a high priority for the club. “Thomas brought an element to our team last year that rarely went unnoticed. Being an educator in Elkford, it is easy to see how his professional life transfers seamlessly to coaching hockey. His communication and dedication to his players is tough to match and our vision to create a program that promotes humility and integrity certainly align.”

The Ghostriders are continuing to prepare for the 2020-2021 season despite COVID19 creating difficulty in the day to day operations and uncertainty for the months to come. The KIJHL AGM is scheduled for June 13^th where teams will be provided clarity on how the season will be conducted.