The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are happy to announce that Bryan Vines has been hired as the Assistant Coach of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Men?s Ice Hockey team.
Bryan was offered the position after former RPI Assistant Shaun Kurulak resigned three weeks ago to spend more time with his family. A graduate of Denver University 2002, Bryan played under RPI Head Coach Seth Appert for five seasons at Denver.
?Bryan is an honest, classy individual, not to mention a great hockey coach. It is difficult to attain a job in the NCAA Division I level. Bryan had to accept this job to further his coaching career. I think it speaks volumes about the sort of people that we want to have a part of program here in Alberni. Bryan is very deserving of the opportunity? comments GM/Head Coach and RPI grad Nolan Graham.
?It can sometimes take years of coaching experience to be even considered for a job such as this. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs entire organization wishes Bryan and his family all the best in the future.? Graham adds.
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are excited to announce Paul Esdale will be replacing Bryan Vines as the Assistant GM/Assistant Coach for the 2009 ? 2010 season.
Paul, from Edmonton Alberta, spent the past 6 seasons playing professional hockey in North America and in Europe. Prior to his professional career, Paul played for Brown University where he was the top scoring team defenseman all 4 years. Paul earned his scholarship while playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Paul graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in Business Economics from Brown University. He has always had coaching in mind as a career. Growing up, he experienced coaching first hand, as his father Peter Esdale was a career coach serving time as the bench boss of the University of Alberta (CIAU), Spokane Chiefs (WHL), and Ferris State (NCAA).
?I look forward to building a program in the Alberni Valley that is top in the country at developing young men? comments Paul Esdale. ?I am extremely passionate about the game, I am eager to help provide these young athletes with a quality environment that will allow them to achieve their athletic and academic goals? adds Esdale.
The Bulldogs travel to Powell River to face off in the season opener September 11th. The Bulldogs will play their first home game of the season September 18th when they square against the Victoria Grizzlies.
