Port Alberni's Brent Demerais has been named head coach of Parksville's Oceanside Generals of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
“The Generals are very excited to have Brent join the team,” Generals’ president Sylvain Giroux said, adding the new bench boss “comes highly recommended and will provide leadership to the organization.”
Born and raised in Port Alberni, Demerais joins the Generals’ organization after having coached in the Alberni Valley Minor Hockey Association for the past seven seasons with great success.
With more than 13 years of experience as a head coach, his accom-plishments include numerous provincial championships and awards. He was the AVMHA rep coach of the year in 2008-09 and 2010-11, and the VIAHA coach of the year in 2010-11.
In his seven years in Port Alberni, he played a great role moving 26 local players to the major midget league, Jr. A, Jr. B, North American Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.
Demerais said he is happy with the move from Alberni Valley Minor Hockey Association, although admits the change is bittersweet.
“I want to thank AVMHA president Al McCulloch for turning me towards the prospect of working for the Oceanside Generals,” Demerais said.
McCulloch has known Demerais for more than 30 years and sees this as a great opportunity for Demerais. “‘Demer’ will bring a great work ethic and class to the Oceanside Generals,” he said.
Demerais is already at work in his new position. “The outlook for the team needs a little restructuring with discipline on and off the ice and I’d also like the team to be more competitive.”