Richmond Jets Coaching Team & Skill Providers
2021-2022 DIRECTOR OF HOCKEY PROGRAMMING
Tim Preston
Director of Programming
Tim Preston is the co-founder and lead on ice instructor for Impact Hockey Development. As a highly recognized player development and skating coach, Tim works with a broad base of professional and amateur players. In addition to having trained Olympic gold medalists, Tim has worked with winners of the Maurice Richard Trophy, the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Stanley Cup.
Prior to coaching and starting Impact Hockey, Tim enjoyed a successful hockey career which included five years in the WHL playing for the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Saskatoon Blades. In 1999, he was selected in the third round of the NHL draft by the Buffalo Sabres and eventually finished his playing career within the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Impact Hockey is excited to get back on the ice with the Richmond Jets association.
2021-2022 SKILLS PROVIDERS
Mats Lindgren
Skills Provider
Mats is a proven and passionate teacher of the game of hockey. Decades of exposure to North American and Swedish Ice Hockey training and coaching methods has enabled Mats to develop an enhanced puck possession brand of hockey for both minor hockey coaches and players.
Mats is a two-time world junior champion, former NHL player of 10 seasons, 1998 Olympian, and Swedish Hockey League (SHL) coach of 7 seasons.
Linden Saip
Skills Provider
Linden’s playing career included time in the WHL, BCHL, and Canadian University Hockey League, where he graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Kinesiology; specializing in High-Performance Strength & Conditioning. Coach Saip has gained lots of experience providing exceptional skill development for players of all ages; specializing in Defense Specific Skills and Tactics. He has been an important part of the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) Coaching Staff for the past 4 seasons as an Assistant Coach, Director of Strength and Conditioning, and spent a portion of the 2018/19 BCHL season as the team’s Head Coach.
Landen Matechuk
Skill Provider
Landen Matechuk is from Fort Langley British Columbia and grew up playing minor hockey in BC.
Landen has a wealth of experience in instruction and skills development and has been coaching athletes for almost nine years. His hockey career includes five seasons of junior hockey and three years of collegiate hockey at the University of Victoria.
Michelle Popoff
Skills Provider – Skating Initiation Program & Intro to Hockey
Michelle has been a Skate Canada Certified PowerSkating and Figure Skating coach for over 35yrs and has worked for the Connaught Skating Club and most recently the Delta Skating Club as their Head Powerskating coach.
Michelle also works in Recreation with the City of Richmond at the Arenas, as the supervisor for the Learn to Skate Program and also has 3 adult sons that are all Richmond Alumni. Michelle is a passionate, energetic coach that strives to get the best out of every player. I pride myself on motivating all players, of all capabilities in a fun, high-energy but challenging setting, supporting each player's development while they gain confidence and build a strong skating foundation along the way!
2021-2022 GOALIE COACHES
Pasco Valana
Goaltending Coach
Pasco Valana is a professional goaltending coach based in Vancouver and has been with the Jets program for the past three years.
Pasco is the long-time goaltending coach with the UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey program. Valana has mentored 58 goaltenders to college scholarships and 13 to the National Hockey League.
He has also mentored a KHL All-Star, three Hobey Baker nominees, and goalies who have an NCAA Division I Championship and a Royal Bank Cup. In 2010, Valana was the Chief of Athlete Services for the sport of ice hockey at the Vancouver Olympic Games and was added to the coaches pool for Hockey Canada National Women’s U18, U22 and Senior National Training Camp.
Pasco is now working closely with Coaches at Hockey Canada in developing an accredited National Goaltending Certification Program.
Rob Fuchs
Goaltending Coach
Rob Fuchs is a professional goaltending coach based in Vancouver. Rob has been coaching in Richmond hockey programs for over 10 years and is an alumni of Richmond Minor Hockey.
A graduate of Hamline University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management; Rob played four years of NCAA college hockey where as a freshman he won 2nd team all-conference honors. The first student of PFGS to receive a college scholarship, Rob has been an owner of PFGS since 2005.
- Current goalie Coach – Delta Hockey Academy (2015 – present)
- Surrey Eagles Goalie Coach (2010 – 2014) – Fred Page and Western Canadian Champions 2013, RBC semi-finalists 2013
- SFU goalie coach (2009 – 2013)
2021-2022 COMPETITIVE (REP) COACHES
Shawn McQuistin
U11 (Atom) A1 Head Coach
Shawn has been coaching minor hockey for the past 8 years. He has coached Atom A1 U11 for the past 4 years and before that coached rep at both peewee and bantam. Shaw is also a scout for the Richmond Sockeyes. Shawn grew up playing minor hockey in Richmond and has always had a love and passion for the game.
People would describe Shawn as dedicated and hard-working. “I always give 110% to the kids.”
Shawn talks about his passion for the game: “I love being able to make hockey a place where kids can go and have fun. It's a place where they can develop their skills while also developing skills off ice that will help them throughout their life. There is nothing better than seeing kids develop over the years and show up to the rink with a smile. Not only to play the game they love but to be able to make friends along the way.”
Kenta Muraki
U11 (Atom) A2 & U21 (Juvenile) A1 Head Coach
Jim Seto
U13 (PeeWee) A1 Head Coach
This will be Jim’s 17th year of coaching. He has coached Atom Rep – Midget Rep as well as several levels of spring hockey. Jim’s philosophy is about keeping it simple for the players. His priority is having fun while bringing structure and organization to gameplay.
Winning is not everything but rather developing and making the right decisions with and without the puck. Hockey is a team sport that he loves to participate in.
Steve Yip
U13 (PeeWee) A2 Head Coach
Steve has coached minor hockey for over 20 years. His experience ranges from house to rep levels with the last 15 years focused on the rep program. Steve is passionate about the game and brings his love of the sport to his player's while providing them the support and knowledge that will carry them throughout their life, beyond the sport.
Steve's coaching style is diverse as he believes there is no one approach that will suit every athlete. He finds the right balance of fun and competition with the aim to teach and not criticize.
Ray Hung
U13 (PeeWee) A3 Head Coach
It is such an honour for Ray to be a part of your children's hockey adventure. As a long-time resident of Richmond, Ray is thrilled to see our young community come out and enjoy our favourite pastime, the game of hockey.
Sports has and will always be a part of Ray’s DNA. As a young lad, he played a variety, even creating his own “Sherwood” from a scrap piece of wood fastened with some wire and nails to a broom handle. Ray saw championships, and also the heartaches and disappointment in defeat. But no matter the ups and downs, the bonds of leadership, trust, teamwork and everlasting friendships still remain. His involvement and passion continue to grow.
Coaching is truly enlightening. It is a true privilege, passing on core values of competition, sportsmanship and being part of something special, a team Ray continues to try to be the infinite teacher and coach, “always learning” so he can try to give the best to all the players, to the families, to the team. Let us all try to embrace, ubuntu. Time to come together and be better, for you, for me, for us.
Nicholas Lo
U13 (PeeWee) A4 Head Coach
Nick Lo has been an assistant coach at Richmond Jets minor hockey for the past 4 years. Nicholas coached Atom C Last Season. This is his first year as a Head Coach at the U13 Rep level. He is Looking forward to helping the kids develop their game, have fun and just enjoy the ride as Head Coach!
Mike Ikeda
U15 (Bantam) A1 Head Coach
Head Coach – Richmond Minor Hockey: Sep/2008 – Present
2019-20 Bantam A1
2017-18 PeeWee A1
2016-17 Midget A1
2015-16 Midget A2
2014-15 Bantam A2
2008-13 House Levels
- Assistant Coach – UBC Varsity Hockey Team: Sep/2004 – 2008
- Head Coach – Nikkei Hockey Team: May 2006/2008
- Lower Mainland Hockey Scout – Vancouver Giants 2002 -2003
- Professional Hockey Player – Japan Ice Hockey League: Aug/1994 – Mar/1998
- UBC Varsity Ice Hockey Player – UBC: 1989 – 1993
- Junior ‘A’ Ice Hockey Player – Calgary Canucks (AJHL): 1986 – 1988
Dennis Jappinen
U18 (Midget) A1 Head Coach
head coach of the U18 A2 team. Dennis is an analytical Hockey coach with experience in a
wide range of ages from U10 to U18. He sees himself as a passionate student and teacher
of the game. His ability to adapt to challenging situations has been a great asset for the
association.
“Players often regress from having no sense of direction and skill development can often become
gruelling in a long season. Every player learns in a different way. My job as a coach is to find the
best approach to communicate with players so that they retain a deeper knowledge of the game
that will hopefully guide them ahead.”
Glenn Wheeler
U18 (Midget) A2 Head Coach
Glenn has numerous years of coaching experience in Richmond and most recently was with the Surrey MHA U15 A1 team. Glenn attended John Abbott College in Montreal, St. Lawrence University and played Junior Hockey in Belleville, Ont. He has trained players from Beginner to Pro in Canada, United States, Europe and Asia. Glenn is a Nationally Certified Coach with 20 years of Coaching experience in Skills Development, European Technique Power Skating as well as Game Playing and Compete Tactics. Coach Glenn’s unique ability to communicate with players of all ages and his attention to detail, discipline and running fast-paced sessions makes him one of the most sought-after Coaches in BC and abroad.
- Minor League Team Coach of the Year (6 Times)
- Twice (2) Championship Banner Head Coach Provincial Finals (4 Times Finalist)
- Eight Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association League Titles (PeeWee to Midget)
- Coached Seafair PeeWee 1996 Team-Quebec Winter Carnival (Record 5 wins-1 Loss)
- 21 Winter Tournament Champions In Canada and U.S. (Atom to Midget)
If you have any questions regarding Rep Coaching, or if you are interested in coaching for the Richmond Jets, please contact the Rep Committee at rephockey@richmondjetsmha.com
THANK YOU TO OUR PLATINUM & DIAMOND SPONSORS
Richmond Jets Minor Hockey Association
As one of the largest minor hockey associations in British Columbia, the Richmond Jets Minor Hockey Association offers an integrated (boys and girls) minor hockey program from Initiation to Juvenile. Featuring both recreational ("C") and competitive ("A") streams, our programs operate out of the three different facilities in the City of Richmond: Richmond Ice Centre (RIC), Minoru Arenas (Stadium and Silver Rinks), Richmond Oval (North and South rinks).
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We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
