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HOCKEY PEI SELECTS CANADA GAMES COACHES
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Charlottetown – Hockey PEI has completed its selection process of team staffs for the 2011 Canada Winter Games to be held in Halifax, NS. Billy McGuigan will lead the men’s team as head coach while Robyn MacDonald was selected to lead the female team for the games.
 McGuigan a native of Charlottetown is currently the coach and general manager of the Miramichi Timberwolves of the Maritime Junior Hockey League. He brings a wealth of coaching and playing experience to the position. McGuigan spent the past four seasons behind the bench of the Charlottetown Junior “A” Abbies in the capacity as assistant coach, and then promoted to head coach. In 2007, McGuigan also joined the Texas Wildcats of the East Coast Hockey League as an assistant coach. His playing career is extensive. McGuigan was a member of Team PEI at the 1991 Canada Winter Games. This experience would launch a long playing career that saw stops in the Ontario Hockey League with the Kitchener Rangers and would have stints in the Colonial, Central and West Coast hockey leagues.
Joining McGuigan as his assistants with the team are Jeff MacDonald (Stratford) and Ryan Ramsay (Charlottetown). Both MacDonald and Ramsay have been behind the bench of the Charlottetown Midget AAA Abbies for the past four seasons. Both will be returning to the team this season to defend their provincial championship. In addition, both MacDonald and Ramsay have been part of the Hockey PEI Program of Excellence in the past in the role of assistant and head coaches.
MacDonald to Lead Female Team
 For Robyn MacDonald a native of Mt. Mellick, she will be returning to the Canada Games team in a new capacity as the teams head coach. MacDonald had been the assistant coach of the female team at the Canada Winter Games in 2003 (Bathurst) and 2007 (Whitehorse). In addition to her vast experience at the Canada Winter Games she has also played a vital role with Hockey PEI’s Program of Excellence in a variety of positions including head coach, assistant coach, trainer, fitness coordinator and director of operations. In addition to coaching, MacDonald’s playing career was extensive including representing PEI at the 1991 Canada Winter Games, 1993 Junior nationals and several years representing PEI at the Esso Women’s National Championships.
Joining MacDonald on the bench as her two assistants are Chris Aiken (Sherwood) and Brandy MacLellan (Wellington). Aiken served as an assistant coach with the men’s team at the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse. Last season he was the head coach of the Pownal Bantam AAA team. MacLellan is relatively new to the coaching profession, however has many years experience as a goaltender and as such will focus her attention with the teams goaltenders. This season, MacLellan will be joining the Pownal Midget AA Red Devils female team in the role of assistant coach.
Both coaching staffs were selected by a committee comprised of member’s representing the Hockey PEI board of directors. Team managers will be appointed in the near future. Staffs will begin the process of player selections beginning officially at the 2009 Spring Program of Excellence Camp in April.
Program of Excellence
The Hockey PEI Mark’s Work Wearhouse Program of Excellence (POE) is a development opportunity for all Under 14, Under 15, and Under 16 male and all Under 15 and Under 18 female hockey players. Registered players attend the Spring Camp from which up to forty-five players in each group are identified and selected to attend a summer selection camp. From this camp, players are selected to Team PEI. This Spring Camp is open to all age appropriate players who are residents of Prince Edward Island. Every fourth year the Program of Excellence also helps to identify and prepare players for their potential involvement in the formation of the Provincial teams participating in the Canada Winter Games.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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