Kevin Kaminski is a co-winner of the Coach of the Year accolade. (submitted photo/Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League)

By Derek Cornet

Junior Hockey

Kaminski named SJHL Coach of the Year

Feb 26, 2020 | 2:35 PM

La Ronge Ice Wolves Head Coach Kevin Kaminski is the co-winner of the Canalta Hotels Coach of the Year Award for the 2019-20 season.

“It’s significant for the Ice Wolves to have the success they’ve had and you have to credit Kevin, the existing coach (Gaelan Patterson), his scouting staff and everybody who has helped him to get the team to where they are today,” Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) President Bill Chow said. “It’s a highly prestigious award to receive from your peers.”

Kaminski was officially recognized Tuesday with the award, which he will share with Battlefords North Stars Head Coach Brayden Klimosko. The Ice Wolves are currently sitting fourth in the league with 68 points, while the North Stars are first with 90 points.

Chow mentioned it’s an impressive feat how Kaminski was able to turn the team around after three years of not qualifying for playoffs. He noted his hard work didn’t go unnoticed as other coaches in the league vote on who should receive Coach of the Year.

“I really want to thank the board of directors for giving me this opportunity and having faith in me to turn this thing around,” Kaminski said.

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Kaminski, who joined the Ice Wolves last summer, has decades of experience playing and coaching hockey. Through the years, he played at various professional levels including 139 games in the National Hockey League. His career coaching began as an assistant coach for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in 2000-01 alongside Head Coach Mike Babcock.

With two games left in the regular season, the Ice Wolves sit with a 31-19-3-3 record and are up against the Yorkton Terriers, Melfort Mustangs and Nipawin Hawks to keep their fourth-place spot. According to the SJHL, the 31 wins so far this season is three more than the last three years combined and is also the most victories by a La Ronge team in a single season in nearly a decade.

With the playoffs beginning next month, Kaminski noted his team will be prepared.

“Whoever we play, we are going to be prepared,” he said. “We will be as prepared as a coaching staff can be and then it is up to the players.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno