The Parkland Rangers U18 and U15 hockey teams will have new coaches at the helm when the season starts in the fall.
Rick Freese was hired as the new head coach of the U18 Rangers, following a two-year stint as an assistant coach with the Dauphin Kings.
In taking over from outgoing head coach Tom White, Freese said the focus will be on developing players.
“And doing a little more here that has been done in the past as far as off-ice stuff and on-ice. We’re going to get on the ice a little more,” he said.
“We’re going to try to maybe shift the culture a little bit here to make sure that we’re competitive. I think that a little bit of change is a good thing and we’re definitely going to give it all we’ve got, for sure.”
Freese has already reached out to all players eligible to return next season and has been emailing prospective players, as well.
“Nothing is guaranteed for those guys. And that’s the message. They’ve got to make sure that they’re prepared and have a good summer and they never miss a workout. That they’re making sure that they’re ready to go in the fall,” he added.
Nothing, Freese said, is guaranteed, so the returning players will have to make their mark.
“And they’re well aware of that, too. They’re young men and they understand the pressures of being an elite player. They’ll make sure that they’re ready to go, no doubt about it,” he said.
The Rangers will hold try-out conditioning ice sessions in August.
“We’re going to have our returning players there. We’re going to have some new prospects there. We’re looking to fill that up,” Freese said.
The main try-out camp will run, Sept. 12 to 14.
Freese will be on the road this month to begin the recruiting process by making contact with prospective players.
Freese is in the process of talking to prospective assistant coaches and expects an announcement to be made in the near future.
“I’m looking forward to making sure that we’re doing the best we can. We’ve got to put the right foot forward, of course, We want to come out of the gate real well. But we want to sustain that. We want to get better throughout the course of the year. And I think that’s the message,” he said.
“Getting these guys to the next level is the most important thing and that’s what we’re really going to be focusing on here.”
The U15 Rangers will be under the tutelage of Chad Facey, who spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the Kings, competing at the Centennial Cup after winning the league championship in 2022.
Facey’s tactical knowledge and leadership helped drive one of the most successful seasons in Kings franchise history.
Facey is one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in Manitoba AAA hockey. With over a decade of experience behind the bench, he has earned a reputation for building high-performing teams and developing players who succeed at the next level.
Prior to his time in the MJHL, Facey served as head coach of the Yellowhead Chiefs U18 AAA program in the Manitoba AAA U18 Hockey League.
Under his guidance, the Chiefs finished in the league’s top three during the regular season three times, solidifying his reputation as one of the premier coaches at the U18 level in the province.
Facey’s development resume is equally impressive at younger age levels. In 2016, he helped guide a U15 team to a provincial final, showing his ability to connect with athletes early in their development and elevate their game.
Bringing Facey into the Parkland Rangers program is a major milestone for the organization. His experience across U15, U18, and Junior A levels gives him a unique ability to develop, motivate and prepare players for what lies ahead.
