Following a successful Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL) campaign, the Edge Mountaineers have announced a coaching change for next season.
Assistant coach Scott Fukami will assume the head coaching duties for the Girls’ Prep team for the 2011-12, replacing outgoing three-year bench boss Mario Amantea, who’s decided to step away from the busy travel schedule to focus on his family and business matters.
The Mountaineers Girls’ Prep team, which will enter its fourth year this fall, placed second in the JWHL playoffs, following its first-place divisional finish in the regular season.
“We achieved some major goals this year in the Junior Women’s Hockey League and I look forward to continuing to build on one of the best women’s hockey programs in North America,” said Fukami, who’s been with the team as an assistant since 2009.
Fukami brings plenty of experience to his new role, having run numerous conditioning camps as well as a high school hockey development program and has worked with many of Alberta’s top boys and girls at the Professional Hockey Development Centre.
He also played in the WHL, Sweden’s Division 1, the Japan Ice Hockey League and the CIS. In 2008-09, Fukami coached the Calgary Midget AAA Flyers to a bronze medal in the Esso Cup National Championship.
“Scott’s approach to the game and his knowledge of the latest developments in hockey theory will guarantee that our programs remain ‘best in class,’” said Jason Stewart, Edge School’s director of hockey.
“Scott will continue to be involved with our hockey skill development program and will act as mentor to our female hockey community. Understanding our core values and what Edge demands of its student-athletes makes Scott the perfect replacement. We also thank Mario for his leadership and hard work in making our girl’s program one of the top female high-school hockey programs in North America.”
Replacing Fukami as first assistant coach will be former second assistant Amy Young, who just completed her first year with the team. She spent the two previous summers working with the Canadian Women’s National U-18 and U-22 teams as a video coach.
She was also an assistant coach with the NAIT Ooks, helping the team to its first appearance at the ACAC Conference Championships, played with the University of Alberta Pandas and spent two years as its video coach. Her expanded role at Edge School will also include the development of the new U-16 female program this fall.
“This is a great initiative for our program as it will give more girls at Edge the chance to play for a school team and allows for a larger talent pool to draw from for the Prep Team,” Young said.
“Amy and I work really well together, each bringing complimentary skills to the team,” Fukami said. “Amy’s recent experience with the 2011 World Junior silver medallists U-18 Canadian Women’s National team added a dimension to her coaching.”
