Swan Valley Stampeders hire new head coach

The Swan Valley Stampeders have turned to an alumnus to lead them into the future.

The team announced Josh Tripp as their new head coach for the rest of this season. Tripp was excellent for Swan Valley in the 2018/2019 season, winning the league’s most valuable player award.

“The Stampeders organization means a lot to me,” Tripp said in a team news release.

“I owe so much to the team from my playing career to, now, my coaching career. I’m very passionate about this team and anything I can do to have a successful team in the Valley, I will do.”

The Stampeders were searching for a coach after Barry Wolff and the team agreed to part ways earlier this season. The Stampeders are at the bottom of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s West Division standings, with only two wins so far this season.

“Josh knows our organization well and what it means to be a Stampeder,” Stampeders board president Evan Morden said.

“He understands the culture and has the desire to help players strive for success.

Tripp has begun his coaching journey since graduating from the junior ranks after the 2019 season, helping with Swan Valley pre-season camps and heading up the Parkland Rangers U18 AAA team this year. He also served as an assistant coach with Team Manitoba at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.

Tripp’s first game as head coach was in Niverville, in a 5-3 losing effort Nov. 8.

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