New King on throne

Times Reporter     

 

The Strathmore Wheatland Kings have found their new bench boss – former Calgary Royals AA midget coach, Jeremy Blumes, who brings 14 years of experience, alongside Coach of the Year accolades from Hockey Calgary.

“I’ve been looking for a new challenge, to coach at the next level,” Blumes said, having future aspirations to eventually coach junior. “Coaching the Wheatland Kings is the natural next step.”

Blumes spent the last four years with the Royals, winning provincials this past season. He is also currently the Southern Alberta scout for the Port Alberni Bulldogs of the BCHL.

“I think the biggest reason for our success (with the Royals) in the last little while is making sure the players understand their role and importance – giving them ownership. Coaches today can’t be dictators. It is about creating that team environment,” Blumes said. “I really only have three rules that guide everything we do: the team comes first, we get better every day, and we have fun.”

Although Blumes has an impressive winning record, he measures his success by the development of the players he coaches. A few of his former protégés have gone onto the NCAA.

“Players of mine who had intentions to play at a higher level, they have gone on to play at a higher level,” Blumes said. “It’s not solely because of the coach; a lot of it is the attention to detail and work that the player put in. As a coach, it’s rewarding to see.”

“We’re delighted,” Wheatland Kings Vice President of Hockey Doug Murphy said. “He brings everything that we need to the team.”

Those things include organization, attention to detail, and a great passion for coaching, Murphy mentioned.

“I know a lot of the players that he’s coached. They’ve been extremely well taught and they love him too,” he said. “Just talking to him as well, you can feel the enthusiasm that he has, and the excitement he has to start something new.”

Blumes brings along his assistant coach of four years, Shaun Norrie, with him to Strathmore. As a former player in the WHL, Norrie had stints with the Calgary Hitmen, the Vancouver Giants, and the Kootenay Ice – winning the Memorial Cup with the latter in 2002.

“He’s got that playing experience,” Blumes said. “Every level Shaun has played at, he’s won a championship. He understands what it takes to win.”

Blumes and Norrie will begin their preparation camp in August, with tryouts for the Wheatland Kings coming in September.

“We’re still going to be in a rebuilding year, so we have some work to do,” Murphy said. “But I’m very optimistic.”