Nate Bedford has been named the head coach of the Portage CollegeVoyageurs Men’s Hockey team and will be at the helm for their first season in Cold Lake.
Bedford was the assistant, then head coach of the Keyano Huskies men’s hockey team, taking the regins in 2014. Nate and his family left Fort McMurray when the McMurray Wildfire hit in May of 2016. The men’s team is now defunct. Last season he was the Head Coach of the Battleford North Stars in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. During this past season his team allowed only 103 goals against with a 48 – 9 – 1 regular season record and then topped it off allowing 25 goals with a 12 – 0 record run in the playoffs to win the SJHL Canalta Cup League Championship trophy. This success broke a 17 year drought for the Battleford North Stars as league champions.
“It was clear from start that this was the guy we wanted to lead our men’s hockey team into the next era. The things that stood out to us was his team’s commitment to defense, discipline, team chemistry and representing the community in a positive role.” Says Jim Knight, Manager of Athletics & Recreation.
Bedford played 4 years of Junior Hockey for the Lindsay Muskies in the Ontario Junior Hockey league in which 3 of those was a league All-Star. He also has playing experience in the OHL, CIS, Europe, ECHL & UHL.
“It’s an honour to work for Portage College and we are excited to have a fresh start with the hockey program in Cold Lake. The ACAC is a tremendous league and provides opportunity for student athletes. The way Portage College has treated my family from the early stages of the process, to today, is a strong indicator of why this is a great decision for us.” says Bedford.
Bedford is currently working on his Masters in Leadership at Royal Roads University. He will start immediately in finishing the recruiting for this year’s team and building the Voyageurs brand in the City of Cold Lake.