Justin Simpkins

President

Wayne Gretzky once said, “Nobody’s a natural. You work hard to get good and then work to get better.”  

On his own personal lifelong quest for leadership, Founder and Director of the Prairie Hockey Academy, Justin Simpkins first developed the AAA Crusader program in Caronport in 2009.  His mission and goal was to work at developing a program that was dedicated to inspiring more than just athletes, but life champions with a heart first approach to hockey development on and off the ice. 

Following his own personal hockey career, Justin has worked various leadership and coaching roles at the college level, Head Instructor for Hockey Ministries International (Caronport, Sk), Assistant Director for Athletics at Briercrest College and volunteered as an Assistant to the General Manager for The Moose Jaw Warriors.

Justin is active in leading his team in the vision and execution of the organization, recruitment, admission requirements, alumni and donor sponsorships and program development.  His commitment and investment to the program is exemplified in his approach to the young athletes that each and every one of them feel connection, respected and valued on the team as an athlete and person.  His favourite quote is "see the person, not the performance." 

Justin resides in Moose Jaw with his wife and two daughters.

Scott King

Director of player development

Growing up in Saskatoon, Scott King developed his love of the game while playing minor hockey throughout many rinks all over Saskatchewan. After a year with the Calgary Royals (AJHL), he was recruited by Boston University, where he played one season in the NCAA League in 1995-1996.  He than played with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) for the 1996-1997 season, scoring 97 points in 68 games and was named "Rookie of the Year".   The following year King signed with the Montreal Canadiens (NHL) and went on to play four seasons in the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League, being named an American Hockey League All-Star and both Scoring Champion and Most Valuable Player in the ECHL.

King then spent the next 14 years playing professional hockey in Germany where he was a five time All-Star and is the sixth all-time leader in scoring.  King was selected five times to play for and represent Canada at the Deutschland Cup, and was part of Canada’s Championship Teams in both 2005 and 2008.

Before returning to Canada, King spent two years as a Skills Development Instructor in Germany throughout the 2013 to 2015 seasons.  He has completed Hockey Canada’s Hockey University Coaching and Safety Modules.   King has also travelled internationally attending hockey programs in Sweden, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Japan.

From 2015 to 2016,  King was Hockey Canada’s Head Skills Development Coach.  Following this prestigious role, he joined the Moose Jaw Warriors as the Assistant Coach as well as the Director of Player Development.  

We are very pleased and honoured to have Scott join our hockey family and program as he carries on the position of the Director of Player Development with the Prairie Hockey Academy. 

Scott resides in Moose Jaw with his wife, and their son & daughter.  

Lorne Molleken

Director of COach Development & Associate Coach

Lorne brings an incredible hockey resume to Prairie Hockey Academy’s staff. As a goaltender Lorne played in four professional leagues in his career, ultimately hanging up his glove and blocker in 1985 and picking up his whistle Lorne began his coaching career. Lorne has served his players as a head coach in the SJHL, WHL, AHL, and the NHL. Lorne agreed to come to Prairie Hockey Academy in early 2019 to coach an age group that he had never coached before. Lorne was eager for the “opportunity to work with and mentor a group of young student-athletes and coaches and foster development on and off the ice.”

“For me, Prairie Hockey Academy’s vision of creating young hockey players of integrity and character and how they go about everything they do in a professional way makes this a very unique and special place. Something that I want to continue to be a part of.” - Lorne Molleken

Lorne’s maturity and immense hockey knowledge provide value to all who have the honour of learning from him.

Lloyd Friesen

Director of alumni operations & Associate Coach

Lloyd will be a familiar face for Prairie Hockey Academy this year, having spent 12 seasons as the head coach of the Caronport High School Midget AA Cougars (1986-1998), 3 seasons with the Moose Jaw AAA Warriors (1999-2002), where they hosted the Telus Cup Western Regionals in 2001; before moving back to the college ranks coaching the Briercrest Clippers of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (2013-2015). 

Erik Robitaille

Director of business operations

Erik has spent countless hours in the Barkman arena as a Briercrest Clipper, Crusaders AAA coach, Director of Caronport’s Spring 3 on 3, Director of Spring recreational hockey in Caronport, and now Prairie Hockey Academy’s Director of Business Operations and Flex Coach. While playing for the Briercrest Clippers (2012-2015), Erik was awarded top defenseman twice within three seasons. Erik has spent the last decade coaching young athletes from the ages of 5 to 20 in various situations on and off the ice. His extensive hockey knowledge and experience is a huge asset to the program. 

Jordan Cheechoo

Midget Varsity Head Coach

Jordan was raised in Moose Factory, ON and moved to Sudbury to play Bantam and Midget AAA before being drafted to the Sudbury Wolves in the 2004 Ontario Hockey League draft. During his junior career, Jordan played in the OHL for the Sudbury Wolves and Windsor Spitfires. He also played in the QMJHL for the Gatineau Olympiques before finishing his career with the Sudbury Jr. Wolves in the NOJHL. Jordan began coaching in 2010 with the Cree Nation Bears Midget AA team where he spent 5 seasons. Jordan moved to Caronport, SK in 2015 and was an Assistant Coach with Briercrest College before accepting his role with Prairie Hockey Academy. Jordan has a passion for helping youth develop their skills to achieve their goals in hockey and life.

Trevor McLellan

Flex Coach

Darryl Osborn

Video/Analytics coach & Assistant Business Operations

Darryl is a lifelong hockey fan, and multi-sport high school athlete. Darryl combines strong hockey knowledge with analytical and video experience to provide in game analysis and statistical trends to the coaching staff, and players. Darryl started working with Prairie Hockey in 2017 as an intern, and has been providing value to his colleagues and student athletes ever since.

Andy Schmidt

strength & conditioning Coach

Andy was born and raised in Swift Current, SK. Andy was an avid sports fan, playing every sport imaginable. After high school, Andy found himself heading to Regina to compete on the U of R Cougar Men's wrestling team and studying Kinesiology, which culminated with a work term in the WHL as strength and conditioning coach with the Swift Current Broncos.

Since completing his degree, Andy has spent the past seven years being involved with First Steps Wellness Centre, an internationally renowned neuromuscular training centre and has pioneered a program for training Saskatchewan's Paralympic athletes. Highlights during these years have been working with WHL players who have since made the NHL (Cody Eakin & Adam Lowry) as well as currently with Paralympic hopefuls (Jessica Frotten & Gil Dash).

Andy is passionate about not just training people, but educating them and empowering  young people to be fierce competitors and champions in life! Andy currently resides in Regina with his beautiful wife Emma, and daughter Sophia, where he is a Youth Pastor, Sask Sport Medicine & Science Strength Consultant, Certified Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP), and full time investor in the youth of today in anyway he can.