The Penticton Vees Jr. ‘A’ Hockey Club is pleased to announce Nick Fuher as their new Assistant Coach ahead of the 2014-2015 season.
President, General Manager and Head Coach Fred Harbinson says Fuher was the perfect choice for the program, “It was exciting to see the quality of applicants that this position attracted. In saying that, Nick Fuher possessed all the attributes we were looking for in an Assistant Coach, our program and more importantly our players are very fortunate to have Nick Fuher on staff.”
Fuher hails from Grand Forks, North Dakota and comes to the Vees with 15 years of coaching experience at variety of levels. Most recently, Fuher was an Assistant Coach with the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). Fuher started his junior hockey coaching career in the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2007 with the Lincoln Stars. Fuher then returned to his hometown in 2008 to step behind the bench as an Assistant at Grand Forks Central High School. During Fuher’s three seasons at Grand Forks Central, the Knights amassed a 30-9-3-2 record and won the North Dakota State championship in 2010.
Fuher then took the Head Coaching position for the North Dakota Development Team in 2012. The North Dakota Development team consists of highly talented high school aged players that play in showcase tournaments in front of NCAA and junior hockey scouts. Fuher has also spent eight years as an instructor/coach at University of North Dakota Hockey Schools, and has Level 4 USA Hockey Coaching Certification.
“I’m very excited to be coming to Penticton. Fred and I have worked together in the past and I look forward to again with the Vees, as well as, with Steve Cawley. I have the utmost respect for them because of the teams and players they bring together and develop year over year. Their dedication to hockey is second to none” states Fuher.
“I’m also thrilled to be working with such a talented group of players, as this squad looks to be very deep with speed and skill. That brings high expectations, which we will work together to achieve.”
Fuher transitioned into coaching after having a promising hockey career cut short due to an injury. The defenseman split his junior career between the MJHL and the USHL with Winkler and Lincoln. With the Flyers, Fuher put up 55 points and was the runner-up for the 1998-1999 MJHL Rookie of the Year award; was also named a second team All-Star. In Lincoln he tallied 43 points in 105 career games and was named a USHL All-Star in 2000. Fuher went on to play four years at the University of North Dakota (UND), where he amassed 81 points in 153 career games for the Fighting Sioux. In his senior season, UND finished as National runners-up and Fuher was named to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and NCAA Regional All-Tournament teams. In 2005 he signed with the Phoenix Coyotes and played for their American Hockey League affiliate the Utah Grizzlies, before his career-ending injury. Just recently Fuher returned to playing and he won an Allan Cup Senior Men’s championship in 2012 with the South East Prairie Thunder.
The Vees are also pleased to announce Jack Ramsey as an Assistant Captain for the 2014-2015 season. Ramsey is coming off a successful rookie season, where he had 25 points in 56 regular season games and developed into one of the Vees best defensive forwards. The future Minnesota Golden Gopher elevated his play in the BCHL playoffs, where he compiled eight points in 11 games. Ramsey was drafted this past June by the Chicago Blackhawks in the seventh round, 208th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Harbinson says Ramsey exemplifies all the qualities of a leader, “Like our two Co-Captains Jack comes from a family that is immersed in the game of hockey. Jack had an attitude throughout his recruiting process, his rookie season and now off season that has always focused on team first and wanting to get better every day. Jack will be a great addition to our leadership group.”
Ramsey says the gravity of the announcement isn’t lost on him, “It’s a huge honour, especially when we have so many good character guys in our dressing room. It will be challenging but exciting to take on a leadership role.”
Ramsey on how he describes his role as a leader, “I like to put energy into the team, which may call for a few words on the bench or leading by example on the ice.”
Ramsey joins Co-Captains Cody DePourcq and Patrick Sexton as part of the Vees leadership group for the upcoming season.
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