BC HOCKEY ANNOUNCES 2022-23 MALE U16 PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE STAFF

For Immediate Release

March 25, 2022 

Saanichton, B.C. - BC Hockey is proud to announce the Male U16 hockey staff for the 2022-23 Program of Excellence (POE) season.

Brad Bowen has been named the head coach and will lead BC Hockey's U16 Male Team BC for the first time during the 2022-23 season. He will be joined by two first-time assistant coaches in Cam Barker, who spent last season as the assistant coach of the Penticton Vees (BCHL), and Chris Shaw, who has worked with the Vancouver NW Hawks in the BCEHL for the previous four seasons. Video Coach Wes McLeod, who just completed his sixth season coaching in the BCEHL with the U17 AAA Valley West Giants, will also join the coaching U16 Male POE staff for his first season.

The Hockey Operations Staff will see Athletic Therapist Lydia Maxwell return for her third season with the POE program. Equipment Manager & Trainer Les Cleverly also returns for his third season with the POE squad. The team is also bolstered by the addition of Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Davey who is returning for his sixth season. 

"We are very excited to add Brad Bowen as the head coach of our U16 Male POE Program for this season" Commissioner, Program of Excellence Fred Zweep said, "We feel Brad and his staff will do a tremendous job in developing the players and preparing them to find success at the Canada Winter Games and beyond."

Regional Camps are scheduled to begin at the end of March and the start of April, with five separate camps taking place. For full information on the Male POE Regional Camp, visit our POE website page HERE.

Following Regional Camps, a selection of players will be invited to move onto the BC Cup, which will be hosted April 21-24, 2022 in Salmon Arm, B.C. After the BC Cup, those selected will move on to the Provincial Camp stage that will take place July 26-29, 2022, in Penticton BC. More information will be released as it becomes available. 

Ultimately, 20 players will be selected to represent Team BC at the Canada Winter Games on February 18 - 25, 2023 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

Brad Bowen

Head Coach

Hometown: Harrison Hot Springs, B.C.

2021-22 Team: Yale Hockey Academy (CSSHL)

Background: This will mark Coach Bowen's first season with Team BC. He is currently the head coach of the U15 Prep Team at Yale Hockey Academy (CSSHL), while also assuming duties as the interim head coach with the U18 Prep team. He is also the program’s Director of Hockey Operations. He has over 30-years of elite coaching experience, working at all levels of hockey from grass roots through the professional ranks. 

Bowen graduated from Trinity Western University with a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology.

Cam Barker

Assistant Coach

Hometown: Winnipeg, M.B.

2021-22 Team: Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Background: Cam Barker is joining BC Hockey's POE staff for the first time. After a successful professional career in the NHL and Europe, he retired in 2021 and joined the Penticton Vees coaching staff.

The Winnipeg, M.B. native played his junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) before being drafted third overall in the 2004 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Barker spent parts of nine seasons in the NHL before moving to Europe for eight seasons. During his minor hockey years, Barker suited up for Team Manitoba at the 2003 Canada Winter Games. He finished with 2g-6a=8 points over five games. 

Chris Shaw

Assistant Coach

Hometown: Pitt Meadows, B.C.

2021-22 Team: Vancouver NW Hawks U15 AAA

Background: Chris Shaw has worked in the BCEHL with the Vancouver North West Hawks for the past four seasons, and this will mark his first season with BC Hockey's POE program. Shaw has previously coached with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and the Langley Rivermen of the BCHL, along with the Penticton Lakers of the KIJHL. He has also served as the coach and general manager of the Nelson Leafs (KIJHL). and the Ontario Avalanche in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL). 

Shaw’s playing career saw him suit up in the BCHL with Victoria, Trail and Burnaby. He then played five seasons professionally in the Central Hockey League and the ECHL.

Wes McLeod

Video Coach

Hometown: Mission, B.C.

2021-22 Team: Valley West Giants U17 AAA 

Background: Wes McLeod is in his first season with BC Hockey's POE program and just completed his sixth season coaching in the BCEHL. Before joining the Valley West Giants organization, McLeod spent time coaching at many different levels, starting at grassroots hockey, and progressing all the way to Junior A. 

He was born in Mission BC and attended post-secondary education at the University of the Fraser Valley, where he majored in Kinesiology.

Lydia Maxwell

Athletic Therapist

Hometown: Port Coquitlam, B.C.

2021-22 Team: Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Super REX

Background: Maxwell is entering her third year as the team’s athletic therapist. She currently works with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Super REX. Previously, she was the athletic therapist for the Delta Hockey Academy of the CSSHL from 2016-2021. She also worked for the Port Moody Panthers of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) during the 2018-19 season, and at the Edge School for Athletes of the CSSHL during the 2015-16 season. She has most recently worked with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Super REX.

Maxwell completed a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Kinesiology and Psychology with a concentration in active rehabilitation at Simon Fraser University in 2015. She then continued her education in Calgary as a post graduate student at Mount Royal University where she completed an advanced certificate in Athletic Therapy. In 2016, she passed her National Board Certification exam with the Canadian Athletic Therapy Association to become a Certified Athletic Therapist. She is currently completing a Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology with plans to certify as a Mental Performance Consultant with the Canadian Sport Psychology Association.

Les Cleverly

Equipment Manager & Trainer

Hometown: Hope, B.C.

2021-22 Team: Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)

Background: Cleverly has been a mainstay within BC Hockey’s POE program over the last three years and has been the Equipment Manager & Trainer for the U16 Male Team while also serving as the Equipment Manager with the Female U18 team. He was a member of the Male U16 team that captured the 2021 WHL Cup title last October.

Cleverly has been a Paramedic for the past 29 years and currently oversee and manages the Clinical Air Operations program for BC Emergency Health Services, which provides Critical Care Air Ambulance for patients throughout B.C.

Matt Davey

Strength & Conditioning Coach

Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.

2021-22 Team: Rowing Canada and the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific

Background: Davey is entering his sixth year working with BC Hockey's POE program. With over 12 years of experience coaching in the collegiate, national, and professional ranks, Davey has a wealth of experience to utilize best practices to help get the best from the athletes.

He is currently the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach with Rowing Canada and a senior practitioner at the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific. Davey’s career highlight is helping athletes achieve their dreams and watching them participate in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, and the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.