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Rick Swan named assistant coach for Team Canada West in WJAC

Head coach of the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs Rick Swan is headed for the big leagues. For the second year in a row, Swan will be a member of the coaching staff for the World Junior A Challenge (WJAC) for Team Canada West.
Rick Swan has been named an assistant coach for Team Canada West in the upcoming WJAC.
Rick Swan has been named an assistant coach for Team Canada West in the upcoming WJAC.

Head coach of the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs Rick Swan is headed for the big leagues.

For the second year in a row, Swan will be a member of the coaching staff for the World Junior A Challenge (WJAC) for Team Canada West.

Last year, Swan was on the coaching staff as the video coach, but this year he has taken on an even bigger role as an assistant coach.

“This year, for me to be involved again, and this time to take on a bigger role, I'm just equally as honoured,” he said.

Swan is excited to be working with some of Canada's best Jr. A players.

“To be able to play and compete against some of the best players of that age group from throughout the world is something that comes around very few times in a person's life,” noted Swan.

When it comes to what he brings to the bench, Swan believes it's his ability to quickly adapt that made him stand out amongst some of the other coaches.

“I know anyone that would have been in the running would have been good coaches and would have all been able to bring something to the table. When you're in the game at the Jr. A level for a long time, you have certain experiences and knowledge that you bring,” he explained. “I'm a servant coach and I always believe that I am obligated to give our players every single thing that they need in order to create the success that they are looking for.”

Now that he has been named, he will start hunting for players to add to the team roster.

Once players are selected, they take part in a training camp. Coaches carefully choose 21 players from the 60 taking part in the camp.

“From there, those are the tough decisions because you are picking the best of the best and then you have to narrow down the best of the best to get to 21 players,” explained Swan.

Swan plans on learning from last year's loss to the Czech Republic, costing them a slot in a medal-earning game.

“You learn pretty quick, no different than what we do in Bonnyville, the importance of being over prepared can't be understated enough. You have to make sure you're absolutely ready for anything,” Swan said. “You want to make sure moving forward that if we're ever in that situation again you're prepared for it.”

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