“I am eager to share my experiences, while listening and providing encouragement to all of the players and coaches in the BVHS association. I have been fortunate to have had some great mentors in my day that include: coach Mike Babcock and Dave Adolph who both played under Dave King at the University of Saskatchewan. Being a part of the Hockey Canada Skills Academies and working with people like Paul Carson and Bjorn Kinding have also helped shape my views on skill development.”

I made the move to Calgary three years ago to pursue his hockey coaching aspirations of developing young hockey players and citizens. I accepted a position with the National Sport Academy where I had a chance to work with other top coaches, while educating hockey players in the day and working with minor hockey coaches and players in the evenings. Mentoring has allowed me to provide guidance and encouragement along the way to the coaches who put in so many hours to their craft. The game continues to evolve and change at a very fast pace. It’s an exciting time to be a coach and player in hockey. Mentoring of coaches at all levels and specifically minor hockey is the key to the future growth of coaching in Canada.

My mentoring experiences have included working with both the Calgary Buffaloes and Crowchild Hockey Associations while also delivering on ice, off- ice and classroom sessions to many other associations in Calgary. My coaching experiences have included various levels from Pee Wee to Midget AAA as well as a few seasons of Spring Hockey. In 2004 and 2005 I was honored by being selected as the head coach representing the South Zone for the Alberta Cup.

As part of my coaching development I have put many extra hours into the development and understanding of body checking combined with a healthy perspective to match. I really believe that proper education can be our greatest positive influence in reducing the safety concerns around checking and safety in hockey. I believe very strongly in the work that Stop Concussions continues to do for not only concussion prevention but for education and curriculum standards within body checking as well.

My playing experience includes 4 years in the WHL, 5 years in the CIS, and 1 year as a European Professional in Holland. In 2001 I started one of the first Hockey Canada Skills Academy’s in the country, at the time there were only six in existence.

My other accomplishments include being named the Alberta Hockey Leader in 2004. This award recognizes community leadership through hockey, and rewards individuals who dedicate their time to supporting grassroots hockey in their community while helping young athletes realize their potential. I am also proud to have won both the Male Athlete of the Year and CIS Academic All-Canadian awards at the University of Lethbridge in both 1992 and 1993. Coach Yellowaga graduated from the University of Lethbridge in 1996 with a Combined Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Education degree.

Kevin is married to Georgina and they have a wonderful son named Nate who is excited to start Timbits this year. His wife, Georgina Yellowaga, is a school teacher who loves working with children in grades one and two. We really enjoy Calgary and our home in Cranston. Southern Alberta has always been home and we love all of the opportunities that Calgary provides for our family.