The Sicamous Eagles have some sweet news with the appointment of a new head coach and general manager.
In an April 9 media release, the team announced that Derek Sweet-Coulter, who has been involved in junior hockey as a head coach for over 20 years, has signed a three-year contract to lead the team effective immediately.
"I'm proud to become a part of the KIJHL and the Sicamous Eagles organization," he said in the release. "[Governor] Sheila Devost and the entire board have been extremely professional throughout this process and the vision of the Eagles program aligns directly with my core values and beliefs, which was the main contributing factor in joining the Eagles."
Sweet-Coulter takes deep pride in developing hockey players and helping them advance to the next stage and, throughout his career, has seen many of his players move on to Junior A, WHL, college and professional levels.
Most recently, the Victoria native led the Westshore Wolves of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League for three seasons from 2021-2024. Prior to that, he was a bench boss in the BCHL for the Merritt Centennials from 2019-2021, before they dropped down to the KIJHL in 2024.
In his career, Sweet-Coulter also spent four years helping build the Red Lake Miners program in the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) in Ontario from 2015 to 2019, and was named SIJHL Coach of the Year in 2018. The same year, he was also recognized nationally when he was nominated for CJHL Coach of the Year, and had the privilege of being an assistant coach with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge, where he won gold in 2017 in Truro, N.S., and bronze in 2018 in Bonnyville, Alta.
Sweet-Coulter brings with him a wealth of experience, passion, a strong work ethic and the motto: Humility, Integrity, and Courage; Building Men for Others, which he looks forward to sharing with the Eagles.
"I am humbled by the respect, appreciation, patience, and support that was shown by the organization through the hiring process," he said. "I look forward to building new relationships and working together with the entire Eagles group."
