NAVAN, ON – The Navan Grads Junior A Hockey Club of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) is proud to announce the appointment of Sean Blunden as the team’s new Head Coach.
Blunden, who previously served as the Grads’ Associate Coach, and as Head Coach of our U18 program brings deep local knowledge and strong developmental expertise to the bench. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, his promotion ensures seamless leadership continuity as the franchise builds upon its established culture of development, enhanced player experience and advancement.
Before transitioning to coaching, Blunden put together a robust playing career as a reliable, physical defenseman. He spent several seasons competing in the CCHL before heading to Concordia University at the USport level.
“Sean has earned this opportunity through his tireless work ethic and absolute dedication to our program and players. He will encourage a collaborative approach within the Hockey Operations department while insuring the player experience is a positive one”
The Grads are also proud to announce the return of Jeff Fox to the organization as Assistant Coach and with the added role as Assistant General Manager. In addition to his coaching duties, his expanded role as Assistant General Manager will see him work closely with the hockey operations department on player recruitment, roster development, and day-to-day team management.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff back again this year. He is an experienced hockey person that can contribute to all areas of our program.,” said the hockey club in a statement. “Jeff’s familiarity with our culture, combined with his hockey acumen and passion for both the player experience and player development, makes him the perfect fit for this dual role.”
Additionally we are pleased to announce that former team captain and Buckland Cup Champion Gabriel Crete has been appointed as the team’s new Assistant Coach. Crete returns to our program where he spent a highly successful five-year junior hockey playing career. A local product, Crete progressed through the Grads’ U18 AAA program before joining the Junior ‘A’ roster full-time in 2019. Known for his work ethic and 200-foot game, he eventually earned the team captaincy and led the Grads in scoring with 74 points during the 2023-24 season, culminating in the franchise’s historic first-ever Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). championship title. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Gabe back to Navan in a coaching capacity. Having watched him grow from our U18 program into a championship-winning captain, he embodies everything our organization represents. His leadership, competitive drive, and deep understanding of our team culture make him a perfect addition to our staff.”
In his new role, Crete will focus on both player development and ensuring the player experience is both positive and rewarding.
