NAVAN, ONTARIO – APRIL 25, 2018 ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Steve Barban, President of the Navan Grads Hockey Club and Marty Abrams General Manager and Head Coach of the Hockey Club are pleased to announce that Ryan Woodward has been hired as Associate Coach and Assistant General Manager. In his capacity Ryan will assist in all operations of the Junior A Club as well as serve as Head Coach of the Navan Grads U18 AAA Hockey Club.
Ryan comes to the Grads after serving as General Manager and Associate Coach of the Wellington Dukes this past season. Prior to this position Woodward worked with Marty Abrams as his Associate Coach and Assistant General Manager of the Wellington Dukes for two seasons.
Woodward spent five seasons as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Picton Pirates Junior ‘C’ Hockey Club. During his tenure with the Pirates he became the all-time winningest coach in franchise history. The Pirates won three consecutive regular season championships and won three league championships; In 2013, the Pirates captured the organization’s first All-Ontario Provincial Junior ‘C’ Schmalz Cup Championship.
Before his coaching career, Woodward played 4 seasons at Oswego State University. In 2006, Woodward was named SUNYAC Player of the Year and NCAA All-American. In 2007, Woodward captained the Oswego State Lakers to the programs first NCAA Division III National Championship.
Prior to his University career, Woodward played 4 seasons for the Wellington Dukes Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club and is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. In 2003, he was named OPJHL Most Valuable Player and OHA Junior ‘A’ Player of the Year. As captain, the Dukes won the Buckland Cup, Dudley Hewitt Cup and was a Semi-Finalist at the 2003 Roya Bank Cup in Charlottetown, PEI.
From Barban, “We are thrilled to bring someone with Ryan’s pedigree and talent into the Grads organization. His hiring is a testament to our commitment of establishing the Grads as a perennially competitive club in the CCHL.”
From Abrams, “Ryan is a tremendous asset to our hockey club and will be a vital cog in the wheel. Having him as our U18 Head Coach also ensures full coordination between the two clubs and a seamless transition for all players in our club system.
From Woodward, “I am very excited to be in Navan to once again work with Marty. Our past success together shows what we can do, and is representative of what we hope to bring to Navan.”
The Navan Grads are a Junior A Hockey Club competing in the Central Canada Hockey League (the “CCHL”). The Grads organization currently operates three teams which include the Junior A club, the U18 Club competing in the Hockey Eastern Ontario U18 league (HEO U18) as well as a spring development team which competes in the Central Development Hockey League (the “CDHL”) in May and June every year. The Grads also operate summer hockey camps and schools for young student athletes.
For more information, media and prospective players may contact Marty Abrams at 1-613-885-2431 or Steve Barban at 1-613-858-7500.
