National Coaches Week Contest Winners

BC Hockey’s National Coaches Week Contest’s third winner is Cody Yetter of McBride MHA. Yetter’s passion for hockey, and his contributions to supporting girls’ hockey in McBride were key factors in his nomination and win.

Cody’s Nomination:

“Cody coaches players from U7 through U18, and through his time with the association, he has recognized a real need for a dedicated girls’ hockey team. He has taken it upon himself to help get a girls’ team started here, donating both his time and his own money to purchase equipment so girls can have the opportunity to try hockey before making a commitment. Cody is on the ice five days a week, teaching kids the fundamentals of the game while also being someone they can look up to, trust, and lean on. Without Cody, I honestly don’t know what our association would look like. He is a major asset to our organization, and every time he steps onto the ice, he pours his heart into helping these kids learn, grow, and enjoy the game of hockey.”

The second winner of BC Hockey’s National Coaches Week Contest is Tiffany Timbers of Vancouver Female IHA. Timbers is the association’s U7 Coach Coordinator, onboarding players and their coaches, bringing leadership, and consistency to the U7 division.

Tiffany’s Nomination:

“Tiffany has been a dedicated coach with the Vancouver Angels for the past three years, coaching at both the U7 and U9 levels.

This summer, Tiffany led practices to support players transitioning from U9, where games are played on half ice, to U11, where they begin playing on a full sheet of ice. This is an important moment in the girls’ development, requiring them to adjust to a larger playing surface and learn new concepts related to positioning, spacing, and team play. Tiffany recognized the significance of this transition and ensured the players had the preparation and support they needed to approach U11 with greater confidence.

Tiffany also co-created Our Corner, VFIHA’s Women’s Coaching Network (https://www.vancouvergirlshockey.com/coaching/womens-coaching-network/). The network is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and developing women coaches through mentorship, on-ice development, workshops, networking, certification support, and leadership development. It welcomes women from all associations and backgrounds, including experienced coaches, former and current players, parents, and women who are simply curious about coaching.

This year, Tiffany is taking on even more responsibility as the U7 Coach Coordinator. In this role, she will help onboard our newest Angels and their coaches, bringing leadership, consistency, and the valuable perspective of an experienced non-parent coach to the U7 division. This gives VFIHA an opportunity to establish consistent coaching and onboarding practices from the very beginning of a family’s experience with the association.

Tiffany’s contribution extends well beyond the teams she coaches. She creates opportunities for girls to grow as players while helping more women develop the confidence, skills, and community they need to step behind the bench. Her commitment to player development, mentorship, and building a more inclusive future for hockey makes her highly deserving of recognition during National Coaches Week.”

 

The first winner of BC Hockey’s National Coaches Week Contest is Bayne Ryshak of Cloverdale MHA. Ryshak’s impact transcends the typical on-ice hockey coach role, by emphasizing the importance of the community and encouraging his athletes to take on leadership roles, and give back. 

Bayne’s Nominations:

“Bayne is such a thoughtful, dedicated, and caring coach who genuinely cares about the players as people just as much as he cares about developing them as athletes. He has a unique ability to connect with players, earn their trust, and make each of them feel valued, supported, and encouraged. He understands that coaching is about so much more than what happens on the ice—it’s about helping young athletes build confidence, learn accountability, develop character, and become better people.

He is highly respected and well-liked by everyone who has the opportunity to work with him. He is a favourite among the players, parents, executives, and fellow coaches, and it’s easy to understand why. Bayne gives an incredible amount of his time, energy, and knowledge to the team and is always willing to step up, answer questions, offer advice, or simply be there when a player needs someone to talk to. He goes above and beyond without ever seeking recognition for it.

What really sets Bayne apart is the genuine investment he makes in each player. He recognizes that every athlete is different, and takes the time to understand their individual strengths, challenges, and goals. He pushes players to be their best while making sure they know that mistakes are a part of learning and that they always have someone in their corner.

Bayne is also an incredible role model for our young players. He leads by example through his patience, integrity, commitment, and respect for others. The impact he has on these players extends far beyond hockey, and I think that is one of the greatest qualities a coach can have.”

“Bayne Ryshak has been a dedicated coach in Cloverdale for over five years, but his impact goes far beyond the rink. He is a true mentor and leader who invests countless hours not only in developing his players’ hockey skills, but also in helping them become confident, responsible and compassionate young people. Bayne encourages his athletes to take on leadership roles, give back to the community, and support the development of younger players. He leads by example and genuinely cares about the people he coaches.

Bayne understands that his role is about developing well-rounded humans, not just great hockey players, and the positive impact he has on his players, their families and the broader hockey community. This makes him truly deserving of this recognition.”