Program of Excellence
Program of Excellence
BC Hockey athletes have the opportunity to try-out for and represent their province, region or country in various national and international competitions throughout their career.
About the U16 Program of Excellence
The Male Program of Excellence (POE) was restructured for the 2016-17 season to better align with the key characteristics of the new program. With a greater focus on player development, BC Hockey will now have a better opportunity to work with and alongside the athletes.
The main change to the Male POE is the re-introduction of the U16 Regional Camps.
The U15 and U16 Regional Camps are operated in co-operation with the BC AAA Leagues and the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). Team staff from local teams will be assigned a camp location with the expectation to deliver the camp and a high performance experience for the players in attendance. Player attendance and participation at the U15 and U16 Regional Camps, combined with in-year evaluation, will determine players that will be selected to attend the U15 Tournament and U16 BC Cup.
Western Hockey League (WHL) Cup
Team BC competes at the Western Hockey League (WHL) Cup (formerly Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup) in non-Canada Winter Games years. The Canada Winter Games is held every four (4) years.
The WHL Cup (formerly the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup) happens every non Canada Winter Games year on the last weekend of October and the first week of November. Before heading to the WHL Cup, Team BC participates in a pre-stage camp that is geared towards team systems and team building.
Team BC brought home the silver medal in 2016 and won gold at the 2017 WHL Cup, the second gold medal for Team BC.
In 2013, Team BC competed and fell short in the final game against Team Alberta to bring home the silver medal. Defenseman Dante Fabbro (Surrey, BC) and forward Tyson Jost (Kelowna, BC) were named to the 2013 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup All-Star Team.
For the first time in the history of the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, Team BC captured gold in 2012 with a win over Team Alberta in the Championship game. Team BC finished the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record. Defenseman Chaz Reddekopp (West Kelowna, BC) and forward Mathew Barzal (Coquitlam, BC) were named to the 2012 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup All-Star Team. Team BC also won the gold medal at the WHL Cup in 2021.
The WHL Cup is a round robin format tournament consisting of the four (4) western branches: BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Saskatchewan Hockey Association and Hockey Manitoba. The final game is determined based on the round robin standings.
U16 Team BC - Canada Winter Games
Every four (4) years, both male and female Team BC teams are assembled to compete at the Canada Winter Games. The Male Team BC is selected through the BC Hockey Male Under 16 Program of Excellence and the female team is selected through the BC Hockey Female Under 18 Program of Excellence.
Athlete Eligibility
For the 2024 season, eligible athletes must:
1. Be BC Hockey registered.
2. Be born in the appropriate year (2009).
3. Meet BC Hockey residential qualifications as outlined in Hockey Canada Regulations or as directed by Hockey Canada program policy.
4. Be male.
Complete Program of Excellence (POE) policies can be found in the BC Hockey policy manual.
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2024 Male U16 Program Steps |
Dates & Locations |
Schedules/Rosters |
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1. 2024 Regional Camps |
Completed for the 2024-25 season. |
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| 2. 2024 U16 BC Cup |
Completed for the 2024-25 season. |
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3. 2024 U16 Provincial Camp |
Completed for the 2024-25 season. |
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4. 2024 WHL Cup |
Red Deer, AB October 23-27, 2024 |
Information will be updated as it becomes available.
The Male Program of Excellence (POE) staff consists of BC's top individuals from across the province. Team BC staff will be selected based on their performance at the U15 and/or U16 events.
For more information or any inquiries, please contact the BC Hockey POE Coordinator here: highperformance@bchockey.net
2024-25 Team: Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18 (BCEHL)
Riley Emmerson, Head Coach
Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C.
Riley Emmerson has become familiar with being behind the bench for BC Hockey’s Program of Excellence (POE). He was Team BC’s assistant coach in 2023, a provincial camp coach from 2021 to 2023 and was a BC Cup coach from 2018-2023.
Emmerson has been a head coach in the BCEHL over the last five seasons. Most recently, the 38-year-old has led the BCEHL’s Fraser Valley Thunderbirds’ U15 AAA team (2022-24) including capturing the U15 AAA Championship for the 2023-24 season. Prior to his time with the Thunderbirds, he oversaw the coaching duties for the BCEHL’s Valley West Giants’ U15 AAA team from 2019 to 2022. Emmerson’s coaching career began in the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom, where he served as a player-coach for the Edinburgh Capitals during the 2015-16 season.
The Abbotsford, B.C. native began his playing career with Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association (MHA). The 6-8 blueliner then made his way to the Western Hockey League where he plied his trade with the Tri-City Americans for two seasons between 2005 and 2006 before turning professional. Emmerson was drafted in 2005 by the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild (Round 7 – 199th overall).
Emmerson’s pro career would see him split time between the American Hockey League and the ECHL over his first five seasons. The following three years would see his pro career continue in the ECHL and Central Hockey League before he headed across the pond to Edinburgh for his final two years. Over his 10 seasons in professional hockey, Emmerson competed in 499 career games (regular season and playoffs).
2024-25 Team: Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep (CSSHL)
Dan Cioffi, Assistant Coach
Hometown: Langley, B.C.
This will be the first season behind a Team BC bench for Dan Cioffi. Cioffi has volunteered with the Program of Excellence (POE) as an evaluator and coach at regional camps and the BC Cup since 2017.
Cioffi currently serves as the head coach of the U15 Prep team and is the director of operations at Burnaby Winter Club. He was a scout for the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for four years.
The Langley, B.C. native has been involved in coaching for over 20 years, and has held roles with the Valley West Giants (BCEHL), Delta Ice Hawks (PJHL), North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association, Banff Hockey Academy (CSSHL) and the Carleton Ravens Women's Hockey Team (USports). Cioffi is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and possesses a bachelor's degree in Human Kinetics.
2024-25 Team: Shawnigan Lake School U15 Prep (CSSHL)
James Pollock, Assistant Coach
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.
James Pollock joins the Team BC bench for the first time this season. Pollock has been a member of the coaching staff at the U15 and U18 levels at Shawnigan Lake School since the 2014-15 season.
Prior to coaching, Pollock had a successful playing career. The Victoria native was a fourth-round selection by the St. Louis Blues in the 1997 NHL Draft, and played 15 seasons professionally in the NHL, American Hockey League, and in top divisions in Switzerland, Germany and Russia. Away from the rink, Pollock is a house director and guidance counsellor at Shawnigan Lake School
2024-25 Team: Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18 AAA (BCEHL)
Julian Feijo, Video Coach
Hometown: North Delta, B.C.
Julian Feijo makes his Team BC debut as Video Coach for the 2024 Program of Excellence (POE) season.
Feijo has served as the head coach for the BCEHL’s U17 AAA Fraser Valley Thunderbirds from 2022 to 2024. He was also a part of the coaching staff for the White Rock Whalers in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) from 2018 to 2022. He has also coached with Vancouver Thunderbirds MHA and North Vancouver dating back to the 2013 season, and captured a BC Hockey Championship at the U18 level in 2018.
Feijo’s played minor hockey at North Delta Minor Hockey Association (MHA). Outside of hockey, he has forged a career as a Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager.
2024-25 Team: Pacific Coast Academy U15 Prep (CSSHL)
Jason Becker, Coach Mentor
Hometown: Sasktatoon, Sask.
After serving as head coach of the Male U16 Team BC during the 2023 season, Jason Becker assumes the position of Coach Mentor for the 2024 Program of Excellence (POE) season. Previously, Becker spent four seasons as BC Hockey’s POE Male U16 Lead Evaluator. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native has been behind the Male U16 Team BC bench three times, as an assistant coach in both 2017 at the WHL Cup, and in 2019 at the Canada Winter Games. Becker was also head coach at the 2023 WHL Cup.
Becker has been with Pacific Coast Hockey Academy for four seasons where he now works as the Manager of Hockey Operations, and head coach of the U17 Prep team.
Before his time behind the bench, Becker played for four WHL teams from 1991-95 (Saskatoon Blades, Red Deer Rebels, Kamloops Blazers and Swift Current Broncos), and continued his career with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Men’s Hockey team, where he played five seasons and earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in Regional and Urban Development.
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2024-25 Team: Victoria Royals (WHL) and Juan De Fuca Minor Hockey Association U15 Tier 2
Glen Klassen, Equipment Manager
Hometown: Colwood, B.C.
Glen Klassen joins Team BC’s Program of Excellence (POE) staff as equipment manager for his first season. Klassen was the equipment manager at Team BC’s POE Prep Camp in Whistler in 2022. The Colwood native has been a trainer assistant for the Victoria Royals (WHL) since 2011. He also served as an assistant equipment manager for the Victoria Salmon Kings (ECHL) during the 2010-11 season, and was their dressing room attendant from 2004 to 2007.
Klassen is currently the sports bookings clerk at the Westshore Parks and Recreation Society.
BC Athlete Assistance Program & CSCP Targeted Athlete
Each season BC Hockey is awarded the opportunity to nominate players to be designated by Canadian Sport Centre Pacific as “identified athletes”. The athletes are designated as a result of participation / selection / performance in the BC Hockey High Performance Program. The CSC Pacific performance model assists national and provincial sport organizations and their targeted athletes, across the province, providing services to both summer and winter sports. Registered athletes gain access to benefits including; Gymworks (gym passes), performance enhancement seminars, links to medical services, and career services. Their coaches also have access to these services.