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Hasselberg leaves North Stars for professional coaching opportunity

Kevin Hasselberg's goal is to become a coach in the National Hockey League. On Monday he made a move that he hopes will lead him to his dream job.
Kevin Hasselberg

Kevin Hasselberg's goal is to become a coach in the National Hockey League.

 

On Monday he made a move that he hopes will lead him to his dream job.

 

After five seasons as the general manager and head coach of the Battlefords North Stars, Hasselberg will be heading to the Southern Professional Hockey League's Pensacola Ice Flyers to serve as the team's general manager and head coach.

 

“It all came together pretty quickly,” Hasselberg said. “When this opportunity became available and I started to have serious discussions with the Ice Flyers, I started to weigh the pros and cons of if this was something I really wanted to do.

 

“My goal is to one day make it to the NHL and this is an opportunity to start in the professional ranks. In my dealings with the owner, Greg Harris, the way he feels about the game, how it should be played and how the players conduct themselves jived with how I approach things.”

 

The 40-year-old will be taking charge of the top team in the SPHL.

 

The Ice Flyers are the reigning President's Cup champions and have won three of the last four league titles.

 

“After going out there to Pensacola, speaking with the owners and the staff and seeing everything first hand it just felt right,” Hassleberg said. “People might scratch their heads when they hear me say this, but it really is a hockey place.

 

“It feels like the right time for me to make that jump to the next level. Obviously it's a very intimidating jump, but I'm excited and more than ready for this challenge.”

 

Hasselberg admitted though that it was tough for him to leave North Battleford given the relationships he's made in the area over the last five years.

 

“First and foremost my family owns a house here and my wife (Leah) and son (Dyllan) call this home now,” Hasselberg said. “I'm going out there by myself for that first season and that's going to be the biggest challenge. Day in and day out I'm still going to be a good husband and father while I pursue my career in hockey.

 

“Secondly there's the connections I've made here in the community. The people here have been welcoming and amazing ever since we rolled in off of the highway. I really need to thank the Atcheynum family as Blair, Jennifer, Megan and Anna have been so important in helping our family. It's difficult to say goodbye to them after seeing them every day, but I know we're all going to be connected for the rest of our lives.”

 

Hasselberg also thanked the North Stars organization and in particular the players that he coached at the Civic Centre over the last five years.

 

“These young men are amazing people and its been an honour to coach them,” Hasselberg said.

 

“The players that we have coming back from last year's team are a phenomenal group with bright futures ahead of them and I'm going to miss them. This team has a chance to do some amazing things and I hope that the lessons that they learned from me can be built up with what the new coach brings to help them get to the top. It's going to be tough to not be there on the bench to lead the way.”

 

After being hired in the summer of 2011, Hasselberg compiled a 174-84-10-15 record and helped the North Stars make three trips to the SJHL semifinals.

 

His best campaign came this past winter as the North Stars set a single-season record for wins with 43 and finished the regular season as the top team in the league.

 

Although the North Stars were upset in the semifinals by the Flin Flon Bombers, Hasselberg was rewarded for his efforts with the SJHL's Coach of the Year award.

 

“Kevin brought his passion and his knowledge of the game to our organization and that's carried over to our culture in the dressing room,” North Stars president Troy Slywka said.

 

“Kevin's really been the key factor in changing the culture around here. His attitude and professionalism is really going to be missed, along with his love for the game. We hope that we can carry that tradition forward here as we continue to progress.”

 

The North Stars are now accepting applications for the head coach and general manager job as they hope to have someone in place before training camp gets underway at the end of August.

 

All interested parties can contact Slywka via e-mail at troy.slwyka@hotmail.com.