PRESS RELEASE- Soldotna, Alaska
July 10, 2013
Beauparlant to Lead Bears
The Kenai River Brown Bears, proud members of the North American Hockey League, announced the hire of head coach Geoff Beauparlant today. A native of Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, Beauparlant comes to the Brownies after three seasons as assistant coach of perennial NAHL powerhouse and in-state rival Fairbanks Ice Dogs. where he helped guide them to a national championship (2011), west division title (2012), and a west division final appearance this past season. While at Fairbanks, Coach Beau served under an all-star cast, including three-time NAHL GM of the Year Rob Proffitt, former coach Josh Hauge (now head coach and GM of the USHL Tri-Cities Storm), and the past two seasons under head coach Trevor Stewart.
Geoff played four years in the Ontario Junior A Hockey League prior to attending Penn State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and helped backstop the Nittany Lions to three consecutive Division I ACHA National Championships.
Upon graduation, Beauparlant joined the Port Colborne Junior Sailors of the Golden Horseshoe League where he served as an assistant coach from 02-04. Geoff then spent two years as a head coach of Midget AAA teams in the Philadelphia and central Pennsylvania area from ‘05-‘07. He was rewarded for his efforts when he was named the head coach of the Central Penn Panthers of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League for the ‘07-‘08 season. He led the Panthers (23-17-2) to a quarterfinal appearance in the Keegan Cup playoffs and was named the South Conference Head Coach for the All-Star Game.
Prior to coaching in Fairbanks, Coach "Beau" spent two years as assistant coach for the Columbus (GA) Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), where he focused primarily on defense and goaltending. In addition to his duties, he was the director of scouting / recruiting for the Philadelphia JR Flyers of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League.
Geoff is praised by his former boss and GM Rob Proffitt as a very dedicated coach. "Beau's work ethic and level of detail is second to none. He will bring a championship attitude that I am sure the Brown Bear community will accept with open arms. On behalf of the Ice Dogs, I would like to wish the best of luck to the Brown Bears, Coach Beau and his family. It has been an absolute pleasure having him work for us and his family be such a huge part of the Fairbanks community."
Coach Beau brings a unique mix of attributes which meet the criteria the bruins wanted in their new coach. "We were looking for a coach who will continue with the developmental model and standards we have set for our student-athletes. Coach Beau brings experience and initiative which will enable us to raise the bar in terms of recruitment and placement of our players", according to Bear's GM Nate Kiel. Over his three-year tenure in Fairbanks, Geoff saw over two dozen Ice Dogs commit to NCAA Division I schools. "Beau is dedicated to academic success, himself currently finishing up a masters degree. He also will fit very well into the service model we have developed within our organization", Kiel said. Ultimately, it was these characteristics among others that set Beauparlant apart from over seventy applicants who applied for the position. Another factor leading to his hire was his familiarity with the Brown Bear program. "When considering that Beau has coached more than two dozen games against us in our own building, and over fifty against us in all, it is safe to say he knows our program and our players. He also comes from an organization with great tradition, recommended by superiors whom are highly regarded in junior hockey", Kiel said. "We are very excited to welcome Geoff, his wife Heather, and two sons, Luc and Ian, into the Brown Bear family."
