Hockey Operations:
David Michaud
President & Governor
david@victoriagrizzlies.com
David Michaud joins the Grizzlies after spending the previous 5 seasons with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the same role. He is entering his 9th season in the BCHL after also spending 3 seasons with the Penticton Vees where he was a part of their 2017 Fred Page Cup Championship team. Prior to his time in the BCHL, Michaud spent 5 seasons as the general manager of the Okanagan Rockets. Under his watch, the Rockets became one of the top teams in the BCEHL winning the league championship in 13-14 and national bronze at the Telus Cup. Before making the switch to the team side, Michaud worked with CAA Sports, one of the top player agencies in the world. At the board level, Michaud serves on the BCHL board of governors and has been on the Executive Committee since 2021.
Rylan Ferster
Head Coach & General Manager
rylan@victoriagrizzlies.com
Rylan Ferster is entering his third season with the Victoria Grizzlies as the General Manager and Head Coach. This marks Rylan’s second time coaching the Grizzlies after a previous stint from 2005 to 2007 where the team won an Island Division Championship. Over his career Ferster has amassed an impressive list of team achievements, culminating in 2014-2015 where he led the West Kelowna Warriors to a Fred Page Cup as BCHL Champions and an RBC Cup as National Champions. Rylan’s playing career was also marked by a national championship win as he was a member of the 1990 Centennial Cup winning Vernon Vipers. A proud native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Fertser has represented Canada several times at the World Junior A Championships as a General Manager, Head Coach, and Assistant Coach
Geoff Grimwood
Assistant Coach & Director of Player Personnel
geoff@victoriagrizzlies.com
Geoff is a veteran BCHL coach entering his 3rd season as the Associate Head Coach/ Director of Player Personnel for the Victoria Grizzlies. A former BCHL player with the Victoria Salsa, Grimwood began is coaching career in the VIJHL with the Victoria Cougars and Peninsula Panthers culminating in three VIJHL Championships and a Gold and Silver Medal at the Cyclone Taylor Cup B.C. Championships.
Suneil Karod
Director of Skill Development & Assistant General Manager
skhockey@gmail.com
Suneil is entering his fourth season as Assistant General Manager and Director of Skill Development. Suneil has spent substantial time in Junior Hockey with numerous teams as a coach and scout, including winning a Royal Bank Cup National Championship with the Chilliwack Chiefs in 2018. Suneil is focused on player and skill development, spending countless hours with players on and off the ice to help them achieve their goals at the next level. Previous to the Grizzlies, Suneil was the Associate coach and eventually Head Coach of the Victoria Cougars, leaving the program with 5 championships in 8 seasons
Matt Korchmar
Goaltender Development Coach
mkorchmar@gmail.com
Matt is in his first year with the Grizzlies as their Goaltender Development Coach. Matt has amassed an impressive list of experiences including working with multiple BCHL teams at different times as a consultant while most recently being the Goaltending Coach for the Vancouver NE Chiefs program. Matt himself was a goaltender who played; 32 games in the MJHL with the Portage Terriers, 9 games in the BCHL with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and 32 games in the AJHL with the Grande Prairie Storm, Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Lloydminster Bobcats. Matt prides himself on his methodical and understanding approach mixed with a vast technical knowledge.
Jake Wilhelm
Athletic Therapist
jake@victoriagrizzlies.com
Jake is in his first year with the Grizzlies after graduating from Camosun College with a was degree in Athletic and Exercise Therapy. Jake is a welcome hockey experienced AT as he himself is a 36 game BCHL veteran with the Port Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The Victoria native was also the captain of the Saanich Braves in the VIJHL from 2017-20, giving him an impressive 151 game junior career. Jake’s focus is to work with Grizzlies players everyday by; assessing, recognizing, managing and rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries. He also works hard to initiate, design and implement individualized therapy programs for the Grizzlies.
John Smith
Equipment Manager
john@victoriagrizzlies.com
John is eagerly anticipating his fourth year with the Grizzlies as Head Equipment Manager. After a decade-long break to focus on his family and coach his son through minor hockey, then continue to coach up to the VIJHL, he’s returned to his true passion: the equipment side of the game. John’s passion spans from inventory management, ordering, and maintaining gear all while working as a team member. This season, he starts with the prestigious title of the BCHL’s Equipment Manager of the Year, an honor he considers immensely gratifying.
Jan Jas
Scout
Tyson Dallman
Scout
Butch Boucher
Education Advisor
butchboucher@shaw.ca
Paul Jaswal
Education Advisor
Harlen Enns
Team Chaplain