July 30th, 2018
North Saanich, B.C
The Peninsula Panthers have announced they have added two new faces to their coaching staff and increased the role of another. Matt Chester, who joined the staff part way through last season as the Goaltender coach, returns and will also serve as an Assistant Coach. Joining Matt will be long time Saanich Minor Hockey coach Mike Cox and Panther Alumni Jackson Skerratt.
Coach Brad Tippett is pleased with the group commenting “All the new faces bring a unique dimension. Each of them come from different back-round and bring different strengths. That being said, they all share the ideology that we need to push players to get better each day and a team first culture are the keys to success”
Brad Tippett - Peninsula Panthers - Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Bio:
Brad hopes to build on the continual improvement and growth as he enters his third season behind the bench with the Panthers. Brad enjoyed success as a player with the Prince Albert Raiders – Centennial Cup Finalist in 1978 and Champions in 1979. Four years with the University of Michigan Wolverines were followed by two seasons with the Winnipeg Jets AHL affiliates; Sherbrooke Jets and Fort Wayne Komets. Following his playing career he moved into coaching and management serving as Head Coach of the Prince Albert AAA Midget Raiders, Asst Coach with the WHL Prince Albert Raiders, GM of the Prince Albert Raiders and Head Coach/Director Of Hockey Operations for the WHL Regina Pats. However, he will tell you coaching his two sons (Chase and Barrett) through minor hockey has been his most gratifying experience to date..
Brad took full advantage of the renowned University of Michigan Business School graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in accounting and finance. In 1993 he decided to leave the hockey world and spent 20 years as a VP and Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities. He recently “unretired’ and has joined Raymond James as a Financial Advisor.
Matt Chester Bio:
Matt joined the Panther coaching midway through the past season as a Goalie Coach. His input on game and player analysis led the Panthers organization to expand his role and has added Assistant Coach to his duties.
Matt was born and raised in Victoria, BC. He grew up playing in the Saanich Minor Hockey Association. He attended Spectrum Academy with fellow Assistant Coach Jackson Skerratt. Although only 25 years old, he brings 4 years of playing experience in the VIJHL as well as 8 years of Private Goalie Mentoring/Development in Greater Victoria. He has spent the 3 previous seasons as Goalie Coach for Major Midget South Island Royals.
During his playing career he was an affiliate goaltender with both the Victoria Grizzlies and Cowichan Capitals. He was named MVP in the 2011 VIJHL prospects game. He lists his favourite hockey moment as playing with the Victoria Grizzlies in 2010 against the Malimo Red Hawks, a Junior hockey team from Sweden.
Away from the game Matt enjoys fishing with father and golfing.
Jackson Skerratt Bio:
Jackson is another Panther and Peninsula Minor Hockey Alumni who was born and raised on the Peninsula. He attended Spectrum Hockey Academy where he was a teammate of fellow Asst Coach Matt Chester
Jackson recently graduated from Simon Fraser University with a degree in Criminology. He is pursuing a career as a law enforcement officer
Jackson comment “After four years away from home and the game of hockey, I am excited and honored to return to the organization that gave me the opportunity to play.”
Jackson will work primarily with the forwards. Panther players will definitely benefit from a coach who finished his VIJHL career at just under a point per game. He also brings playoff experience competing for the Panthers in the 2013-14 Championship Finals
Jackson’s family currently reside in Brentwood Bay. His brother Ben prides himself as one of the Panther’s biggest fans.
Away from the arena Jackson enjoys golf, baseball and fitness
Mike Cox Bio:
Mike was born and raised in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. He is the youngest of three brothers who all played junior in the WHL or the SJHL. Mike spent most of his junior career with the Minot Top Guns.
Following his junior career he set out to see the world spending a year travelling Australia. During that trip he met a Victoria native who would become his future wife. He moved to Victoria in 1997 to join Nicki and begin their lives together.
Mike has passed along his hockey knowledge spending the last 14 years coaching in Saanich Minor hockey. Mike expanded by saying “I consider myself a hockey nerd and ongoing student of the game. I drive my wife crazy as I am always looking at different systems, tactics, coaching techniques”
For the last 18 years, Mike has managed a local recycling/processing company. He is the father of current Panthers forward Carson (19) and Panthers prospect Owen (16).
Head Coach and fellow Saskatchewan native Brad Tippett remembers the Cox clan from his WHL coaching days in Regina. Brad commented “There was a string of about 6-7 years where if you were playing against a team from Speedy Creek (Swift Current) -- you would be suiting up against at least one of them. The Cox brothers all had one thing in common; they were hard to play against. It’s great to have another ‘Flat-lander” on the Panther coaching staff.”
The Panthers will open camp later in August and will host an "All Rookie Game" at the Panorama on August 24th at 7:30 pm. The Club will play a couple of exhibition games away from the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre against the Islanders on August 25th and Victoria Cougars on August 30th before returning home on August 31st for their final exhibition. The Cats will open on the road in Westshore against the Wolves on September 5th and will complete the back end of the home and home series with the Wolves on Friday, September 7th when they will open their Regular Season home schedule.
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