CARONPORT — There’s a new face behind the bench for the Prairie Hockey Academy U16 Prep Cougars, and he brings an impressive winning pedigree to the Canadian Sport School Hockey League franchise.
The PHA announced on Apr. 8 that Melfort native Rob Holoien had been hired as the new head coach for the team and that he has already joined the team for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
“I am excited to add Rob to our team at Prairie Hockey Academy, not only for the coaching experience he brings, but because of the character he possesses,” said PHA president Justin Simpkins in a press release announcing Holoien’s hiring. “From the moment I met Rob, I could tell that he loved the game of hockey, but the way he treated his players and spoke of the relationships with them, I knew he would be a great fit here.”
Holoien had a cup of coffee with the Tri-City Americans in the Western Hockey League in the 2004-05 season before playing three seasons with teams in the SJHL and MJHL. He joined the coaching ranks in 2016-17 as an assistant with the Prairie Junior Hockey League’s Carrot River Outback Thunder and spent three seasons there before the SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars came calling.
And with that came the winning.
After joining the North Stars midway through the 2018-19 campaign, Holoien helped the Stars to a 35-13-5-5 record -- but that was only a taste. Battlefords got red-hot during the playoffs, stringing together a 12-2-2 playoff record and eventually winning the SJHL championship,
With the following two seasons affected by COVID-19, Holoien opted to leave the team prior to the 2021-22 campaign in order to be closer to family during the pandemic.
He left Battlefords as part of the winningest coaching duo in the SJHL in his time alongside head coach Brayden Klimosko.
“Rob Holoien is a tremendous coach,” Klimosko said. “He is a stand-up guy, with a passion, intensity and true love for the game. Rob's on- and off-ice views align perfectly with PHA's, he is not only driven to develop young athletes into better hockey players but more importantly better people. PHA found a perfect fit, a true leader with a strong faith!”
Holoien was in Caronport for the official unveiling of the new PHA team facilities on Apr. 3 and is looking forward to hitting the ground running with the Cougars.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a special organization,” Holoien said. “I love coaching and I’m excited to be able to do it at Prairie Hockey Academy, where everyone is so passionate about developing the human first and hockey player second. I can’t wait to get started and I look forward to seeing everyone at the rink.”
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