After two years with the Ghostriders Assistant Coach Dante Raposo is moving on to coach in Airdrie Alberta.
Raposo (28) played in the KIJHL SJHL BCHL HJHL and three seasons with the ACHA Adrian College Bulldogs before moving on to coach AAA hockey in Airdrie. Coaching the Riders was Dante’s first full time coaching job in junior hockey.
Dante “ It’s funny to me that this is considered a job, but I guess when everybody tells you that if you do something you love it won’t feel like a job and that couldn’t have been more true, from sleeping at the rink to the 14 hour game days I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I will be cheering, rooting and helping this organization as much as I can from afar, maybe get to watch a few games from the best seats in the house (Aussie corner)”
Rider News What was it like coming into a group of players you had never coached before?
Dante “ It was tough at first coming into a group that was already established and had made the finals the year before, but for the most part they bought in pretty quickly to a big culture shock and a massive change in expectations”.
“I think obviously it didn’t end well in the playoffs but then Chad and I worked our asses off all spring and summer recruiting and going from camp to camp to bring in players that we thought would match the vision we had for the team.”
“ This year I think we saw glimpses of what this group is capable of and I’m proud of the culture that we helped build here, I’m hoping it’s something that these guys never forget.”
RN Every week for the last two years I would sit down for a BS session with coaches Raposo and Scharff and it was obvious how well they worked with each other.
Chad Scharff
“Dante has been by my side for the past 4 years and has not only become a great coach but a close friend. We are going to miss his day to day efforts towards our hockey club but will remain a big part of us moving forward from a distance. I would like to wish Dante all the best in his future endeavours.”
Dante “This place is in very good hands, I couldn’t think of a better more deserving man to help this team get back to a place they haven’t been since 2008 but more importantly continue to be a place where everybody will want to play.
RN Having a resource like Raposo in the Calgary AAA area evaluating and talking to players about Fernie will help the Ghostriders. But still, it’s sad to see him go.
Kimberley and Princeton will playoff for the KIJHL Championship starting Friday April 17th in Kimberley
Former Ghostrider Captain and multi award winner (League and Team) Taylor Haggerty is going to the University Of Victoria where he will play in the BCIHL next September.
Haggerty “ They made an offer I couldn’t refuse”
