The Lloydminster Bobcats hockey club has added a local resident to its Hockey Operations Staff.
Dean Moisan has joined the organization as Head Scout ahead of the 2015-16 season, after holding the same position for the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) for the last two seasons. In total, Moisan had been a scout with the Broncos for seven years, including the 2012 season when the RBC Cup National Jr. A Championship was held in Humboldt.
“As a minor hockey coach in Lloydminster for the last decade, including five in the elite program, I understand the importance of keeping local hockey players in Lloydminster,” said Moisan. “Over the years I’ve seen a number of great players move on to play junior hockey across the country, and we want to make sure the Bobcats are as attractive as possible to these locals.”
Moisan has lived in Lloydminster for nearly 15 years after growing up in Humboldt. It took a chance encounter with a member of the Humboldt Broncos organization for Moisan to get involved with the team, and was soon brought in as a scout before the 2008-09 season. In connecting the two communities, former Broncos Head Coach and GM Dean Brockman recognized an opportunity to attract high-end Alberta players to Humboldt through Moisan.
“The Broncos were coming off of an RBC Cup Championship when I first went there, and in my first season we made it to the final again,” explained Moisan. “Three years later in 2012, the tournament was held in Humboldt, so I understand the unique pressures and expectations of being the host team in a national championship.”
Over his years in Humboldt, Moisan developed a strong bond with Brockman, and said the two were generally on the same page when it came to players. Bobcats Coach and General Manager Gord Thibodeau recognized this successful relationship and reached out to the Broncos for permission to speak to Moisan when the Head Scout position became available in Lloydminster.
“After receiving permission from the Broncos, I contacted Dean (Moisan) and we had an initial conversation about the Head Scout position with the Bobcats,” said Thibodeau. “After some deliberation, he got back to me and we are thrilled to welcome him to our organization. His knowledge of local players, as well as players around the province, will be a valuable addition to our hockey club as we move forward.”
Moisan was hired in place of former Head Scout Tom Keca, who accepted the position of Head Coach and General Manager with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on June 17th.
The addition of Moisan and his RBC Cup experience is yet another big step for the Bobcats as the team builds toward Hockey Canada’s 2016 National Jr. A Championship in Lloydminster and beyond.
For more information, contact Gord Thibodeau at 780-886-9780.