Braves Hire Andy Bryan as Head Coach – Derek Schoenmakers as Associate Coach

Brockville – The Brockville Braves Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club is proud and excited to announce the appointment of Andy Bryan as the organization’s new Head Coach.

The hiring marks an important step forward as the club continues to strengthen its hockey operations and build an environment centered on high standards, player development, accountability, and a first-class experience for its players.

Andy joins the Braves after coaching at a Tier I level for the past seven seasons including six with the Myers Automotive AAA organization where he not only fostered an excellent environment for development but captured both regular season and playoff championships. He is a current Senior Director with the Ottawa Senators organization, where he has served over 25 years in roles which have seen him build countless development-driven hockey programs; including many where his approach and expertise contributed directly to the advancement of top calibre players to the elite-levels in our sport. During his career in high-performance coaching and program delivery, he has obtained exceptional qualifications and worked with some of the very best minds from all levels up to and including NHL ranks.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andy to our organization,” said the Braves ownership group. “From our first conversations, it was clear that he shares our vision for what a top junior ‘A’ program should be. His leadership style, commitment to high standards, and proven ability to build strong team cultures make him an outstanding fit for our program.”

“Andy has a rare combination of attributes for a high-performance coach, having spent parts of three decades building and directing development-focused programs, guiding players and teams through enhancements in culture and standards, and understanding what it takes for individuals and teams to compete and win at the highest levels. All with a level of professionalism and integrity, and an exceptional knowledge of the game that we value immensely. We believe he is the ideal person to lead our players and our program into a very bright future.”

Founded in 1963, the Braves organization has seen many of its players go on to successful collegiate and professional careers.

“I am honoured to join the Braves organization and recognize how special they are to the Brockville community, the entire St. Lawrence River corridor, and the 1000 Islands region. Our team has a history dating back over sixty years. I am grateful for the trust placed in me to continue the already rich tradition of developing players for the highest levels of hockey and being a source of pride for so many in our region as a competitive and exciting team,” said Bryan.

“I cannot wait to begin working with our players, staff, volunteers, sponsors, and fans,” continued Bryan. “I believe great teams are built on clear expectations, high standards, accountability, and a commitment to doing things the right way every day. Our responsibility is to create an environment where players can develop, compete, and reach their potential while proudly and professionally representing this organization and community.”

The Braves are also pleased to announce another huge step forward for our players and organization. Head Coach, Andy Bryan has immediately added Derek Schoenmakers into the senior hockey position of Associate Coach. Derek brings with him a wealth of relevant playing and coaching experience which will be a tremendous asset to the organization. He spent four years as a player in the Ontario Hockey League, five playing university hockey (including twice capturing team MVP awards with the Laurier University Golden Hawks), and a season of professional hockey in Europe. After his playing career concluded, he returned to his roots in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and obtained his High-Performance Coaching certification while serving as both an assistant and head coach at the U15, U16, and U18 AAA levels. He is the current Head of Hockey Development with the Senators organization at their Sensplex facilities where his primary responsibilities see him lead a team of professional hockey coaches and instructors, and design programs tailored to elite-level players. He has spent the past 15 months delivering advanced skills and tactical development, and coaching players up to the U18 level.

The appointment of Andy Bryan and Derek Schoenmakers are the next in a series of significant steps in the organization’s continued growth. Additional hockey operations announcements will be made in the coming days as the club continues to position itself for sustained success.

“We are excited about where this organization is headed,” added Braves ownership. “Our goal is to build a program that players want to be part of, families trust, and our community is proud to support. Both Andy and Derek will play huge roles in helping us achieve that vision.”

The Brockville Braves Hockey Club is a proud member of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL Tier I) and will be hosting their main camp July 11-12 at the Benson Centre in Cornwall.