November 3, 2009      

RICK GEDDES

Rick Geddes has been coaching minor hockey for AVMHA the last 14 years. Born and raised in the Valley, Geddes began playing hockey at a very young age. He started in the recreation division but moved very quickly into the competitive program as a solid goaltender. Geddes ended up playing in Oceanside (his last year Midget) as the Alberni Valley didn’t have a division in category.

Finishing his minor hockey career playing in the competitive program, Geddes then moved onto play Junior A with the Cowichan Valley Whalers and then Junior B with the Peninsula Eagles. It was during his first season in Junior (January 1988) when Geddes came home to the Alberni Valley and played net with on of the local Senior Men’s teams, when he suffered a serious injury. This neck injury almost claimed his life, as he spent almost a year in recovery. That same year Clint Malarchuk (of NHL’s Buffalo Sabres) suffered the same injury, and it was because of these incidents that Hockey Canada implemented the mandatory use of neck guards in minor hockey.

After the two years in Junior were over, Geddes decided to break and hang up his gear for awhile. With hockey always on his mind, he decided to step into the role of coach. Opportunity arose when he was asked to assistant coach the AV Pee-Wee Reps in 1995 along side Don Lloyd and Gerald Trees. Geddes kept looking forward every season to coach the next team.

The 2007/2008 season, Geddes took the AV Atom Rep Timbermen to the Vancouver Island Championships; and won. A very proud moment for the team, although couldn’t go on as there aren’t Provincials in Atom (as it’s considered to be developmental). That same season, Geddes won AVMHA Coach of the Year award.

Last season 2008/2009, Geddes coached the AV Bantam A Bulldogs with Kevin Somerville and Rick Schievink.

2009-2010 Season - Geddes is coaching the Alberni Valley Pee-Wee B Bulldogs alongside Shawn Elder. He is also a “Clinic Coaching Instructor” for BC Hockey and will be teaching the “Hybrid Course”, “Development 1” and “Hockey Canada Safety Person’s Course”.