Bruinsville scores new coach and general manager
By Boundary Sentinel
Things are a changing in Bruinsville as the Grand Forks Border Bruins announced the hiring of Brent Batten as their new head coach and general Saturday. In a press release posted on BorderBruins.ca, the club said that Batten comes in with over 11 years of coaching experience ranging from minor hockey all the way to the college ranks. Batten spent his past year coaching at the prestigious Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy based out of Kelowna, B.C. Batten said that he is, “looking forward to the challenge of bringing [the Border Bruins] hockey club back to a competitive level within the KIJHL (Kootenay International Junior Hockey League).” Batten also noted that the Bruins had a solid group of veterans who are eligible to return next season, and he’ll be looking to draw on their experience to produce a winning result. “The organization, from the Board of Directors down, is committed to returning the proud tradition of winning to the City of Grand Forks and I’m proud to be a part of the process,” Batten added. Grand Forks Border Bruins President Michael Wirischagin explained that this was step one in the process of bringing the Border Bruins back to relevance. Step two, he said, is player recruitment and player retention which he feels, like Batten, will be possible. “We are lucking to be getting a coach of this caliber and capability. It is just not everyday that person with the experience that Batten has is willing to come in to a market like Grand Forks, knowing full well the past histories of the organization, and want to make it better,” commented Wirischagin. “Most people shy away from these kinds of circumstances, Batten hasn’t. He wants to make a difference, and I am sure that he will. He has the energy and drive to turn this franchise around and we as a Board have all the faith in his abilities to recruit and retain talent.” The Grand Forks Border Bruins will be holding their main camp Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 with the season starting shortly after.
The 2011/12 season will the Bruins 42nd in the KIJHL.
