Listen to 96.5 CKFM’s first conversation with Peter Schaefer, the new Head Coach of the AJHL’s Olds Grizzlys.
A former National Hockey League player is the new Head Coach of the Olds Grizzlys.
The local Alberta Junior Hockey League club announced today that Peter Schaefer will be behind the bench for the 2024-2025 season.
The NHL resume for 46 year old from Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan includes 572 regular season games during which he registered 99 goals, 261 points, and 200 penalty minutes. His NHL career included time with the Vancouver Canucks, the Ottawa Senators, and the Boston Bruins. He says “Vast playing career coming from a small town in Saskatchewan and playing everywhere from small town hockey, to Europe, to minors, to NHL, to Western League. I’m just excited because, like I said, I like working with hockey players. I think they go through a lot of things from a young age. From whether it is not good enough, or you’re too slow, or you’ve got to lose some weight, get in better shape. I’m just excited to bring my knowledge and I think be a players coach. Try and get across to athletes, you know, no matter what their role is on the team that they are important.”
Schaefer wants to put a good product on the ice for the ownership group, for the community and really have a fun year with the team. In his past experience, the most success he had was when he worked hard and had fun and John Muckler was a GM of his in Ottawa and they got as far as the Stanley Cup Finals, they didn’t win it, but they had good teams, they had a lot of fun and that is what he is going to try and install here with the Grizzlys for the upcoming season. He says “I’m just fortunate enough to get a lot out of the game of hockey. It has been my whole life coming from small town Saskatchewan. Now I get to join, you know, the Olds Grizzlys, the community as a Head Coach but it is an organizational group, right. I’m the Head Coach but i’m going to take advice from everyone and we are going to put the best team on the ice. It is going to be a lot of fun and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Schaefer’s junior hockey experience includes Western Hockey League success with the Brandon Wheat Kings and a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship in 1997. Schaefer was the WHL Player of the Year for the 1996-1997 season.
After his playing career, Schaefer spent time in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCHL) as Head Coach, General Manager, and President of the Surrey Eagles.
Schaefer is expected to be in the Town of Olds for the Friends of the Grizzlys 8th annual golf tournament on June 7th at the Olds Golf Club.