Nepean, Ont. —
The Nepean Raiders announced Friday that Sean Bamford will join their coaching staff ahead of the 2017-18 CCHL season.
Bamford, 26, is part of the league’s alumni, having spent three seasons with the then-Cumberland Grads (2009-12) before a strong four-year collegiate career with Carleton University.
“I’ve always wanted to coach and getting the opportunity to work with Darcy (Findlay) and Peter (Howes) is something I’m very grateful about,” said Bamford, who appeared in the 2014 national championships with Carleton. “I’ll definitely absorb as much as I can throughout the year and I’m expecting to make an impact right away.”
Marty Johnston, his former head coach at Carleton, lauded Bamford’s leadership qualities and drive.
“Sean came to our program as a walk-on and ended up being a part of two teams that went to nationals,” said Johnston, a former Gloucester Ranger who recently moved into an assistant role with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. “By his last year, he was part of our leadership group — I know his values and work ethic will make him a great coach, (and) he’s picked a great organization to start his coaching career.”
The Ottawa native will work with Nepean’s forwards in his first on-the-bench coaching role; he previously served as a skills instructor with Carleton’s summer hockey camps, and spent last summer mentoring minor-hockey players in China under former Grads head coach Paul Flindall.
