The Kam River Fighting Walleye have announced a two-year contract extension for Head Coach Matt Valley, which keeps him under contract through the 2023-24 season.
The 32 year old Valley guided Kam River to a 35-7-2 record in his first full season as head coach. He was named the SIJHL Coach of the Year for his efforts.
“I couldn’t be more proud to have Matt committed for the foreseeable future,” said General Manager Kevin McCallum. “When looking for a head coach we had certain criteria that we wanted, and Matt achieved all of those. With the success we have achieved in our organization, we wanted to continue the growth and give Matt the opportunity to continue to develop and grow into one of junior hockey's premier coaches.”
Valley, who was born and raised in the Fighting Walleye’s home community of Oliver Paipoonge, played three seasons of Junior A hockey from 2008 to 2011, including two years in the SIJHL. He followed up his junior career with four seasons of NCAA division 3 hockey at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin.
A Statement from Head Coach Matt Valley:
“I'd like to thank the entire Kam River Fighting Walleye organization, especially our GM, Kevin McCallum, for believing in me. I will continue to strive for excellence and bring my energy, passion, and work ethic to the rink every single day. Thank you to my staff who helps keep me focused and grounded. You guys are pros and none of this would work without you. Thanks to all the players who have walked through that door over the past two years. You're the reason I do what I do and why this is so enjoyable. To the community of Oliver Paipoonge, thank you for your overwhelming support of this team. As a homegrown kid, it's an honour to stand behind that bench and watch you fill that barn. Last and most importantly, I'd like to thank my family who sacrifices a tonne for me to pursue this as a career. It's humbling to see how much faith you have in me and I hope that I can one day repay you for the lost time.”