Wolves Announce Travis Crickard as Midget AAA Coach
Submitted By WMHA on Fri 07 10, 20
The Waterloo Wolves are extremely excited and proud to introduce
Travis Crickard as our new Major Midget AAA Head Coach for the 2020-21 season!!
Travis arrives in Waterloo with an extensive playing, coaching and player development background at the Major Junior, NCAA and Junior A levels.
Prior to joining the Wolves, Travis was an Assistant Coach with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
In five years with the Rockets, he helped lead the team to four 40 plus win seasons, two BC division titles, three Western Conference Finals, the 2015 WHL Championship and a berth in the 2015 Memorial Cup final. With Kelowna, Crickard helped lead a prolific Power Play and nurtured the development of 19 NHL draft picks and 21 USports student-athletes. His success with the Rockets earned him the opportunity to coach with Team Canada at the World U-17 Challenge in 2016 and 2017. In 2016 he helped Team Canada Black earn a Silver Medal.
Travis has also served as an Assistant Coach with the Ottawa 67’s of Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Head Coach of the Ottawa Jr. 67’s Midget AAA program. His time with the Jr. 67’s Midget AAA saw him lead the team to the Ontario Eastern Midget Hockey League (OEMHL) Regular Season and Playoff Championship, the Central Region Midget AAA Championship and a berth in the Telus Cup National Midget Championship Final in 2012-13. His club also took him the chamoionship at our very own Gold Puck Tournament that season. In recognition of his and his team’s efforts and success, Crickard was named OEMHL Coach of the Year for 2012-2013. In two seasons with the Jr. 67’s, he helped nine student-athletes advance to collegiate hockey (NCAA & USports).
A native of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Travis played Junior A hockey for the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Hockey League. He then played collegiately for the State University of New York at Potsdam of the NCAA. While at Potsdam, Crickard was named to the State University of New York Athletic Conference All-Academic Team three years in a row. He then went on to a Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology from the University of Ottawa.
Travis has an intricate understanding of player development and the many future playing opportunities that each U18 player will encounter. As a result, his investment in each student-athlete and family will create an environment for all young men to reach their full athletic and personal potential.
Since retiring from playing, Crickard has continued to compete athletically in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting. In 2017, he secured second place in British Columbia’s provincial master’s championship and place in the Canadian National Championship. Crickard and his wife Natalie have one daughter, Laoghaire.