Recently named Kootenay Ice head coach James Patrick announced on Wednesday morning that Cranbrook’s Jon Klemm is being added to his staff as an Associate Coach.
Klemm, 47, joins the Ice after spending time as a coach of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. Before that, Klemm played pro hockey from 1991-2009 – including stints with the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings.
Cranbrook's Jon Klemm comes back to #ICECountry to join Patrick on the Bench!https://t.co/dig9QVOQxj
— Kootenay ICE (@WHLKootenayICE) June 7, 2017
“During conversations with Jon it was clear very early he would add a lot to the staff, our players and the community,” Patrick said in a team release. “Jon has won at every level and that experience is invaluable for our group moving forward.
“I know he’s going to put his heart and soul into the job and very excited to move home to be a part of the new Ice age.”
Klemm – a defenseman - played in 773 NHL games recording 42 goals and 142 points. He won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996 and 2001. Klemm also captured the Memorial Cup in 1991 as a member of the Spokane Chiefs.
Klemm began his coaching career as an assistant with Spokane in 2009 and spent three seasons with the team. In 2013, he moved to Texas and has spent the past three seasons coaching youth hockey in the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL).
“I couldn’t be more excited to be returning home … when James called it was an easy decision,” Klemm said in the release. “I fully understand the passion and knowledge hockey fans have in Cranbrook and the East Kootenay region and I can’t wait to build something special with them.”
The Ice also announced that Denis Sproxton is joining the staff as the team’s goaltending consultant.
Sproxton has served as a goaltending consultant with Hockey Canada, Hockey Alberta and the Spokane Chiefs.
His playing career included four years in the WHL and NHL tryouts with Philadelphia and San Jose before playing in the CIS and winning a national championship with Acadia University. Denis was part of the Spokane Chiefs that won a Memorial Cup in 2008 and won a Gold Medal in Torino, Italy at the 2006 Olympics as a member of the National Women’s Team. Denis is currently a part-time scout for the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
In addition, Jake Heisinger is being added to the staff as Manager of Hockey Operations and Player Experience. Heisinger joins the Ice after earning a degree in Business Management from Curry College in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a two-time nominee for the NCAA Hockey Humanitarian Award for his work within the Boston community.
The Kootenay Ice also announce that Assistant Coach Gordon Burnett, Assistant Coach Roman Vopat, Director of Scouting Garnet Kazuik, Trainer/ Equipment Manager Darcy Ewanchuk and Athletic Consultant Cory Cameron will be returning this season.
“In order to provide an elite player experience you need to start with elite people that share the same vision,” said Matt Cockell President and General Manager. “We are excited to get to work, training camp can’t get here soon enough”.
Klemm, in addition to the other new members of the Ice front office and hockey operations, will be attending the “#ICEcountry Drive to 25 Corporate Kick Off event presented by The Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort”. It takes place on Thursday, June 8 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.