General Manager & Head Coach - Simon Ferguson
Simon who is originally from Langley, BC has since made the Okanagan Valley his home upon completing his junior hockey career in 2004. Simon was named Interim Head Coach of the Warriors in 2020 with the Interim label being removed signing a two year extension moving into the 2020/21 season. Prior to accepting the Warriors Head Coach position, Simon spent time as the Head Coach of the Okanagan Rockets in the BC Major Midget League . Simon spent fourteen years playing Junior and Professional hockey. He was part of three Championship teams, including a WHL title with Kelowna in 2003, a Memorial Cup with Kelowna in 2004, and a Calder Cup with Hershey in 2010.
Assistant General Manager & Assistant Coach - Ayrton Nikkel
Ayrton is a Peachland, BC native and is in his fourth year with the Warriors. Prior to coaching, he spent four years in the WHL while splitting his final seasons between the ECHL, the BCHL and the CIS. During Ayrton's playing career, he won a gold medal with Team BC at the Canada Winter Games and competed with Team Pacific at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Ayrton has also spent over a decade working in youth skill development and loves teaching all aspects of the game.
Director of Player Development - Josh Gorges
Josh continues with the Warriors after spending 13 seasons combined with the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. Josh will specialize working closely with individual players both on and off the ice specializing in the mental side of the game and hockey IQ. Before his professional career Josh spent his entire Junior hockey career with the Kelowna Rockets(WHL) where he hoisted the Memorial Cup as Team Captain during the 2003-04 season. Gorges reunites with Warriors Head Coach Simon Ferguson, who was also a member of that historic Rockets team.
Director of Scouting & Hockey Development - Josh Blanchard
Josh joins the Warriors and returns to hockey following a five year career in the corporate/technology sales world. A Kelowna, BC native, Josh is familiar with the BC Hockey League and the area, having played his minor hockey in the Okanagan awhile suiting up in over 200 career games in the BCHL. Josh comes with a variety of hockey & business experience and is excited to help grow a variety of different areas of the Warriors organization.
Goaltending Coach - Chad Carder
Athletic Therapist- Mike Bois
Mike obtained his Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology at Lakehead University in 2008 and continued on to complete his Advanced Certificated in Athletic Therapy at Mount Royal University in 2010. Since graduating, Mike has spent eight seasons with the West Kelowna Warriors and one season with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL. Mike was part of the 2016 West Kelowna Warriors team that went on to win the BCHL Championship, Western Canada Cup and Junior A RBC Cup National Championship. Mike has also worked with the Okanagan Hockey Academy, the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast Baseball League, the Thunder Bay Bordercats of the Northwoods Baseball League and with Team Panama at the 2010 World Junior Baseball Championships.
Equipment Manager - Andrew Knopf
Andrew joins the Warriors after three seasons with the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League. Andrew has spent many years within hockey organizations and behind the scenes as equipment managers of both the Rockets and Kelowna Chiefs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League in Junior 'B'.