Brian Barrett

Director of Hockey Operations/BCHL Governor, Merritt Centennials

Brian Barrett played minor hockey in Merritt and more than 50 years later is still actively involved in the game in the Nicola Valley. He played junior hockey in Penticton, Kamloops and Merritt before starting a coaching career in 1971. He coached Midget and Junior teams for over 25 seasons.

Barrett was also Owner, General Manager, and Head Coach of the Merritt Centennials. For Merritt’s master builder of hockey, no job has been too big or too small. Hundreds of former Merritt players have enjoyed hockey careers at the pro level, including 14 in the NHL. Barrett has won many awards including BCHL Coach of the Year and the Dunc Jamieson Award as an individual to display their dedication to – and the enjoyment of – the game of hockey. The Centennials are the longest continuously run franchise in the BCHL and Barrett has been an integral part of that great success. He was inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016.

Barrett can be reached at brbarrett.mt@gmail.com

Barry Wolff

General Manager/Head Coach, Merritt Centennials

Barry Wolff is in his first season with the Merritt Centennials after being hired in the spring of 2019. He is the first incoming Head Coach with extensive Junior A or WHL experience since the hiring of Al Glendening in 2001. Wolff spent last season with the MJHL’s Swan Valley Stampeders and led the team to a second place finish in the regular season with a record of 42-13-3. He followed that up by taking the Stampeders all the way to the MJHL finals losing in overtime in game 7 to the Portage Terriers.

Originally from Kelowna, Wolff comes to the Centennials with 24 years of junior hockey coaching experience, primarily in the BCHL. His last posting in the BCHL was with the Coquitlam Express from 2013 to 2017 where he served as Head Coach and General Manager. He won the BCHL Championship with the Express in the 2013-2014 season, and was a part of the coaching staff of Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge on four separate occasions, winning gold in 2015. Wolff has also coached with the Quesnel Millionaires, Langley Chiefs, Drumheller Dragons (AJHL), and OCN Blizzard (MJHL).

Contact: wolffie@wolfstershockey.com

Derek Sweet-Coulter

Assistant General Manager/Assistant Coach, Merritt Centennials

Sweet-Coulter was formerly the Head Coach and GM of the Red Lake Miners of the SIJHL for the past 4 seasons. Derek had a record year, as he was awarded Coach of the Year in the SIJHL, as well as getting recognized with an honourable mention for the CJHL’s Coach of the Year for his efforts this past season. Behind the bench last season, with the Miners, he went 38-15-3 leading his team to a 2nd place finish. The season concluded in the SIJHL  Bill Salonen Cup Finals, falling to the Thunder Bay North Stars.

Sweet-Coulter brings 12 years of Junior Hockey experience – all as a Head Coach. He’s also been on the coaching staff for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge as an assistant coach in 2017 and 2018, winning gold and bronze medals respectively.

Contact: dereksweetcoulter@gmail.com 

Tyler Wowchuk

Athletic Trainer / Equipment Manager, Merritt Centennials

 

Scouting Staff

Don Pacheco – BC

Jack Watson – BC

Doug Rogers – BC

Colin Webster – Alberta

Travis McMillan – Alberta

Ryan Goethals – Manitoba

Jeff Grimwood – Ontario

Robbie George – Atlantic Canada

Nathan Yuronich – California

Steve Hogan – Minnesota

Justin Soryal – New England

Ed Bessinger – New England