Director of Hockey Operations
Assistant General Manager
John Stuart
With over 20 years of experience as a Manager, Recruiter and Scout from all levels of hockey from Major Midget, to CSSHL, the BCHL, and the WHL. John Stuart brings a wealth of experience to the job. He has been parts of championship seasons with the 2004 Kelowna Rockets, the 2007 Vancouver Giants, and the 2014/15 Delta Wild Bantam Elite Team. His knowledge and expertise are helping to build a championship culture in Merritt.
In addition to the hockey world, Stuart has served as the Head Coach of Team Canada Men's Fast Pitch since 2015 winning a World Championship in 2015, a 2015 Pan Am Championship, and Bronze Medals in the World Championships in 2017 and 2019.
Contact: hockeyops@merrittcentennials.com
Head Coach/ General Manager
Dave Chyzowski
Dave was born in Edmonton, Alberta and moved to Kamloops in 1988 to play hockey for the Kamloops Blazers. He played with the Kamloops Blazers in 1988-89 and 1989-90. He was selected 2nd overall in the 1989 NHL entry draft; he was the youngest player in history, at the time, to play for the New York Islanders. Dave was the captain of Canada’s 1990 World Jr. Gold Medal Championship Team in Helsinki, Finland that year. He played over 1000 professional games over an 18 year career in 23 different cities around the world that lead to his retirement in November of 2006.
He was hired by the Kamloops Blazers in December 2006 where he served as the Director of Sales and Marketing. He was then hired the summer of 2019 as an assistant coach for the Vancouver Giants as well was the Head Coach of the Delta Wild Female Prep Academy.
Dave has served on several committees over the course of his time in Kamloops including the Mark Recchi / Shane Doan Classic Golf tournament, sat on the Board of Director for Venture Kamloops for 1 year and also was on Hockey Day in Canada Committee that brought national awareness to Kamloops and helped raise over $50K for Kid Sport locally. He also was a part of the Royal Inland Hospital fundraiser that helped raise over $100K for women’s breast health initiatives.
Dave has a passion for cooking as well enjoys lots of time at the lake in the summer with his wife Cindy and two boys, Nick and Ryan.
Contact: dchyzowski@me.com
Assistant Coach - Levi Stuart
Assistant Coach - Paul Barnes
Assistant Coach - Zach Wright
Goalie Coach - Nathan Wolfe
Trainer - Dave Rowe
