A former WHL player-turned coach has joined the Vancouver Giants team ahead of the upcoming hockey season 鈥� rounding out the full stable of coaching staff.
Gaelan Patterson is the newest addition, coming in as assistant coach for the Western Hockey League team based out of 91原创.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for the opportunity to work with the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League,鈥� Patterson said in Thursday's announcement.
Patterson, a Saskatoon native, most recently served as an assistant coach for the Nanaimo Clippers in the British Columbia Hockey League for the last two seasons, and before that, was an assistant with the BCHL鈥檚 Alberni Valley Bulldogs from 2021 to 2023.
While working for the Bulldogs, the now 34-year-old was also the head coach and general manager for the Port Alberni Bombers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
And prior to his four years coaching in the BCHL, Patterson worked for the La Ronge Ice Wolves in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League as both an assistant coach and later an associate head coach from 2019-21.
鈥淎s a former player in the league, I always saw the Giants as one of the top organizations, so it鈥檚 pretty special to be part of the team now. I look forward to joining the coaching staff and getting to work!鈥� Patterson said.
A draft pick of the Calgary Flames, Patterson patrolled the blue line for 246 WHL games, all with the Saskatoon Blades. He went on to play eight years of professional hockey in the American Hockey League, ECHL, and in Norway, France, and England. He retired from playing following the 2017-18 season.
Giants new head coach Parker Burgess welcomed Patterson to the Giants organization, just signing on himself in late June.
鈥淕aelan is a relentless worker and has a proven track record of developing young talent," said Burgess.
"His experience, both as a coach and player, will be instrumental in helping our players reach their full potential."
After last year's season, the Giants lost former head coach Manny Viveiros and associate coach Adam Maglio, both who took similar positions with the EC Red Bull, a professional ice hockey team in Salzburg, Austria. Viveiros joined the Giants in August 2023, while Maglio had been with them since 2022.
With the hiring of Patterson as an assistant coach, the Giants coaching staff for their 25th anniversary season is now complete. Patterson joins Burgess, assistant coach Wacey Rabbit, video and skill development coach Kayden Jarvis, and goaltending coach Paul Fricker.
"Between myself, Wacey, Gaelan, Kayden, and Paul, we believe we have built a staff that will be able to provide our players with the support and knowledge to develop as players and as young men, while pursuing our goal of competitive excellence,鈥� Burgess added.
play their first pre-season game on Wednesday, Sept. 3, taking on the Blazers in Kamloops, then head to Penticton on Sept. 4, for a match up against the Vees. Their regular season kicks off on home ice at 91原创 Events Centre on Saturday, Sept. 20, when they again take on the Vees.
