Bill Greene was a teenager when he first coached minor hockey in the tiny town of Saint-Bruno, Que.

The smiling, highly likeable Greene has never stopped promoting hockey, and today, at 62, is the new chair of the board for BC Hockey. The organization, with 130 associations, 60,000 players, 10,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers, is in good hands. Greene was chosen at recent AGM meetings at Sun Peaks Ski Resort in Kamloops.

Twice, Greene jumpstarted Junior B franchises in the North Okanagan, first in Enderby with the Kings, in 1993, and then again, in Armstrong with the Knights, in 2009.

B次元官网网址淚 realized from the Junior B experience how important it was that there was somewhere for kids to stay at home and play at that level,B次元官网网址� said Greene, who lives in Falkland. B次元官网网址淣orth Okanagan was one of the first minor hockey associations to have a Junior B franchise (in the Kootenay International League).B次元官网网址�

Born in Montreal, GreeneB次元官网网址檚 father worked for Bell Canada. Bill was one of seven kids in a busy household which often took in children needing a home.

B次元官网网址淚 came out here one summer looking to pick fruit and never went back,B次元官网网址� laughed Greene, who raised five daughters. B次元官网网址淚 worked one year for White Trucks and then got into forestry and the music industry. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a long haul in hockey. I got involved in Armstrong minor hockey in the mid B次元官网网址�70s and was referee-in-chief in the mid B次元官网网址�80s. I was there (president) when Armstrong and Enderby amalgamated their associations. Bill Ross was president in Enderby.B次元官网网址�

BC Hockey turned to Greene to be a master course instructor for its Speak Out and Hockey Canada Safety programs in 1992. A former Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association (OMAHA) director, Greene performed those duties for several years and was out of minor hockey for a few years when he was asked back by North Okanagan minor hockey.

His association mandate included attention to practice-to-game ratios, introduction of cross-training and summer hockey school development.

B次元官网网址淲e revamped things. We hired Aaron Hoffman (coaching director) and we opened the boundaries and brought in the Zone programs. There were so many great people that I have had the opportunity to work with over the years. Two locals that both served as presidents of BC Hockey, Al Berg and Wilf Liefke, worked tirelessly for the kids that play our game and taught me tons about the game and how much it has the ability to enrich peopleB次元官网网址檚 lives.

B次元官网网址淪till being called B次元官网网址榗oachB次元官网网址� is so special. I also worked with so many great volunteers. They have had a large part in my success in hockey over the past 40+ years. People like Gary Phillips, Patsy Vetter, Joanne and Ken Davies, Rhonda and Bill Burr, Shelley and Rick Hawrys, Dickie Robinson and so so many others supported my efforts in hockey in the Okanagan. Without them, I would never been able to get an opportunity to become chair of the board of BC Hockey.B次元官网网址�

Greene gives major props to his employer, Kingfisher Boats, of Vernon.

B次元官网网址淥ur company is very community minded and actually offers all of our 150 employees a paid day from work to do volunteer work. Our company is family oriented and goes the extra mile in our communities with support for different organizations that of course includes hockey. How great is that?B次元官网网址�

Greene replaces Randy Henderson of Prince George, who completed his two-year tenure as chair. BC HockeyB次元官网网址檚 membership voted four candidates to two-year terms as directors: Darryl Lerum (Fort St. James), John MacMillan (Victoria), Neil McNabb (Surrey) and Stephanie White (Nanaimo). Grant Zimmerman of Prince George will serve a one-year term.

Chuck Campbell (New Westminster), Brian Harrison (Mill Bay) and Andrew Jakubeit (Penticton) are entering their second year as board members.

Former NHL forward Sandy Moger, director of coaching for Greater Vernon Minor Hockey, is high on Greene.

B次元官网网址淲e worked with him early on when he was with North OK and began to open the borders,B次元官网网址� said Moger. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 very knowledgeable of the hockey world and knows what needs to be done. HeB次元官网网址檚 been on so many boards and I think heB次元官网网址檚 going to do a great job for BC Hockey. HeB次元官网网址檚 put his time in and has so much experience.B次元官网网址�

Greene gives credit to OMAHA president Chuck Gallacher for making the Zone Rep programs a success by working closely with member associations.

B次元官网网址淢y philosophy is there is nothing we canB次元官网网址檛 do together,B次元官网网址� said Greene. B次元官网网址淭ogether, we can find solutions. We can sit down and put our heads together. IB次元官网网址檓 going to be on the go. ItB次元官网网址檚 a big province and itB次元官网网址檚 our 100th anniversary. I will be doing a lot of travelling.B次元官网网址�

Greene, who is stoked about the new BC Hockey mascot, Selly, is grateful for family.

B次元官网网址滻 need to mention my girls who made sacrifices for me to be involved, and my parents who taught all of us kids that dedication and hard work are the true keys to success. And a special mention to my dad who preached that Greenes donB次元官网网址檛 quit or give up at anything, and working together as a team makes you unbeatable.B次元官网网址�

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