Simon Wheeldon
Simon Wheeldon is back as the general manager and coach of Nelson Leafs for the 2009.10 season.
Simon began coaching the Leafs in 2004.05 after a lengthy professional career in Europe when he decided to pour his energy into developing young hockey players on the ice and providing leadership to produce solid citizens off the ice.
Simon was raised in Nelson where he played his minor hockey until he was 15. He left home at a young age to pursue his hockey dreams, landing first in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and then as a 16-year-old in the Western Hockey League. He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers and played briefly in the National Hockey League before travelling overseas to Europe where he played 12 years. While in Europe he played in two Olympic games for Austria and five world Championships.
Throughout Simon's professional career he benefitted from some of the highest quality coaching in the world. With a keen sense of observation and love for the teaching aspect of the game, Simon soaked in as much as he could with thoughts of a coaching career of his own after the professional game. It is in that spirit that he takes on his duties as head coach of the Nelson Leafs.
As a coach Simon expects the same dedication and respect for the game from his players that he displayed during his competitive years in the game. He values honest, hardworking players who take pride in themselves and their teammates and want to better themselves through hockey. Discipline both on and off the ice are traits which Simon stresses during the entire season.
Simon was voted the KIJHL Coach of the Year in the 2006-07 season. That year he coached the team to the league finals.
» Read about Simon in Nelson Minor Hockey’s "Leafs of Legend".
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