Justin Simpkins, Director

Erik Robitaille, Director of Hockey Operations

Dustin Friesen, Director of Performance & U18 Prep Head Coach

Scott King, Director of Player Dev.

Kevin Thiessen, Director of Team Dev.

Rob Holoien, U17 Prep White Head Coach

Trey Doell, U17 Prep Blue Head Coach

Chris Trendall, U15 Prep Head Coach

Chad Davidson, Assistant Coach

Micah Abbott, Assistant Coach

Darryl Osborn, Video/Analytics Coach & Equipment Manager

Matt Weninger, Goaltender Development Coach

Hannah Airey, Social Media and Gamesday Coordinator

Director 📧

Founder and Director of the Prairie Hockey Academy, Justin Simpkins first developed the AAA Crusader program in Caronport in 2009.  His mission and goal was to work at developing a program that was dedicated to inspiring more than just athletes, but life champions with a heart first approach to hockey development on and off the ice. 

Justin is active in leading his team in the vision and execution of PHA.  His commitment and investment to the program is exemplified in his approach to the young athletes that each and every one of them feel connection, respected and valued on the team as an athlete and person.  

“The heart of Prairie Hockey Academy, is to create an authentic community that welcomes student athletes in and lets them know that they are loved and cared for, for who they are and not what they do.”

Justin resides in Moose Jaw with his wife, two daughters and son.

Director of Hockey Operations 📧

Erik is from central Saskatchewan and grew up playing hockey in Moose Jaw and Prince Albert. Erik has spent countless hours in the Barkman arena as a Briercrest Clipper, Spring Hockey and initiation hockey coach, Director of Caronport’s Spring 3 on 3 leagues, Director of Spring recreational hockey in Caronport, and since its foundation in 2017, Prairie Hockey Academy’s Director of Hockey and Business Operations. Erik was awarded top defenseman twice within three seasons while playing for the Briercrest Clippers (2012-2015). In addition, Erik has over 15 years of experience coaching young athletes from the ages of 5 to 20 in various situations on and off the ice and has coached in every male division in the CSSHL. His extensive hockey knowledge and experience are a tremendous asset to the program. 

Erik resides in Caronport with his wife and daughter.

Director of Performance & u18 prep head Coach 📧

Dustin joins Prairie Hockey Academy after a long professional playing career. His playing resume includes WHL, CIS, ECHL, AHL, DEL2, and most recently, the DEL. Throughout his career, Dustin has consistently been selected for a leadership role on almost every team he played. He has also had success on the ice, having won two National Championships at the University of New Brunswick and a Defenseman of the Year league award in Germany.

Dustin understands what it means to be a student-athlete, being a double degree graduate from UNB. He holds his Bachelors in Education as well as Recreation and Sport Studies. He has an incredible passion for young student-athletes and helps them develop in the classroom, as individuals, on the ice and off-ice. This will be evident in his character, work ethic and preparation.

On top of his head coaching role, he will take on the Director of Performance at PHA. During the summer months, Dustin has trained many Midget, Junior and Professional athletes in the gym. He has also spent time as a Skills coach and Power Skating for junior and youth programs in Germany over the last number of years.

Director of player development 📧

Growing up in Saskatoon, Scott King developed his love of the game while playing minor hockey throughout many rinks all over Saskatchewan. After a year with the Calgary Royals (AJHL), he was recruited by Boston University, where he played one season in the NCAA League in 1995-1996.  He than played with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL) for the 1996-1997 season, scoring 97 points in 68 games and was named "Rookie of the Year".   The following year King signed with the Montreal Canadiens (NHL) and went on to play four seasons in the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League, being named an American Hockey League All-Star and both Scoring Champion and Most Valuable Player in the ECHL.

King then spent the next 14 years playing professional hockey in Germany where he was a five time All-Star and is the sixth all-time leader in scoring.  King was selected five times to play for and represent Canada at the Deutschland Cup, and was part of Canada’s Championship Teams in both 2005 and 2008.

Before returning to Canada, King spent two years as a Skills Development Instructor in Germany throughout the 2013 to 2015 seasons.  He has completed Hockey Canada’s Hockey University Coaching and Safety Modules.   King has also travelled internationally attending hockey programs in Sweden, Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Japan.

From 2015 to 2016,  King was Hockey Canada’s Head Skills Development Coach.  Following this prestigious role, he joined the Moose Jaw Warriors as the Assistant Coach as well as the Director of Player Development.  

We are very pleased and honoured to have Scott join our hockey family and program as he carries on the position of the Director of Player Development with the Prairie Hockey Academy. 

Scott resides in Moose Jaw with his wife, and their son & daughter.  

Director of TEAM Development 📧

Born in Souris, Manitoba, Kevin Thiessen grew up on skates and spent much of his school years playing minor hockey and trying to mimic Wayne Gretzky.

His passion for sports eventually took his focus away from hockey, as he wanted to play everything and anything he could get his hands on. In college, he played basketball and soccer at Briercrest College and finished with two more years playing soccer for Trinity Western University.

After college, he joined Athletes in Action, running camps in the summer, doing chaplaincy work on university campuses in BC, and participating in and eventually leading multiple international tour teams to Europe, South America, Asia and Africa - including two World Cups in Germany and South Africa. Kevin served as a youth worker in Dublin, Ireland, while also coaching basketball and soccer and continuing to serve with Athletes in Action Ireland.

He and his wife Cristy returned to Canada in 2008, where he earned a Masters in Leadership and Management from Briercrest Seminary while also developing a chaplaincy program for Briercrest Athletics. Kevin then spent 10 years in Victoria, BC, as the Pastor of Outreach and Missions for Central Baptist Church. His role was to help the church live out its faith in everyday life both locally and globally. In 2020, he returned to Briercrest to serve as the Dean of Students. Affectionately nicknamed "Covid Kev" by his PHA colleagues, Kevin helped navigate Briercrest through that unique and ever-changing season, keeping the school open and caring for the students, staff and faculty.

Now, as the Director for Team Development at Prairie Hockey, Kevin brings over 25 years of pastoral and coaching experience to support our teams as chaplain, oversee our educational curriculum, and provide support and care to our coaches, parents, and Briercrest partners. He is thrilled about the opportunity to integrate faith and sport and help our student-athletes to discover their calling and purpose and become life champions on and off the ice.

Kevin and his wife Cristy live in Caronport with their five children.