Outline:
The University of Regina Cougars men’s ice hockey team has gotten itself a new head coach.
Trevor Keeper has been brought in to lead the men’s hockey program following the departure of the previous coach.
Todd Johnson
Following the 2024-25 Canada West season.
Since 2012, Keeper—a local from Saskatchewan, originally hailing from Regina but later relocating to Yorkton at age ten—has been guiding the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings. The team recently secured their third consecutive title in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association championships.
It has always been my aim to return to U Sports as a head coach,” stated Keeper, who was named the ACAC Coach of the Year in both 2013 and 2017. “I am thrilled about returning to Saskatchewan and becoming part of the University of Regina and their hockey team, the Cougars.
The roots go deep, and it feels like a small reunion.
Following his stint in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Keeper played for Medicine Hat College prior to joining the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns coached by the experienced U Sports mentor Dave Adolph.
Once his playing days were over, Keeper became part of Adolph’s team as an assistant coach, marking the beginning of over three decades dedicated to coaching.
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some top-notch coaches, and I find myself picking up something valuable from each one. Continuous growth is key,” stated Keeper. “In coaching, dedication and perseverance allow you to improve consistently over many years.
In addition to working as an assistant under Lethbridge alongside Adolph, Keeper continued his role with the Pronghorns when Mike Babcock took over coaching duties following Adolph’s departure for the University of Saskatchewan.
In their inaugural year, Babcock and Keeper led the Pronghorns to a national title in 1994. Following this achievement, Babcock moved on to coach in the Western Hockey League and later progressed to the National Hockey League, embarking on an extensive coaching tenure there.
In addition to his tenure at the collegiate level, Keeper has also served as an assistant coach within the WHL. He dedicated four years to this role with the Red Deer Rebels, working under head coach Brent Sutter.
Throughout his coaching tenure, Keeper has taken on assistant positions within Hockey Canada’s under-17 and under-18 programs. His experience spans coaching at the under-16 and under-18 AAA levels, as well as several years coaching in Japan.
Currently, Keeper has been assigned to revitalize the Cougars team that concluded at the bottom of the Canada West conference in the 2024-25 season, posting a record of 5 wins, 22 losses, and 1 tie.
He thinks all conditions are right for him to accomplish this.
I have coached for many years, and my main priority was ensuring adequate support systems were established for both the program and the team to thrive,” stated Keeper. “The University of Regina boasts a remarkable history in athletics with top-notch sport programs. Moreover, Athletic Director Lisa Robertson shares my belief in emphasizing culture and bringing in the right individuals.
Moreover, Keeper boasts extensive experience to support his intended actions.
Following the dissolution of Red Deer Poly’s team for almost ten years, Keeper was brought onboard in 2012 to revive the program. Under his leadership, the squad achieved an impressive record of 186-99 and secured their third consecutive ACAC title.
With what he describes as a strong lineup and an excellent team of assistant coaches established, Keeper aims to implement some strategies from his time in Red Deer at the new location in Regina.
I was given a year for recruitment,” explained Keeper, highlighting his educational background which includes a Master of Science in Sports Coaching from the University of Queensland, a Post-Master’s Diploma in Sports Nutrition, and an education degree from the University of Lethbridge. “Assembling a squad of 26 newcomers presented numerous difficulties. However, as these players began to develop, our performance improved significantly within the league. Over the past six years… we secured third place once followed by two second-place finishes before achieving three back-to-back titles.
So, establishing this may take some time as finding the suitable individuals who align with your coaching approach requires effort. However, I believe in Regina, we could soon be up and running.
There are several excellent players here. The coaching staff, including Todd, has assembled quite a talented group. Additionally, Regina is known as a hub for hockey talent, and I believe there is a strong desire for the Cougars to achieve success once more.
I’ve had some valuable discussions with several veteran players regarding their expectations from me and the coaching staff, as well as their vision for the future. Everything lines up perfectly with my approach, which excites me greatly concerning our prospects. Additionally, there are talented individuals already on board who seem enthusiastic about progressing into the next season.
I simply wish to contribute towards achieving quick success for Cougars hockey and leave our mark on the team.
tshire@postmedia.com
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