John Olver (coach)
Encyclopedia
John Olver is a Canadian ice hockey
player and coach known for his league championship teams in the West Coast Hockey League
and ECHL
.
A right wing
, from 1975 to 1977 Olver was a member of the junior league Kelowna Buckaroos
. He played college hockey at the University of Michigan
. Although he was drafted in the 8th round of the 1978 NHL
Amateur Draft by the Colorado Rockies
, he never played at the professional level.
Olver began his coaching career in 1981 as an assistant with the New Westminster Royals
. He took his first head coaching job in 1984 with the junior league Langley Eagles (now Westside Warriors
).
Olver's first professional head coaching job came in 1995 with the West Coast Hockey League
Fresno Falcons
, but he left the team after only one season. In 1997 Olver took the head coaching position with the expansion WCHL Tacoma Sabercats
. Olver led the Sabercats to the league finals in both his seasons with the team, winning the WCHL championship in 1998-99.
After a year away from coaching, in 2000 Olver became head coach of his third WCHL team, the Idaho Steelheads
. Olver remained with the Steelheads for five seasons, leading them to the WCHL finals in 2000-01 and 2001-02. Olver remained with the team when it moved from the WCHL to the ECHL
in 2003. He coached Idaho to the ECHL Kelly Cup
championship in 2004.
Since leaving the Steelheads in 2005 Olver has served as an assistant coach at Northern Michigan University
.
He is currently the coach for the Idaho Jr. Steelheads
Hockey team in the Western States Hockey League
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player and coach known for his league championship teams in the West Coast Hockey League
West Coast Hockey League
The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington...
and ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
.
A right wing
Winger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
, from 1975 to 1977 Olver was a member of the junior league Kelowna Buckaroos
Kelowna Buckaroos
The Kelowna Buckaroos were a Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...
. He played college hockey at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Although he was drafted in the 8th round of the 1978 NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Amateur Draft by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
, he never played at the professional level.
Olver began his coaching career in 1981 as an assistant with the New Westminster Royals
New Westminster Royals
The New Westminster Royals was the name of several professional and junior ice hockey teams based in New Westminster, British Columbia.The first team played from 1912-1914 in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association which was established in 1911....
. He took his first head coaching job in 1984 with the junior league Langley Eagles (now Westside Warriors
Westside Warriors
The Westside Warriors are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League and play in the Interior Conference....
).
Olver's first professional head coaching job came in 1995 with the West Coast Hockey League
West Coast Hockey League
The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington...
Fresno Falcons
Fresno Falcons
The Fresno Falcons are a defunct minor league hockey team. They were once members of the ECHL . They were located in Fresno, California.-Early history:...
, but he left the team after only one season. In 1997 Olver took the head coaching position with the expansion WCHL Tacoma Sabercats
Tacoma Sabercats
The Tacoma Sabercats were an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Tacoma, Washington. The team began play in the West Coast Hockey League as of the 1997-98 season....
. Olver led the Sabercats to the league finals in both his seasons with the team, winning the WCHL championship in 1998-99.
After a year away from coaching, in 2000 Olver became head coach of his third WCHL team, the Idaho Steelheads
Idaho Steelheads
The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003....
. Olver remained with the Steelheads for five seasons, leading them to the WCHL finals in 2000-01 and 2001-02. Olver remained with the team when it moved from the WCHL to the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
in 2003. He coached Idaho to the ECHL Kelly Cup
Kelly Cup
The Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning...
championship in 2004.
Since leaving the Steelheads in 2005 Olver has served as an assistant coach at Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
.
He is currently the coach for the Idaho Jr. Steelheads
Idaho Jr. Steelheads
The Idaho Steelheads is a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The Jr. Steelheads currently play in the Western Division of the WSHL....
Hockey team in the Western States Hockey League
Western States Hockey League
The Western States Hockey League is a Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Junior 'A' ice hockey league that has teams located in the Southwest and Western United States.-History:...
.