KC Mavs Elite Announce Coaching Changes

The KC Mavs Elite announced Thursday Josh Petrich has accepted a position with the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Minnesota Wilderness and Simon Watson will replace Petrich as the head coach of the KC Mavs Elite 16U Tier I AAA team.
 
Petrich is in his second stint as an assistant coach in the NAHL, as he previously served as an assistant under Millen when both were with the Alaska Avalanche during the 2011-12 season.  During that season, Avalanche finished third in the West Division standings with a 35-19-6 record and five players made NCAA commitments.
 
“I am very excited to join the Wilderness staff and get to work on building a championship caliber team,” said Petrich.  “I would like to thank everyone at the Russell Stover organization.”
 
“We wish Josh continued success at the junior level,” said Don Burns, KC Mavs Elite Hockey Director.  “He joins a respected list of former coaches who have graduated from our program to a higher level and we couldn’t be happier for him.”
 
Watson will take over as the head coach of the KC Mavs Elite (formerly Russell Stover) 16U team effective immediately.  The Waterloo, Ontario native spent the last two years on the coaching staff of the Missouri Mavericks as the Assistant Director of Hockey Operations.  A graduate of St. Lawrence University, Watson completed four years of college hockey where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership.
 
“I am extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Watson.  “Don Burns and I will continue to put the pieces together to make the KC Mavs Elite program highly competitive at the national level.”