Smoke Eaters Add Assistant General Manager & Goaltending Coach To Staff
By Trevor Miller
The Trail Smoke Eaters Junior ‘A’ Hockey Club have added a pair of members to their hockey staff, bringing on Jeff Urekar as the team’s Assistant General Manager while Sean Murray joins the organization as the team’s goaltending coach.
Urekar comes to Trail after completing his first season as the Head Coach of the Vancouver North East Chiefs of the BC Major Midget League, taking his team to the second round of the playoffs after a 3rd place finish in the regular season. The 2018/19 season capped off Urekar’s fifth season with the Chiefs while also serving as a scout for the Smoke Eaters throughout the year.
Murray joins the organization after instructing young goaltenders for 20 years and brings plenty of experience to the Smoke Eaters. Originally founding Pro-Formance Goalie School and Development Centre, Murray has worked with such goaltenders as Brad Theissen and Martin Jones who have moved on to very successful NHL careers. Murray most recently served as the goaltending consultant for the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants and University of British Columbia Thunderbirds while also serving as a goaltending coach for the Prince George Cougars for two seasons and has experience in the BCHL as an assistant coach with the Surrey Eagles in the 2000/01 season.
Additionally, Assistant Coach Dustin Korlak will return behind the bench for his second season with the club. The Stonewall, Manitoba native will look after the defense of the Smoke Eaters, a role he served for the majority of the 2018/19 season and helped the backend surrender just 36 goals against in 12 playoffs games, an average of three goals against a game. Korlak came to Trail a season ago after a playing career that spanned in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and Germany before spending two seasons in the MJHL as an assistant coach.
The Smoke Eaters would like to welcome Jeff and Sean to the organization as well as the City of Trail.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2019/20 Smoke Eaters season and can be purchased at the Smoke Eaters Main Office, located in the Trail Memorial Centre. Early bird pricing is available until May 31 with season ticket packages offered at $229 for Adults and $119 for Students. Office hours are set for 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and open Monday through Friday.
