Staff

Steve Smith

General Manager

Steve Smith is embarking on his third season as a general manager in the BCEHL. Smith also serves as the Executive Director of Kelowna Minor Hockey Association, a role he has held since 2017. Prior to this he was the Division Director for Kelowna Minor Hockey Association from 2010-17, and a coach in the association from 2008-17 as well.

The Kelowna native has compiled over 17 years of experience working in minor hockey in Kelowna.

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U18 AAA

Eric Blais

Head Coach

Entering his seventh season as a head coach within the Okanagan Rockets’ program, Eric Blais provides an extensive track record of coaching experience. He has spent time coaching minor hockey in the Okanagan, taking charge of teams within Kelowna Minor Hockey Association and the Central Zone Program.

Originally from Oliver and splitting his minor hockey playing career with Penticton MHA and Kelowna MHA, Blais played his junior hockey with the KIJHL’s Kelowna Packers. Away from the rink, Blais is an Illustrator/Artist.

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U17 AAA

Ed Patterson

Head Coach

After serving as head coach of the Female U18 Thompson-Okanagan Lakers for the past two seasons, Ed Patterson joins the U17 Okanagan Rockets as head coach for the 2024-25 season. He spent eight years coaching and facilitating clinics with Kamloops Minor Hockey Association, eight years as head coach of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Kamloops Storm and the two seasons as an assistant coach with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Patterson played his minor hockey with Delta Minor Hockey Association before playing for the Seattle Thunderbirds, Swift Current Broncos and Kamloops Blazers of the WHL. He accumulated 15 years of professional hockey experience, playing in the International Hockey League (IHL) in North America, Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany, Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) in the United Kingdom and the National Hockey League, where he played 68 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1993 to 1997.

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U15 AAA

Tyler Parfeniuk

Head Coach

After serving as an assistant coach within the U15 and U17 Okanagan Rocket squads for the last three seasons, Tyler Parfeniuk assumes the head coaching role with the U15 AAA Okanagan Rockets program for the 2024-25 season.

A former player with the Rockets’ program from 2007-2009, he continued his playing career in the junior ranks, spending three seasons with the Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. Originally from Kelowna, Parfeniuk is a graduate of Okanagan College, where he earned a Bachelors of Business Administration. Away from the rink, Parfeniuk works as a litigated insurance adjuster.

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