HOME

KENT, WA – The Ravens are excited to announce the hiring of new Head Coach Andy Jasicki who takes the helm after playing NCAA hockey, professionally in Europe, and serving as a skills coach internationally.

“The hiring of Andy Jasicki represents another step forward in the evolution of the Ravens’ organization,” said GM Adam Speer. “We feel fortunate to add a coach with the playing experience and development background Andy brings to the hockey club.”

Jasicki, who hails from St. Paul, Minnesota, played high school hockey before continuing his career at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. After graduating with an undergraduate degree that included a Minor in Coaching, Jasicki played pro hockey for 9 years in Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Spain, finishing his career with the Denver Cutthroats in the Central Hockey League.

Following his pro career Jasicki spent several years coaching youth hockey including as a coach with the AAA Colorado Roughriders organization. Previously he coached at Lenhovda IF in Sweden after co-founding the hockey skills academy Lenhovda Hockeyfritids. Most recently, he served as Assistant Hockey Director of the Spokane Jr. Chiefs.

“Developing hockey players is a passion,” said Jasicki. “I love applying the skills I gained playing in Sweden and Finland and transferring those to young players. Our focus as a hockey club will be to prepare young men to make the jump to the next level and I am excited for the season to get started.” He continued, “we will run an up-tempo system that focuses on creativity, puck possession and movement. The game only gets faster and more technical as you move up, and our players will be ready when the time comes for them to play at higher levels, whether that means the NCAA, NAHL, BCHL, or professionally.”

Jasicki succeeds Adam Kurtenbach who guided the Ravens to a second place finish and the playoffs last season. As a small-business owner, Kurtenbach will be able to focus on growing his company without the time demands that would come coaching a team in the Western States Hockey League. “We appreciate Adam’s professionalism and dedication to his players. His legacy will be an important part of the culture the Ravens carry forward,” commented Speer.

KENT, WA – The Ravens are excited to announce a move up to the Junior A Tier II Western States Hockey League (WSHL). In the span of just two short years the Ravens have climbed the ladder to one of the top development leagues in the United States, affording our players the opportunity to prepare themselves for the challenge of competing at the NCAA level, just as so many WSHL players have done in the past.

“We are thrilled to be able to join such a prestigious and respected league. This accelerates our evolution as a hockey club exponentially,” said Ravens GM Adam Speer. “Our fans are going to see a fast-paced, hard-hitting brand of hockey with highly skilled players seeking to play at the NCAA level, and especially for our European players, pro hockey in the near future. With all due respect, this is a whole new ballgame from a talent and competition perspective.”

While the Ravens will continue to focus on providing Northwest players with the opportunity to play high-level hockey close to home, the league’s recruiting base is now international. “We are now in a position to recruit the best players in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, as well as other parts of the country. In addition, we look forward to bringing in Canadians and Europeans from Sweden, Finland, Russia, Czech, and Switzerland, among others. The league offers the best of both worlds,” said Speer.

Playing in the WSHL’s Northwest division, the Ravens will renew rivalries with the Bellingham Blaze and West Sound Warriors (Bremerton) as well as having the opportunity to take on the Seattle Totems who play just up I-5 in Lynnwood. Rounding out the division are the Tahoe Icemen, Southern Oregon Spartans, and Idaho Jr. Steelheads. With 26 teams from Wichita, Kansas to Southern California, the league is considered one of the best college development leagues in the country. The Ravens will face-off against a number of these other opponents outside the division for a 51 game schedule, including the Western States Shootout Showcase in Las Vegas in December, which is heavily scouted by NCAA and ACHA D-I teams.

The Ravens will continue to be true to the Mission of “Developing outstanding young men who play high level hockey.” Regardless of what league the organization participates in, Ravens’ players will continue the positive culture established in the first season. “We look for talented hard-working players who are excellent students, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and make a positive contribution to our community,” said Assistant Coach Joe Stone. “This team is built on preparing young men for college, and the demands of playing junior hockey requires a total commitment.”

The Ravens play at the Kent Valley Ice Centre in Kent, Washington. The season starts in late September and runs through early March. Stay tuned for other major announcements in the next couple of weeks.

We are proud to announce that Grant Omyer, who played for the Ravens on last year's inaugural season team, has signed with the Canadian Jr A Iroquois Falls Eskis of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. Along with the BCHL, AJHL, and 8 others, the NOJHL is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

Omyer was a key cog on last year's team who possesses tremendous speed and agility. With a strong foundation built playing at home in Seattle for the Ravens, Omyer has proven again that the team's model for development provides ample opportunity to move up in junior hockey. He joins Cole Egan who signed with the Canadian Jr A Calgary Mustangs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.