UNews - Greg Gatto

Horns tap Red Wings organization for new men's hockey coach

trevor.kenney — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 20:54:40 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns Athletics has named Spiros Anastas as the new head coach of the men’s hockey program, the eighth in team history.

Spiros Anastas becomes the program's eighth head coach.

“It’s an exciting time for Pronghorns men’s hockey, it’s hard not to get excited by the enthusiasm and vision of excellence Spiros brings to the program,” says Executive Director of Sports and Recreation, Sandy Slavin. “He’ll be building on the strengths of the program and taking advantage of the opportunities that are out there. He is a highly motivated individual who brings a strong coaching skill set to our program and is coming from an organization that prides itself on developing a winning program; he’s looking forward to bringing that attitude to the Pronghorns.”

Anastas, originally from Toronto, Ont., is presently an assistant coach with the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins, the top affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Currently in his second season behind the Griffins bench, Anastas started with the Griffins as the team’s analytics and advanced scouting coach and helped the Griffins to the Western Conference and Calder Cup Championship in 2013.

“I am honoured to be joining the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge hockey team, and look forward to starting my career as a head coach,” says Anastas. “Through the first five years of my career I have been fortunate to work under some great men like Andy Murray and Jeff Blashill. Furthermore, the accessibility of Mike Babcock and his staff in Detroit has been beneficial to my development."

Babcock, of course, is the program's most noted former head coach. He led the Pronghorns to their lone Canada West title and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup national championship during his only season with the program in 1993-94. He has since gone on to win a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings and has led the Canadian men's team to two Olympic gold medals.

Meanwhile, current Red Wings assistant coach Bill Peters was also the head coach of the Pronghorns men’s hockey program from 2002 to 2005. Peters went on to win a Memorial Cup with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League and is in his third season in Detroit.

Anastas has had the opportunity to work closely with the Red Wings during his time in Grand Rapids, serving as an assistant coach during the Red Wings development camps and NHL Prospects tournament.

Prior to joining the Griffins, Anastas served as the general manager of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCJHL).

A former player with Lebanon Valley College, NCAA division III, Anastas began his coaching career with his alma mater, serving as an assistant coach during the 2010-11 season, before moving on to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Michigan. While there, he served as an assistant coach and video coordinator, working under former NHL head coach Andy Murray. During his only season with the Broncos, Anastas helped the team win only its second CCHA Championship in the program’s history and earn a NCAA tournament berth.

“I am excited to put all I have learned to work with the Pronghorns hockey team," he says. "The level of competition in the CIS, and especially Canada West, is high and we definitely have a challenge ahead of us. Getting the wheels in motion right away is a priority and I am confident in the support I'll receive from both the school and the Horns alumni as we rebuild this program.”

Anastas will fulfill his duties with the Griffins this season, remaining with the team until the completion of the American Hockey League regular season and playoffs. The Griffins sit atop the Midwest Division with 94 points.

“This is an exciting time for Pronghorns hockey as we look to the future," adds Anastas. "My fiancée, Lindsay, and I look forward to joining and being heavily involved in the Lethbridge community. I thank Sandy Slavin and the committee members for entrusting me with this program and the hard work they put forth throughout the entire process."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge men’s hockey coaches
Dave McDowall (1984-1989)
Dave Adolph (1989-1993)
Mike Babcock (1993-94) – ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Cup Champions
Ron Kraft (1994-97)
Dean Holden (1997-98)
Doug Irwin (1998-2002)
Bill Peters (2002-2005)
Greg Gatto (2005-2014)
Spiros Anastas (2014-present)

Horns relieve Gatto from coaching duties

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 23:29:32 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorn Athletics has relieved Greg Gatto (BASc '00, BEd '00) from his duties as head coach of the Pronghorns men's hockey program.

Gatto spent nine seasons at the helm of the men’s hockey team, compiling a record of 80-143-20. His teams qualified for the playoffs on three occasions, but never advanced beyond the first round of the post-season. Gatto's best season came during the 2006-07 campaign when the Pronghorns finished second in the Mountain Division with a 14-9-5 record but lost in the first round of playoff to the UBC Thunderbirds.

Gatto also played five seasons with the Pronghorns and was a member of the program’s lone Canada West and CIAU Championship team during the 1993-94 season.

“Greg has spent 14 years as a member of Pronghorn Athletics and has committed a great deal to the hockey program and had some great success along the way,” says Pronghorn Athletics Executive Director Sandy Slavin. “But we felt that we needed to move the program in a new direction.

“We would like to thank Greg for his commitment and hard work over those 14 years and wish him well in the future.”

Pronghorn Athletics will begin the search for a new head coach immediately.

Peters maintains connection with Horns

trevor.kenney — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:48:40 +0000

When Bill Peters left the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns after the 2004-05 season to return to the Western Hockey League, he saw it as a graduation. Given his continued connection with the men's hockey program, he could easily be considered a U of L alum.

It wasn't surprising then, that when the National Hockey League locked out its players and shut down professional rinks across North America, Peters made his way back to Lethbridge to assist the program that gave him his first opportunity as a head coach.

"It was a good learning experience for me," says Peters of his run as head coach with the Pronghorns from 2002-03 through 2004-05. "It was my first time as a head coach, coming from Spokane as an assistant, and I was here for three years and I really enjoyed my time. It was a good situation for me and that phase of my development as a coach, but I worked with and for good people and that's always important."

The Pronghorns men's hockey team may be taking its lumps this season, but former Horns coach Bill Peters sees the beginnings of a solid future.

The connection to people and the relationships cultivated are what ties Peters to the program today. Now an assistant coach with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings (working with another former Horns coach in Mike Babcock), Peters regularly speaks with current head coach Greg Gatto. It was Gatto who headed to Detroit late last season to spend a weekend with the Red Wings, watching practice and film sessions and gaining the kind of knowledge you can only glean from true professionals.

"We kept talking this fall and he asked what I was doing to keep busy and if I'd like to come up to Lethbridge," says Peters. "This was an opportunity with their bye week to come up and spend some time with the team, and I think it's been as good for me as it was for them."

Peters ran practices, led film sessions, instituted Red Wings philosophies on power play and breakout situations and more than anything, worked the club at a high tempo. While the dividends of his visit have yet to show in the results column, the experience is another valuable building block in establishing the Pronghorns program and a level of expectation.

"I like the group that Greg has here, they worked very hard for me," says Peters of a squad that has just one win on the season but is one of the least experienced rosters in Canada West.

"These guys don't know each other as well as they are going to in years three and four, obviously, and chemistry plays a huge part of it, consistency in the culture of your program and what's expected."

Peters is consistent with that message and it has taken him all the way to the NHL. He understands struggle, winning only four and three games respectively his final two seasons with the Horns. But he believed in his ideals and parlayed that into success both at the WHL and American Hockey League levels.

"When you have tough times, it forces you to dig deep and reflect and to try and get better," he says. "You're always asking your players to get better, so as a coach, you have to continue to evolve and get better as well.

"I was fortunate, we didn't have as much success on the ice as we'd have liked but I had some great kids to work with. Ryan Epp, Chad Kletzel, Billy Katelnikoff, Andy Houthuys, they're good people. It would have been nice to get some more wins but they're quality men."

That was in evidence over the course of Peters' week in town, as he also skated with the Catholic Central Hockey Academy and was assisted by Houthuys. Epp, Kletzel and Katelnikoff have all coached in the minor hockey ranks as well since their playing days with the Horns.

What's next for Peters, when and if the NHL returns to the ice, is a desire to become a head coach again, this time on the biggest stage.

"For sure, most people want to be a head coach and most people want to coach at the highest level and for me that's the natural step," says Peters. "I enjoy being a head coach and for me to become a head coach in the national league, I need some NHL experience and I'm getting it in a good organization right now."

Having had it all start at the U of L is something Peters will never forget. So, while he may not have the parchment, it's apparent he'll gladly play the role of an alumnus and ambassador wherever he goes.

This story first appeared in the December 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Horns hockey announces recruits

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:12:14 +0000

After adding four defensemen and a goalie earlier this summer, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team announced the commitmentment of four forwards for the 2012-13 season.

Headlining the latest recruits for the Horns is the former captain of the Kamloops Blazers' Chase Schaber. The 6'0" centre from Red Deer, Alta. set career highs in goals and points during his final season with 23 goals and 52 points in only 61 games.

Schaber suited up for 277 career WHL games with the Blazers and Calgary Hitmen, tallying 68 goals and 102 assists. He is also the second WHL captain that the 'Horns have added this season, with the other being former Victoria Royals captain Hayden Rintoul.

"It is always a good thing to add a WHL captain to your dressing room," says Horns head coach Greg Gatto. "Chase is the number one centreman we've been looking for and he'll bring a tremendous amount of leadership to our team."

Joining Schaber directly from the WHL is Cody Chikie. Another centre, Chikie joins the 'Horns after playing the last three seasons with the Kelowna Rockets. Last season, Chikie tied his career high in goals with 18 and set a career high in points with 33 in 60 games.

Chikie began his WHL career with the Saskatoon Blades and finished with 201 career games and registered 49 goals and 48 assists.

"Cody's biggest asset is his speed, and he is going to be a big addition to our specialty teams," says Gatto. "We also feel that he'll be able to chip in offensively."

Former WHLer Killian Hutt joins the 'Horns after playing his 20-year-old season with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. With the Oil Barons, Hutt recorded 61 points in 52 regular season games and 27 points in 21 playoff games as the Oil Barons lost in the AJHL final to the Brooks Bandits.

Prior to joining the Oil Barons, Hutt played three seasons in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks, Regina Pats and Swift Current Broncos. Hutt suited up in 116 games during the three seasons and scored a career high 13 goals as a rookie with the Winterhawks.

"Killian will add some much needed skill to our power play," says Gatto. "He proved last year that he has some offensive up-side and produced during the Oil Barons playoff run."

Rounding out the 2012-13 recruiting class is former AJHLer Taylor Fraser. The St. Albert, AB native played three full seasons with his hometown Steel, before wrapping up his junior career with the Spruce Grove Saints. In 231 games in the AJHL, Fraser registered 77 goals, including a career high 35 during the 2010-11 season and 78 assists.

"Taylor provides us with a big body on the right side and he can put the puck in the net. He scored 35 times as a 19-year old in St. Albert," says Gatto.

The 'Horns kick-off their non-conference schedule this weekend playing the newest Canada West member, Mount Royal Cougars, Friday night in Calgary before returning home to host the Calgary Dinos Saturday night, 7 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

Horns add defensive help

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:17:18 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team has dipped into the Ontario talent pool for a pair of defencemen.

Horns' head coach Greg Gatto continues to revamp the defensive core of the men's hockey team, adding Tim Campbell and David McMullen, defensemen who each have Ontario Hockey League (OHL) experience.

Campbell, a native of Thornhill, ON, joins the 'Horns after finishing his junior career with the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Hockey League (MHL). In 45 games as a 20 year-old, Campbell registered 17 goals and 55 assists and was named the top defenseman in the MHL.

"I am excited and really looking forward to coming to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge," says Campbell. "I fell in love with the city when I came out for my visit and can't wait to get started with the Pronghorns."

During his only season in Woodstock, he helped the Slammers win a MHL Championship and a berth in the RBC Championship. At the national championship tournament, Campbell registered five points in six games as the Slammers lost in the final to the Penticton Vees.

Prior to joining the Slammers, Campbell played three seasons in the OHL with the Guelph Storm, compiling eight goals and 39 assists in 166 career games.

"Tim was a pretty sought after guy and he showed great offensive upside last year in Woodstock," says Gatto. "He's a right shot that can quarterback our power play and he played three seasons with a great organization in the OHL."

Also making the trip out west is David McMullen, who played with his hometown Kingston Voyageurs in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). The team captain for the past two seasons, McMullen registered 22 goals and 104 assists in 189 career games. In addition to playing four seasons with the Voyageurs, McMullen played one season in the OHL with the Niagara IceDogs.

"David is another right shot defenseman with good offensive instincts," says Gatto. "He was the captain in Kingston the past two seasons and it is always nice to add a guy with good leadership qualities like that."

Gatto continues to work on rounding out this year's recruiting class. The Horns will open the 2012-2013 Canada West season by hosting the Calgary Dinos in the front half of a home-and-home series on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Horns bolster lineup

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:19:18 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team is excited to announce three new recruits for the 2012-13 Canada West season.

After the graduation of six players from last year's team, head coach Greg Gatto has his work cut out for him to fill the gaps left behind but is excited to add three quality Western Hockey League graduates, goaltender Damien Ketlo and defencemen Hayden Rintoul and Cason Machacek.

With the departure of five-year starting goalie and 2009-10 second team Canada West All-Star Scott Bowles, goaltending was a high priority in Gatto's recruiting this off-season. With the commitment of former Lethbridge Hurricane goaltender Damien Ketlo, he believes the Horns have picked up one of the best graduating goalies from the WHL.

"Damien is a guy to take over the number one position," says Gatto. "He was the Hurricanes' MVP last season and he wants to be a big part of our program. He gives us a bigger goaltender who plays the puck well, and it's his job to lose."

Ketlo is a Fort Fraser, B.C. native who played four seasons in the WHL and made 160 appearances over his career with the Regina Pats and the Hurricanes. This past season, Ketlo made 47 appearances, while sporting a 3.60 goals-against-average and a solid 0.902 save percentage.

At the end of his season, Ketlo joined the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL, making 3 appearances, including a shutout victory in his pro debut.

Rintoul and Machacek played parts of two seasons together with the Kootenay Ice. Machacek is a Lethbridge product who returns home to suit up for the Pronghorns after finishing his junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Prior to being traded to Seattle, Machacek played parts of two seasons with his hometown Hurricanes and began his WHL career with the Ice. A physical, stay-at-home defenseman, Machacek suited up in 245 career WHL games in four seasons, accumulating 6 goals and 22 assists, while amassing 536 penalty minutes.

"Cason is a hometown boy who wants to come back and make our program better," says Gatto. "We needed a physical defenseman and that's exactly what Cason is and he has more upside than a lot of people give him credit for."

Rintoul, in addition to playing with the Ice, finished his WHL career with the Victoria Royals where he served as the team captain and set career highs this season in goals and points with 17 and 51 respectively. In 260 career games, Rintoul amassed 36 goals and 108 assists and won a WHL Championship in 2011 with Ice.

"Hayden is an offensive-minded defenseman and gives us that puck moving ability that is so important in today's game," says Gatto. "He won a WHL championship and was a captain, which are always qualities we like to add to our dressing room."

Reid, Tait added to Horns' roster

trevor.kenney — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:54:39 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team bolstered its present with an eye on the future Thursday, introducing two new goaltenders to the mix.

With incumbent and 2009-10 Canada West All-Star Scott Bowles entering his final year of eligibility, Horns head coach Greg Gatto announced the signing of a pair of Western Hockey League graduates, former Spokane Chief James Reid and Lethbridge Hurricane Dylan Tait.

"Bowles has been the backbone for us his entire career but we felt it was important to bring in quality competition and set ourselves up heading into his graduation after this season," says Gatto. "The last thing we want to do is go into a season with nothing but true freshmen as starting goalies."

Reid, a six-foot Calgary native, is coming off an outstanding final season of junior hockey where he was named the Western Conference nominee for the WHL goalie of the year. During his final year of junior hockey, Reid led the Chiefs to the Western Conference final. In 50 regular season appearances, his 2.52 goals against average was fourth best in the WHL and he recorded 35 wins, sixth in the league despite missing significant time due to injury.

"Reid has been one of the top goaltenders in the WHL the last few seasons and we are really excited to have him join the Horns," says Gatto.

Tait, a Lethbridge Athletic Association product, joins the Horns after his lone full season in the WHL with the hometown Lethbridge Hurricanes. Last year, Tait made 27 appearances for the Hurricanes and finished 6-10-1 with a 4.13 goals against average and 0.883 save percentage. Just 19, he gives up his final year of eligibility in the WHL to begin his post-secondary career.

"The last couple of years, seeing what kind of program was taking shape here and knowing some of the guys who have played here and really enjoyed it, I was really looking for an opportunity to come here," says Tait.

Prior to suiting up with the Hurricanes, Tait played with the Drumheller Dragons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

He's excited about the opportunity to work under Bowles, learning not only the goaltending position at the Canada West level but also how to balance an academic career. He plans on studying biological sciences.

"A big thing for me is the school aspect. I've heard he's a great student so hopefully he can show me how to create a good balance between hockey and school because he does such a great job with both," says Tait.

The Lethbridge native developed in the LAA and was part of the goaltending tandem with the Y's Men Titans that led the Alberta Midget Hockey League South Division with a 25-4-7 record and surrendered a league low 84 goals. Tait finished with a 11-2-3 record and a 2.91 goals against average.

"It is important for our program to have quality local guys return or stay in Lethbridge," says Gatto. "Dylan will battle and give us great depth at the goaltending position."

Tait joins a growing list of southern Alberta products to join the Horns in recent years with the likes of Taylor Gal, Mason Conway, Winston Day Chief and Cam Creighton.

Horns men's hockey team adds 'Canes' captain

trevor.kenney — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:01:05 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey team didn't have to look far for their latest recruit. Lethbridge Hurricanes captain Mike Reddington will stay in the city he has called home for two years and join the Pronghorns for the 2011-12 Canada West season.

"We are excited to have Mike on board, he is a proven winner,"says Horns head coach Greg Gatto. "He will give us a right shot defenseman and some needed leadership, having been the captain of the Hurricanes.
"It also further builds our relationship with the Hurricanes, and hopefully we can continue to have graduating players stay in the city and help our program."

After missing the post-season by only two points last year, Gatto's main priority in the off-season is to shore up the Horns' blue-line. With the addition of Reddington, the Horns believe they have taken a step in that direction.

Reddington, a second round Western Hockey League bantam draft pick, began his WHL career with the Spokane Chiefs and was a valuable member of the Chiefs' 2008 Memorial Cup championship team. During the Chiefs' Memorial Cup season, Reddington posted a plus-22 rating over 71 regular season games. Reddington is a 20-year-old Port Coquitlam, B.C. native.

At the start of his third season in the WHL, Reddington was traded to the Hurricanes where he closed out his junior career, serving this season as the team's captain. Over five seasons in the WHL, the gritty, hardworking defenseman collected 80 points in 329 career games.

The Horns will open training camp the first weekend of September and see their first conference action Sept. 30, hosting the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Men's hockey Horns bolster lineup

trevor.kenney — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:15:20 +0000

He had to wait a while but head coach Greg Gatto will be quick to tell you it was worth the effort as he announced the addition of four new recruits for the Pronghorns men's hockey program.

Highlighted by local product Taylor Gal, Gatto introduced four new members of the Horns for the 2010-2011 Canada West season. Ryan Letts, Tyler Melancon and Mason Conway round out the quartet, while Nick Hotson, who red-shirted last season is now eligible after transferring from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba, was also introduced.
Gal chose to forgo his 20-year-old Western Hockey League season with the Medicine Hat Tigers and join his hometown Horns. Last season, his second full season with the Tigers, the 5'11 winger registered career highs with 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists). In addition to two seasons with the Tigers, Gal also played two seasons with the Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
"It's really important for us to have local kids return home and Taylor is a complete package," says Gatto. "He is such a good skater, we expect him to step in and play in all situations for us."
Western Hockey League graduate Letts joins the Horns after five WHL seasons, split between the Calgary Hitmen and the Spokane Chiefs, highlighted by a Memorial Cup Championship with the Chiefs in 2009. Another WHL grad, Hotson, officially joins the Pronghorn program after red-shirting last season due to CIS eligibility regulations. Hotson played with the Manitoba Bisons two seasons ago after completing a four-year WHL career with the Portland Winter Hawks and Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Dipping back into the Ontario market that has produced the likes of current Horns Andrew Courtney, Andrew Marshall and Ryan Pottruff, Gatto secured the commitment of former Ontario Hockey League forward Tyler Melancon. Melancon played three seasons with the Guelph Storm.
Southern Alberta native Mason Conway is the lone defenceman of the group and he joins the Horns after three seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
The Horns men's hockey team will kick off the Canada West season by hosting the Calgary Dinos, Friday, Oct. 15 at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

For more on the new recruiting class, follow this link.

Chorneyko top Canada West rookie

trevor.kenney — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:38:00 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns late charge for a Canada West men's hockey playoff spot did not go unnoticed by those selecting year-end individual awards. The Horns, who were the hottest team in the second half of the season, boasted one major award winner and three all-star selections as Canada West announced its year-end award winners on Thursday.

Leading the way for the Horns was Adam Chorneyko, who was voted the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Hockey Alumni Trophy winner as the league's outstanding rookie.

Chorneyko led all freshmen in scoring in Canada West with 35 points, including 16 goals, which was also the fourth best offensive output in the conference. In 26 games, the former Lethbridge Hurricane had 12 multi-point contests, including his first CIS hat trick January 31 versus the UBC Thunderbirds.

Chorneyko was a key component in the Horns going 9-2-1 after Christmas, playing themselves back into post-season contention until the final weekend of the season. In addition to his offensive prowess, Chorneyko was also responsible in his own end of the ice, tying for the conference lead in plus/minus rating at +18

"Adam quickly stepped in and became our number one centre and top goal scorer," says Horns head coach Greg Gatto. "Adam was a threat at both ends of the ice as he finished in the top five scorers for points and goals, and was a Canada West leader in plus/minus."

Chorneyko wasn't the only Pronghorn to earn accolades. Defenceman Ryan Pottruff (third year) and forward Dustin Moore (third year) were each named to the Canada West First All-Star Team, while goaltender Scott Bowles (third year) earned second team all-star honours.

UNews - Greg Gatto

Horns tap Red Wings organization for new men's hockey coach

Related Topics

Horns relieve Gatto from coaching duties

Related Topics

Peters maintains connection with Horns

Related Topics

Horns hockey announces recruits

Related Topics

Horns add defensive help

Related Topics

Horns bolster lineup

Related Topics

Reid, Tait added to Horns' roster

Related Topics

Horns men's hockey team adds 'Canes' captain

Related Topics

Men's hockey Horns bolster lineup

Related Topics

Chorneyko top Canada West rookie

Related Topics