The Okanagan Hockey Academy has hired Jim Fetter as head coach of their female midget team, with Shera Fetter serving as his assistant.
Both coaches join OHA after previously serving as assistant coaches with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I St. Cloud State University women’s hockey team.
“OHA is excited to have Jim and Shera Fetter joining our organization to take the leadership role within the female operations,” said OHA president Andy Oakes on the OHA's website. “Jim comes to us with great experience at the NCAA and international levels as a head coach and assistant coach. His track record and resume speaks for itself.”
Jim spent the last three seasons with St. Cloud State after spending eight seasons as the head coach for Wayne State University's women's team. The University of Lethbridge grad also has experience on the Canadian national stage, having served as head coach of the Canadian Under-18 team last winter.
“It’s exciting,” said Jim Fetter. “I am looking forward to going back to the grassroots level working with the kids and developing them not only as players but as people. I have been in the NCAA for the past 16 years and feel I have a good understanding what coaches are looking for down here, so hopefully we can develop quality young ladies that will move on and have successful careers in the NCAA or CIS.”
Shera spent the last season with St. Cloud State after previously serving as the head coach of the NCAA Division III women’s team at Stevenson University. During her playing days, Fetter was a standout on and off the ice tallying 48 points (23-25-48) in 136 career games, while also being named to the WCHA all-academic team three years in a row.
“In Shera we get a coach that has done what all these young female players are trying to do and that is play at the NCAA level and pursue academics,” said Oakes. “Combine with her playing experience she has been a head coach at the Division III level and assistant coach at the Division I level so the overall experience is exactly what our players require.”