Coach’s Corner: Austin Evans on Development, Effort, and Accountability

As for his latest role? He's joined NVMHA as head coach of the U13 A2s.

His hockey story goes well beyond the 2025-26 season, and he's bringing more than a decade of learning and hockey experience to his team.

From starting out in Whistler and Squamish, to playing Junior A in the BCHL at 16, to earning a spot in NCAA hockey, Austin’s path is a great reminder that development isn’t always linear — and that effort, consistency, and resilience can take you a long way.

We had the chance to sit down with Austin to learn more about his playing career, his first year coaching, and how CrossFit and dryland training are shaping the way he supports players today.

The start of his hockey journey

Austin’s hockey journey started in Whistler Minor Hockey — where he grew up playing the game and building a love for it early on.

As he got older, the next step was finding higher levels of competition. Because Whistler didn’t have enough players to form a rep team at the time, Austin moved to Squamish Minor Hockey to pursue rep hockey opportunities and challenge himself against stronger competition.

That experience became a turning point.

As Austin kept improving, he realized that playing at the highest level meant finding ways to consistently compete against top players — and for him, that meant heading into the city for spring hockey and higher-level tryouts.

It was through that spring hockey experience that the idea of Delta Hockey Academy came into the picture — a move that opened the door to AAA hockey and helped shape the next stage of his development.

Junior Hockey and NCAA

Austin spent two years at Delta Hockey Academy, and at the time, it looked different than it does today.

There wasn’t an academy league — so while he trained within the academy environment, he still played his season with South Delta Minor Hockey. That year became his first real experience playing at the highest tier: AAA hockey.

“It was my first ever exposure to triple AAA hockey. I just remember thinking, this is awesome. This is what I’ve been wanting to do growing up.”

- Austin Evans, NVMHA U13 A2 Head Coach

Not long after, Austin took another huge step: he made Junior A in the BCHL at just 16-years-old, earning a spot with the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

His junior path wasn’t the smooth, straight line a lot of people assume it is. After limited playing time and a major organizational change the following year, Austin found himself cut and suddenly without a team at 17 — a moment that forced a decision.

“That was definitely a moment for me where it was like, okay, you’re either going to prove some people wrong, or you’re going to let it crumble you.”

He chose the first option.

Austin moved to Fernie to play Junior B in the KIJHL — and used the season to rebuild momentum and confidence. It ended up becoming one of the most enjoyable years of his playing career, with strong team success, big minutes, and a deep playoff run.

From there, Austin worked his way back up the ladder — earning recruitment into the SJHL with the Battlefords North Stars, and later getting traded to Flin Flon, where he finished his junior career as a leader and key contributor.

That final season opened the next door: NCAA hockey.

Austin earned an opportunity to play at Norwich University (Division III), extending his career and stepping into a new chapter of hockey.

Looking back now, he’s grateful for how long the game allowed him to keep competing

“A lot of players don’t get to play hockey competitively as long as I did… I was very thankful that I was able to play at a pretty high level for a long time.”

The Start of His Coaching Career

Austin’s move into coaching wasn’t something he rushed into — it came at the right time, and for the right reasons.

His first step behind the bench came through spring hockey on the North Shore, where he joined a local team as an assistant coach. It was a low-pressure way to learn the role, understand the dynamics of the bench, and see how kids respond to different coaching styles.

That experience also gave him the chance to learn from Mike Wilson — a well-known coach within North Van Minor Hockey — someone Austin credits with helping shape his early approach to coaching.

“He taught me a lot,” Austin said. “I’m really thankful my first experience coaching was with him.”

This winter marked a bigger step: taking on the role of U13 A2 Head Coach.

While it’s his first year as a head coach in minor hockey, Austin isn’t new to leadership. Years of coaching in the fitness world prepared him to manage groups, build trust, and communicate clearly — skills that translate directly to the rink.

When Austin talks about what matters most this season, he keeps coming back to three core ideas: development, effort, and accountability.

Development starts with fundamentals. At the U13 level, Austin focuses on skating mechanics, puck support, spacing, and decision-making — the building blocks players will rely on as the game gets faster and more structured.

He’s also intentional about creating an environment where players feel confident trying new things.

“Mistakes are part of the game. Hockey isn’t perfect. I want them to learn, adjust, and keep building confidence.”

Effort is the non-negotiable.

One lesson Austin carried with him throughout his own playing career — and now passes on to his players — is that effort is always within a player’s control. Wins and losses will come and go, but consistent effort is something every player can bring every shift.

Accountability shows up in the details.

Preparation, routines, and habits matter — even at this age. Austin introduces simple structures around warm-ups, dressing room routines, and practice habits that mirror what players will see at higher levels, without overwhelming them.

It’s about learning how to prepare properly, not just how to play.

A big part of Austin’s role this season has also been mentoring his assistant coach, Alex Thompson — a North Van Minor Hockey alumnus who’s just a few years removed from playing himself.

With a younger coach on the bench, Austin sees an opportunity to model leadership as much as teach systems. That means setting boundaries, staying composed during games, and understanding how a coach’s body language and tone can impact players on the ice.

“If you’re calm behind the bench, the players reflect that. They stay level-headed and stick to the plan.”

Through all of it, Austin is realistic about the challenges of coaching at this age. Managing confidence, emotions, and expectations for 11- and 12-year-olds isn’t easy — but it’s also one of the most rewarding parts of the role.

For Austin, success this season isn’t defined by standings alone. It’s measured by improvement, buy-in, and whether players leave the year more confident, prepared, and excited about the game than when they started.

Bringing CrossFit Training and Dryland to His Team

Austin also brings another unique element to the U13 A2 team; he's a full-time coach and co-owner of Coast Mountain CrossFit, a nearby gym where several NVMHA teams train.

Austin’s CrossFit story starts where most of his stories start: hockey.

When he was 14 or 15, he was looking for an edge — a way to get faster and stronger as he moved toward AAA hockey. A Whistler local he looked up to, Garrett Milan, pointed him toward CrossFit Whistler and encouraged him to train there.

Austin jumped in with personal training sessions, then went straight into adult CrossFit classes — and almost immediately felt the impact.

“That year skyrocketed… I got so much faster, so much stronger.”

Over time, that training background became part of his identity — and eventually his career. After hockey, Austin coached CrossFit for seven years before moving to the city with his wife, Erin, to open Coast Mountain CrossFit in 2020.

Now, that background is directly connected to his role with NVMHA.

One of Austin’s goals this season was to bring dryland training into the association in a more intentional way — helping players learn how to move properly, build coordination, and develop strength safely at younger ages.

At this age, the priority isn’t lifting heavier weights — it’s learning body mechanics and fundamentals: squats, hinges, balance, coordination, and control.

Austin’s message to the kids is simple: the focus you bring to drills on the ice should match the focus you bring to training off the ice.

A great fit for the association

Austin’s path through hockey has had plenty of highs, a few unexpected setbacks, and a lot of lessons earned the hard way — and that’s part of what makes his perspective so valuable for young players.

He’s honest about the ups and downs. He’s big on structure, routines, and effort. And he’s invested in helping kids build habits that will serve them not just this season — but for years.

Rapid Fire with Austin

• Favourite NHL team: Vancouver Canucks

• Favourite NHL player (past): Martin St. Louis

• Favourite NHL player (present): Brendan Gallagher

• Favourite pre-game song: “Berzerk” by Eminem

• Favourite hockey stick: Easton Stealth (bonus points to any current NVMHA players who know this one!)

• Favourite NVMHA jersey colour: Blue