Curtis Toneff will move on from head coach of the Nanaimo Buccaneers to become the new assistant coach for the humboldt Broncos. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Aaron Schulze

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Nanaimo Buccaneers coach skates in to help Humboldt Broncos

Jun 5, 2019 | 10:23 AM

HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt Broncos are bringing in a West Coast vibe to the coaching staff next season.

Two-time Nanaimo Buccaneers head coach Curtis Toneff was officially announced as the Bronco’s new assistant coach for the 2019-2020 season in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

Toneff told northeastNOW he hasn’t applied for an assistant coaching position since spending two years with the Trail Smoke Eaters between 2015 and 2017, but felt a position with the Broncos would be the right fit.

His feelings seemed to be on target while talking with head coach Scott Barney.

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“I’m a [defence] guy when it comes to being an assistant coach and he was looking for a guy to work with the team’s defence. He asked me a number of questions, like how much video do you watch? What drills and systems do you like? My answers may have lined up with his philosophies of the game.”

Since he was officially hired, Toneff said he and Barney have texted back and forth about hockey philosophies and players, especially the recruiting aspect.

He intends to recruit players from Vancouver Island and see if they’d be interested in living the Prairie life.

“There’s going to be a lot of teaching and probably some growing pains at certain points next year, just because we will be that young,” he said. “We’re going to be young, fast, and full of energy.”

This won’t be Toneff’s first trip to the Prairies. He dressed in 33 games for the Battlefords North Stars in 2011 and 2012.

He said the people he met in Saskatchewan were second to none.

“It’s been a great organization from the time I came into the (league),” he said. “It’s something you have to be prepared to do in the coaching world.”

Toneff hopes to arrive in Humboldt by early August after finding his replacement as the Buccaneers head coach.

aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow