Heward Broncos 2


Jamie Heward's new job with the Swift Current Broncos was a long time coming and came together quickly at the same time.

The new Director of Player Development and Assistant Coach of the Broncos had talked on and off for three years to Coach and GM Mark Lamb about working together. It hadn't worked out before, but this time it came together in a matter of days.

Interview with Jamie Heward"Got a call two days ago," Heward said. "Mark was just asking what I was doing and what I was committed to... it just intrigued me enough to have a look at it... it was something that I had been interesting in doing for a couple of years now. Obviously right opportunity, right Head Coach, right Assistant Coach... everything in favour of me coming here and doing good things. The fact that I know them both very well and can work with them... it's an instant bond, it made the job and the decision a lot easier for me."

The dual role of development and coaching suits him.

"Coming from the pro level I always thought maybe I had more to offer on a teaching basis," Heward noted. "You get these kids when they're just learning the game. You get them after they're drafted, you teach them how to eat, how to work out, how to do all those things and they're like spunges."

The 19 year professional is looking forward to working with some of the high end young talent the Broncos are bringing in on the blue line.

"That's one of the things that Mark and I talked about when he made the phone call," Heward said. "He said 'We've got a good young core of defencemen coming up, we need someone to work with them on a regular basis.' So that kind of fit in to the position I played for so long. I enjoyed working with young kids. The education I can give them is all stuff NHL guys taught me when I was first getting into the league."

He expects to spend about 12 to 15 days a month in Swift Current while also scouting and working with their prospects.