The Estevan Bruins announced Thursday that Drew Kocur will be joining the team as an assistant coach for the 2023-2024 SJHL season.

Kocur, 27, comes to Estevan after leading the Pilot Butte Storm to the Junior B provincial championship last season. He was named Coach of the Year in the Prairie Junior Hockey League.

"You truly understand what it takes to win after you achieve that goal. Our goal as an organization is advancement for our players but also for our coaches. Drew is motivated to become a head coach one day and those are the type of people we want to surround ourselves with," said Bruins Head Coach and GM Jason Tatarnic.

"With a new staff member comes new ideas and I am really looking forward to working with Drew. His main focus will be working with the defencemen, special teams responsibilities and will be involved in all of our skill development programs such as the Breakfast with the Bruins program,” Tatarnic added.

Kocur, a Regina native, takes over from former Bruins Assistant Coach Phil Fife, who recently left Estevan for a head coaching job in Nova Scotia.

"We’re really excited to welcome Drew to the Bruins family," said Bruins President Josh Biggs. "In speaking with him over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been really impressed with his experience and focus on skill development as well as his desire to work with local minor hockey players. He’ll be a great addition to the Bruins and our city."