A great place to play . . . an even greater place to learn!
The girls’ and boys’ hockey programs at Rothesay Netherwood School are innovative and rewarding for the players and are integral components of the RNS school community. The girls play in the North American Prep Hockey Association. With the addition of RNS, this is a 10-team league which includes prep schools from both the United States and Canada. The boys’ program has a unique competitive schedule against major midget AAA teams and prep schools throughout the United States and Canada, and includes exhibition games and tournaments. The RNS Varsity Boys compete in the Mid-West Prep Hockey League (MPHL). Overall, the RNS Hockey program focuses on player development and team play during practice.
Hockey teams at RNS are fortunate to have the H.C. Bonnycastle Memorial Arena, an on-campus indoor ice rink. For off-ice training, they have access to the Roslyn Stollery Fitness Centre, a fully equiped 4000-square foot, state-of-the-art fitness facility.
Coach Lewis is currently in his 6th year as the Director of Hockey and Head Coach of the Boys’ Prep Hockey team at RNS. He brings a wealth of hockey coaching experience from various levels and backgrounds. Prior to RNS, Coach Lewis was a Physical Education teacher and Athletic Director at Pugwash District High School. He has also acted as the development coordinator for the Cumberland County Minor Hockey Association and has worked within the POE with both Hockey Nova Scotia and Hockey Canada. Before his time behind the Riverhawks’ bench, Coach Lewis served as an Assistant Coach/Assistant GM (2005-2010) as well as the Head Coach (2010-2011) of the Amherst Junior A Ramblers of the Maritime Hockey League over the span of six seasons.
Coach Lewis continues to focus on the importance of player development, as well as growing the RNS Hockey brand nationally and internationally. The hockey program at RNS has seen great advancements over the past 6 years and Coach Lewis takes pride in engaging and developing our young student-athletes so they are prepared for school, hockey and life after their time at RNS.
Coach Lewis received a Bachelor of Kinesiology (with a Concentration in Coaching) as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of New Brunswick. Jeff also has a passion for youth hockey in the region and continues to be involved with KVMHA, GUSTO Hockey, the Danny Cleary Hockey School, and the UNB Varsity Reds advanced programs.
Coach Kayla Blackmore is currently in her 6th season as the Head Coach of the Girls’ Prep Hockey program at RNS. In her role at RNS, Coach Blackmore serves as the Director of Athletics, teaches Physical Education & Leadership and coordinates the Student Leadership program in our community. As a player, Blackmore had the opportunity to play for Team New Brunswick at the 2007 Canada Games and Team Atlantic at the 2008 Under 18 National Championships. She then went on to play in the USport Conference for the St. Thomas University Tommies, where she was team captain for three seasons, a five-time Academic All-Canadian, four-time team MVP, the universities all-time leading scorer, and proud recipient of the CIS Marion Hilliard Award and St. Thomas University Female Athlete of the Year Awards.
Coach Blackmore completed her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees, receiving the St. Thomas University Medal for Highest Academic Standing at graduation. As a coach, Blackmore brings numerous years of coaching experience to the program. She has coached in the Atlantic Canadian High-Performance Program for 12 years, highlighted by her role as a Head Coach (2018) and Assistant Coach (2015) with Team Atlantic at the U18 National Championships and further by her role as a Head Coach (2019) and Assistant Coach (2015) with the New Brunswick Canada Winter Games Women’s’ Hockey team. Coach Blackmore is passionate about education and development and works daily prepare student-athletes for the next level by instilling the values of academic excellence, athletic development and servant leadership.