Last week, Coach Jeff and his family (Gina, Hayes, Hudson, and Marin) traveled to Ottawa & Quebec. They visited with Jeff’s sister and family and took in the Eastern Canadian Championships at Nakkertok. (Big-time ski races located at Canada’s largest ski club.)
Well! It proved to be a very interesting trip as we unexpectedly encountered Coach Ihor’s past – not just once, but twice!
When Jeff stopped at a ski store to borrow some items just prior to race weekend, he met a man named Pavol… who just happened to know Coach Ihor very well!
Pavol and Ihor coached in the same era… Coach Ihor in Manitoba; Coach Pavol in NWT.
Then, during race weekend, Jeff talked in depth with Ontario’s Team Hardwood… and funny thing again, during introductions it was discovered that there was yet another person prominently linked to Coach Ihor’s past…
… Jack Sasseville!
If any of you have read APJ’s website page on “Coaches”, then you will know of Ihor’s bio which tells of his racing days with the Manitoba Ski Team under the leadership of Jack Sasseville and Ted Bigelow. I’m sure Coach Ihor has many more stories to tell.
WOW! If anything, our family’s trip out East reminded and impressed upon us just how knowledgeable Coach Ihor is about skiing – in racing and everything else, too.
Ihor was, and still is, a prominent figure in the ski community and we are very fortunate to have him as our very own Head Coach of APJ. Thank you, Coach Ihor, for all the work you do with APJ!
Coach Ihor with his son, James.
Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits 