Big news for the Prairie Hockey Academy as they have announced the hiring of Barret Kropf as their first-ever General Manager of the program, along with being named the head coach for the U15 Prep team.  

Kropf, who is originally from Saskatchewan, is excited to come back to the province and serve alongside the staff and athletes at the PHA. 

“Our family is humbled and blessed to have been able to travel around the world and gain some incredible hockey experiences; bringing those experiences and wisdom back to PHA is an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” says Kropf. 

Before making the move back to Saskatchewan, Kropf was the head coach at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia. During his time at TWU, Kropf guided his Spartans team to the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) Championship series five times, in 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18. and 2018-19, winning in both 2018 and 2019.  

In his seven seasons with the Spartans, he had an overall record of 129-53-0-11 (0.697). He won the BCIHL’s Coach of the Year award three times: 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2017-18. 

He hopes to bring that winning attitude to PHA, along with preparing the players for the ups and downs hockey and life will bring them.  

“It’s not an easy sport, you’re at the pointy end of the development of the sport and we just really want to come alongside those athletes and make sure they’re prepared the best possible mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially like all four of those areas. I think PHA gives those athletes a great opportunity to get ready for making that jump to the junior level and beyond,” adds Kropf.  

PHA President, Justin Simpkins says that Kropf is a strong leader and possesses excellent communication skills, and aligns with the vision and purpose at PHA. 

“His life’s work will show you that he is very driven to develop young athletes on and off the ice, putting a high emphasis on their character and their identity in life. I believe that adding Barret to our team, not only as a coach but as our General Manager is a big step forward for all of us at PHA,” says Simpkins.  

Kropf is no stranger to the Caronport area either as he guided the U18 AA Cougars to a league championship.  

Since then, Kropf worked with the Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) and was the chaplain for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League for seven years and has worked with Athletes in Action for over 18 years. Barret was also the head coach of the Briercrest Clippers (ACAC) from 2003 to 2006. Following the 2005-06 season, he was named the ACAC Coach of the Year.  

After leaving Briercrest, he was the assistant Coach with the Czech National World Junior Female team, winning a bronze medal at the 2006 World Championships. Kropf went on to be the Head Coach of Team Sask Female team at the 2011 Nationals Championship, and assistant coach with them in 2010 and 2012. He has more than 20 years of coaching experience, in places such as Czech Republic, Russia, Slovakia, and Kazakhstan. 

Kropf has also worked with Hockey Ministries International (HMI) from 1998 to 2003, coordinating hockey chapel programs in Western Canada. As a player, Kropf played in the SJHL in Estevan and Melfort, SK. Barret and his wife Bridget currently live in Langley, BC, and will be moving here over the summer. They have three sons Jalen, Joshua(wife Katti) and Jacob. 

barretbridget.jpg Kropf with his wife Bridget. Photo credit: PHA.