HEAD COACH ANNOUNCEMENT | U18 TIER 1

Victoria Minor Hockey is pleased to announce the return of Jeff Rafuse as Head Coach of the Admirals U18 Tier 1 team for the 2026/27 season.

Jeff brings more than 12 years of minor hockey coaching experience, including Head Coach and Assistant Coach roles at the representative level with both the Saanich Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) and Victoria Minor Hockey Association (VMHA). He also previously served as VMHA Coaching Director, where he supported coach development and program standards across the association. Jeff was recognized as SMHA Coach of the Year in 2018 for his leadership and commitment to player development.

Within VMHA, Jeff has had a strong impact at multiple levels of the program. As Head Coach of the Admirals U15 T2 team, he led his group to a Provincial Silver medal in 2022. More recently, as an Assistant Coach with the U18 T1 program, he helped guide the team to Provincial Bronze in 2024 and Provincial Gold in 2025, contributing to one of the program’s most successful runs in recent years.

Jeff is passionate about developing well-rounded athletes, with a strong emphasis on skill progression, team identity, and leadership both on and off the ice. He holds multiple coaching certifications, supports player development through specialized checking clinics for athletes transitioning into contact hockey, and continues to pursue BC Hockey’s High-Performance certification, reflecting his commitment to ongoing growth as a coach.

We are excited to welcome Jeff back behind the bench and look forward to his continued leadership of the Admirals U18 Tier 1 program this season.

Welcome back, Coach Rafuse!