BELLE & STEVENSON LEAD HC EDMONTON INTO INAUGURAL SEASON
May. 31, 2022
HC Edmonton is pleased to announce key members of their leadership group for their inaugural season in the Junior Prospects Hockey league, beginning in September.
Former National Hockey League defenceman Shawn Belle has been named General Manager of the HC Edmonton HUB and will also assume the head coaching duties for the Under 18 team.
Belle, who spent 10 years playing professional hockey throughout North America and Europe, has spent the last season as Head Coach of the Saints Pro Hockey Academy (SPHA Grey - U15 Division) as well as serving as an assistant coach of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Spruce Grove Saints. Prior to the 2021-22 season, he was the Head Coach of the Okanagan Hockey Academy U16 Prep team in the CSSHL from 2019-2021.
The Edmonton, Alberta native played his minor hockey in the Knights of Columbus organization, where he was then drafted by the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (1st Round, 10th overall). Belle would go on to tally 117 points in 253 WHL games, and proudly represented his country at the World Junior Hockey Championship in 2004 and 2005.
A childhood dream became a reality for Belle as he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues (1st Round, 30th overall) in 2003. He began his professional playing career for the Iowa Stars of the American Hockey League and after many years spent in North America playing professionally, including 20 games in the National Hockey League, Shawn moved over to Europe where he spent four seasons playing professionally (3-DEL and 1-SHL).
Following his retirement from hockey, Belle has become a fixture for many athletes in Edmonton during the summer as he owns and operates a successful off-season training program called Seven Hockey.
Belle is also excited to add former pro Grant Stevenson to the staff as the Head Coach of the HC Edmonton U14 team.
Growing up and playing minor hockey in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Stevenson had an impressive playing career which began with two seasons in the AJHL with the Bonnyville Pontiacs before receiving an NCAA Division 1 scholarship to Minnesota State Mankato.
The Spruce Grove, Alberta native then signed with the San Jose Sharks after his sophomore college season in 2003, while earning First Team All WCHA and Second Team All American honors that season. He played one season in the NHL with the Sharks in 2005-06 as well as seven seasons in the American Hockey League before finishing his career in Europe.
Stevenson brings a high level of experience to HC Edmonton, with success at the minor hockey, junior, college and professional levels.
Grant owns and operates a shooting and skill development facility in Edmonton called Skill Zone Hockey and resides in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife Christy and their children Scarlett (9) and Wyatt (7).
HC Edmonton have also hired their U15 Head Coach and will have an announcement in the near future.
