Pierce spent six seasons as Head Coach-GM of the Merritt Centennials. Pierce was named BCHL Interior Conference Coach of the year in 2013 played his final year of Junior hockey in Vernon (2003-04) after being aquired from the Merritt Centennials for future considerations on June, 10th 2003. In 53 regular season games with the Vipers Pierce collected (7-goals-21-assists-28-points).
Luke Pierce's Player-Coaches Profile:
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=136883
This is posted on the BCHL website:
2013 BCHL coach of the year Pierce takes WHL job with Kootenay
Tuesday, May 26, 2015 - Submitted by BCHL Media
The BCHL is congratulating now-former Merritt Centennials head coach and general manager Luke Pierce on accepting a position as head coach of the WHL's Kootenay Ice.
Pierce, 31, joined the Centennials for the 2009-10 season as an assistant but was promoted to the head coach/GM role in November of that year. The hometown Merritt native spent the rest of that season, and the subsequent five campaigns, running the Cents. His teams qualified for the postseason each year he was with the club.
“I feel very fortunate to have been the head coach of my hometown team and want to thank all of the Centennials fans, volunteers and partners for their support,” said Pierce. “I especially want to thank (Centennials director of hockey operations) Brian Barrett for his role in helping me grow as a coach and for his constant belief in me. I consider him a great friend and an invaluable mentor.
“I also want to thank all my previous players in Merritt who have dedicated themselves to helping grow the program and pushing me to be a better coach. I wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”
Pierce was named BCHL Coach of the Year in 2013 and he was an assistant coach with Team Canada West at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge.
“The BCHL is all about developing players and coaches for other opportunities in hockey,” said BCHL commissioner John Grisdale. “I’m proud of the quality of coaches we have in our league and Luke is one that has shown he is deserving of this chance. I wish Luke, his wife Amy and their three boys all the best as they make this transition.”
As a player, Pierce spent three seasons in the BCHL – two with Merritt and another with the Vernon Vipers. He went on to a five-year university hockey career at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont.
This is posted on the Ice website:
ICE Name New Head Coach
May 26, 2015
Cranbrook, BC -- Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club, today announced the Club has hired Luke Pierce as the seventh Head Coach in franchise history. Pierce, who has signed a three-year contract, replaces Ryan McGill who in April mutually agreed to part ways with the Club when his contract expires on June 30, 2015.
“Luke is one of the bright young coaches coming through the system. He has coached in Merritt which is very similar to Cranbrook in terms of his teams achieving on-ice success despite the obstacles faced as a small market team. In speaking with numerous hockey people throughout this process there was one common theme: his teams come to play and work hard every night, while most importantly getting better as the season progresses. Patience and teaching will definitely be needed as we turn over the majority of our roster and ice one of the youngest teams in the WHL this year,” continued Chynoweth.
“This is a great opportunity for my family and I. Kootenay has been one of the most successful WHL franchises for the past 17 years. I intend on keeping the strong culture and tradition going despite the expected roster turnover. Hard work gives you a chance to win and we definitely will be a team that competes each and every game,” commented Luke Pierce.
Luke Pierce has been the General Manager / Head Coach of the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League since November 2009. During his time behind the bench his teams posted a 168-111-21 regular season record and qualified for the playoffs all six years. Pierce was named the BCHL Interior Conference Coach of the Year in 2012-2013 and was an Assistant Coach for Team Canada West at the 2014 World Junior A Challenge. Luke attended the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario from 2004-2009. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a Psychology Major and Business Minor. He also earned a Master’s Degree of Business Administration with a concentration in Strategic Management.
Luke Pierce is a 31-year-old native of Merritt, BC. He and his wife Amy are the parents of three boys – William (6), Bennett (3) and Austin (1).
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