Smoke Eaters Hire Former Vernon Laker & Former Vipers Assistant Coach Bob Dever:

The Trail Smoke Eaters have hired former Vernon Lakers defenceman as well as former Vernon Vipers assistant coach, Bob Dever as the Smokies new assistant coach. Dever played defence for the 1986-87 Vernon Lakers and was also an assistant coach with the Vernon Vipers from 2001-2004.

This is posted on the Trail Smoke Eaters website:

Dever Named New Smokies Assistant Coach

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

TRAIL -- The Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL are pleased to announce the hiring of Bob Dever as an assistant coach.

Dever comes to Trail from Miskolci of the Hungarian MOL professional league. He guided the club to a semi-final appearance in the 2010-11 season.

Dever and Smokies head coach/GM Bill Birks were teammates for one season with the BCHL's Merritt Centennials in the late 1980s, after which point Dever got into coaching, holding assistant coach positions in the BCHL both with the Centennials and Vernon Vipers as well as a head coaching stint with the KIJHL's Creston Valley Thunder Cats.

"He's spent the last three years coaching in Hungary but wanted to be a little closer to home. It's a perfect fit," Birks said.

"He's got many contacts across North America, and a lot of different ideas which I'm more than willing to bring into the fold here."

Dever will be moving to Trail early next week and will be with the club for training camp August 26th-28th at the Cominco Arena.

For more information, contact the Trail Smoke Eaters office at 250.364.9994.