Coach Jacob is February's Free Play Coach of the Month! 🎉
Coach Jacob isn’t just coaching hockey—he’s coaching people. That’s what makes him February’s Free Play Coach of the Month. 🎉
Jacob has made a lasting impact through his commitment to delivering the Sport to Life curriculum and creating a positive, supportive environment for every player. Over the course of the season, kids who could barely skate are now confidently suiting up for ice hockey with a new sense of belief in themselves.
That’s the “Jacob effect.”✨
From Learn to Play to competitive hockey, Jacob keeps the focus where it matters most: growth. He consistently frames challenges as opportunities, encouraging players to embrace the game with confidence and resilience. His leadership shows up in the small moments—through encouragement, sportsmanship, and the way he connects with each child.
The Free Play Hockey Pathway, powered by the Oilers Foundation, continues to grow because of coaches like Jacob, who bring energy, positivity, and care to every session.
“Jacob holds two roles with the WHC, and his work with each program is enough to earn this nomination.
For ice hockey, he is a coach for both of the Learn to Play locations. Jacob excels at ensuring that every kid feels welcome and heard through the relationships he has built with the kids and guardians involved with our growing Learn to Play program. He has a great ability to translate his vast skating and hockey knowledge in a way that the kids can easily understand and apply on the ice. Jacob’s delivery of our Sport to Life curriculum is bar none and is a testament to his years of experience with Free Play.
For Ball Hockey, he is the Assistant Coach of the U13 Wolves Ball Hockey team. A team that currently sits at the top of the BHE U13 division with a 13-2 record and was the first team to accumulate 100 total goals as a team. Jacob brings his positive energy and commitment to player development every week to the U13 Wolves, and his dedication has been a huge part of their success.
As a member of the Oiler’s ice clearing crew, every once in a while, he has to miss a practice to keep the ice in tip-top shape for McDavid to go on his classic end-to-end rushes, but I know from experience that every kid at hockey practice will be asking, “Where is Coach Jacob?” ”
