Jonathan Gibson was strong and powerful in his junior hockey playing days as a six-foot-one, 215-pound defenceman for the Prince George Spruce Kings.
Now, as the newly-hired strength and conditioning coach of the Spruce Kings, he's passing that weightroom knowledge on to the current crop of players.
Gibson, 28, through his Gibson's Landing Athletics consulting business, will be conducting the gym workouts for the Spruce Kings through the 2018-19 season.
"I am truly honoured to be a part of such a great organization," said Gibson, in a team release.
"I am excited to give back to a team that gave me a chance as a player and work with these incredible athletes. I know how important it was as a player to have a strong strength and conditioning program throughout the year to maintain physical performance and most importantly stay healthy."
The Prince George native played 53 games for the Spruce Kings in 2009-10, part of a three-season junior A career that also included stops in Burlington, Ont., and Hamilton, Ont.
"It's exciting to add an alumni to the group. Jonathan is an impressive young man who will do a tremendous job with our players," said Kings general manager Mike Hawes.
"We would also like to thank Shelby Ballendine (of Quesnel) for her work as our strength and conditioning coach for the past few seasons. She did a great job and we wish her the best moving forward."
Gibson will begin his team workouts when training camp starts in late August. They begin their B.C. Hockey League preseason schedule Wednesday, Aug. 29 at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena against the Merritt Centennials.
In other BCHL news, Surrey Eagles head coach and Prince George native Brandon West and Merritt Centennials head coach Joe Martin have been named as assistants with Team Canada West at the 2018 World Junior A Challenge. Rick Swan of the Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL) was selected as head coach. The tournament will be played in Bonnyville, Alta., Dec. 9-15.
West, 33, took over the Eagles' bench last season and led them to a 26-22-8 record and their first playoff appearance in four seasons.
They lost in seven games in a second-round series to the Spruce Kings. Martin, 37, joined the Cents as an assistant in 2011-12, becoming head coach and general manager in 2015.
