Jake Saville has been named assistant coach of the Bellingham Blazers, a new junior hockey team that begins its inaugural season in October.
Saville played college hockey at the State University of New York College at Cortland. He was named team captain during his sophomore, junior and senior years. He also played in the North American Hockey League on teams in Bozeman, Mont., and Marquette, Mich.
The Bellingham Blazers, owned and operated by the Whatcom Sports Commission, were added as an expansion franchise to the Northern Pacific Hockey League in August. The league features players ages 16-20.
In a press release, the coach said he was happy to be a new member of the Blazers’ coaching staff. Saville is a Whatcom County native and was once a Bellingham junior hockey player himself.
“I would like to give back and help Blazer players the same way that my coaches helped me in the past,” Saville said. “We want to show the boys that working hard will help them achieve their goals in life.”
The Blazers open their first season on Oct. 4 with a road game against the West Sound Warriors in Bremerton. The team’s home opener is on Oct. 20 at the Bellingham Sportsplex.
