Coaches & Team Staff

Coaching Staff

Brien Gemmell

Head Coach

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Josh Spencer

Assistant Coach

Royce Rossignol

Assistant Coach

Alongside Jason Rogers, associate coach Julian Feijo has been with the Whalers since the franchise was founded in 2018.

A year earlier, Feijo won a provincial title with the Vancouver Thunderbirds Midget A1 program. He also coached with the North Vancouver Bantam AAA program.

In 2020, Feijo earned the NCCP High Performance 1 coaching accreditation and was a coach at the U-16 Male B.C. Cup with the B.C. Hockey High Performance Program.

A lifelong participant in hockey, Feijo was a centreman and played for the North Delta Devils, his hometown junior team.

His most enjoyable moments: being a participant and witness to the
development and success of his players both on and off the ice.

Adam Rossignol

Assistant Coach

Sean Peach

Skills Coach

Johnny Wesley

Skills Coach

Ryan Scheer

Equipment Manager & Head Trainer

Jessica Bates

Athletic Trainer

Dr. Mark Whiteley

Team Chiropractor

Brett Reusch

Director of Player Recruitment and Scouting

Matthew Rogers

Associate Coach

Connect with Jason

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Matthew Rogers

Associate Coach

Connect with Jason

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Matthew Rogers

Associate Coach

Connect with Jason

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Jason Rogers

Head Coach &

Connect with Jason

Matthew's Bio

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Matthew Rogers | Associate Coach

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Media Relations

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Chairman

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Accountant

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Chairman

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Connect with Jason

Accountant

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Connect with Jason

Media Relations

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Chairman

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Connect with Jason

Accountant

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Media Relations

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Ranger

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Chairman

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Connect with Jason

Matthew Rogers | Associate Coach

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Media Relations

nteger rhoncus facilisis ex. Donec ornare posuere purus, non lobortis neque aliquam sed. Praesent fringilla sed metus eget tincidunt.

Ranger

In cursus posuere libero vel hendrerit. Donec porta lectus eu semper fringilla. Vivamus eleifend condimentum elit sit amet congue.

Chairman

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aenean eu turpis pellentesque diam facilisis mattis vitae non urna.

Connect with Jason

Matthew Rogers

Associate Coach

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Associate Coach

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Media Relations

nteger rhoncus facilisis ex. Donec ornare posuere purus, non lobortis neque aliquam sed. Praesent fringilla sed metus eget tincidunt.

Matthew Rogers | Associate Coach

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Ranger

In cursus posuere libero vel hendrerit. Donec porta lectus eu semper fringilla. Vivamus eleifend condimentum elit sit amet congue.

Jason Rogers

Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Julian Feijo

Associate Coach

Alongside Jason Rogers, associate coach Julian Feijo has been with the Whalers since the franchise was founded in 2018.

A year earlier, Feijo won a provincial title with the Vancouver Thunderbirds Midget A1 program. He also coached with the North Vancouver Bantam AAA program.

In 2020, Feijo earned the NCCP High Performance 1 coaching accreditation and was a coach at the U-16 Male B.C. Cup with the B.C. Hockey High Performance Program.

A lifelong participant in hockey, Feijo was a centreman and played for the North Delta Devils, his hometown junior team.

His most enjoyable moments: being a participant and witness to the
development and success of his players both on and off the ice.

Mitch Knoepfel

Associate Coach

Connect with Jason

Born and raised in Ladner, Mitch Knoepfel was a defenceman for the South Delta Storm.

In 2016, Mitch joined Jason Rogers’ coaching staff as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Thunderbirds Midget AAA hockey team.

The T-Birds triumvirate of Rogers, Knoepfel, and Julian Feijo, coached the Thunderbirds to win the provincial championship in 2018.

The following summer, all three teamed up again to coach the reborn White Rock Whalers Junior ‘B’ hockey club.
Knoepfel was excited by the Pod’s ownership, who made a commitment – to form good hockey players – and quality young men.

His most enjoyable moments with the Whalers: helping cultivate a positive culture and seeing those young men become leaders of their peer group.

Matthew Rogers

Associate Coach

Brett Reusch

Director of Player Recruitment and Scouting

Brett Reusch joined the Whalers in 2021 to expand the Pod’s vigilant search for skilled young men to wear the ‘W’ crest. His main priority: to increase that pipeline of talent.

Before he turned to scouting, Reusch coached in Semiahmoo minor hockey, and moved up to Jr. ‘B’ with the Richmond Sockeyes in 2017.

He had a .731 winning percentage during three seasons as Richmond’s head coach. In his penultimate year, 2018, the Sockeyes won the provincial championship; Reusch joined an elite group of victors who hoisted the Cyclone Taylor Cup twice – first as a player (Delta Ice Hawks, 2006) – and also behind the bench. “Winning was far more rewarding as a coach,” he said.

Reusch grew up in Surrey and played for Cloverdale minor hockey and with the Sockeyes and Ice Hawks. Later, he briefly suited up for the Jr. ‘A’ Surrey Eagles and the University of the Fraser Valley.

Off the ice, Reusch and his wife Nicole have three children.

Jason Rogers

Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations

Connect with Jason

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Julian Feijo

Associate Coach

Alongside Jason Rogers, associate coach Julian Feijo has been with the Whalers since the franchise was founded in 2018.

A year earlier, Feijo won a provincial title with the Vancouver Thunderbirds Midget A1 program. He also coached with the North Vancouver Bantam AAA program.

In 2020, Feijo earned the NCCP High Performance 1 coaching accreditation and was a coach at the U-16 Male B.C. Cup with the B.C. Hockey High Performance Program.

A lifelong participant in hockey, Feijo was a centreman and played for the North Delta Devils, his hometown junior team.

His most enjoyable moments: being a participant and witness to the
development and success of his players both on and off the ice.

Matthew Rogers

Associate Coach

Connect with Jason

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Bio

Matthew Rogers

Associate Coach

Connect with Jason

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Matthew Rogers

Associate Coach

Connect with Jason

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Matthew Rogers

Associate Coach

Connect with Jason

Matt Rogers was the first captain for the expansion Whalers franchise in 2018-2019. Now behind the bench, the UBC student looks to inspire a future generation of Pod players.

Born in Vancouver, he first became interested in hockey when he watched the teams his dad coached. At the age of five, Rogers began his own career when he laced up for minor hockey in South Delta from tyke up to midget.

He played three years of Junior ‘B’ – two seasons with the Fernie Ghostriders and his final one wearing the ‘C’ for the Whalers.

For most enjoyable hockey moments, Rogers recalled two memorable times: his first junior game and his first behind the bench.

He knew that he wanted to coach when his junior career ended and appreciated that the coach he used to play for – the Pod’s Jason Rogers – gave him this opportunity.

Chairman

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Julian Feijo

Associate Coach

Chairman

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Julian Feijo

Associate Coach

Julian Feijo

Associate Coach

Ranger

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