Longtime Titans and Icehawks coach Curtis Juravinski (middle) is presented with a gift by Titans head coach Kim Dryka (right) and Juravinski's son Brandon. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Honouring longtime coach

Longtime coach Juravinski honoured at Titans’ opener after retirement

Sep 27, 2019 | 10:48 PM

This upcoming Prince Albert Titans season will be the first since they started as a franchise in 2008-09 without having Curtis Juravinski behind their bench.

Juravinski served as an assistant coach in all 11 years of the Prince Albert Junior B franchise, both when they were called the Prince Albert Icehawks and now in recent years as the Titans.

Juravinski even was a part of franchise before it officially began, as he was around for the initial chat with two of the team’s founders in Al Pasloski and Blair Madsen.

“I still remember when we talked about getting a Junior B franchise here. The talk started over a few beers in North Battleford with Al Pasloski and Blair Madsen and myself. I didn’t think it’d ever go ahead, but they followed through,” Juravinski said. “They got the franchise. We started out as the Icehawks and we had some great teams over the years. And I had lot of fun. It’s been a long grind, but it’s time to move on and try something different.”

Before the Titans opened up the season on Friday against the Saskatoon Quakers, they presented Juravinski with a gift before the game. His son Brandon, who played on the then-named Icehawks from 2008-2012, was in attendance for the ceremony, as was Pasloski.

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Juravinski said his favourite part of coaching was the bonds he made with his players.

“It was great to watch them, it was great to coach them and I developed lot of friendships over the years,” Juravinski said. “I hope I left some mark on a lot of those players and helped them for the future.”

As to what he’s doing now, Juravinski will take his talents down to the minor hockey league level and coach his grandson’s novice team.

“I have a young grandson that wants me to coach him. I coached him last year in novice, and this year I’m moving up to coach his atom team,” Juravinski said. “I find the little guys are a breath of fresh air, they’re like sponges. They really want to learn and it’s a lot of fun.”

Quakers 7 Titans 2

The Titans certainly didn’t have an easy matchup to begin the season with, as they took on the perennial favourites in the Quakers.

Kaleb Charko scored the first goal of the season for the Titans, 16:21 into the second period to make it a 2-1 game at that time. Mathew Hawkes had the other goal.

Noah Bankowski had a three-goal, five-point night for the Quakers.

The Titans are back at it on Sunday at the Kinsmen Arena against the Saskatoon Royals.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW