Kimberley’s Jerry Bancks is going from season ticket holder to team member after being named to the Kootenay Ice coaching staff yesterday.

Being in and out of town over the summer, he hadn’t been following developments with their staffing particularly closely. Getting a recent call from new head coach Kris Knoblauch with a job offer came as a pleasant surprise.

“I pretended that I had to think about it — of course I had to consult with my wife or whatever — but I could have made the decision in about two seconds,” he said.

The only hesitation came from travel plans he had already been made for spring break; once concerns about that were dealt with, he was in.

“I was gung-ho to go. It’s a great group of kids. I’m a big believer in the Western Hockey League. I played in it, my son (Carter) played in it. I like what it stands for, especially with the education program,” he said.

“I’m a season ticket holder, and I think it’s one of the best franchises there is — other than attendance. But in terms of operating a winning team for as many years as they have, I think it’s one of the top franchises there is... Kris has always been so positive in all of his interviews, I really like positive environments and I think he’ll be a wonderful guy to work with. It was an easy decision.”

The timing was very good for the 55-year-old Bancks, whose family also includes wife Marilyn and 23-year-old daughter Cassidy.

He went into semi-retirement last fall (his work at the Kimberley Sports School accounts for an hour or two a day) while his son just wrapped up his final season in the WHL.

Before Carter joined the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Jerry would sneak down to Cranbrook to watch Cory Clouston conduct Ice practices in the hopes of learning from him.

“I’d have (Clouston) come up and work with my kids a bit, but as soon as Carter entered the league I can’t be sitting in the stands watching Kootenay Ice practices. It would have had a definite effect on (being able to take a job with the Ice).”

Bancks has always been in coaching, whether in minor hockey or behind the bench for the then-junior A Kimberley Dynamiters.

He said he felt ‘cheated’ that he couldn’t watch Mark Holick conduct practice the last three seasons, but he’s looking forward to learning from Knoblauch and new assistant Todd Johnson.

With his teaching responsibilities, Bancks won’t be on long road trips but will join the Ice for quick jaunts, and all home games.

“I love practices,” he said. “That’s my favourite part, preparing.”

He said his new position — following in the footsteps of Colin Patterson and Scott Beattie — will help the school program, in part by boosting his profile, and increasing the school’s links to the major junior club.

Previously an area scout for the Hurricanes, Bancks is sending three locals to Lethbridge camp this summer. In subsequent years, he’ll be able to bring them to Ice tryouts.

“I think every student that I teach would do anything to play for the Kootenay Ice,” said Bancks. “It’s a good marriage between the sports school that I run and (the Ice), just for the knowledge that I’m going to gain.”

Bancks isn’t sure if he’ll be setting up behind the Ice bench for games or up in the press box, but he’ll still keep that season ticket.

“I think it’s almost a duty if you’re a hockey fan,” he said.

“I’d sure like to see more people in the building. I have a really good understanding because I’ve been through it with Carter and the kids that I teach in my sports school: I know what it takes to get to that level. I know the amount of hours these kids put in.

“Kootenay Ice players are elite athletes, and it’s a little bit disappointing that we don’t rally around them a little bit more than we have. I’d hate to see it gone so, as a local, I’ll do whatever I can to see to it that we raise the profile of the Kootenay Ice.”