Bulls trample all over Cactus Rats

By Lethbridge Herald on July 21, 2025.

By Nathan Reiter

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

While the National Under-17 Development Camp has a big impact for players trying to make the team for U17 World Hockey Challenge, it has just as big of an impact on the development of coaches in attendance.

Lethbridge Hurricanes assistant coach Ryan Aasman was named a guest coach for the camp which is running through Wednesday in Oakville, Ontario. 

It is Aasman’s second time working with the Hockey Canada Under-17 program. In an interview with the Herald, Aasman says he is trying to take in as much information from his time at the camp as possible. 

“It’s always great to work for Hockey Canada obviously. It’s an honor to be involved in any capacity. I was on Team Red’s video staff for the 2022 U17 tournament so it’s nice to be here for development camp and being in a room with a lot of people from across Canada from various leagues. Being in the room with some really good hockey minds and trying to absorb as much as you can.”

Aasman will be entering his fifth season as part of the Hurricanes coaching staff this coming season. After starting as a video coach during the 2021-22 campaign, Aasman has served as an assistant coach for the ‘Canes under both Brent Kisio and Bill Peters. 

Aasman, who is originally from Medicine Hat, is one of four guest coaches taking part in the camp alongside Paul Stoykewych (OHL, Ottawa 67s), Dylan Beston (QMJHL, Newfoundland Regiment) and David Ferrari (Hockey Australia).

“It’s always good to try to come in and make an impression and do whatever job you’ve been asked to do to the best of your ability.” Aasman says. “It’s just fun to meet new people and pick their brains about what they do with their club teams or to watch our coaches that are going to be on the staff for the tournament and how they prepare for this week to get them ready for the next couple of months. How they go through the selection process and bringing a team together and all those moments leading up to the tournament. The best part about being with Hockey Canada is every detail on and off the ice is done so professionally that it’s so fun to be around.”

On a personal level, the development camp is offering Aasman an opportunity to connect with an old teammate in the coaching landscape. 

Aasman played with Canada Red head coach Ryan McDonald for parts of two seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders in the WHL. The two former teammates are working closely throughout the development camp.

McDonald was recently named the 16th head coach in Raiders franchise history, having the interim tag removed after taking over for Jeff Truitt towards the end of last season. McDonald was an assistant coach on the Canada White team that took home the gold medal over Canada Red in an all Canadian final last season.

Aasman says he has enjoyed the experience of reconnecting with a former teammate and learning everything he can as a coach.

“It’s nice to see him on this side of things, but also just on how he wants to organize his day, how he’ll be presenting to the team. I think there’s every waking minute of the day when you’re at these camps that you’re not trying to take something down from or you’re jotting a note to and then the networking aspect is really high end and building relationships with the coaches that are here, but also the players that come through is very cool because you can watch everybody and how they progress through their personal careers.”

Goaltender Leif Oaten was the only Hurricanes prospect invited to the camp.

The National Under-17 Development Camp runs through July 23 at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario.