Valley Wildcats hire Evan Mosher, Brian Birkhoff to coaching staff

New coaches played professional hockey together in Europe

The Valley Wildcats have hired professional hockey vets Evan Mosher and Brian Birkhoff as new members of their coaching staff.

The Wildcats made the announcement Aug. 17 that Mosher and Birkhoff would be joining the team as goaltending and assistant coaches, respectively.

The new coaches are familiar faces to many on the team, having played professional hockey together in Europe including assistant coach Brian Birkhoff, who he played professional hockey with in Europe.

In a release, Wildcats general manager Nick Greenough described hiring both coaches as an exciting opportunity for the team, with Mosher’s “wealth of goaltending knowledge” and Birkhoff’s “playing experience [being of] great benefit to our defencemen.”

“Having someone of Evan’s caliber on board really rounds out our coaching staff. And there’s a real comfort level due to Evan’s previous relationships with Travis and Brian,” said Greenough.

“[And] Brian is a natural leader who wore a letter throughout his playing days, so we expect his transition to coaching will be a seamless one.”

Mosher spent three seasons as goaltender for Acadia University’s hockey team, when current Wildcats head coach Travis Young served as his assistant coach. After graduating, Mosher went on to play professionally for the ECHL’S Quad City Mallards, and later in France and Denmark, where he played with Birkhoff.

Birkhoff played defense in the Ontario Hockey League on both the Ottawa 67s and Peterborough Petes teams, and on the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Gatineau Olympics. He also played professionally in Sweden.

For more information on the Wildcats team, scheduling and ticket information, visit the team’s website at www.valleywildcats.com.