The Vancouver Canucks have enhanced their coaching team by promoting Jaroslav “Yogi” Svejkovsky to assistant coach, joining head coach Rick Tocchet’s staff. Svejkovsky, a former Washington Capitals forward, transitions from his previous role as a skills coach with the Canucks, a position he held for the last two seasons. Prior to this, Svejkovsky has coaching experience at the junior level in the WHL, but this marks his first professional coaching role.
Svejkovsky and Tocchet have a history together, having briefly played on the same team during the 1996-97 NHL season. Tocchet was acquired by the Capitals from the Boston Bruins towards the end of Svejkovsky’s debut season in North America.
In the official announcement, Tocchet praised Svejkovsky’s dedication and contributions to the team, highlighting his strong work ethic and willingness to take on any task to improve the team’s performance.
Originally from the Czech Republic, Svejkovsky recorded 42 points (23 goals, 19 assists) over 113 NHL games with the Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning. One of his standout moments came in the Capitals’ final game of the 1996-97 season, where he scored four goals in an 8-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres. During that same season, Svejkovsky earned the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s rookie of the year, with 66 points (38 goals, 28 assists) in 54 games for the Portland Pirates.
Before joining the Canucks, Svejkovsky spent 12 years with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants as an assistant and skills coach. He then moved to the Delta Hockey Academy in 2020, serving as head coach for their U17 prep team. His career progression continued as he joined the Abbotsford Canucks ahead of the 2021-22 season, working with players in both the NHL and AHL.
In addition to Svejkovsky’s promotion, the Canucks announced that Daniel and Henrik Sedin, franchise legends, will increase their involvement in daily coaching activities for both the Vancouver and Abbotsford teams. The Sedin twins, who retired in 2018 after 17 seasons with the Canucks, initially joined the organization’s hockey operations department in 2021 and transitioned to on-ice roles as player development coaches the following year.
This new coaching arrangement, featuring Svejkovsky’s promotion and the Sedins’ expanded roles, aims to bolster the Canucks’ coaching staff and enhance the development of their players.
