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Revelstoke Grizzlies begin main camp with new coach

Darren Naylor named new coach of Revelstoke Grizzlies as camp kicks off on Wednesday.

The Revelstoke Grizzlies began their main camp today, and there was a coach in the arena to lead things.

Darren Naylor, a former coach of the KIJHL Columbia Valley Rockies, has been hired as the team's new coach and general manager. In a brief conversation, he said he was here for the season.

He is the Grizzlies fourth coach of the off-season.

Naylor, 44, is from White Rock, B.C. He played for the Victoria Cougars and Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League before moving on to a brief minor hockey career in the mid-90s.

He has coached at various levels of minor and junior hockey since then and was a scout for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.

Naylor coached the Columbia Valley Rockies for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, but was let go towards the end of his second season. The team finished below .500 in both his seasons there.

Revelstoke fans might remember him from a December 2008 brawl between the Grizzlies and Rockies that resulted in Naylor receiving a four-game suspension.

Since then, it appears he has been coaching minor hockey in Richmond and for the Selects hockey program.

The Grizzlies' camp runs through Friday with a mix of practice sessions and scrimmages.