David McFadden

David “Coachey” McFadden began coaching hockey in his 20s, during the 1974-‘75 season as an assistant coach with the Kemptville Royals Midget  A hockey team. “The Big Cat” ended his career as head coach with the Kemptville 73’s Junior B hockey team in  2005-‘06. Over those three decades he was always coaching, sometimes 2 to 3 teams a year. He often coached minor hockey, Junior B and College Varsity all in the same year, which was quite a challenge as he was also raising a family and working as Director of St. Lawrence College, Brockville Campus.

During the summer, he did not slow down. While coaching boys’ fastball in Kemptville, Dave also managed the Mid-Way Mustangs Summer Hockey Program, and the Ontario Hitman Summer Hockey Program, incorporating competitive summer playing and an on- and off-ice conditioning camp prior to the regular fall hockey season.

The list of teams Dave McFadden coached during his 32-year career include:

• Kemptville Developmental
• Kemptville Atom Rep
• Rideau St. Lawrence Kings (8 years)
• Kemptville 73’s Junior B (10 years)
• Brockville Tikis Junior B
• South Grenville Rangers Junior B
• Nepean Raiders Junior A
• Smiths Falls Rideaus Senior A
• Lanark Flyers Senior A
• Cardinal Red Wings Senior A
• Lawrence College Schooners Varsity Men’s Hockey

Over the years he coached teams to be league champions:

• Rideau Lawrence Kings Major Atoms and Minor Pee Wees
• Kemptville73’s Junior B’s (won several divisional championships and the league championship once)
• CardinalRed Wings (won the Eastern Ontario Senior A league championship)
• Lawrence College Schooners varsity team (won the provincial championship twice)
• Championshipteams at AA, AAA, Junior B, Senior AA
• ProvincialOCAA College Champions

David has coached approximately 2500 hockey games and emerged with a winning percentage. Awards and recognition include:

• 1st team All Star Coach award 4 times in Junior B
• OCAA College Coach of the Year
• AA Rideau St. Lawrence Kings Coach of the Year 3 times

David’s leadership skills brought the teams he coached to their best potential while maintaining good sportsmanship. With an eye on the competition, he focused on skills development for his players. David was and still is devoted and dedicated to the sport of hockey. He will often be found at the rink watching games and volunteering his time for player scouting and assisting coaches with their questions and strategies. He has a lifelong passion for the game and the people involved.

In his 32 years of coaching David has made many lasting memories and friendships from the game. He coached the Kemptville 73’s through 4 decades – the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s – and along the way he coached the children of some of his former players. Although there were many highlights over his time coaching the 73’s, most notably would have been the 1998-’99 season, when they won the Eastern Ontario Junior B Championship. The team was inducted into the Kemptville and District Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

Dave’s outgoing personality has allowed him to maintain lifelong friendships with countless former players and coaches. This is a testament to the type of person he is, and the bond he formed with those he coached.