Staff

Steve Smith is entering his fourth season as a general manager in the BCEHL. Smith currently serves as the Director of Hockey Operations of Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association. Prior to this, he was the executive director of Kelowna Minor Hockey Association from 2017-2025, division director from 2010-2017, and a coach in the association from 2008-2017. 

The Kelowna native has compiled over 20 years of experience working in minor hockey in Kelowna.

After serving as an assistant coach within the U15 and U17 Okanagan Rocket squads for three seasons, Tyler Parfeniuk assumes the head coaching role with the U18 AAA Okanagan Rockets program for the 2025-26 season.

A former player with the Rockets’ program from 2007-2009, he continued his playing career in the junior ranks, spending three seasons with the Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. Originally from Kelowna, Parfeniuk is a graduate of Okanagan College, where he earned a Bachelors of Business Administration. Away from the rink, Parfeniuk works as a litigated insurance adjuster.

The 2025-26 season marks Nikita Poliakov’s first with the BCEHL as he joins the Okanagan Rockets’ bench staff as head coach of the U17 team. 

 He joins the Rockets after serving as head coach of Kelowna Minor Hockey Association’s U18 Tier 2 squad last season. Prior to that, the Chelyabinsk, Russia, product was the head coach of the Aurora Tigers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League during the 2016-17 season, and was an assistant coach with Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association’s Central Zone Rockets’ U15 Tier 1 squad during the 2021-22 season.

Poliakov’s playing career includes four seasons in the OJHL between 2006-2010 with the North York Rangers, Upper Canada Hockey Club, and the Upper Canada Patriots, before finishing his junior career with the Thorold Blackhawks of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. He then played one season of professional hockey with the 1000 Islands Privateers of the Federal Hockey League in the 2010-11 season.

Max Mowat is now in his fifth-year coaching with the Okanagan Rockets program. In addition to his work with the Rockets, shares his passion for hockey through his roles at On the Edge Hockey Academy, the Stinger's Spring Hockey and private on and off ice skills work.

Mowat grew up in Oakville, Ontario and played his minor hockey with some notable players on the Toronto Marlies in the GTHL: Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Strome, Evan Rodrigues and Nicole Kosta. He wrapped up his playing career with the University of Calgary Dinos before he transitioned to coaching and developing young athletes. Max now resides in Coldstream, B.C.