Former professional hockey player and United States Sports Academy alumnus Kris MacPhee was recently hired as the technical director for Hockey PEI in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.

A native of Clyde River, Nunavut, MacPhee earned his Master of Sports Science degree in sports coaching from the Academy in 2010 while working in the hockey field in Prince Edward Island.

“My Academy degree has helped me in almost every aspect of my professional career,” MacPhee said. “I truly can’t say enough about how much they prepared me for the many challenges and opportunities in this career.

“I thoroughly enjoyed all of my courses at the Academy. The courses were interesting, flexible in delivery, and ultimately provided me with the knowledge and skills required to be successful in the sports industry. I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking to have a career in sport.”

As technical director at Hockey PEI, MacPhee oversees the high performance programs and is a coach for youth development programs.

“I love helping athletes achieve their full potential in the sport, and specifically teaching them on-ice team tactics and individual skills as well as important elements of becoming better off the ice such as mental skills and physical training,” MacPhee said. “I was always passionate about the game of hockey as a young boy, and I am very grateful for the experiences I’ve had in the game. The ability is work in hockey and have a positive impact on young and aspiring athletes and well as coaches is very rewarding.”

MacPhee had vast playing experience from his Minor Hockey days with the North River Flames right up to his Junior and professional Hockey career. MacPhee joined the Summerside Western Capitals of the MHL (formerly MJHL) in 1997-98 where he was named MHL Rookie of the Year that season. From there, he would go on to play with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League in the CHL during the 1998-99 season where he was drafted 133rd overall in the OHL priority draft. MacPhee would return to the Western Capitals of the MHL from 1999-2001, but not before spending a short time with the Rimouski Oceanic during the 1999 season. In the 2000-01 season. He would then join the UPEI Men’s Hockey Panthers from 2001-2005 before beginning his pro career in the East Coast Hockey League where he played with the Dayton Bombers and Charlotte Checkers from 2005-06. MacPhee’s playing career would come to an end in 2007, playing with the Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League.

MacPhee’s work experience began prior to his playing career ending, starting up the Breakaway Hockey Conditioning Inc in 2004 which he owned until 2008. From there, he became director of Andrews Sport Conditioning from 2008 to 2014 before becoming the proud owner of the familiar Charlottetown business – Synergy Fitness and Nutrition. MacPhee is also a current Sessional Lecturer at UPEI within the Kinesiology Department.

He also has experience in hockey operations, being head coach of the former Major U18 club, the Cornwall Thunder from 2006 to 2008. MacPhee would then join the UPEI Men’s Hockey Team as an Assistant Coach from 2009-2011. Scouting would then be added to MacPhee’s resume – joining the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) as PEI Regional Scout in 2011.

“I have had many people in my life who were excellent role models and encouraged me to work in sports,” MacPhee said. “I am extremely passionate about what I do and I feel that I’ve developed skills that allow me to be a positive influence in sport here in PEI.

“Sports provide us with lifelong friendships and important lessons that we can use in daily life,” he said. “Sports provide an endless amount of life experiences. Sports have been a foundational aspect of my life and many of my greatest memories come from sport as well as many of my greatest lessons in life.”