Pierce Diamond joins the Summerland Jets as Goaltending Coach for the team’s inaugural season, bringing Junior A, NCAA, and full-time goalie development experience to the coaching staff.
Diamond grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, where he started playing goal at a young age and developed an early passion for competing in the crease. He played minor hockey with the Canadian Athletic Club AAA program before moving on to the AJHL with the Lloydminster Bobcats at 17. That season, the Bobcats reached the National Championship final and earned a silver medal at the RBC Cup.
Diamond went on to play four seasons of Junior A hockey, spending time with Lloydminster, Whitecourt, and the Cowichan Capitals of the BCHL, before continuing his career at the NCAA level and finishing with SUNY Canton University. After his playing career, he transitioned into coaching, staying close to the game through goalie development.
Over the past four seasons, Diamond has worked as a full-time goalie coach with goaltenders of all ages and levels, from beginners to professionals. His coaching experience includes work with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL, Okanagan Hockey Academy in the CSSHL, the Okanagan Rockets AAA program, and several other organizations.
Diamond joins the Jets after working alongside Head Coach Robert Dirk at OHA over the past several seasons. He sees Summerland as a community that deserves a team it can be proud of, both on the ice and in the community.
As a coach, Diamond describes himself as passionate, detailed, supportive, and challenging. His philosophy is built around strong relationships with goaltenders, clear preparation, technical detail, and helping goalies take ownership of their own development. He believes successful goaltenders need athleticism, compete, strong skating, mental toughness, confidence, consistency, and the ability to focus on what they can control.
His approach is centred on preparation, efficient movement, strong tracking, and a “one puck at a time” mentality. Diamond’s goal is to help Jets goaltenders leave the season with an improved technical skill set, a stronger tactical understanding of the position, clear knowledge of their own game, and a roadmap for continued growth.
With the Jets, Diamond hopes to support Robert Dirk, Bailey Tamminga, and Ace Stewart in building a culture that helps players grow as athletes, teammates, and people. He believes junior hockey is at its best when it becomes part of the community, and he looks forward to helping build that connection in Summerland.
