June 26, 2025 – Edmonton, AB – The Junior Prospects Hockey League (JPHL) is excited to announce the appointment of Kelly Buchberger as the new Head Coach of the HC Edmonton 15U AAA team and Chris Joseph as the new Head Coach of the Titans Hockey Union 14U AAA team. Both individuals bring exceptional experience, leadership, and a passion for developing young talent, making them outstanding additions to their respective teams and hubs.
Kelly Buchberger - Head Coach, HC Edmonton 15U AAA
Kelly Buchberger, a former NHL player, captain and veteran coach, will take the reins of the HC Edmonton 15U AAA team for the 2025-26 JPHL season. Buchberger enjoyed a remarkable career as a player in the NHL, amassing 1,182 NHL games and spending the majority of his career with the Edmonton Oilers, winning two Stanley Cups in 1984 and 1985. Following his playing days, Buchberger transitioned into coaching and brings a wealth of experience at all levels of the game. He served as an assistant coach in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, held a head coaching role in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Tri-City Americans, coached in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Laval Rocket and most recently coached in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) with the Devon Xtreme. His expertise in player development, leadership, and his passion for the game will provide the HC Edmonton 15U team with unparalleled guidance.
Chris Joseph - Head Coach, Titans Hockey Union 14U AAA
Chris Joseph, coming off a championship season with the HC Edmonton 15U team, will now lead the Titans Hockey Union 14U AAA team, also coming off a 2025 Prospects Cup Championship. Chris developed in the game at a high level, playing in two World Junior Championships for Team Canada, A seasoned professional, Joseph had an illustrious career in the NHL, playing for the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and others. Over his 510 NHL games, his tenure with the Edmonton Oilers remains a defining part of his career, where he earned the respect of teammates and opponents alike. Beyond his playing days, Joseph has remained deeply involved with hockey, currently working with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers Alumni groups. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Joseph and his family have long been highly regarded in the St. Albert community, and he will be a significant part of the leadership and management team within the Titans hub.
Fellow Edmonton Oilers alumni and two-time World Junior Championship athlete/gold medallist, Shawn Belle, Hub General Manager for HC Edmonton, is excited to have Buchberger join the team. “We are beyond excited to welcome Kelly Buchberger as the new Head Coach of our 15U AAA team. Chris did an amazing job over the course of last season and we are excited he will remain in the league and be able to set up in his home community (St. Albert). The league is like an extended family and we will look forward to seeing Chris throughout next season”. Belle goes on to talk about Buchberger’s addition and said “Kelly’s exceptional experience in the NHL, both as a player and coach, will be invaluable in helping our athletes take the next step in their development. His commitment to the game, his leadership style, and his ability to mentor players will continue to help set our standard for excellence at HC Edmonton.”
Garrett Meger, Hub General Manager, Titans Hockey Union, who has a wealth of coaching experience in many other models before choosing the JPHL, commented “Chris Joseph has been an instrumental part of the success of the HC Edmonton 15U team, and we are fortunate to have him transition into the Head Coach role for the Titans 14U AAA team. The Titans program is proud to be the only hockey academy offering in the St. Albert community that combines school and hockey into the daytime schedule of our athletes. Chris has a well-established reputation in the St. Albert community, which also makes him the perfect leader for our next generation of athletes. Good leadership helps produce future leaders on and off the ice and Chris’ wealth of experience in professional hockey across all levels including the NHL, and his continued involvement with the Alumni groups will only enhance the depth of knowledge and passion he brings to his coaching and leadership roles with our Titans group.”
Richard Nault, Commissioner of the Junior Prospects Hockey League, talked about the recent big announcements,
“As the JPHL continues to grow, we are proud to attract outstanding leaders like Kelly Buchberger and Chris Joseph. Both bring a massive amount of experience and a deep commitment to the development of young players, which aligns perfectly with our vision of creating the most sustainable and progressive youth hockey model in Canada. Kelly and Chris exemplify the caliber of people we have within the league, and we look forward to watching them help grow our athletes and make their own way within the league with their community connections and hockey networks.”
The JPHL continues to set the standard for youth hockey in Canada, driven by exceptional leadership, development opportunities and financial accessibility. For the 2025-26 season, the JPHL is positioned to ice 49 teams across Western Canada. As the league grows, the commitment to excellence, improved sporting experience and the people involved remains at the heart of its mission.
