Naish, Chuck
(1960 - )
CAREER SUMMARY
Birth
1960
Manitoba Canada
Clubs
MJHL Selkirk Steelers, IHNSW Macquarie Bears, NSWSL Canberra Knights
Goodall Cups
—
World Championships
1986 (Head Coach), 1989 (player) Ice Hockey
Slapshot 84 MVP
BORN CHARLES NAISH IN 1960 IN MANITOBA CANADA, he began skating on frozen lakes when he was two, and played Junior A for the Selkirk Steelers in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League where he was an All-Star in the 1972-73 season. He moved to the Portage Terriers in the same league for the next 3 seasons, 1974 to 1976, where he scored over 1 goal on average each game. Between 1977 and 82, Naish played for Brandon University in the CIAU. In 1982, the left winger was among the Macquarie Bears' imports in Sydney Australia, with Glen Foll and Wally Leskiw.
He joined the Knights in 1983 with Ken Bennett, a former Vancouver Junior A player, and the club finished a close second to the Warringah Bombers in the playoffs. "I had a talk with the Knights' coach, Jim Fuyarchuk, and I could see that he was getting some good players together," he has said of the move. "I wanted something different, so I came to Canberra." In 1984, the Knights were the undisputed champions of Australia and Naish was voted the club's Most Valuable Player. That honour went with his MVP award in the televised Slapshot series, which the Knights won earlier that year before going on to take the Superleague title.
He became a captain of the club and was appointed the national association's development director in 1985. He was responsible for the administration of development programs throughout Australia. In 1986, he was head coach of the World Championship team and in 1989 he played for Australia in the Worlds hosted in Sydney. He was assistant coach of the Canberra Knights from the time he arrived at the club, succeeding Jim Fuyarchuk as head coach. He coached the ACT Tange (U18) team, and his work in that and other national squads influenced many future players including David Batho, Dom Cook, Con Dionissiou, Michael Harrow, Jason Thewlis.
He returned to Canada and became a teacher and later a principal in the Northern Manitoba school system. In 2000, he moved back to Portage La Prairie to become Principal at North Memorial School and 7 years later transitioned to La Verendrye School to lead the school for 6 years. He then became Academic Director for several early year schools and a learning centre in Central China. [1]
An arrangement between Bobcat coach Andy Murray and the Australian national association of the time made it easier for Brandon grads like Chuck Naish who contacted the AIHF to come over. Most were quickly approved for placement with a team or association. According to national secretary Sandi Logan, university graduates were much more mature as players and potentially coaches than major junior or Jnr A style players who visited for a holiday and little commitment to development of the Australian game. They often had B. Eds, teaching experience, and an understanding of developing sport. Other former Bobcats that played and coached in Australia were Mike Johnston and Ray Robertson, who were first to arrive, Rob Smith, Jeff Taylor, Glen Williamson, Craig Campbell, Ralph Bradbury, Harley Campbell, Lindsay Dyck, Jim Fuyarchuk, Jack Richardson, Bill Rose, and Darry Stevens.
Ross Carpenter, 'Naish, Charles (1960-)', Legends of Australian Ice, Melbourne, Australia, http://icelegendsaustralia.com/bio-naish.html, accessed online .
First season of the Macquarie Bears, Sydney, 1982
Chuck Naish scoring the first goal of a match against the Warringah Bombers in 1983, courtesy Canberra Times
At the World Championships with the Australian National Team, Sydney, 1989
La Verendrye School Principal, 2008
La Verendrye School Principal Chuck Naish and Vice Principal Tracy Vanstone, 2013, courtesy Golden West Broadcasting
Academic Director, Maple Bear Pre-Schools, Zhengzhou, Central China
