I am thrilled to begin coaching with Gale Force Volleyball Club this year. I have 9 years of experience playing on school, club, and provincial teams. My volleyball journey began at Leary’s Brook Junior High, playing for Gale Force’s own coach, Gord Stokes, which sparked my love for volleyball. I later joined the Seahawks Club, where I played for 5 years. I played for the U18 Seahawks team for 3 years, starting at 15 years old, and competed at Nationals in 2019 and 2022.
In grade 9, I was selected for the NL 15u team, where I trained in Wolfville, NS, and competed at Eastern Elites. In high school, I played for the PWC varsity team from grades 10–12. In my senior year, I was the captain of the PWC team and was named MVP, PWC Athlete of the Year, and PCSP Athlete of the Year.
I am currently a third-year student at Memorial University working on a Bachelor of Science Honours degree, majoring in biology. I continue to play in women’s leagues and remain actively involved in coaching. For the past 3 years, I have assistant coached the PWC varsity team. This year I will be coaching Gale Force Volleyball Club’s 14u team alongside Hannah Rideout and John Randell.
Hi I’m Hannah and I will be one of this year's Gale Force 14U coaches for this season!
I’m from CBS NL and currently in my third year of doing a Bachelor of Science at MUN majoring in Human Biosciences and Minoring in Psychology. I first started playing volleyball in grade 7 as part of my FRJH school team. After my first year I fell in love with the sport and continued to play throughout all of junior high and highschool on the FRJH and QE school teams! I began my club volleyball experience when I played with Seahawks Volleyball Club in 2018. In 2019 I was lucky enough to be a part of the CBS Wolves club team and attended 15U nationals in Edmonton AB. That same year I travelled to Nova Scotia with Team NL to compete in the Eastern Elites Tournament. I was also part of the CBS club teams in 2020 as well as 2022! Throughout the years of playing volleyball I have also completed my reffing courses and had the chance to ref at both local and provincial tournaments.
I’m so excited to start this new chapter into coaching with Gale Force Volleyball Club and can’t wait to see what amazing players this season will bring!
This year John Randell is excited to be returning to Gale Force Volleyball Club this year. He has worked as a volleyball referee and has a long successful career as a volleyball player. Starting out eight years ago on the St. Peter’s Junior High Python’s team, John served as the captain of the team, and they won provincials all three years of Junior High. He played on the NL U15 team in both grade 8 and grade 9 and competed at nationals both years, the second of which they finished 2nd place in division 2. In grade 9 he was named the NLVA Junior High Player of the Year, after being a runner-up the previous year.
John’s success continued into high school, where he played on the O’Donel High School team as well as continuing with the Python’s club team. His team won many provincials in all age groups, and John was named MVP of the grade 12 club provincials when he was only in grade 10. In grade 12, his club team won provincials and his school team won the 4A’s, both teams going undefeated that season.
John is now attending MUN planning to study computer science, and he has continued to play volleyball since his graduation. He plays on multiple co-ed teams and in multiple men’s leagues and has dabbled in beach volleyball during the summers. Currently, John is also working towards achieving his developmental coach status. With his variety of skills and his experience, John will be an excellent coach and role-model for his team and he is looking forward to passing on his knowledge and love of the sport on to the next generation of players. This year John will be assistant coaching Gale Force Volleyball Club’s 14U team alongside Hannah Rideout and Jessica Hall.
Gordon Stokes is a dedicated and accomplished volleyball coach with a passion for the game that has been evident throughout his extensive career. His journey in the world of volleyball began in 1992 at Lumsden School Complex, where he took his first steps onto the court as a player. Little did he know that this initial introduction to the sport would spark a lifelong commitment to both playing and coaching volleyball.
With over 10 years of coaching experience, Gordon has become a respected figure in the volleyball community. In 2016, he took on the role of head coach for the LBJH (Leary’s Brook Junior High) team, dedicating three years to nurturing and developing skills. From 2019- 2021, Gordon head coached the PWC Junior team and in 2022, he helped coach the PWC Varsity team.
Gordon's coaching journey also includes a significant time with CBS Volleyball, where he dedicated four years to the development and success of the team. His leadership was instrumental in representing CBS at Nationals twice, in both 2019 and 2022, showcasing the team's talent on the national stage. Beyond his coaching duties, Gordon served as the President of CBS Volleyball for two years, demonstrating his commitment to the overall growth and success of the sport in this community.
Another highlight in Gordon's coaching career is when he became the head coach of SMASH Volleyball’s 14U team in 2023 and the team achieved gold in Tier 4 at nationals. Additionally, Gordon's commitment to fair play and sportsmanship was recognized with the prestigious Volleyball Canada Fair Play Award. Known for his infectious passion for the game, Gordon Stokes stands out as a positive role model for his players. His enthusiasm, coupled with his coaching expertise, has inspired countless athletes to not only excel on the volleyball court but also to develop a deep love for the sport. This is displayed as this year Gale Force has a coaching staff compiled of 6 past athletes that he had a hand in coaching.
Gordon is a Trained Advanced Development Coach. As the upcoming season approaches, Gordon is eagerly anticipating the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead. His dedication to the game, combined with his positive influence on players, sets the stage for another exciting chapter in his coaching journey. With a track record of success and a genuine love for the sport, Gordon Stokes is excited to continue making a lasting impact on the volleyball community. This year will be Gordon’s 2nd year with Gale Force!
Katie-Ann, a passionate individual with a love for volleyball, began her volleyball journey in 2016 at Leary’s Brook Junior High. Along with this, she had also played on PWC’s junior teams through grades 10-11 and finished off her senior year playing on the PWC Varsity team. Over the years, she honed her skills and showcased her dedication as a member of the CBS Volleyball club team for four years. Katie-Ann's time on the court was highlighted when she participated at nationals, in 2019 and 2022.
Not content with just playing, Katie-Ann began coaching, serving as an assistant coach with the SMASH Volleyball 14U team during the 2022-2023 season. Her coaching abilities shone through as she helped lead the 14U team at Nationals in Halifax, not only winning gold in Tier 4 but also receiving the Volleyball Canada Fair Play Award, leaving an amazing impact on her coaching journey.
Academically, Katie-Ann completed her studies at PWC in 2022, and she is currently immersed in her first year of primary/elementary Education at MUN (3rd year at MUN). Her goal extends beyond a classroom; she envisions providing youth with exceptional experiences, aiming to create unforgettable memories for the young athletes she guides.
Driven by her passion for volleyball and a desire to contribute to the development of the sport, Katie-Ann is on path to achieving her trained developmental coach status. Her journey exemplifies a blend of athletic excellence, coaching dedication, and a commitment to shaping the future for aspiring athletes, making her a true inspiration on and off the court. This year will be Katie-Ann’s 2nd year with Gale Force and she cannot wait to see what lies ahead for the next season!
Perryn Newman is very excited to kickstart her coaching career with Gale Force Volleyball Club. She began her volleyball journey in 2018 in junior high, playing with the Brookside Intermediate Bulldogs. She then played with the PWC Senior B Volleyball team for two years before joining the Varsity team for her senior year. Throughout her high school education, she played alongside her fellow coach Katie-Ann Stokes on the CBS 18U team in 2022, coached by the one and only Gord Stokes. This opportunity showed Perryn how valuable it was to be able to play for a club team and really set in stone her love for the sport. She returned to the CBS volleyball community to play a second year with their team before accepting a position with the SeaHawks Volleyball Club for her senior year. Overall, the opportunity and experience to be able to play for a club team is something that should be cherished and something that Perryn recommends to all athletes.
From an academic perspective, Perryn is currently in her first year at Memorial University pursuing a joint-degree of a Bachelor of Science with a major in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in French. She aims to study forensic science and criminology in the future after completing her undergraduate at MUN.
Perryn has always been very active throughout the volleyball community, working alongside many volleyball organizations including Gale Force as well as Wreckhouse in assisting with many camps and events throughout the past year, using this as an opportunity to showcase her coaching abilities and extending her knowledge to our younger generation of athletes.
After bringing home a silver medal with the 18U SeaHawks this past season, Perryn is extremely excited to begin this new chapter with Gale Force Volleyball Club and be able to create the same atmosphere and opportunities for our athletes as was done for her.
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