Southeast Surge is proud and excited to introduce Shawn Livingston as the new head coach for the 2025/26 hockey season
QUICK SHAWN BIO:
My name is Shawn Livingston, and I am honored to be the coach for this upcoming season. I'm very excited to embark on this journey with what I know is going to be a great group of young players.
To share a bit about my self now.
I live just outside of Conn, Ontario, with my family, and where we have been proud residents here since 2009. Joanne (my better half) has always been very supportive in the events we take on. Simon our oldest played hokey in Arthur up to his last year in U18 and now plays all kinds of Beer league hockey with his friend at Ridgetown Collage. Ryan is our youngest son he has been playing "A", "AA" and "AAA" for the past bunch of seasons and still plays going into his last U18 year (he is looking to play Jr B next season). I have always been passionate about hockey and have a vision for where the sport can take our players. About eight years ago, during my time as President of Arthur Minor Hockey, I proposed the idea of a unified approach to youth hockey, to create a local "A" centre. While I wasn't able to convince other centers to join at that time, I am thrilled to see this vision come to life now with the Surge.
A bit about my playing history: I grew up playing for Caledon, with a brief stint in Richmond Hill, before joining the Fergus Minor Hockey Organization and finishing my minor career in Elora. This was before the two centers amalgamated. When I reached the junior level, I faced a difficult decision: to continue playing hockey or to step in and help manage the family farm after an injury to a family member. Ultimately, I chose farming. After a short time of being away from the sport as a player I realized that I missed the community of hockey, which led me to a coaching career.
Since then, I've had the privilege of coaching almost every age group, from U7 to U21 and at various levels, including local league and A-division hockey. In recent years, I've discovered a true passion for working with U18 players. This age group is at an exciting point in their development, where they begin to have a clearer vision of their future and their goals both on the ice as well as off the ice in life. My role as a coach is to support and develop each player to reach their fullest potential and to be a person they can watch and learn off the ice as well. I feel that the interactions with fellow coaches, other players and parents is always observed by the players not to mention how I interact with refs. Players that are exposed to the environment that we wish to create will see respect and control. I hope that by having players in that environment they see how that control and engagement could help them in life moving forward.
Throughout my coaching career, I've been fortunate to be part of some remarkable teams. Most notably, I was head coach of a team that captured three consecutive championships in the WOAA U18 Elite Division. Additionally, we were regional Silver Stick champions and an international Silver Stick finalist. Over three seasons, our team posted an impressive record of 86 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties. That period stands as a major highlight of my career because the team environment was an inspiration to be around. The support each player gave each other and the energy each player gave the coaches was incredible. The team played for each other not themselves. Many of these players are now playing in University Hockey, some are playing in Jr. For me as a coach these players are calling asking me to write letters of recommendation for jobs, schools and roles inside school. This is what I want to accomplish with every team I coach now.
Beyond hockey, I've also had success in lacrosse, where I served as head coach for a teams that won provincial gold and silver medals. I have coached all age groups in Lacrosse as well, but finding that U17 was the enjoyable age. This age in both Hockey and lacrosse has provided a challenge outside of the current team for players... That challenge is finding the opportunity's for what's next. I'm proud to have been able to help lacrosse players find Jr opportunity's to continue playing sports.
As a coach, my passion lies in being part of a competitive, driven, and focused group. I believe in putting the team and the community above all else, and I am dedicated to developing players who are not only talented but also committed to supporting their teammates. I am excited to help build a program that helps players reach the next level, exposes them to local junior clubs, and provides them with opportunities to continue playing hockey for as long as possible.
I look forward to working with each of you and helping you achieve your goals on and off the ice! Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have. (519)766-6121 is always open for a text msg or call.