Derek Wood will make his head coaching debut in the BCEHL this season with the Cariboo Cougars' U15 AAA team. He brings over 15 years of coaching experience at the minor hockey level with him, spending time with Prince George Minor Hockey Association and the North Central/North West U15 AA zone program.
Prior to spending time behind the bench, Wood played for Prince George Minor Hockey and eventually progressed to the Western Hockey League where he spent four years playing for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Calgary Hitmen and Medicine Hat Tigers. He also played seven years of professional hockey from 1996 to 2003, highlighted by a stint with the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans in 1997-98.