Josh Tripp: Rangers Star To Rangers Head Coach

Josh Tripp is no stranger to the Parkland U18 Rangers program.

He first made the team in the 2013-14 season, playing in 43 games and scoring five goals while adding seven assists. After a great off-season, Tripp returned to the Rangers the following season and took his game to the next level. Playing in 44 games, Tripp scored 30 goals and added 23 assists in the regular season.

The Swan River star finished 10th in league scoring and his 30 goals were the second-most in the league, only trailing behind Bradly Goethals, who Tripp went on to play with in Swan Valley. Across four playoff games, Josh scored two more goals and had five points. It was a coming-out season for Tripp and a sign of things to come.

"Playing for the Rangers helped me develop as a player and get ready for the next level," said Tripp. "I moved away for the first time and lived in Dauphin. I not only grew on the ice but as a young man as well."

Josh moved onto junior hockey the following year as he joined his hometown Stampeders in the 2015-16 season. Finding his stride immediately, Tripp had 23 goals and 24 assists in 55 games before a three-point showing across three playoff games.

This all while Josh played in front of his family and friends at the Centennial Arena. It was a year that Tripp will never forget after growing up watching the Stampeders. Tripp then decided to move to Texas as he joined the Corpus Christi Ice Rays team of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). In his first season south of the border, Tripp was not out of place at all producing 40 points in the regular season in 57 games before notching a pair of assists in eight playoff games. Tripp then returned to Corpus Christi for the start of the 2017-18 season; however, his time with the Ice Rays that season did not last long.

Suiting up in 13 games that year in the NAHL, Tripp moved back home and instantly fit right back in with 42 points in 38 games before a four-point showing in four playoff games. Another one game stint in the NAHL the following year with the Jamestown Rebels once again led Tripp back home as Barry Wolff was stacking up the Stampeders roster to make a run.

The 2018-19 season ended up being Swan Valley's most successful season in franchise history as they advanced to the league final against the Portage Terriers. Tripp dominated the league that year with 84 points in 57 playoff games and in Swan Valley's run to the championship series, Josh averaged more than a point per game with 21 in 17 games.

It wasn't the ending the team was looking for as Reece Henry scored in overtime to give the Terriers the Turnbull Cup, but it was a year that put the Stampeders on the map and Tripp was a massive reason why.

"Playing for Swan Valley was awesome, it was always something that I dreamt about as a kid," said Tripp. "Playing in Corpus Christi was also something I enjoyed, it helped me grow a ton. Coming back home to finish my junior career was great for me. It's always nice to play in front of your family and friends and going through the experience of contending for a championship was special. We had such a great group and I am proud of how much we accomplished."

Josh then went on to play one year of university hockey with the Manitoba Bisons and for the past three years, the Swan River native has been playing senior hockey. One year with the Wawanesa Jets and the past two with the Swan Valley Axemen.

Last year Tripp was also back behind the bench as an assistant coach for his hometown Stampeders. Under the guidance of Barry Wolff, Tripp was right at home and right where he wanted to be.

"I'm glad I had that opportunity, it was awesome working with Barry, and I was humbled by the opportunity," offered Tripp. "It was a great learning experience for me."

As the 2024-25 season now nears, Josh will continue being behind the bench, he'll just now be the main man. The U18 Rangers announced that Josh Tripp will be the team's head coach moving forward. He will be joined by assistants Matt Kustra and Tom White.

"It's very exciting, I am extremely grateful for this opportunity," offered Tripp. "It's a huge step and I'm looking forward to getting the season going, it should be fantastic."

Tripp believes he is ready for this opportunity because he has always loved helping younger players develop.