Welcoming New Head Coach – Mark Van Dooren

The Exeter Hawks would like to introduce new Head Coach Mark Van Dooren for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Mark returns to the organization after building a contender in 2017-18 when he coached an up-and-coming Hawks team. He enters a similar situation and has created a lot of optimism for the club.

Mark has a wealth of playing and coaching experience. He played his minor hockey in Seaforth and joined the Jr B Stratford Cullitons in 1995-96. He then played 3 seasons with the Jr D Seaforth Centennaires and finished his junior career with the JR C Kincardine Bulldogs. After junior he played 16+ seasons of WOAA senior hockey. Most spent with the Clinton Radars and ending his career in his hometown of Seaforth with a league championship. During his playing career he was a leader on and off the ice. This led him to coaching. While living in Chatham-Kent he took on the role of head coach for the U18 South Kent Lightning. From there he was noticed in the area and was asked to step in with the Jr B Chatham Maroons in 2016-17. He moved back to the area and landed behind the bench of the Hawks. Mark then took a few years off to enjoy watching his son play for the Jr B Listowel Cyclones and settle down and start a new chapter in his life in Lucan.

Most recently, he coached the U21 Lucan Irish to a provincial championship this past year and coaches his young sons U9 team in Lucan. He resides with his family in Lucan.

Players and fans should be excited as Mark brings a lot of success and passion to the game and its surroundings. He has always kept an eye on this organization and knows the deep tradition of junior hockey success in this town. His expectations are to win a Schmalz Cup! The organization would like to welcome Mark back to the Hawks.