The Kimberley Dynamiters have added a long-time professional to their coaching ranks.

The recently retired Roman Vopat - a veteran of 133 NHL games in the 1990s - will volunteer behind the junior B team's bench next season.

Vopat recently wrapped up a second season as captain of his hometown Litvinov CHP in the Czech Republic. Now he has joined his wife and two young sons in Cranbrook.

After 18 years of pro hockey, Vopat has traded his jersey for a clipboard.

"It's always difficult when you do something for such a long time and it's been pretty much your whole life," he said, of choosing to retire. "But on the other hand I was playing in Europe the last 10 years and this year was especially hard because the family stayed behind."

Working with the Nitros will allow him to spend much more time with his wife Natalie and sons Brayden and Nicholas (Cranbrook natives both, they will soon turn six and five respectively).

"The game is not as hard physically as it is mentally, so it was very hard, but on the other hand it makes my decision a lot easier," said Vopat.

His wife hails from Moose Jaw, where Vopat spent a season and a bit with the Warriors in the mid-90s. Her parents moved to Cranbrook about a dozen years ago.

"We came here for one summer and never left," said Vopat.

Dynamiters' president Rick Prasad said the 35-year-old's credentials as a pro made it easy for the team to welcome him aboard.

"Roman will be very credible, particularly when he's coaching these kids," said Prasad. "When he says something, it comes from experience and they'll definitely have to respect what he has to say."

Prasad said Vopat's presence should help the Dynamiters' recruitment efforts this summer.

"His experiences at all those levels - he's willing to pass that on to the guys that are here. There are a lot of kids that really are looking to move on, and to have somebody like that as a mentor would be tremendous for them for sure."

Prasad said announcements regarding the rest of the coaching and management staff would be made soon.

Vopat said he sees coaching as a way to stay connected to hockey, and 'the guys.'

"(I can) maybe help young players to make their dreams," he said. "Maybe show them the way, tell them what mistakes I made that I don't want them to make? I was young once and I made some mistakes that cost me my job in the NHL."

His NHL career started in 1995 in St. Louis with the Mike Keenan-coached Blues. He played with Hall-of-Famers like Brett Hull, Petr Statsny and Al McInnis there.

His final year in The Show was 2000 with the Philadelphia Flyers, who were led by Roger Neilson.

He said those two bench bosses had the biggest effect on him.

"Every coach is different. You try to take something from every coach and try to put it together. We'll see if it's going to work out," he said.

Asked what sort of bench boss he expects he will be, Vopat said something like Mike Keenan, but with better communication.

"I try to be not be a hard ass, but I prefer players who work hard," he said. "Not everybody can have the skills, but I think everybody has to work hard and earn a spot on the team."

He enjoys living in Cranbrook because it gives him a chance to keep close tabs on the WHL, his favoured major junior league. The Kootenay Ice's playoff run will help him stave off boredom for the immediate future.

"Even though the season just ended, every hockey player is anxious," said Vopat. "As soon as the season is done, they say, 'I can hardly wait for another season to start.' That goes for me too."

NOTE - The Dynamiters are kicking off their 80th anniversary with the Bullarama bull riding event and dance on Saturday, May 7 at the Civic Centre. Doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets are available at Black Bear Books, and Subway in Kimberley. At Cranbrook, they can be picked up at Hillbilly Hardware.