OUTLOOK - A young man with deep roots in the town of Outlook is set for the West Coast as his career takes him in a new direction.
It was announced late last week that Cord Ivanco will serve as the new equipment manager of the Vancouver Giants starting in the upcoming 2023-24 WHL season.
Ivanco, whose parents are Garry and Nadine Ivanco, has some previous hockey experience, including stints as a player for the Foam Lake Flyers, but his previous work experience also included serving five seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men's hockey team.
The 28-year-old Ivanco joins the Giants following his lengthy time spent with the U of S Huskies. In addition, Cord was also the Equipment Manager for Team Canada at the 2023 FISU World University Games in Lake Placid, where Canada won a Gold Medal, and he recently helped out at the Calgary Flames development camp earlier in July.
“I’m beyond grateful to get the chance to work for such a tremendous organization,” Ivanco said in a press release. “I’d like to thank the ownership group, Barclay Parneta and all the staff for this opportunity. I can’t wait to meet everyone and get to work.”
Ivanco's athletic background also includes time spent on the gridiron, starting back in his high school days on the field with the Outlook Blues. From there, he progressed into suiting up for the Saskatoon Hilltops for four years, including winning three national championships.
“Several qualified candidates applied for this position, but in the end, the recommendations from former Giant players separated Cord,” Giants GM Barclay Parneta said in the release. “Former captain Jared Dmytriw and Kaleb Bulych spoke highly of Cord and their experiences with him. Having endorsements from the former players made it easy to offer the position to Cord.”
The Vancouver Giants organization welcomed Cord to the lower mainland of British Columbia in an online message.
Taking to social media to share more thoughts, Ivanco expressed his gratitude in working with the U of S Huskies over the last five years, describing it as "truly a life-changing experience" and a part of his life of which he'll be forever thankful. That said, he waits with anticipation to head out west and begin this new chapter of his life with the Vancouver Giants.