Graham Baxter – Team Owner/President
Born and raised in Windsor, Wildcats owner Mr. Baxter is a self-made man. From humble beginnings, he earned Red Seal designations as a plumber and pipefitter, eventually creating the Baxter Group of Companies that includes G.C. Baxter Plumbing and Heating Limited, Baxter Sheet Metal, Fairline Electric, Valley Precision Welding, C-Tech Refrigeration, Annapolis Valley Charters, a vehicle leasing company and apartment rentals.
Mr. Baxter first became involved in hockey through the then-Kentville Minor Hockey Association, coaching and sponsoring his son Rodney’s team, approximately 40 years ago. In 2010 Mr. Baxter became president of the Valley Wildcats major bantam team and a year later the Wildcats major midget entry. He then completed the triumvirate by purchasing a Maritime Hockey League Junior A team for the Valley – the Halifax Shipbuilders – in 2013 and moving the club to Kentville, and eventually Berwick. Mr. Baxter says the reason he bought a junior team for the Valley is simple: “To give an opportunity for local kids to play here. There’s a lot of hockey talent in the Valley and now they don’t have to leave home to play at an elite level.”
A member of the Merit Nova Scotia Board of Directors since the organization’s inception, Mr. Baxter also served two terms on the Apprenticeship Board for the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.
Mr. Baxter and his wife Anna have been married for 47 years and have residences in Cambridge and show and breed quarter-horses. They have two children, Rodney and Rhonda and four grandchildren, Lukas, Mitchell, Keisha and Laura.
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Rhonda Baxter – Chief Financial Officer
A valued member of the Wildcats organization since Day 1, Rhonda is responsible for the team’s finances. The Office Manager/Comptroller for the Baxter Group of Companies and serving as owner Graham Baxter’s “right hand”, Rhonda holds a Bachelor of Arts (English) from Acadia University.
Rhonda was born in Berwick and resides in Cambridge with her son Lukas and daughter Keisha. A softball player, Rhonda also finds time to serve as treasurer of the Nova Scotia Female Midget Hockey League.
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Danny Braun – Assistant General Manager
Kevin Dickie – Senior Advisor
Kevin is a pivotal part of the Bage Valley Wildcats Junior A Hockey Club serving as the team’s Senior Advisor. Dickie has an extensive background in hockey most recently serving as the Athletic Director of Acadia University along with spending time with the University of New Brunswick as their Athletic Director. Before working in the athletics departments Dickie had a tremendous coaching career serving as Head and Assistant Coach in the WHL for the Medicine Hat Tigers and Saskatoon Blades spread out over 5 seasons. During his coaching career he also served as Head Coach of the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL for 5 seasons. He also had 2 stints working with Hockey Canada, 1 year as an Assistant Coach with the U18 program along with a season working with U20 World Junior program. The Valley is very lucky and grateful to have someone with the history and experience that Dickie has to be apart of our organization.
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Kim Leonard – Education Advisor
After graduating from West Kings High School, Kim went on to study Math and Computer Sciences at Acadia University in Wolfville. After graduation she worked at the Computer Centre at Acadia as the Academic Consultant, along with teaching introductory courses to computers at Acadia. From there Leonard went on to Dalhousie University to receive her Bachelor of Education and from that became a long time teacher at West Kings High School and Pine Ridge Elementary. Since retirement, she has been working as a local math tutor for several years.
Kim is a huge addition to the Wildcats organization as a great advisor for our players as they focus on pursuing academic opportunities while playing high level hockey.