Junior Tigers Ice Hockey Island League

Hailing from Nova Scotia, Canada, Chris Ivany brings with him a wealth of experience to the Hong Kong hockey world. After playing Junior B hockey, he began his coaching and refereeing career while teaching high school in Nova Scotia.

In 2002 he began coaching minor hockey, and by 2005 he played a pinnacle role in building a successful new hockey program at Cape Breton Highlands Academy as head coach. During this time, Chris graduated to a Level 4 referee through attending high performance camps alongside fellow elite referees in Nova Scotia.

After moving to Hong Kong in 2011, Chris took a break from hockey but after several years decided to return to the game he loves. In 2019, he launched Asia’s first hockey podcast, Across The Pond, to expand the game in the region through storytelling. Many interviews and conversations later, Chris often highlights and celebrates how far hockey has come in Asia in just a few short years. He has had the pleasure and privilege of sitting down with some of hockey’s biggest names, including Eric Lindros, Jeremy Roenick, Kerry Fraser and more, along with key figures in Hong Kong and Asia’s greater hockey scene – people who bring so much inspiration to the game.

Currently Chris is Director of Hockey Operations, Referee-in-Chief, Co-commissioner of the SCIHL and Junior Tigers Island Leagues, Commissioner of the Asia Super League, Head Coach of the U13 and U15 Greater Bay Lions programs and Tournament Director for the Greater Bay Championship. With a lifetime of experience, dedication, integrity and passion for the game, he is a valuable member of the Junior Tigers program.

We are thrilled to welcome our newest coaching hire Matti Fagerstrom—41 years young from the land of a thousand lakes, Finland.

Matti grew up and played his junior years in the true hockey town of Hämeenlinna, where a lifelong passion for the sport led him to pursue coaching at the highest level. He is a graduate of the prestigious Sports Coaching and Management program at Haaga-Helia Vierumäki University, the only university in the world offering a major specifically in ice hockey coaching. This ICCE-endorsed program blends Finland’s world-renowned hockey culture with athlete-centered coaching, international collaboration with the IIHF and Finnish Ice Hockey Association, and hands-on youth development experience (U10–U16).

Since graduating 15 years ago, Matti has coached in top European junior leagues (U15, U17, U18, U20) and with national teams in the UAE, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Known for doing things the “right way,” he prioritizes team culture while fostering individual growth—bringing unmatched expertise, experience professionalism, and passion to our program.

Matti joins the Junior Tigers organization as Head Coach for the expanded U13-U16 program for the 2025-26 season.

Tyler Doherty has been a long-time coach of the Junior Tigers having lived in Hong Kong since 2012. Tyler is from Canada and former professional player with a diverse and accomplished background in the sport. He played junior hockey with the Langley Hornets in the BCHL and the Fernie Ghostriders in the AWHL before competing at the university level with Concordia University in the CIS. Tyler’s professional playing career spanned from the early 2000s into the 2020s and included time in the Central Hockey League with the Mississippi RiverKings, Division 3 in Sweden with Dio GoIF and was played for the Macau Aces of the CIHL during his time in Hong Kong.

Tyler has a diverse coaching experience serving as the head coach of the Hong Kong U18 National Team during the 2013-14 World Junior Championship tournament. He has also been involved in youth hockey coaching in Vancouver and volunteering with community hockey programs. A key part of his coaching career was his role at the Banff Hockey Academy, a prestigious prep hockey and academic program founded by his father, Bill Doherty. At the academy, Tyler helped develop young athletes in a demanding environment that combined rigorous hockey training with academic excellence.

Gregory Smyth is the Chairman and Founder of iNetAsia, an established Asian performance marketing and digital marketing business headquartered in Hong Kong. In addition, Mr. Smyth is a serial entrepreneur, involved in a number of successful internet start-ups and multiple global property investments. Over the past 15 years, Mr. Smyth has served as Co-Founder and the Executive Director of the China Hockey Group in Hong Kong, spearheading the Greater Bay Lions, Junior Tigers, Asian Super League, Greater Bay Hockey League and China Ice Hockey League playing a pivotal role in the growth of ice hockey in Asia.

Gregory Smyth had an impressive collegiate hockey career, playing five years of varsity hockey in the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU), now known as U Sports, with both the University of Western Ontario and Dalhousie University. His time in these competitive programs showcased his talent and dedication, making significant contributions to his teams on the ice. Gregory’s collegiate experience in the CIAU was instrumental in shaping his understanding of the game, which he later applied to his various roles in hockey, including ownership of the Coquitlam Express in the BCHL. With a deep passion for hockey, Smyth has been instrumental in promoting the game at both grassroots and competitive levels, fostering a thriving community of players and enthusiasts. His background as a university athlete helped him understand the value of development and competition, which he has applied in nurturing the next generation of hockey talent across continents.

Smyth’s dedication to promoting hockey in Asia also includes coaching and mentoring young athletes, organizing leagues, and creating development programs that emphasize skill growth, teamwork, and sportsmanship. His leadership has been instrumental in making the sport more accessible and inspiring the next generation of hockey players.