Faith and fund-raising drew George Gwozdecky to Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch.

Gwozdecky, the former longtime hockey coach of the University of Denver, was named Valor’s hockey coach Friday morning, less than two months after he resigned as assistant coach of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.

Gwozdecky, 62, is a Catholic who wants to develop amateur hockey players for a private school that intends to build its own ice rink as part of a multi-use facility that likely would include aquatics. Gwozdecky’s name will be at the forefront of fund-raising efforts. Like all Valor employees, Gwozdecky will work under a one-year agreement, but strives for a longterm relationship to accomplish his goals.

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“Ice time is at a premium in the city of Denver and its outskirts,” said Gwozdecky, who has lived in Highlands Ranch for more than 20 years. “The more ice facilities there are, the better it’s going to be for not only high-school hockey, but club hockey and everybody else.”

Gwozdecky was fired by DU on April 1, 2013, after leading the Pioneers to a record 12th consecutive 20-win season. He said he enjoyed his two years in the NHL, but missed working with amateurs. He wants to coach at a faith-based school.

“The values that the school has and the people within the school are very similar to my beliefs. To me, it was a good fit in that regard — very much so,” Gwozdecky said. “To some people it’s not a good fit. But for me it’s very comfortable. It’s nice to know you have people with similar values, and we want to have these young people have a really positive experience at school and playing their sport.”

WATCH: George Gwozdecky returns to Colorado to become head coach of Valor Christian High hockey

Gwozdecky is the only person to coach in the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final after becoming the first to win NCAA championships as a player (1977 Wisconsin), assistant coach (1986 Michigan State) and head coach (2004 and 2005 Denver) . The Lightning lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in five games in the Cup Final.

“The impact a coach has at this stage of a young person’s life is much more profound than once a young man gets to become a professional,” Gwozdecky said. “Certainly, I’ve always strived in trying to help young people develope a more mature attitude towards life, and I really believe I can impact these young students at Valor. It’s just a great fit for me.”

Valor hockey will field teams in the Colorado Prep Hockey League (fall) and Colorado High School Activities Association (winter) and strive for the kind of national prominence achieved by schools such as Regis Jesuit and Cherry Creek. The Raiders (pure) and Bruins (mixed schools) won the USA Hockey Tier II prep national championships last spring.

Regis is considered a private school success model in hockey, and Valor hopes to follow suit with Gwozdecky at the helm. Schools including Cherry Creek, Mountain Vista and Ralston Valley excel at hockey partly because they draw from in-district schools that don’t offer the sport.

“He is truly about something bigger than the sport and we are absolutely thrilled to have him join our team,” Valor athletic director Jamie Heiner said of Gwozdecky in a statement.

Gwozdecky is from Thunder Bay, Ontario, and began his head coaching career in 1981 at Wisconsin-River Falls, winning the NAIA national championship in the second of his three years. After his time at Michigan State, he moved on to become head coach of Division I Miami (Ohio) in 1989, leading a downtrodden program to a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1993.

He joined DU before the 1994-95 season and led the Pioneers to the NCAA Tournament in 12 of his 19 years, including the last six.

“George’s tenure in hockey and his accomplishments as a player, coach and program builder, are so significant,” Heiner said. “But what has impressed us most is the care and concern he has for young people to nurture and help them grow into competent, caring leaders.”

Valor’s hockey team ended 3-15 in CHSAA last season, finishing with only 11 available players. Head coach Sam Shooster resigned this summer because of family and business conflicts.

Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or t witter.com/mikechambers