St. Cloud State's Brian Idalski hired as first coach of PWHL's expansion team in Vancouver
Brian Idalski is leaving St. Cloud State after being hired as coach of the PWHL's expansion team in Vancouver, the league announced Monday.
The 54-year-old has more than 20 years of women's hockey coaching experience, including overseeing China's national team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. Idalski also coached the KRS Vanke Rays to two Russian-women's league ZhHL championships over a three-year period.
Vancouver's inaugural roster includes former Vanke Rays players, Michela Cava and
Hannah Miller
, who also played for China in 2022. Idalski's hiring comes a day before the PWHL draft. Vancouver will select seventh followed by Seattle, with the expansion teams switching the final two spots in each successive round of the six-round draft.
'Brian is a proven winner who knows our sport, the players, and has coached at the highest levels,' general manager Cara Gardner Morey said. 'What stands out in Brian's experience is his ability to build and transform the programs he is a part of, from his work in professional leagues, at the Olympics, and turning collegiate teams into nationally ranked contenders.'
From Warren, Michigan, Idalski spent the past three seasons at St. Cloud State, where he earned college hockey coach of the year honors in 2023 after the team tied a school record with 18 wins. His teams have combined for five NCAA Tournament appearances, with previous stops at North Dakota and Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
'I've been associated with a lot of players across the PWHL, either coaching them personally or against them over the years, so this role brings me full circle with an eagerness to work with the league's world-class talent,' Idalski said.
Seattle filled its coaching position by
hiring Steve O'Rourke last week
.
___
AP women's hockey:
https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Arizona extends baseball coach Chip Hale's contract 4 years through 2030
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona has extended baseball coach Chip Hale's contract four years through 2030 after he led the Wildcats back to the College World Series. Terms of the deal announced Monday were not released and must still be approved by the Arizona Board of Regents. 'Arizona Baseball has long been one of the nation's premier programs, and coach Chip Hale has honored that legacy while elevating our standard of excellence,' Arizona athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois said in a statement. 'He is a proud Wildcat, a proven leader, and a tremendous ambassador for the University of Arizona. With Chip leading the way, we are well-positioned to compete for championships and continue developing exceptional young men on and off the field.' Hale has led Arizona to the NCAA Tournament four straight times since returning to Tucson to coach his alma mater in 2021. The Wildcats returned to the College World Series this year for the first time since 2021. Hale, a former manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has led Arizona to consecutive conference tournament championships, coached six All-Americans and two first-round Major League Baseball picks. ___ AP college sports:
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Arizona extends baseball coach Chip Hale's contract 4 years through 2030
Associated Press TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona has extended baseball coach Chip Hale's contract four years through 2030 after he led the Wildcats back to the College World Series. Terms of the deal announced Monday were not released and must still be approved by the Arizona Board of Regents. "Arizona Baseball has long been one of the nation's premier programs, and coach Chip Hale has honored that legacy while elevating our standard of excellence,' Arizona athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois said in a statement. 'He is a proud Wildcat, a proven leader, and a tremendous ambassador for the University of Arizona. With Chip leading the way, we are well-positioned to compete for championships and continue developing exceptional young men on and off the field.' Hale has led Arizona to the NCAA Tournament four straight times since returning to Tucson to coach his alma mater in 2021. The Wildcats returned to the College World Series this year for the first time since 2021. Hale, a former manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has led Arizona to consecutive conference tournament championships, coached six All-Americans and two first-round Major League Baseball picks. ___ AP college sports: recommended in this topic
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Courtney Kessel officially leaves Boston Fleet in return to Princeton as women's hockey coach
'It is bittersweet to move on from the Boston Fleet and the amazing people building that organization and the PWHL as a whole,' Kessel said. 'This opportunity was the only one that could draw me away from where I was.' From Toronto, Kessel played at New Hampshire, where she was a 2010 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given to the MVP of women's college hockey. She also represented Canada at three world championships, including a gold-medal win in 2012. Advertisement She also has Hockey Canada coaching experience, serving as a senior team assistant in 2024 and head coach of the 2023 gold-medal winning Under-18 team. The Fleet have undergone major changes this offseason. Star forward Advertisement 'Courtney set the tone from Day 1 and elevated our group with her competitiveness, preparation, and care,' Fleet GM Danielle Marmer said. 'She's already established herself as an elite coach early in her career, and I know she'll continue to raise the bar as the next head coach at Princeton.' In other PWHL coaching news, Brian Idalski is leaving St. Cloud State after being hired as coach of Vancouver, the league announced Monday. The 54-year-old has more than 20 years of women's hockey coaching experience, including overseeing China's national team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Idalski also coached the KRS Vanke Rays to two Russian-women's league ZhHL championships over a three-year period. Vancouver's inaugural roster includes former Vanke Rays players, Michela Cava and Hannah Miller, who also played for China in 2022. Idalski's hiring comes a day before the PWHL draft. Vancouver will select seventh followed by Seattle, with the expansion teams switching the final two spots in each successive round of the six-round draft. Idalski spent the past three seasons at St. Cloud State, where he earned college hockey coach of the year honors in 2023 after the team tied a school record with 18 wins. Seattle filled its coaching position last week by hiring Steve O'Rourke.
