The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s new team in Vancouver has named Brian Idalski its first head coach.
Idalski joins the expansion side following three seasons at St. Cloud State University, where he lead the women’s hockey team to a program-record 36 conference points and tied its record of 18 wins.
The 54-year-old from Warren, Mich., joins the PWHL following 18 seasons as a collegiate coach, including time at the University of North Dakota and the University of Wisconsin — Stevens Point, and appearances in five NCAA tournament appearances.
Idalski previously coached overseas for the KRS Vanke Rays in Shenzhen, China, where he won two Zhenskaya Hockey League titles in three years, and worked with recent PWHL Vancouver acquisitions Michela Cava and Hannah Miller.
He was also head coach of the China’s women’s hockey team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, a team that also included Miller.
Idalski said working with so many familiar players in Vancouver is a unique opportunity.
“The PWHL has had a huge impact on the global game, and to be a part of that — with expansion helping push it even further forward — is an unbelievable feeling,” he said in a statement. “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 is a “proven winner who knows our sport, the players, and has coached at the highest levels,” said Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey.
“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,” she said in a release.
“I’m excited that he will lead our incredible group in Vancouver and can’t wait to see his vision and influence shape our foundation.”
Courtney Kessel to coach Princeton women
Princeton made it official on Monday in announcing Courtney Kessel’s hiring as coach of the women’s hockey team, a week after the two sides were finalizing the agreement.
Kessel spent the past two years coaching the PWHL Boston Fleet and returns to Princeton where she spent four seasons, from 2019-23, as an assistant under Cara Gardner Morey. She now succeeds Gardner Morey, who left the Tigers in May upon being hired as general manager of the PWHL’s expansion team in Vancouver.
The 35-year-old Kessel had a 27-19-8 record in Boston, including a Walter Cup Finals appearance in 2024, which the team lost to Minnesota in a decisive Game 5.
“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.
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 off-season. Star forward Hilary Knight left Boston to sign with the PWHL’s expansion team in Seattle. The Fleet also have an opening at assistant general manager after Meghan Turner was hired as Seattle’s general manager.
“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.”
