PWHL Vancouver names Brian Idalski as 1st-ever coach

Field Level Media

· Posted: Jun 23, 2025 12:52 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

PWHL Vancouver named Brian Idalski arsenic the enlargement club's archetypal caput manager connected Monday.

Idalski, 54, spent the past 3 seasons arsenic caput manager of the St. Cloud State women's hockey program.

"Brian is simply a proven victor who knows our sport, the players, and has coached astatine the highest levels," wide manager Cara Gardner Morey said. "What stands retired successful Brian's acquisition is his quality to physique and alteration the programs helium is simply a portion of, from his enactment successful nonrecreational leagues, astatine the Olympics, and turning collegiate teams into nationally ranked contenders. I'm excited that helium volition pb our unthinkable radical successful Vancouver and can't hold to spot his imaginativeness and power signifier our foundation."

He antecedently led the collegiate programs astatine Wisconsin-Stevens Point (2001-06) and North Dakota (2007-17) earlier serving arsenic caput manager of the Chinese nonrecreational squad Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays from 2019-22.

Idalski besides coached the Chinese women's nationalist squad astatine the 2022 Winter Olympics successful Beijing.

"I consciousness precise fortunate to person this accidental to articulation an enactment and metropolis similar Vancouver and privation to convey Cara and the league for their spot and content successful me," Idalski said. "The PWHL has had a immense interaction connected the planetary game, and to beryllium a portion of that — with enlargement helping propulsion it adjacent further guardant — is an unbelievable feeling."

Idalski coached caller Vancouver signees Michela Cava and Hannah Miller with the KRS Vanke Rays.