Princeton Posse Appoint Colin Minardi as New Head Coach & General Manager
Princeton, BC – July 21, 2025 — The Princeton Posse are thrilled to announce the hiring of Colin Minardi as the organization’s new Head Coach and General Manager, ahead of the 2025–26 KIJHL season.
A local of Summerland, BC, Minardi joins the Posse from the Cranbrook Bucks (BCHL), where he most recently served as Assistant Coach for three seasons. Over that time, Minardi played a key role in the Bucks’ player development success, including a standout 2022–23 campaign that saw the team finish 2nd in the Interior Conference with a 36–14–4 record. The Bucks returned to playoff form in 2024–25, winning 30 games and advancing to the second round of the BCHL postseason.
Minardi brings a wealth of coaching experience from across junior and elite minor hockey levels. Prior to joining Cranbrook, he held coaching roles with the Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL), Okanagan Rockets U18 AAA, and various South Zone and minor hockey programs throughout the Okanagan.
“Colin is an excellent fit for our organization,” said Posse Head of Operations Mark McNaughton “He’s a dedicated teacher of the game with a strong foundation in player development, leadership, and building competitive culture. He understands what it takes to help young athletes grow while competing at a high level — not just as hockey players, but as people.”
As a player, Minardi played in the KIJHL with the North Okanagan Knights and Summerland Steam before moving on to a five-year collegiate career at Concordia University of Edmonton (ACAC), where he served as team captain in his final season and earned a degree in Business Management.
With a focus on purpose, growth, and connection, his coaching style is rooted in the belief that hockey can shape strong character, lifelong habits, and empowered young leaders.
“I’m truly honored to join the Princeton Posse and grateful to Mark McNaughton and the entire organization for this opportunity” said Minardi. “I also want to thank Ryan Donald, Nathan Lieuwen, and everyone with the Cranbrook Bucks for three great seasons that helped me grow as a coach and person. Leaving Cranbrook was a tough decision because my time there was so special, but Princeton’s proud history, the way the organization is run, and the foundation set by the coaches before me made this an exciting next step in my career. My goal in Princeton is to create an environment where players can develop their skills, grow on and off the ice, and prepare for the next level. If we do that, we’ll have all the pieces in place to build a championship team the entire community can be proud of.”
Minardi assumes the role immediately and will lead the team into training camp this September as the Posse prepare for the 2025–26 KIJHL season.
