The Vancouver Goldeneyes will have a new head coach as they enter the 2026-27 season. General Manager Cara Gardner Morey announced on Monday that Brian Idalski will not return as the head coach next season.
In a press release, Garnder Morey wrote, “As we conclude our inaugural season and evaluate the future direction of the organization, we have made the decision to make a change at the head coaching position… We thank Brian for his professionalism and commitment to the Vancouver Goldeneyes and wish him all the best moving forward.”
Brian Idalski joined the Vancouver Goldeneyes as head coach in their inaugural season in the PWHL. He coached the team to a 9-3-4-14 record. The Goldeneyes missing the playoffs but earned the first overall draft pick by winning the Gold Plan. At times throughout the season, it seemed there was a disconnect between what was happening on the ice and what he was telling the media. At exit day press conferences, Idalski did not confirm or deny if he would stay with the team in the 2026-27 season.
The 2025-26 season was Idalski’s first at the pro level. He previously coached at the NCAA level with North Dakota and St. Cloud State. In between these roles, he coached in the ZhHL with the KRS Vanke Rays. Idalski was also a coach at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing for Team China. It was announced in May that Idalski would take over the Czech national team head coaching position from Carla McLeod. This move likely did not correlate to the change in Vancouver, as previous coaches have held both roles simultaneously.
This move leaves Vancouver as one of five teams in search of a head coach as the 2026-27 season looms. No replacement was named in the announcement. The Seattle Torrent, the other expansion franchise in 2025-26, also fired its head coach, Steve O’Rourke, after one season.