The Minnesota Frost announced 10 new members to their coaching staff and consulting team on Wednesday.
The additions include assistant coach Chris Johnson, goalie coach Pete Samargia, team services manager Nick Bryant, strength and conditioning coach Shannon MacAulay, skills coaches Andy Ness and John Schiavo, assistant equipment manager Blake Kruse, and scouting consultants Dani Brodzinski, Haley Skarupa and Alyssa Sleasman.
These new staff join the Frost just two months after the hiring of new general manager Melissa Caruso.
“I am thrilled to announce these additions to the Frost's Hockey Operations Department,” said Caruso in a statement. “This group brings a wonderful variety of experiences and perspectives to the team and — combined with our existing staff — will provide an environment that will enable the Frost to achieve excellence both on and off the ice. Training camp opens this week, and our group will be ready to welcome our athletes back to St. Paul as we begin our defence of the Walter Cup!”
Johnson will join returning head coach Ken Klee and assistant coach Mira Jalosuo behind the bench for the Frost. He has previous experience as a camp manager and coach at the Bob Johnson Hockey School. He also spent seven years as an assistant coach at Augsburg College.
Samargia, the Frost's new goalie coach, has worked with goaltenders of all levels including, most recently, with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.
MacAulay is the team's new head strength and conditioning coach. Previously, she worked at the Acumen Health & Performance Clinic in Calgary, and with the Team Canada women's national program.
Ness and Schiavo round out the coaching staff as new skating and skills coach consultants.
The Frost ended last season by winning the first-ever Walter Cup, however, the mood soon shifted as general manager Natalie Darwitz was fired just a few weeks later.
From there, trouble continued to build as Klee faced fan backlash for decisions during the 2024 draft and was later investigated by the league for allegations of bullying. The PWHL has yet to release updates on this investigation.
Training camps are currently underway across the league, with the first PWHL game of the season coming on Nov. 30.
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