The 2023/24 season will mark Kurt Walsten’s 10th season behind the bench as Head Coach/GM of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs. Walsten is a three-time Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Coach of the Year nominee, earning honourable mention in 2016/17, 2020/21 and 2022/23
Kurt Walsten is the winningest and longest-tenured coach in Dryden GM Ice Dogs’ franchise history.
Some of his successes are:
● A franchise best, 45-win season.
● SIJHL Coach of the Year in 2022/23 and 2016/17.
● Four straight appearances in the SIJHL finals.
● Back-to-back Bill Salonen Cup Championships, 2016/17, 2017/18.
● Three Dudley Hewitt Cup appearances over a five-year period.
● 312 wins as Head Coach of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs.
From 1991 to 2005 Walsten spent over 10 seasons as a professional hockey player. Walsten spent time playing with the Fresno Falcons, Huntsville Blast, Dallas Freeze, Los Angeles Bandits, Las Vegas Aces, Eugene Snowcats, Alaska Gold Kings, Fort Worth Fire, Memphis River Kings, Gullegem Jets, Bracke Polar Bears (Sweden 1st Division) and Ange IK (Sweden 2nd Division). Some of the players he played alongside were Manon Rheaume, Wayne Van Dorp, Larry Melnyk and Jim Leavins.
Prior to his time in the SIJHL, Walsten coached in the BCJHL, AJHL, MJAHL, MJHL, CEHL and LNAH.