National Coaches Week Spotlight: Boris Rybalka a popular choice as Canada’s Para ice hockey new head coach

CALGARY – Boris Rybalka, named the national Para ice hockey team’s head coach in August with the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games just months away, is by all accounts a popular and respected choice to lead Canada in this all-important season.

Rybalka initially joined the coaching staff in 2023 as an assistant before being named head coach last month.

“Boris is an incredible human, and his success starts with relationships,” said Canada’s team captain Tyler McGregor to CPC at Hockey Canada’s media day in Calgary at the end of August. “Within 48 hours of being named head coach he had phoned everyone on the team and had conversations with the players.

‘’It starts there, and we love him because he’s someone who came into our program two years ago and you can feel how much he cares about you as an individual, but also about our team and our collective success, and he’s someone who works relentlessly to prepare.’’

Junior coaching legend

Before joining the Para ice hockey team, Rybalka was an exceptional junior coach. With the Camrose Kodiaks, he won five Alberta Junior Hockey League titles, the 2001 Royal Bank Cup, and was named Coach of the Year in 2003-04. He is the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s all-time leader in wins with 683.

With that kind of record, he obviously received offers to coach major junior, but Rybalka is a dedicated family man and wanted to stay close to home. Then he discovered Para ice hockey and it changed his life.

‘’The passion these players have is contagious,” he said. ‘’They’ll do whatever it takes to win gold. My wife even noticed – ‘I see the spark is back in your eyes, that you had 10 years ago’.”

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Learning Para ice hockey

There was definitely a learning curve as Para ice hockey has many nuances different from the traditional game. Some differences include players can’t skate backwards and every player has to be comfortable handling the puck both left and right-handed.

‘’That was an eye-opener,’’ said Rybalka about the amazing puck control skills required. ‘’In stand-up you don’t think about it. But here it’s essential. It makes you respect the skill level even more.”

Veteran defenceman Tyrone Henry says he was amazed how eager Rybalka was to learn about the team and the sport.

“Boris brings a different kind of mentality for us and how we are going to approach this season,’’ said Henry. ‘’He is very knowledgeable and has been at the game for a while. He picked up the Para game very quickly. He is easy to approach and talk to, he is curious and is determined to figure out what will work and what we can do to improve ourselves.’’

Rybalka says Para ice hockey has sharpened his approach to detail and believes every coach can expand his toolkit with an experience in the Para hockey world.

‘’Para hockey forces you to pay attention to the smallest detail,’’ he said. ‘’That’s what makes you a better coach. It’s been a gift really.’’

Rybalka encourages those curious about coaching the sport shouldn’t hesitate to get involved.

‘’Use the resources out there,’’ he said. ‘’Hockey Canada has the courses, there are people you can reach out to, and you’d be surprised how open the community is. Step outside your box. Ask questions and learn.

‘’That’s how you grow as a coach and a person.”

On to Milano Cortina

As the team now begins its final journey to the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Rybalka knows there is only one objective.

‘’In Canada it’s only one colour,’’ he said. ‘’That’s a great feeling knowing the excitement that we are expected to win gold. Now it’s the process and we are going to get there.

‘’This group has a phenomenal attitude and is very close. You can see they want to win and be the best they can be. As a coach you can’t ask anything more than that. It’s an honour and privilege to lead this team.”