Championship winning coach Kerry Goulet re-signs with Melbourne Ice for the upcoming 2026 AIHL season.
Goulet will be back on the Ice bench for 2026 for his 4th straight season. Kerry has signed a 1 year contract extension. This news continues the journey Ice fans have been on for the past 3 years. Last season Goulet completed his initial 3 year plan to return Ice to the summit of Australian men’s hockey.
OHM sat down with Kerry online to discuss his re-appointment and the season ahead.
The Goal in 2026
Kerry is full of confidence and is unfazed about the obstacles and challenges ahead. The goal for the Ice in 2026 is to repeat the success of 2025. Going back-to-back and lifting the Goodall Cup two seasons in a row is no easy feat in the AIHL. It has only occurred 4 times in 25 years (Avalanche 00-01, Northstars 05-06, Ice 10-12, Northstars 15-16). It’s a lofty goal, but achievable with the right drive, preparation, personnel and environment.
[My main goal is,] simply put…to WIN. Last year we built a culture that saw everyone in the organization compete to the end. I want everyone to be proud of the Blue, Red and White. I hope I can establish the same winning culture that Paul Watson and Brent Laver had built in the years of the 3 Peat! The main goal is to continue to get better everyday, every game and take nothing for granted as hard work and perseverance are key elements in winning.
With the success we had together [in 2025], we now set our sites on a repeat. Getting to the top is hard, staying on top is even harder.
What Drives Goulet in 2026?
Growing the sport in Australia and delivering success for the Ice community are the twin pillars that drive Kerry Goulet in 2026. Developing the Ice organisation and creating memorable experiences for everyone involved with the team are the byproducts of this drive.
My drive is the players’ and fans’ experience of the great game of ice hockey. I will continue to develop the Melbourne Ice into the icon organisation it was in the past and lay the foundation for continued success for years to come. I want to make the Ice the team everyone wants to coach, to play for, to sponsor and to support as a fan. I want to continue to develop the community we have build over the history of the franchise.
Prior Preparation and Planning
Despite the recent championship victory, Goulet is not resting on his laurels. Similar to 2025, Kerry is constantly looking to self-improve and hone his skills to best service the Melbourne Ice in the season ahead.
To that end, Goulet has been back at King Heights Academy (KHA) in Toronto this off-season. Working as an assistant coach and General Manager (GM), Kerry is actively engaged with ownership, coaches and players at KHA. This enables him to keep up with the ever changing game of hockey, learning new techniques and concepts.
I am back at the King Heights Academy in Toronto as an assistant coach and now General Manager. This gives me the opportunity to work daily with ownership, coaches and players to further understand how to operate a success franchise. This is allowing me at my age to stay connected to the game and understand the new attitudes in the game today. I must adapt to an ever changing sport and stay on top of all the new concept and nuances of the game.
Key to Success
There is one word that came up multiple times in Kerry’s responses to our questions. The key to success is consistency. This does not mean stagnation or ridged obedience. This means identifying key strengths and weaknesses around core principles and building a consistent culture around the right people. This breeds success and is what Goulet is eager to continue to implement at the Ice.
Consistency in all aspects of our team and organization. The key to success in sport today is to surround yourself with the best people you can. The identity of our team is well known as a hard working, highly skilled, discipline team and that is the basis on who I will bring to support the on ice team. There will be subtle changes to the players but I can assure you we will continue to strive for success. Success is not luck, it is planned and we will continue to work hard for that.
Changes at the Ice for 2026
Goulet has been quick to sing the praises of those around him at the Melbourne Ice in 2025. From the playing group to the staff to the ownership.
Obviously I had a great group of people [to] help me guide the Ice to a Goodall Cup Championship [in 2025]. From Peter Hartshorne, the owner along with the Board of Directors, an incredible support staff, Karl Heinze Director of Hockey Ops, Brent Laver, my main Assistant Coach, Damien Newland Defensive Assistance Coach, the training staff with Cam Chartier and Tom Howard, all the game day staff lead by Amanda Giuliani, our medical team with Luke Fuller and Olivia Skerman from Ace Sports Clinic and finally the players….the best group of committed and dedicated athletes a coach could have dreamed of.
But given the success of 2025, it was inevitable that there would be some changes ahead of 2026. Assistant coaches Brent Laver and Damien Newland will not be returning to the same roles for the Ice in 2026. The team has began the process of finding their replacements, with announcements expected in early 2026.
Any roster news?
While keeping his cards close to his chest, Ice and AIHL fans can expect to see some changes to the Ice roster from 2025. This is normal as no two rosters from year-to-year are ever the same.
The Ice are working on trying to bring back marquee players like David Booth and Tyrone Bronte, but as expected at this stage, nothing is locked in for either as they both continue their seasons overseas (Bronte in America and Booth in Scotland).
There is one player who Ice fans will be overjoyed at hearing is locked in for a return to the team in 2026. Surprise 2025 hero Kolton Shindle will be back. The 24 year old Canadian national was originally brought on as a ‘5th import’ for the Ice in 2025, but he soon forced his way into the hearts and minds of Ice fans everywhere with his incredible determination and deadly instinct for goals. Finishing his maiden AIHL season 3rd in the Ice scoring charts with 33 goals and 60 points.
Yes, Kolton has already signed for the upcoming year. He came in as a dark horse and I had planned for him to be our 5th import but Kolton blew us all away with his talent, commitment to detail and just his all around work ethic. He played a 200 foot game with tremendous offensive skill and I had to keep him in our top 4 because of what he brought to the rink everyday.
Reactions to AIHL26 changes
Kerry is looking forward to the expanded competition in 2026, with the return of the two Sydney teams, the Bears and the Ice Dogs. 28 or 30 games, does not change the challenge ahead for the Ice. Every other team will be giving that extra 10% to get a good outcome against the defending champs.
Yes this is crucial. The league needs the Bears and the Ice Dogs. The newly renovated rink in Sydney is so important for the success of the AIHL. This league needs parity for all teams as the league is only as strong as the weakest link. Sydney has a tremendous ice hockey culture and it needs to strive for the AIHL to be healthy...It is only a positive that they both are back in the league.
On learning of the news of David Ferrari’s appointment to the Melbourne Mustangs hotseat, Goulet had nothing but kind words to say about his soon to be derby adversary:
Amazing! David is a very good coach with experience and knowledge of the game. He is methodical and engaged. I wish David all the luck (not too much against us) and know he will help the Mustangs tremendously.
Kerry had these words of wisdom for the first time AIHL head coach:
Be prepared! Make sure you have a plan that can be flexible but stick to the plan with minor tweaks. Communicate and articulate your plan, make sure everyone in the organization is on the same page. Build a great dressing room culture and have an open door policy, always be accessible to players, press, management and fans.
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