July 31, 2025 – The Brooks Bandits of the BCHL have announced Cole McCaig has been hired for the position of Assistant Coach for the 2025-26 season.
McCaig joins the Bandits following seven seasons as Assistant Coach with the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). During his seven years with the Bombers, the team qualified for the playoffs six times, with the 2021 Playoffs being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the 2021-22 season, Flin Flon made the SJHL Final, and played for the 2022 Centennial Cup in Estevan, SK, making the quarter-finals. The Bombers would play in the SJHL Final again in 2023 and 2024.
From 2018-2025, the Bombers went 225-91-18-8 in the regular season, and had the best record in the SJHL during the 2023-24 season.
“Our goal was to find a candidate that had both experience at the Junior level while also being a relationship-based coach,” said Bandits Head Coach and GM, Ryan Papaioannou.
“We felt like Cole exhibited these qualities and his time in Flin Flon will serve our organization well. His work ethic and focus on individual player development will be an asset to our group and we are looking forward to his arrival in Brooks.”
McCaig played for the Bombers from 2011-14, dressing in 123 games. He also played 41 games for Waywayseecappo in the MJHL. His playing career continued with Marian University in Wisconsin in the NCAA, where he dressed in 96 games over four years.
“What Ryan Papaioannou, Dakota Mason, Wayne Labrie and the rest of the staff have been able to do here is very special and opportunities like this don’t come around very often,” said McCaig.
“It’s such a great organization. Obviously, the success this team has had for a long time, to be a part of it, is a great honour. We have a great staff here and a great group of players that I’m looking forward to working with.”
The 2025-26 Regular Season opens September 19th in Spruce Grove, followed by the Bandits Home Opener on September 20th vs Okotoks. Season Tickets are on sale, visit here for more information.
