The Red Lake Miners have hired Kurt Walsten as the team’s new head coach and general manager.
Walsten has the most coaching wins in SIJHL history, two Bill Salonen Cup Championships, two SIJHL Coach of the Year awards, and three CJHL Coach of the Year honourable mentions.
“I am really excited for the opportunity to work with the Miners organization,” said Walsten. “We are going to build a team that competes every night, plays hard, and helps players develop to the next level. Culture and accountability will be a major emphasis of our program, and our players need to take pride in how they play and represent the Miners organization.”
Walsten is a Kenora native who played 16 seasons of pro/semi-pro hockey as a defenceman. He racked up nearly 200 penalty minutes for the Fresno Falcons of the PSHL in 1992. He previously coached the Dryden Ice Dogs from 2014 to 2024.
He takes over for Billy Keane, who left the organization after posting a last-place 5-42 record in the 2025/26 season.
