SU ice hockey HC Brian Idalski talks staff roles, team depth in presser
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Atlantic Hockey America hosted its preseason media availability Wednesday morning. With Syracuse ice hockey’s 2026-27 season 23 days away, first-year head coach Brian Idalski joined the conference’s six other coaches and its commissioner, Michelle Morgan, in fielding questions.
Idalski didn’t expand on any of the players currently populating Syracuse’s roster, stressing his desire not to add any undue pressure.
“Obviously you want to lean on your seniors, your older players with experience. I wouldn’t put any pressure on anybody single,” Idalski said when asked if anybody had separated themselves from the pack as a leader. “I think that that’s a little premature.”
SU’s new head coach instead described a developing “pack mentality” and focused more on intangibles like competition and drive.
“I’ve been impressed so far,” Idalski said. “We’ve had everyone’s full attention, their work ethic has been terrific and it seems like everyone’s pretty excited to get going.”
Idalski also talked about the importance of depth and a team that regularly rolls four lines.
“We’re not depending on one player, two players to carry the load for us game in and game out,” he said.
Here are some other quick takeaways from what Idalski shared Wednesday:
Internal focus
Throughout the availability, Idalski emphasized his intent to avoid imposing early external expectations on his team or making predictions, saying he didn’t want to put pressure on any players “out of the shoot.”
“I want those kids to work hard,” Idalski said. “Really, that’s what we’re looking for out of this club. A work ethic, a compete level that is consistent, that is tough to play against.”
Idalski similarly avoided identifying any early measuring sticks for Syracuse in his first year in charge of the program, describing his goals as internal.
“What we want to do is compete as hard as we can every game. If we do that, that’s successful to me,” he said.
While Idalski didn’t identify any measuring sticks, he said Penn State is the AHA’s “gold standard” and where he wants SU to be.
Staff responsibilities
Syracuse announced the two newest additions to its coaching staff Saturday, naming Brendon Knight associate coach and Patricia Elsmore assistant coach. Idalski explained his selection of the two and broke down his staff’s roles for the upcoming season Wednesday.
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SU ice hockey adds Brendon Knight, Patricia Elsmore to coaching staff
Syracuse ice hockey announced Brendon Knight and Patricia Elsmore as the two newest additions to its rebuilt coaching staff Saturday. Knight returns to Syracuse after coaching the Orange for 10 seasons under Paul Flanagan.
Idalski described his hire of Knight, an assistant and associate coach at SU under Paul Flanagan from 2012-22, as a “no-brainer.”
“Bringing Brendon back, his knowledge of the university, the inner workings, recruiting to this area, the kind of players that thrived at Syracuse, that one was pretty easy for me,” Idalski said.
Speaking of Elsmore, Idalski praised her playing career at Minnesota-Duluth, where she backstopped the Bulldogs to national championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
“Patty was one of the first super elite goaltenders in college hockey,” Idalski said. “I think she’s going to do a great job with our goaltenders.”
Idalski said Knight will work with SU’s forwards and run its first power play unit, while Idalski will coach the second unit himself. Elsmore, he said, will work with Orange’s defenders and goalies and coach the penalty kill.
A defender at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and professionally in the Central Hockey League and the United Hockey League during his playing career in the 1990s, Idalski said he will gravitate toward instructing Syracuse’s defensive players.
Idalski also said that Knight will handle Syracuse’s recruiting efforts and offered a description of what SU is seeking in its recruits. He grounded his answer in Syracuse.
“The buildings, the environment. It’s gritty, tough. We just want relentless competitors. We’re looking for solid B kids with A work ethic,” Idalski said.
College return
Taking the head coaching job at Syracuse returns Idalski to college after a year away coaching the Vancouver Goldeneyes in their inaugural season in the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
“There’s something about college athletics,” Idalski said. “The hunger, the desire, the work ethic and the fact that all these players now have desires on playing professional and making a career of it.”
Idalski is confident he can develop some of SU’s players into professionals.
“I feel pretty good about helping them get to those levels, and what does that look like and what are the habits and things that players are doing at that level to make them successful,” Idalski said.
SU’s first-year head coach also pointed to investment as key to player development.
“There’s no secret to success,” Idalski said. “We like to dress it up in different clothing. Time still equals success. It’s putting time into your craft.”
