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Jared Bednar

Jared Bednar is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and current head coach of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Jared Bednar (born February 28, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and the current head coach of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is known for winning championships as a coach in the ECHL, AHL, and NHL, including the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.

Playing career

Bednar played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League before a minor-league professional career as a defenceman from 1990 to 2002. He appeared in 434 ECHL games with the Huntington Blizzard and the South Carolina Stingrays, recording 173 points and 1,210 penalty minutes. He also won the Kelly Cup as a player with the Stingrays in 1997 and 2001.

Transition to coaching

After retiring following the 2001–02 season, Bednar joined the South Carolina Stingrays' coaching staff in 2002–03 and later became their head coach. He won the Kelly Cup as head coach of the Stingrays in 2009. His coaching career also included roles in the AHL and ECHL before reaching the NHL.

NHL coaching career

Bednar was named head coach of the Colorado Avalanche in August 2016. He has since become one of the franchise's most successful coaches, winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 and later guiding the team to a franchise-best regular-season record in 2025–26.

Honours and recognition

Bednar is notable for winning titles at three major North American professional levels: the ECHL (Kelly Cup), AHL (Calder Cup with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2016), and NHL (Stanley Cup). He was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2020.

Key facts

  • Bednar led the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2022.
  • He previously coached the Lake Erie Monsters to the Calder Cup in 2016.
  • He won the Kelly Cup as a player and coach with the South Carolina Stingrays.
  • He is the first coach to win the Kelly Cup, Calder Cup, and Stanley Cup.
  • He was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2020.
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Canadian context

Bednar is from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and his career is closely followed in Canada because he became one of the NHL’s notable Canadian coaches and a Stanley Cup winner.[3][9][13]

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jared Bednar?
Jared Bednar is a Canadian former professional defenceman and the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche.
What teams has Jared Bednar coached?
He has coached in the ECHL, AHL, and NHL, including the South Carolina Stingrays, Lake Erie Monsters, and Colorado Avalanche.
What championships has Jared Bednar won?
He won the Kelly Cup, Calder Cup, and Stanley Cup, making him the first coach to win all three of those trophies.
When did Jared Bednar become Avalanche head coach?
He was hired by the Colorado Avalanche in August 2016.
Where is Jared Bednar from?
He was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Bednar
    Supports: General career summary; Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022; franchise-record seasons.
  2. ECHL — https://echl.com/hof/jared-bednar
    Supports: Playing statistics, South Carolina Stingrays championships, coaching record, ECHL Hall of Fame context.
  3. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/news/jared-bednar-hired-as-colorado-coach-281418488
    Supports: Hiring by the Colorado Avalanche in 2016; prior Calder Cup coaching success.
  4. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/jared-bednar-to-be-inducted-into-echl-hall-of-fame-311475590
    Supports: ECHL Hall of Fame induction; three Kelly Cups; Calder Cup; career details.
  5. Elite Prospects — https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/323/jared-bednar
    Supports: Date of birth, birthplace, nationality.