Two very familiar names in Quad Cities hockey circles have been making several headlines this week.
Both Dave Psenitsny and Jake Toporowski secured their futures by taking new coaching jobs.
After being relieved of his coaching duties with the Quad City Storm after the 2023-24 season, Pseniczny didn't take long to find his next job behind the bench — and he did it without changing leagues.
After six seasons with the Storm, Pseniczny was hired as coach of the SPHL's Macon Mayhem.
Jake Toporowski, who served as an assistant coach with the Storm for two seasons (2019-20 and 2021-22 under Coach Przeniczny) and is currently assistant coach and director of hockey operations with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, will work alongside head coach Brad Lauer.
Pseniczny, 39, led the Storm to a 32-23 record and one draw last season, finishing sixth in the SPHL regular season. The Storm were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
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He finished his six-year tenure at QC with a record of 121 wins, 123 losses and 25 ties, which included a paused 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Macon team officials announced at a press conference on Aug. 1 that he would be officially introduced as the seventh head coach in team history.
“There has been a lot of change and uncertainty in the hockey world in Macon over the last few years,” Pseniczny said in the team's announcement. “I have visited Macon many times as a coach and player and it is clear that the team has great support from the community, including a passionate fan base. From recent conversations I know we also have support from the venue and city, which is very important. My goal is to bring it all together on the ice, and I will be working every day to build a team that everyone can be proud of, on and off the ice.”
Pseniczny began his coaching career with QC after finishing his playing career with the Peoria Chiefs after the SPHL playoffs in 2018. He finished his playing career with over 500 games played and was named the league's Defenseman of the Year that season.
Quad City will play two games at Macon on Jan. 24th and 25th.
Macon was one of two teams that missed the eight-team SPHL playoffs last season, finishing in ninth place with a record of 15 wins, 34 losses, three ties and four draws.
Toporowski, the son of former QC Mallards Hall of Famer Kelly Toporowski, spent his entire 100-game WHL career with Spokane over three seasons. He played six seasons in four leagues.
Toporowski spent the past two seasons as assistant coach and director of hockey operations with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL.
“I am very excited to join the Spokane Chiefs,” Toporowski said in a social media post. “I know from my previous time there that this is a great organization and a great city. I am grateful for the opportunity to join the staff, and my family and I are looking forward to getting started.”
