Paddockwood's Shayne Toporowski was named the Head Coach of the Quad City Storm during a press conference on Thursday, becoming the second head coach in the teams history. (Quad City Storm/Instagram)

By Logan Lehmann

Calling the shots

Local hockey figure, former Raider hired as Head Coach of SPHL’s Quad City Storm

May 31, 2024 | 1:00 PM

A local hockey figure is set to embark on the next chapter of his coaching career.

It was announced on Thursday that Shayne Toporowski will be the next bench boss of the Southern Professional Hockey League’s (SPHL) Quad City Storm, the second in the franchise’s history after Dave Pszenyczny.

“I am really excited to get this opportunity to coach in pro hockey with the Quad City Storm,” said Toporowski during a press conference. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the players and staff in the organization.”

Prior to coaching, Toporowski, who hails from Paddockwood, began as a player in Prince Albert, playing two seasons with the Mintos in the early 1990’s before making the jump to the WHL where he spent parts of four seasons with the Raiders, amassing 215 points in 218 games.

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He spent 18 seasons playing pro hockey in the NHL, AHL, and in multiple top-level European leagues before coming back to North America and ending his playing career in the now defunct Central Hockey League (CHL) with the Quad City Mallards as a player-assistant coach and the assistant captain.

Toporowski became a coach in 2013 as an assistant for Holy Cross College where he spent one season before becoming the Head Coach for Worcester State College. There, he served as the bench boss from 2014 to 2020.

“This place is awesome when it’s rocking, and we want to see this place packed,” he said. “We will play fast and exciting hockey that fans can be proud of.”

The Toporowski name is synonymous with hockey in the area as Shayne’s uncle, Jake, is a former Assistant Coach with the Storm while his brother, Kerry, is a former Mallard great.

Quad City is based in Moline, Illinois.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com