Roster, U10 BB/B Blue (2016), BB/B, REP (Kitchener Minor Hockey)

Jim Karahalios

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Coaching youth rep hockey is not about the coach – it is about the development and experience of the kids. Hockey development is as much emotional and psychological as it is physical. It requires determination and commitment which can’t be done without encouragement, motivation, and a positive environment.

As a coach and parent, I am constantly seeking out best practices to hockey skill development to be applied in practice and during other training opportunities. My work ethic is fueled by my desire to do right by my players and to constantly learn and improve. I rely on my attention to detail and my analytical, organizational, and leadership skills, to establish an intense, hardworking environment, with an emphasis on positive (over negative) reinforcement. The focus is on the players improving and having fun and in turn, I expect players to focus, give it their all, and enjoy playing.

I am a married father and self-employed lawyer with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in civil engineering. I am currently a C1 certified head coach and plan on completing my C2 certification and Development 1 certification this summer. I am also a certified assistant coach in youth rep baseball. Copy and paste the following link to read my coaching resume: https://kitchenerminorhockey.com/Public/Documents/Jim_Karahalios_CV_04302025.pdf

Sports have always been an integral part of my family. My first love was hockey, but I didn’t get to learn to skate until I was 11 as my dad preferred soccer. When I finally started hockey, my parents had trouble getting me to stop. I progressed from houseleague to AA quickly and by my final year of rep made a AAA team. I was able to accelerate my development by dedicating most of my time to studying the game and learning on-ice and off-ice training methods. I also learned from the lessons given by family friend and Hall of Famer, the late Leonard “Red” Kelly, and from my first cousin who played more than 600 games in the NHL and now works in player development for an NHL team.

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in my right femur. Through the encouragement of my wife and son, I learned to walk and skate again. Now that I am back to full health, I devote most of my free time to coaching – teaching hockey skills and the ability to remain resolute in the face of difficulty - so that players can have a positive experience and develop into the type of player they dream to be.  

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