The Barrie Colts announced today that John Winstanley will join the organization as President of Hockey Operations, effective ahead of the upcoming season.

Winstanley brings extensive hockey management experience to Barrie, including several years as a General Manager within the Ontario Hockey League. He also spent time with the Toronto Junior Canadians of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), and has served in an executive capacity with the GTHL itself, giving him a well-rounded background in player development, scouting, and organizational leadership at both the junior and major junior levels.

Winstanley shared the following remarks on joining the organization:

“I’m incredibly excited and honoured to join this organization” said Winstanley. “This is a tremendous opportunity to be part of a franchise with a proud history, passionate supporters, and a commitment to developing young athletes both on and off the ice. From my conversations with ownership and the leadership group, it was clear that we share the same vision for what this organization can become. Our goal is to build a championship-caliber program through strong leadership, elite player development, thorough scouting, and a culture that demands accountability, professionalism, and excellence every day.”

“I’ve always believed that successful organizations are built on people. Talent is essential, but culture, character, accountability, and relationships are what create sustained success. My commitment is to build an environment where our players are challenged every day to become the best hockey players and the best young adults they can be. We will prioritize development, compete with passion, and hold ourselves to the highest standards in everything we do.

I’m grateful for this opportunity and eager to get to work. Together, we’ll build an organization that competes with integrity, develops outstanding young men, and pursues championships with a relentless commitment to excellence.”