Coach Winkler begins his third season at the helm of the Junior “B” team and second as General Manager of the Junior program and Whaler Nation. Last season marked the first year in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League and Coach Winkler led his team to the inaugural MET-South regular season title and to the inaugural MET-South playoff championship game. Coach Winkler was also selected to coach the MET-South All-Star team at the MJHL All-Star festival in Walpole, MA. The Whalers finished with a regular season record of 28-6-0 and an overall record of 52-13-0. He is also entering into his second season as an “Intern Coach” with the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey league. In his first full season as Whalers “B” Head Coach he led them to a regular season record of 29-2-3 and an overall record of 43-16-5. That season was capped off with a successful defense of the Continental Hockey Association playoff championship. With that playoff title, Coach Winkler’s team earned the club’s first berth in the USA Hockey Junior “B” National Championships. Prior to joining the Whalers, Winkler was an Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development with the St. Louis Junior Blues and Director of the Hockey Academy of St. Louis. While with the Blues, Winkler experienced a “triple crown” championship season. The Blues won the Central States Hockey League regular season crown, the CSHL Hurster Cup playoff championship, and the 2006 USA Hockey Junior “B” National Championship. During his tenure with the Hockey Academy of St. Louis, Coach Winkler, along with Blues players: Jamal Mayers, Bryce Salvador, Barrett Jackman, Blues coach Jamie Kompon, and Blues trainer Ray Barilie was instrumental in establishing the concept of an all inclusive training program. This program encompassed an off-ice skills facility, organization and coaches training, parent education, on-ice training, and game evaluation. Winkler was also responsible for all aspects of the St. Louis Blues Summer Camp. Coach Winkler was also instrumental in establishing the Hockey Academy’s Pro-Development Camp. This camp was an intensive five day program for NHL, AHL, ECHL, CHL, Major Junior, and NCAA players as a preparation for training camp. Prior to returning to his home town of St. Louis, Coach Winkler was an Assistant coach with the Bozeman IceDogs of the North American Hockey League. In 2002, the IceDogs won the regular season and Borne Cup playoff championship. As a player Coach Winkler won two consecutive Missouri State Championships with CBC High School, while also playing junior hockey for Team St. Louis, the Affton Americans, and the St. Louis Junior Blues. His playing career was capped off with a stint a Norwich University (NCAA Division 3) in Vermont. Coach Winkler also played three years of college soccer and began his coaching career in soccer with Northeast Missouri State University.

 

Coach Winkler is married to the former Jen Pfeiffer and they have a five year old daughter, Hannah.