After a gold-medal victory at the 2024 World Para Ice Hockey Championships for the first time in seven years, Canada will be bringing back their coaching staff, which includes Vernon's Boris Rybalka for the 2024-25 season.

Rybalka is one of three assistant coaches who will be on the Canadian staff, with head coach Russ Herrington.

Currently the general manager of the AJHL's Camrose Kodiaks, Rybalka has nearly 30 years of hockey coaching experience. 

Starting off as a head coach of the AJHL's Lloydminster Blazers in 1995, Rybalka was promoted from Kodiaks assistant to head coach in 2003, before transitioning to full-time GM duties in 2019.

The Kodiaks have won six South Division titles, five league championships, five Doyle Cups for the regional championship, three silver medals at the National Junior A Championship, and one Canadian National Junior A Championship in 2001. 

Canada's ice hockey team is coming off a thrilling 2-1 victory in the final of the 2024 Championships hosted in Calgary. This broke a seven-year title drought, last winning at the 2017 Championships.

USA won the 2019, 2021 and 2023 event, all beating Canada in the final. 

Following a September evaluation camp, the Canadians will compete in the International Para Hockey Cup, set for Oct. 7-13 in Ostrava, Czechia.

The 2025 World Championships are yet to have a host, or date named.