About

Kyle Prystupa

Kyle Prystupa, owner and head of RISE Hockey, brings over fifteen years of hockey development leadership from Hockey Manitoba and Hockey Canada programs.  Kyle is a member of the NHL Coaches Association BIPOC Mentorship Program and he is also currently completing field work tasks with Hockey Canada for national designation as a certified Hockey Canada Skills Coach. Kyle was also named 2021 Manitoba Aboriginal Coach of the Year awarded by Sport Manitoba and Manitoba Aboriginal Sport & Recreation Circle, the first skills coach to receive the honour.

Ten times he served as Director of Operations of the Hockey Manitoba Program of Excellence, including three terms with U-18 (Female) Team Manitoba and seven with U-16 (Male) Team Manitoba, including the 2011 and 2015 Canada Games.  Among other close relationships to Hockey Canada development programs, he served in various capacities at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge and National Team Program; Chair of Team Services in 2011 (Winnipeg), Communications Staff in 2014 (Sarnia), Director of Operations for U-17 Team Canada Black in 2015 (Dawson Creek), and local liaison/support for the U-18 Team Canada pre-championship camp held in Winnipeg ahead of the 2016 IIHF U-18 Worlds.

As an owner/operator of RISE Sport Test, affiliate of Sport Testing Inc, Kyle has worked closely with an exclusive volume of clients and events including the Calgary Flames, Okanagan Hockey Group, Beantown Classic Showcase, WHL Prospect Combines, QMJHL Combines, as well as NCAA, Junior, and local AAA teams.

Working with Hockey Manitoba, Kyle played a pivotal role in improving and expanding branch development programs.  This includes the Directors’ Cup Prospects, CCM Rising Stars, High Performance 1 Coach Seminars, and establishing Rising Stars Plus+, POE-WHL Skills Combine, CCM POE Skills Camps, Bantam AAA Showcases, Coach Camp, and Hockey Manitoba Face-Off Festivals.

He is best known for his consistent passion and focus on improving player and coach development, particularly within the Program of Excellence, which had seen significant progression throughout his years.  Throughout Kyle's career he has worked closely with the Western Hockey League player development staff, and is a strong supporter of Manitoba Junior Hockey League development.