“Any place you can skate and surf in the same day is pretty ideal.”
— Cole Beckstead, GM, Dunedin Ice Hockey Association
When Cole Beckstead landed in Dunedin last year, he thought he was here for one season, maybe two — just another stop in a global hockey career that had already taken him from Canada to Europe. What he didn’t expect was to stay. And he definitely didn’t expect to become the first-ever professional General Manager of the Dunedin Ice Hockey Association.
Raised in Morrisburg, Ontario — a small town where hockey wasn’t just a game but a seasonal rhythm — Beckstead’s story began like many Canadian kids: skating on a homemade backyard rink. “My dad used to build one every winter for me and my brother,” he says. “I’ve been playing since I was three.” From there, hockey became his path. He worked his way through local leagues, signed to play Junior A in the OJHL at just sixteen, earned a spot in NCAA hockey in the U.S., and turned professional in Europe by the time he was 24.
Then came Dunedin. A new team, a new country, and a very different kind of winter. Although the Thunder didn’t find the success they’d hoped for on the scoreboard that season, Beckstead still came away from it with something special. “It was a really enjoyable season,” he says. “The group of guys was awesome, and I was blown away by how professional everything was. The management looked after us so well — gear, support, everything. They made the whole transition to New Zealand super easy.”
But it wasn’t just the hockey. It was the place itself that started to shift his perspective. “Any place you can skate and surf in the same day is pretty ideal,” he laughs. “My girlfriend and I were supposed to go back to Europe for another season, but Dunedin just felt right. Even my parents visited, and they didn’t want to leave. That kind of says it all.”
For Beckstead, it wasn’t long before a temporary contract started feeling like something more permanent. So when the opportunity came to stay on — not as a player, but in a leadership role — he jumped in. The GM role offered something new: the chance to build something meaningful off the ice, and to help shape the direction of the game in a place that had already given him so much.
“The Dunedin hockey community has been incredibly welcoming since day one,” he says. “What really drew me in was the chance to work more closely with our youth players. Seeing the progress they’re making, watching kids put in the work at practice or just having a laugh with their mates — it reminds you how lucky we are to play this sport.”
In his new role, Beckstead’s mission is clear: give every player, no matter their level or goal, the best possible hockey experience. Whether it’s a new skater in a Learn to Play session, a seasoned adult in a social league, or a teenager chasing elite development, he wants every person who steps into the rink to feel seen, supported, and inspired to come back.
“If we do that right,” he says, “the game will grow naturally.”
And it already is. Player numbers are rising, programmes are being fine-tuned, and new energy is starting to flow through the association. Beckstead is helping align development pathways and grow the sport with targeted marketing and community outreach — all while keeping the values of the game front and centre.
“There’s something special building here,” he says, “and I want people to know about it.”
Despite the title and the responsibility, Beckstead is quick to redirect the spotlight. “We’ve got an amazing community here — so many volunteers, parents, and players who give their time and energy to this sport. They’re the ones who make this all work.” For him, it’s not about personal accolades. It’s about being part of a team effort, and giving back to the community that made him feel at home halfway around the world.
From frozen backyard rinks in Canada to calling Dunedin home, Cole Beckstead’s journey is a reminder of how sport can cross borders, build communities, and open new doors. He may not have planned to stay, but now that he’s here — he’s not just part of the team. He’s helping shape the future of the game in the Deep South.