Continuously for the past 24 years Bruce Sturley has been an award-winning Hockey Coach in Minor Hockey in Ontario. His name is synonymous with the Toronto Colts of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). His over 500 young hockey players that he has mentored, supported and coached over the years know him as Coach Sturley. The first 5 years of his volunteer career he coached with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and for the past 19 years he has been a Head Coach for the Toronto Colts Organization. After coaching teams for the Colts ranging from Minor Peewee to 4 years of Midget, Coach Sturley was asked by the Colts to create a new team for the U21 AAA division. He developed and has run the U21 AAA team for 12 years now. Through these many years of coaching, Bruce has led his U21 AAA Colts team to almost unprecedented success. The team qualified for Ontario Championships the past five seasons, winning the Championship in 2015. The team has won three straight GTHL league championships 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, In 2016-17 and again 2018-19 the team won the City or Playoff Championships. In 2019, in Sarnia, the team won the esteemed International Silverstick Championship in 2019. Bruce Sturley has been named Coach of the Year eight times in the Toronto Colts Organization and in 2018 was awarded the Cooper Humanitarian Award by the GTHL.

Bruce says “I love hockey, I love the team aspect of the game, the way it builds character and confidence in these young men. Over the past 12 years most of my players were in the age range of 17-21, most were in University, College or apprenticeships, it’s a great time to watch their growth and maturity. Many of our players have gone on to become Lawyers, Engineers, Tradesmen and Managers. Hockey has been a part of their development, most stay in touch and still play together in men’s leagues and this is what makes the thousands of hours rewarding.”

“Coaching in minor hockey at the higher levels has enhanced my recruiting skills. Every season it is necessary to travel to the rinks and scout out new talent for the team. It’s important to a successful program to recruit new talent every season and to have the ability to look for team fit. Just like recruiting for our clients, fit on a hockey team is as important as individual skill. Coaching for so many years has increased my ability to assess talent.”

Major Championships - Toronto Colts U21 AAA team OHF (Ontario Championships) Champions 2015 Finalist - Silver Medal 2019 2018 2016 Bronze Medalist 2017 GTHL League Championship Champions 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017 2005-2006 Finalists 2015-2016 GTHL Playoff Champion Champions 2018-2019 2016-2017 Finalists 2017-2018 2015-2016 2014-2015 2005-2006 2001-2002 International Silverstick Finals Champions 2019 Finalists 2018 2016 Mercyhurst University Invitational (no tournament held in 2017-2018) Champions 2016-2017 2013-2014 Finalists 2018-2019 2015-2016 2014-2015 Humberview Huskies Invitational (tournament ended in 2016-17) Champions 2016-2017 2015-2016 Finalists 2012-2013 2010-2011 Individual Awards 2018 Bruce Sturley - Cooper Humanitarian Award - GTHL Hughston Rozario - Ray Heslop Juvenile Dedication Award 2017 Robert Mazzuca - Ray Heslop Juvenile Dedication Award Darlene Gabarro - Dr. Tom Pashby Regional Trainer of the Year Award Kyle Molinnus - U21 Scholarship Award 2014 Darnell Clarke - awarded scholarship to Mercyhurst University ACHA D 1 hockey team Brian Hamm - awarded scholarship to Mercyhurst University ACHA D 1 hockey team 2007 Daniel Clarke - Frank D Smith Midget A Scholarship Award 2006 Mark Rosen - Frank D Smith Midget A Scholarship Award