Brooks Bandits promote from within announcing new head coach and other staffing moves

It was announced on Aug. 14, 2025 that long time Bandits head coach and general manger Ryan Papaioannou had accepted a head coach job with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers.

Mason and Sajinovic will be joined by assistant coach Cole McCaig, who was hired by the team earlier this month.

Papaioannou was part of the process to find his replacement.

“Dakota is deserving of this opportunity and has spent four years as a player and coach with the organization,” Papaioannou said about the Bandits new head coach in a release.

“We had significant interest in the position, but ultimately my recommendation to the board of directors was to approach this from an internal standpoint with continuity for our players,” he added.

“I have faith in Dakota’s abilities as a coach and he does a great job building relationships with the players and staff.”

Papaioannou also offered comment on the promotion of the Bandits head scout to director of hockey operations.

“Wayne has been at this a long time and is a huge factor in our success,” Papaioannou said in a release.

“This promotion gives him some added responsibility to lead hockey operations while allowing him to stay focused on player recruitment. In the ever-changing world of junior hockey, Wayne’s relationships and adaptability will be crucial to future success.”

He also offered comment on the promotion of his former goaltending coach to the assistant role in the release.

“Keven has been an integral part of our staff for a number of years. His connection to our goaltenders and ability to get the best out of them has been instrumental in our championship success,” Papaioannou said.

“This new role with increased responsibility is something he is ready for. Keven will continue to prove his value in helping all members of our team.”

Papaioannou added that the staff with the inclusion of Cole McCaig and Taylor Smith have an opportunity to defend the BCHL Championship.

“I am looking forward to watching the season unfold and all their continued successes,” Papaioannou said.

Bandits president Paul Seaton said the board of directors are delighted to announce their decision.

“As we lose our esteemed coach, taking his place will be an outstanding student he tutored first as a high end player who contributed to our first nationals title and then as an assistant coach for the two years we championed the BCHL,” said Seaton in a statement.

“The board believes preserving the proved culture and adding to our successes is also best achieved using the services of support personnel already in place on our staff so Dakota Mason will be assisted by both our long time head scout in Wayne Labrie and prominent goaltender coach Keven Sajinovic.” he added.

“Both have been key components and contributory factors in our achievements.”

Labrie has served as head scout of the Bandits since 2017.

During that time the Bandits have won three national championships, the Rocky Mountain Challenge, the U20 Super Challenge in Sweden and the 2025 Fred Page Cup.

Mason is named the eighth head coach in team history, the first change at the position since 2009.

The 33-year-old Mason played two seasons for the Bandits from 2011-13, winning two AJHL Championships and the 2013 National Championship.

Following his playing career Mason started his coaching career in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League as Associate Coach in 2021.

After a season as an assistant coach with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Swan Valley Stampeders Mason was hired by the Bandits in the summer of 2023.

During Mason’s two seasons as assistant, the Bandits had the number-one ranked penalty kill in both the AJHL and BCHL.

Sajinovic, now an assistant Coach served as the Bandits goaltender coach since the 2019-20 season.

Under his coaching, the Bandits won the AJHL top goaltender award in the 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Training Camp opens for the Bandits on Saturday at Centennial Regional Arena, and host its first preseason game against the Trail Smoke Eaters on Sept. 6.

The regular season gets underway for the Bandits with its home opener on Sept. 20 against the Okotoks Oilers.

by Jesse Gill

Brooks Bandits promote from within announcing new head coach and other staffing moves

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