Program announces 2026-27 head coaches for youth teams

The Ohio Blue Jackets have announced its head coaching lineup for the 2026-27 season for its youth teams, which includes James Nash at 12U (2014), Michael Darr at 12U Girls (2014/15), Dale Jordan with 11U (2015) and Brandon Dubinsky with 10U (2016).

“We are proud to have a coaching staff that brings passion, experience, and character to our program,” said President Ed Gingher. “This is a tremendous group of coaches.Their commitment to player development and leadership helps our athletes grow as hockey players and as people.”

Coaching assignments for our national bound teams (18U, 16U, 16U Girls, 15O, 14U, 14U Girls and 13O) will be announced soon.

12U (2014) Head Coach - James Nash

James Nash will enter his 11th season coaching in the program and his eighth season as a head coach. He brings more than 16 years of coaching experience, including extensive time as a professional skills coach working with elite players of all ages. This season, he has led the 2014 birth year through a successful campaign, highlighted by a 2nd place finish at the Jr. Canadiens Cup and a championship this past weekend at the Mission MLK tournament in Chicago.

A native of Brampton, Ontario, Nash grew up playing AAA hockey in Toronto with the Mississauga Rebels of the GTHL (formerly the MTHL). He also captured an All-Ontario Championship with the Brampton Maroons. Nash went on to play junior hockey with the Mississauga Chargers (OPJHL) before continuing his career at the collegiate level with Humber College.

12U Girls (2014/15) Head Coach - Michael Darr

Michael Darr enters his fourth season as a head coach in the program. During the 2024–25 season, Darr helped make program history by leading the 14U Girls team to a Mid-Am District Championship and a berth in the USA Hockey National Tournament—both first-time achievements since the girls program was reintroduced in 2022–23. A key figure in the growth of girls hockey in Central Ohio, Darr also led the 12U Girls team during its inaugural season in 2023–24.

Darr brings 20 years of coaching experience to the program. Prior to his work with the Ohio Blue Jackets, he spent six seasons with Central Ohio Girls Hockey, helping develop the organization from entry-level developmental programs to elite spring and summer training camps. Additionally, Darr played a significant role in expanding the EYHA Lady Dragons program from a single team to six teams across the 8U, 10U Select, 12U Select, 12U Elite, and 14U Tier II levels. During his time with the Lady Dragons, he served as both a head coach and assistant coach, contributing to sustained growth in player development throughout the program.

11U (2015) Head Coach - Dale Jordan

Dale Jordan enters his 21st season with the program and will serve as the head coach at the 11U level. The 2026–27 season will mark his second season leading the 2015 birth year, after guiding the group through a successful year of growth and development in their inaugural season with the program.

Jordan brings more than two decades of coaching experience at multiple levels and has served as a head coach within the program since 2007. Prior to joining the AAA Blue Jackets, he was the varsity head coach at St. Charles High School for five seasons from 2002–06, while also coaching multiple Bantam and Pee Wee AA travel teams with CCYHA.

In his role as the program’s Hockey Director, Jordan assists with administrative oversight and manages teams across the 10U–14U age groups. In addition to his team coaching responsibilities, Jordan works as a private hockey instructor and helps manage the program’s camps, clinics, and on-ice skills training sessions. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he played his junior hockey with the Columbus Crush and has experience at both the Junior A and Junior B levels.

10U (2016) Head Coach - Brandon Dubinsky

Brandon Dubinsky enters his first season as a head coach with the Ohio Blue Jackets, after serving as the head coach of the 2016 Battery team this past season.

A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Dubinsky was selected by the New York Rangers in the second round (No. 60 overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut on March 8, 2007, against the New York Islanders. After six seasons with the Rangers, Dubinsky was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012. During his time in Columbus, Dubinsky quickly became a fan favorite and served as an alternate captain, known for his leadership, competitiveness, and work ethic. He concluded his NHL career during the 2018–19 season, appearing in nearly 900 games at the NHL level. Additionally, he represented the United States on two occasions at the IIHF World Championships as well as the 2017 World Cup.

Dubinsky bringing a wealth of playing experience, leadership, and hockey knowledge to the Ohio Blue Jackets organization.

Tryouts for the 2026-27 season will be held between Monday, April 6-Tuesday, April 14. To learn more, visit our boys tryouts and girls tryouts pages.

If you are interested in applying to serve as an assistant coach, please email us at info@aaabluejackets.com.

The Ohio AAA Blue Jackets program prides itself on being the premier youth hockey program in Ohio. With an every day mission to develop our student-athletes to reach their potential on and off of the ice, the program aims to provide a healthy and safe environment for the elite player to grow as a player, person and teammate through the great game of hockey.