OAKVILLE HORNETS ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE U18AA COACHING STAFF FOR THE 2025/26 SEASON
Co-Head Coach - Tristyn Svetek
The Oakville Hornets are excited to welcome Tristyn Svetek as the Co-Head Coach of our U18AA team for the upcoming season!
Tristyn is an extraordinary coaching talent. A former University of Connecticut Huskies player, Tristyn brings her NCAA experience, leadership, and passion for the game to the Hornets bench. She was a leader with the Huskies from 2016-2020 where she was a defenceman.
Tristyn is a 2015 Champion with the Washington JWHL. She participated as a player in the Ontario Winter Games and was invited to the U18 Team Ontario Selection Camp in 2014. She played junior hockey and was an assistant captain for the Nepean Jr. Wildcats and Burlington Jr. Barracudas.
Co-Head Coach Jim Nyhuus
The Oakville Hornets are pleased to announce Jim Nyhuus as the co-head coach of our U18AA team. Jim is an incredible figure in the Women's Hockey world. He was the co-head coach of the U18AA Hornets program with Courtney Birchard (now Courtney Kessel), for a few years starting in 2014, and helped lead the program to very successful seasons (including a few league championships) During that time, the Hornets system included players like Sarah Fillier, Emma Maltais and Jessica Digirolamo.
After working with the Hornets, Jim joined Courtney on the coaching staff for the Toronto Furies in the CWHL. Through these years, he was not only a coach, but he also acted as an amazing mentor for Courtney, who up until recently was the head coach for the Boston Fleet in the PWHL, and is now the head coach at Princeton University.
After the CWHL, Jim joined the Halton Hurricanes Association and was on the bench of the U16 AAA program, where his coaching was instrumental in the early development of top prospects like Matthew Schaefer (who just went #1 overall in the NHL draft), guiding him and many others to success in their hockey journeys.
Jim has helped develop some amazing hockey players, but most importantly, he has shaped a lot of amazing people. He is tough on the ice and expects a lot out of the players and will push them. We are excited to welcome Jim back to coaching with the Oakville Hornets.
Assistant Coach - Christina McCullochThe Oakville Hornets are proud to welcome Christina McCulloch as an Assistant Coach for the U18AA team for the 2025/26 season.
A proud Oakville native, Christina is no stranger to the Hornets organization. She played her minor and junior hockey with the Oakville Hornets, where she developed into a strong two-way player known for her leadership and work ethic. Christina went on to compete at the university level with the Laurier Golden Hawks, where she continued to grow her game both on and off the ice.
Now transitioning into coaching, Christina brings with her a wealth of experience, a strong hockey IQ, and a deep passion for player development. Her familiarity with the Hornets program and firsthand knowledge of what it takes to succeed at the next level make her an invaluable addition to the U18AA coaching staff.
Please join us in welcoming Christina McCulloch back to the Hornets as she steps behind the bench to help lead the next generation of athletes!
Assistant Coach - Brooke Bonsteel
Brooke grew up through the Ontario hockey system with the Mississauga Jr. Chiefs (now Hurricanes), where she quickly stood out as a leader before heading to Quinnipiac University to compete at the NCAA Division I level.
At Quinnipiac, Brooke was known for her reliable two-way game, strong work ethic, and the way she made the players around her better. After finishing her degree in Accounting and starting an MBA, she took her game overseas to play professionally in Germany with the Mad Dogs Mannheim.
Whether it’s through her leadership, team-first attitude, or calm presence on the ice, Brooke has always been the kind of player who makes an impact wherever she goes.
Brooke assisted with the Oakville Jr Hornets last season, and wants to jump in to continue to give back with the U18AA team.