The Minnesota Wilderness today announced it has promoted director of player development Steve Pitoscia to be the team’s new assistant coach.
Pitoscia, 47, is a Duluth native who has been head coach of the Duluth East High School boys varsity program since the summer of 2021, and will remain as the Greyhounds head coach while also serving in his new role as a Wilderness assistant. Pitoscia graduated from Duluth East in 1994.
“First and foremost, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be working with this organization”, said Pitoscia.
He added, “It’s truly a blessing to be able to work in hockey, at any level. I can’t thank Barry [Bohman (Wilderness owner)], Dave [Boitz (general manager)] and Colten [St. Clair (head coach)] enough for the chance to do so. This is a very talented group and it’s been a lot of fun to be around these guys so far this season. I’m excited I get the chance to work with them.”
St. Clair brought Pitoscia on to the Wilderness staff shortly after being hired last June due to the familiarity the pair had when they worked together in 2019-20 with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. That season, St. Clair was the Lancers’ assistant coach while Pitoscia was a scout.
The first year Wilderness head coach had nothing but praise for his new assistant.
“Pit is a great person and a great coach. He is someone I have worked with in the past and someone who puts his heart and soul into making people better. Not only is he someone I trust, but he is someone the players will be able to trust. We are excited to have him as a part of our winning tradition.”
Pitoscia’s coaching resume is highlighted by 17 seasons he spent as head coach of Duluth East’s AA bantam program. He also served two seasons as a head coach of the Omaha AAA Hockey Club, one as an assistant coach at Duluth Marshall High School, and four leading Cloquet’s AA bantams. Last season, he was also a scout for the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas.
With Pitoscia moving up to assistant coach, Patrick “Packy” Munson is moving on to explore new opportunities. Munson spent eight months with the team after being brought in to assist former head coach Brett Skinner last January.
Once the 2023-24 high school hockey season begins in November, Pitoscia’s focus will shift to Duluth East, and the Wilderness plan to hire an additional assistant prior to that time to further help guide the team.
Minnesota returns home this weekend to take on Springfield in a 2-game series beginning Friday night, with both games at the St. Luke’s Sports and Events Center in Proctor, MN.