A Colorado hockey legend, Coach George Gwozdecky brings over 40 years of coaching experience, championship success, and national recognition to Valor Christian.
His coaching career includes head roles at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and Miami University, and an assistant position at Michigan State. He then led the University of Denver for 19 seasons, capturing NCAA titles in 2004 and 2005, with 16 seasons of 20+ wins.
Following DU, he served as an assistant coach for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Final and win the Wales Conference Championship.
Coach Gwozdecky is the sole recipient of winning NCAA hockey titles as a player (Wisconsin, 1977), assistant coach (Michigan State, 1986), and head coach (Denver, 2004–05). His accolades include CHSAA Hockey Coach of the Year, NCAA and NAIA National Coach of the Year, and induction into both the University of Denver Athletic Hall of Fame and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
Under the leadership of Coach Gwozdecky since 2015, the Valor Christian hockey program has experienced remarkable growth and success on both the state and national levels. Since taking the helm, Coach Gwozdecky has guided the program to elite status, consistently competing with many of the top high school teams across the country.
Most notably, Valor Christian captured the 2024 USA Hockey High School National Championship, marking a historic milestone for the program. Additionally, the team has secured four Colorado High School Hockey State Championships in recent years—2019-20, 2020-21, 2022-23, and 2024-25—demonstrating sustained excellence and a winning culture under his direction.
Coach Gwozdecky has received several awards from Valor Christian, including the Valor Excellence in Coaching, Valor Department of Excellence (Athletics), and Dedication in Coaching. His commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the ice continues to elevate Valor Hockey as one of the premier high school programs in the nation. He uses the wisdom and experience to help his student-athletes develop a more mature attitude towards life while deepening their faith in God.
