FISHERS- The Indy Fuel announced on Friday, Jesse Messier has been named the new Head Coach of the organization. He will become the fifth head coach in Fuel franchise history. 

Messier brings more than 20 years of experience in hockey as a player and coach across the ECHL, OHL, university hockey and junior hockey, with a track record in player development, special teams, recruiting and team building.

“We are excited to welcome Jesse as the next Head Coach of the Indy Fuel,” Fuel Owner Jim Hallett said. “Jesse has spent his career developing players and building winning hockey teams. He knows this league, understands what it takes to win and shares our expectations for what the Indy Fuel should be.”

Messier most recently served as an assistant coach with the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison, where his responsibilities included overseeing the defense and penalty kill, player development, pre-scouting and special teams, while also working in player recruitment, roster administration and daily team preparation.

Prior to joining Bloomington, Messier spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. He was a member of Saginaw’s 2019 OHL West Division championship staff and worked extensively in player development, special teams and scouting. During his tenure, eleven Spirit players advanced to professional hockey.

Messier previously served four seasons as an assistant coach at York University, helping the program win the 2017 Queen’s Cup championship and become a perennial playoff contender. York compiled a 63-37-12 regular-season record and a 13-9 playoff record during his tenure.

His résumé also includes a highly successful stint as head coach of the Kam River Fighting Walleye in 2023-24. Messier led Kam River to a 39-9-1 record, a regular-season championship and an appearance in the league final. His team finished first in the league in both offense and power play and third in penalty killing.

“I am incredibly grateful to Jim and Sean Hallett  for the opportunity to lead the Indy Fuel,” Messier said. “This is an organization with high expectations and a passionate fan base. I’m excited to get to Indianapolis, get to work with our players and staff, and build a team that competes every night with the goal of bringing a championship to our fans.”

Messier also brings championship experience as a player. He played professionally in the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye and Allen Americans and was a member of Allen’s 2015 Kelly Cup Championship team. Before turning professional, Messier played at York University, where he was a three-time team MVP, team captain, and finished among the top ten scorers in program history.

Throughout his coaching career, Messier has helped develop 19 players who advanced to professional hockey.

“Jesse has experienced winning from several different perspectives—as a player, assistant coach and head coach,” Hallett said. “We believe his combination of leadership, player development and attention to detail makes him an excellent fit for where we want to take this organization. Our objective is clear: we want to compete for a Kelly Cup championship.”

Messier will begin immediately preparing the Fuel for the 2026-27 ECHL season.

ABOUT THE INDY FUEL:

The Indy Fuel are the proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks and the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs. The Fuel will return to Fishers Event Center for their 13th season in October 2026. Information and tickets can be found HERE.

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--INDYFUELHOCKEY.COM--