Andy Cole Recognized with John Beadle Adult Member of the Year Award for Establishing a League for All Skill Levels in Seattle

Andy Cole possesses a deep enthusiasm for hockey and aims to introduce the sport to as many individuals as possible.

Cole brought this enthusiasm to Seattle over thirty years ago and ultimately established the largest adult hockey league in the region. In recognition of his extensive contributions to the sport, Cole is set to receive USA Hockey’s John Beadle Adult Member of the Year award. He will be honored at the USA Hockey President’s Awards Dinner on June 5 in Denver.

“It’s gratifying to be acknowledged,” Cole remarked. “My belief has always been to include as many people as I can. I don’t want anyone to feel a sense of ownership or entitlement to a specific day, time slot, or rink, as that space must remain available for someone who may not yet realize they want to play hockey.”

USA Hockey awards the John Beadle Adult Member of the Year to an individual who has made significant contributions over many years of service to the ice hockey community as an adult player or volunteer. In 2020, the award was renamed to honor John Beadle, who served as vice president of USA Hockey and chaired the organization’s Adult Council for 27 seasons.

“It’s always rewarding to identify the individual who best exemplifies this award,” stated Donna Kaufman, vice president and chair of the Membership Council for USA Hockey. “Andy Cole represents the essence of what this award signifies. He derives pure joy from expanding the game and does not seek recognition. His passion for adult hockey spans all levels. He is truly a remarkable figure in our hockey community.”

Cole, originally from Boston and raised in Simsbury, Connecticut, relocated to Seattle in 1990. He played hockey during his childhood and participated in club teams while in college. By the mid-1990s, he sought to continue playing as an adult, but opportunities in Seattle were limited at that time.

“There were a few adult leagues available, but they catered only to highly skilled players,” Cole explained. “Among experienced players, I was the least skilled, but among beginners, I appeared to be a star, resulting in a significant skill gap.”

The league he participated in faced numerous challenges, including rinks failing to provide ice time and referees not showing up for games.

Unwilling to abandon his passion for the sport, Cole decided to create his own league.

He distributed flyers at local rinks, emphasizing that players of all skill levels were welcome. In the summer of 2001, he successfully attracted 24 teams for the inaugural season of the Greater Seattle Hockey League.

As additional rinks opened, rink owners approached Cole to inquire if he would purchase ice time at their facilities as well.

“Each season, it just kept expanding,” Cole noted. “There wasn’t another league that welcomed all skill levels. Every other organization sought players of a specific caliber. There’s always potential for growth. I’ve never had to turn anyone away; I’ve never reached capacity and said the league was full.”

Players are assigned a number from one to ten based on their skill level, with one representing the highest skilled players and ten designated for beginners. There are also league subdivisions—4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, for instance—to help maintain competitive balance while forming teams.

Cole mentioned that there are now over 3,200 unique individual players in the league, which became the Kraken Hockey League in 2021 when the local NHL team merged with it. The league includes men’s and women’s divisions, along with adult Learn to Play programs.

In the first 15 years of the league, there were approximately 113 teams, but in the most recent season alongside the Kraken, the league featured 174 distinct teams.

“I’ve known him for about 20 or 25 years before the Kraken arrived, and his goal has always been to promote adult hockey, which he accomplished on his own,” Kaufman stated. “He was consistently there to advance the sport, always aiming to do it collaboratively. It was all about genuine hockey growth. He prioritizes the player experience because he understands what adults seek in the game.”

Now, at 61 years old, Cole is a full-time employee of the Kraken, overseeing adult hockey programs and leagues at the Kraken Community Iceplex.

Cole has collaborated closely with the Kraken front office to organize games at Climate Pledge Arena, as Tod Leiweke, CEO of the Kraken, previously played in Cole’s adult league. Cole attended NHL meetings last summer and sat next to Bill Daly, the league’s deputy commissioner, during the initial expansion draft.

“I’ve been fortunate to engage in many experiences I never would have imagined,” Cole remarked. “It’s truly unique.”

Another distinctive opportunity Cole offers adult players is an outdoor tournament in Winthrop, located about a four-hour drive from Seattle. The Great Puckaroo Roundup is hosted in this small town known for its old west charm, nearby wildlife at the rink, and the stunning backdrop of the North Cascades.

The outdoor tournament occurs three times a year and often sells out. It is the only event where Cole requires a waiting list due to the limited number of teams that can participate in a weekend, given there is only one rink in town. However, he continues to explore ways to accommodate new teams and players.

“The participants love it and rave about it,” Cole stated. “It’s the highlight of my year. People frequently approach me to express how amazing it is, especially since many have never played outdoors before. I grew up playing outside; we engaged in a lot of pond hockey, so the outdoor games are enchanting.”

Whether in an indoor or outdoor environment, Cole aims to share the enchantment of ice hockey with as many adults as possible.

“He recognized that Seattle has a history of hockey even without the NHL,” Kaufman noted. “It’s fundamentally about adults enjoying themselves while playing hockey, and Andy has tapped into that aspect of the game effectively. He’s one of the kindest, most modest individuals. He’s genuinely a great person, and it’s wonderful that we can celebrate Andy and his achievements.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.