Don Mills Flyers announce the addition of two former Toronto Maple Leafs to their 2026-27 coaching staff

The Don Mills Flyers are proud to announce that two former Toronto Maple Leafs players are joining our coaching ranks for the 2026-27 season, bringing NHL-caliber experience and expertise to our youth hockey program.

NHL Pedigree Comes to Don Mills

Nikolay Kulemin, who will serve as head coach for our U10 team, and Nikolai Borshevsky, who joins Mark Joslin as assistant coach with our U15 squad, both enjoyed successful careers with the Toronto Maple Leafs and bring a combined wealth of professional hockey knowledge to our organization.

Nikolay Kulemin - U10 Head Coach

Kulemin played six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2008-2014), establishing himself as a reliable two-way forward who could produce offense while playing a responsible defensive game.

Career Highlights:

• First Russian-born Maple Leaf to score 30 goals in a season since Alexander Mogilny, achieving this milestone in 2010-11
• 84 goals and 195 points in 421 games with Toronto
• Represented Russia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi
• Went on to play four seasons with the New York Islanders before returning to play in Russia

Kulemin's ability to score at the highest level while maintaining defensive responsibility makes him an ideal coach for our youngest competitive players, who are just beginning to learn the fundamentals of two-way hockey.

Nikolai Borshevsky - U15 Assistant Coach

Borshevsky burst onto the NHL scene in spectacular fashion during the 1992-93 season, scoring 34 goals and 74 points in 78 games as a 27-year-old rookie. His most memorable moment came in the 1993 playoffs when he returned from a cracked orbital bone to score the overtime winner in Game 7 against the Detroit Red Wings, sending the Leafs to the second round.

Career Highlights:

• 34 goals and 74 points in his NHL rookie season (1992-93)
• Scored iconic Game 7 overtime winner vs. Detroit in 1993 playoffs
• After retirement, established a successful hockey school in the Greater Toronto Area
• Extensive coaching experience in the GTHL and KHL, most recently with the King Rebellion of the OJHL

Borshevsky's experience coaching at elite levels, combined with his own journey from European hockey to NHL stardom, provides invaluable perspective for our U15 players who are beginning to think about their own pathways in the game.

Development Through NHL Experience

"Having coaches who have played at the highest level brings an authenticity and credibility that is invaluable to player development," said Joseph Iantorno, President of the Don Mills Flyers. "Our players will benefit not just from their technical knowledge, but from learning what it takes mentally and physically to compete at elite levels" adds Don Mills Flyers Geeral Manager Jamie Edwards.

Both Kulemin and Borshevsky understand the commitment required to reach the NHL, and they bring that championship-level mindset to our program. Their presence reinforces the Don Mills Flyers' commitment to our core philosophy: "Development - The Name of Our Game."

More Than Just Hockey Skills

Beyond on-ice instruction, both coaches bring important life lessons from their professional careers:

• The discipline required to compete at the highest level
• How to handle success and adversity
• The importance of being a professional both on and off the ice
• What it means to represent a storied organization like the Toronto Maple Leafs

For young players growing up in the GTA, having the opportunity to learn from former Leafs is a unique privilege that few hockey programs can offer.

Registration Information

For information about tryouts and registration for the 2026-27 season, please visit our website at www.donmillsflyers.ca or contact us at info@donmillsflyers.ca.

---

The Don Mills Flyers are a competitive minor hockey organization serving players from U10 to U18 in the Greater Toronto Area. For more information about our programs and coaching staff, visit www.donmillsflyers.ca.